'The Witch Elm' by Tana French. It's a gripping tale that has elements of historical context blended with mystery. The characters are complex and the story unfolds in a way that keeps you hooked as you learn about their pasts and the secrets they hold.
'Akin' by Emma Donoghue is also worth mentioning. Set in a post - World War II context, it follows an elderly man who takes his great - nephew on a trip to France. It touches on themes of memory, family secrets, and the after - effects of war in a very engaging and poignant way.
Well, 'The Book of Lost Names' is a newish historical fiction book. It's about a young woman in Nazi - occupied France who forges documents to save Jewish children. There are also many indie - published new releases in this genre that are worth exploring.
Well, 'The Thirteenth Tale' had a lot of fans too. It's a gothic - style historical fiction that weaves a complex web of mystery and family secrets. The atmospheric writing and the way it unfolds the story over different time periods really attracted readers.
Well, 'Homegoing' was also very popular. Its multi - generational and multi - cultural story was very engaging. It was able to connect different historical periods and places in a very seamless way, which made it stand out among the other historical fiction books of 2016.
Also, 'Pachinko' was popular. Its multi - generational story of a Korean family was appealing to a wide range of readers. It not only told a great family story but also educated readers about the historical context of Korea under Japanese rule and the experiences of Korean immigrants.
A very popular newly released fiction book is 'The Midnight Library' by Matt Haig. It's a thought - provoking story about a library that exists between life and death, where the main character gets to explore different versions of her life. Another one is 'The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue' by V.E. Schwab. It follows the story of a girl who makes a deal with a devil - like figure and lives for centuries, but is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. These books have captured the attention of many readers with their unique concepts and engaging storytelling.
I'm not entirely sure which ones were the most popular, but 'Bring Up the Bodies' was very well - received. It won many awards and was highly praised for its writing style and historical accuracy.
I think 'A Game of Thrones' was really popular. It had a huge following due to its complex world - building and interesting characters. It was adapted into a very successful TV series which also increased its popularity.
Some historical fiction books that are part of a series can also be popular. If there was a book in the 2008 list that was part of a series about ancient Rome, for example, it could be popular. Readers often like to follow a story over multiple books, getting deeper into the history and the characters as the series progresses.
In '100 historical fiction books', 'The Book Thief' is highly popular. Set during World War II, it tells the story of a girl who steals books. It has a unique narrative style. Also, 'The Help' is very well - liked. It shows the racial situation in the American South in the 1960s.