What I'm looking for is a Victorian London or something in Venice (unique cities to be sure). The idea is that it's a conspiracy to overthrow the crown/discredit the church type of novel. Trying to keep the timeline sometime in the early industrial revolution or earlier.
I've never been super huge on pure historical fiction mysteries, thus my repertoire is not terribly big with them, and it's something I mean to correct.
Any ideas?
A lot of steampunk takes place in Victorian England.
There is a Chthulu/Sherlock Holmes anthology that is pretty good. Shadows over Baker Street, I think it's called.
I've been reading a series starring Richard Burton as the main character in the steampunk trilogy "Burton and Swinburne": The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack; "The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man"; and "Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon" by Mark Hodder.
Gail Carriger has a hilarious comedy of manners in Victorian England as well. Lots of werewolves and vampires, but none that sparkle.
Not sure this is quite what you're looking for but The Lies of Locke Lamora has a bit of a (magical) Venetian feel to it. It's about a really audacious group of thieves. I'm not what direction its going in the future but the main character has a bit of a beef with a powerful guild of sorcerers.
Forgive my pedantry, Darkmeer, but Victorian England is at the tail-end of the Industrial Revolution.
That being said, the Victorian-era Steampunk book is The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling.
SmiloDan's recommendations look pretty awesome. Richard Burton hanging out with Algernon Swinburne?!? Sounds like my cup of tea.
Doodlebug: You're forgiven :) (or :P dependent on initial meaning).
Victorian England/Steampunk seem to go hand in hand from what I understand. And all of you had great suggestions for this!
Definitely checking out all the suggestions!
Yeah, the Burton/Swinburne series is really fun! :-)
But no dirigibles. :-(
Just giant swans and personal-sized gyrocopters. :-D