What's New in Historical Fiction

Please join us for What’s New in Historical Fiction, a regular panel series featuring historical novelists with new and upcoming titles. This installment of What’s New in Historical Fiction brings together three bestselling authors whose latest novels transport readers to postwar Paris, Cold War England, and seventeenth-century England, where ambition, espionage, persecution, and resilience shape the lives of unforgettable women. Moderated by Colin Mustful, the panel will explore how historical fiction uncovers hidden histories, reimagines the past through compelling personal stories, and reveals the extraordinary courage required to challenge the expectations of one's time. Featured Authors and Novels: Madeline Martin, A Time of Witches Katherine Reay, The Undercover Bookshop Christine Wells, The Lost Perfumes of Paris Madeline Martin — A Time of Witches Spanning centuries and continents, A Time of Witches follows two women connected by blood, memory, and an enduring legacy of persecution. In present-day England, Lilith Legare searches for answers to mysterious visions that lead her to a crumbling manor and a forgotten family history. In 1645 Suffolk, Sybil Brantham, an educated widow, is accused of witchcraft during one of England's darkest periods of fear and suspicion. Together, their intertwined stories explore inherited trauma, female resilience, and the courage to reclaim voices long silenced by history. Katherine Reay — The Undercover Bookshop Set in the picturesque English Cotswolds during the tense early years of the Cold War, The Undercover Bookshop follows mystery-loving Gemma Brown as she begins to suspect that her charming neighbor may be a Soviet spy. What starts as amateur sleuthing soon draws Gemma into a dangerous web involving MI5, the KGB, and a village filled with secrets. Blending espionage, humor, and literary charm, Katherine Reay crafts a delightful historical mystery celebrating the power of books, friendship, and ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Christine Wells — The Lost Perfumes of Paris In 1950s Paris, Élodie Limeaux dreams of becoming the master perfumer her late mother once was, despite her father's refusal to recognize her talent. Determined to prove herself, Élodie enters the prestigious Essence of Paris competition, only to encounter family betrayals, corporate intrigue, and an unexpected partnership with the ambitious Marcelo Caspari. Rich with romance, artistry, and the intoxicating world of French perfumery, The Lost Perfumes of Paris is an evocative story of ambition, resilience, and finding one's place in a changing world.