
Historical fiction book · Curated
The Miniaturist
Jessie Burton · historical fiction
A young wife in 1680s Amsterdam receives a cabinet house—and cryptic dolls that seem to know too much.
Why read it: Atmospheric Dutch Golden Age mystery with lush period detail.
About this historical novel
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton is historical fiction set around 1686–1687 in the Early modern period with key settings including Amsterdam, Dutch Republic. A young wife in 1680s Amsterdam receives a cabinet house—and cryptic dolls that seem to know too much.
On HisFic we tag it under 3. Historical mystery & crime and 1. Literary historical fiction so you can pair it with similar story types. Recurring themes include secrets, marriage, art, class, and power. Atmospheric Dutch Golden Age mystery with lush period detail.
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Plot summary
A young wife in 1680s Amsterdam receives a cabinet house—and cryptic dolls that seem to know too much. Atmospheric Dutch Golden Age mystery with lush period detail.
Subgenres
Eras
Browse this mix
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Regions & places
Europe
Amsterdam · Dutch Republic
Themes
- secrets
- marriage
- art
- class
- power
Tags
book-club · mystery