Is it trite to say Spring into Books for March? I don’t think there’s anything special about reading in spring, actually, since I read all year and am always interested in new historical fiction.

This month, Paper Lantern Writer Jonathan Posner release his next Mary Fox adventure, River of Fire. Fleeing England to evade the authorities, Mary Fox knows her reputation for outsmarting death will be tested like never before. Agreeing to help the handsome Angelo di Luca return his family’s stolen jewel may just have been a mistake. But there’s no time for regrets; now it’s all about survival. A determined enemy shadows their every move, seeking murderous revenge. (March 7)

BEST COVER

Tangled in Water by Pam Records

“Natalia is sixteen and a bootlegger’s daughter, playing the mermaid mascot on a rundown paddlewheel used to entertain brewers and distributors. A sequined costume hides her scarred and misshapen legs, but it can’t cover up the painful memories and suspicions that haunt her.” ~ book description

These covers have all done something eye-catching with color. Tangled in Water, however, makes me stop and gasp in delight when I see it. Set in 1932 and 1941, the novel includes an eccentric healer, stolen jewels, and a cocky U.S. Navy officer.

Madame Matisse by Sophie Haydock (France 1930s, March 5)

The Antidote by Karen Russell (Nebraska Dust Bowl, March 11)

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry (South Carolina 1927, March 18)

The Hymn to Dionysius by Natasha Pulley (Ancient Greece, March 18)

A Scandalous Affair by Leonard Goldberg  (World War I England, March 4)

BEST TITLE

Smoke and Silk by Fiona Keating (March 27)

“Keating’s delicious debut guides us through the little-known world of Victorian London’s Chinese community in working-class Limehouse.” ~Stella Duffy

Each of these titles interests me because they hint at stories that twist the expected. Stealing from thieves? Bending not breaking? My choice for best title, however, is Smoke and Silk. Set in Victorian London’s Chinatown, in includes murder, opium smuggling, and an unexpected lover.

To Steal From Thieves by M. K. Lobb (London, YA historical fantasy, March 25)

Bent but not Broken by Mary Monroe (Depression era Alabama, March 25)

Behind the Water Line by Kiona Walker Lemalle (Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, March 25)

The Resistance Painter by Kath Jonathan (Warsaw 1939, March 25)

The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue (Paris 1895, March 18)

MOST ANTICIPATED

An End of Troubles by History Through Fiction (March 1)

“Discover stories where diverse characters confront pivotal historical moments, challenging their resilience and sparking transformation.” ―Book Description

You already know I’m looking forward to River of Fire, so I chose something else to showcase here. Since Paper Lantern Writers has published three anthologies of short historical fiction, I can hardly wait to see what History Through Fiction’s anthology brings!

The Californians by Brian Castleberry (1924/2024 New York/Palm Springs, March 11)

The Boxcar Librarian by Brianna Labuskes (Depression era Montana, March 4)

Six Weeks in Reno by Lucy H. Hedrick (Reno 1931, March 4)

The Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner (Malibu 1956, March 18)

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Need more historical fiction on your TBR? See more new release titles at Historical Novel Society.

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