historical novels

The Boy in Striped Pajamas. Also, I am not sue if you would classify The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova historical fiction. But it is based on the story of Dracula and it is absolutely amazing

The Princess of Cleves by Madame de Lafayette, a lot of characters from the House of Valois, a French royal families.

It depends what period of history you like to read about. If you like reading WW1 and WW2 novels, look at anything by Lilian Harry and Mary Jane Staples. For Victorian mystery, try Ann Perry's Inspector Pitt and William Monk series. If you like mediaeval whodunnits, try the Cadfael novels of Ellis Peters. Robert Graves' 'Claudius' novels are brilliant evocations of the Roman empire. If you want to go for English historical, try anything by E. V. Thompson, who writes about Cornwall in the 19th century. Staying with Cornwall, the 'Poldark' novels of Winston Graham are brilliant. Hope this helps.