Beyond the Pages

A collection of historical fiction insights, book recommendations, and behind-the-scenes stories. Explore immersive settings, strong women, and the moments that shape unforgettable stories.

What You’ll Find Here

Book recommendations and reading lists
Historical insights and research discoveries
Behind-the-scenes writing reflections

Behind the Book: Lisa M. Lane on Murder at the Gasworks

Historian and novelist Lisa M. Lane shares the inspiration behind her Victorian mystery Murder at the Gasworks, including the real history of London’s gasworks and the origins of the Tommy Jones series.

April 2026 Historical Fiction Releases Worth Reading

April 2026 historical fiction releases feature bold women navigating war, reinvention, ambition, and survival across centuries.

The Invisible Women of Wartime Intelligence | How WWII Shaped Historical Fiction

Most women who worked in wartime intelligence were never meant to be remembered. This post explores the real behind-the-scenes roles that shaped World War II — and how understanding them changes the way we read historical fiction set in the 1940s.

When a Mystery Refuses to Behave

Some stories refuse to behave. This behind-the-scenes reflection explores what happens when a historical mystery resists easy answers — and why that tension matters.

Heather Webb on The Hope Keeper & the Hope Diamond

Heather Webb shares the inspiration behind The Hope Keeper, a Jazz Age novel centered on grief, mystery, and the enduring intrigue of the Hope Diamond.