This post was last updated on May 8th, 2025 at 08:01 pm
The novels in this list of fiction books about Wales will take you questing through the hills of Snowdonia, solving mysteries in the mountains, and fighting alongside the Welsh kings of the thirteenth century. And if you’re in the mood for a little Welsh magic, you’ll find that too.
Here are seven fiction books about Wales that range from crime novels to historical fiction to young adult fantasy. What novels are set in Snowdonia? Her Last Holiday by C.L. Taylor is a book you’ll find below that the author has set in Snowdonia. Also, one of the most popular and bestselling series set in Snowdonia is the Snowdonia Murder Mystery Series by Simon McCleave. This 21-book series follows Detective Inspector Ruth Hunter after she starts a new life in this beautiful national park in North Wales after leaving a painful past in London. As another example, much of the story in the remarkable book The Brothers of Gwynedd by Edith Pargeter, which you’ll see below, also occurs in what is now Eryri (Snowdonia). Present-day Gwynedd County covers much of that area.
Who is the most famous author in Wales? Dylan Thomas and Kate Roberts were two famous writers who significantly impacted Welsh literature. Of course, other authors from Cymru also rose to great heights of fame and influence. You can read about some of these gifted Welsh authors in the posts Famous Welsh Authors Who Inspire Us in Any Language and 3 Talented Modern Welsh Authors You’ll Want to Read Now.
This post is about fiction books about Wales.
Fiction Books About Wales
Her Last Holiday by C.L. Taylor
Beginning our list of fiction books about Wales for adults is Her Last Holiday. As mentioned earlier, this gripping crime fiction novel is set in a retreat in Snowdonia in North Wales.
From the blurb: You come to SoulShrink to be healed. You don’t expect to die… Two years ago, Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared on a wellness retreat in Gozo that went terribly wrong. Tom Wade, the now-infamous man behind Soul Shrink Retreats, has just been released from prison after serving his sentence for the deaths of two people. But he has never let on what happened to the third victim: Jenna.
Determined to find out the truth, Fran books herself onto his upcoming retreat—the first since his release—and finds herself face-to-face with the man who might hold the key to her sister’s disappearance. The only question is, will she escape the retreat alive? Or does someone out there want Jenna’s secrets to stay hidden?
Tree of Crows by Lewis Davies
From the blurb: A brooding murder mystery that hinges on the dark edges of imagination. A death on the mountain but no body, only rumours. Elan has been missing for two years. Her people presume she has abandoned the mountain to live with the Travellers who collect crystals from the quarries every Summer.
Nye John, a friend of Elan, lives alone in a remote cottage on the far side of the Brechfa. He has lost valuable stock to unaccountable kills over the winter. He forms a theory that wolves from the North are running on the High Vans again. Not many people believe him, but it is enough to start a rumour of something unaccounted for on the mountain. Elan’s brother Cain still farms his land to the rim of the Vans. He has also lost stock to unaccountable kills.
He needs to believe there are only rumours hiding on the open mountain. The rumours grow as the winter begins to grip the mountain, and the truth decides to come down from the High Vans.
Named of the Dragon by Susanna Kearsley
If you’re looking for romance novels set in Wales, Named of the Dragon by bestselling author Susanna Kearsley blends romance and the paranormal in an ominous Welsh setting. In this suspenseful book, protagonist Lyn Ravenshaw must confront the ghosts of her past.
From the blurb: The charm of spending the Christmas holidays in South Wales, with its rich history, crumbling castles, and ancient myths, seems the perfect distraction from the nightmares that have plagued literary agent Lyn Ravenshaw since the loss of her baby five years ago.
Instead, she meets an emotionally fragile young widow who’s convinced that Lyn’s recurring dreams have drawn her to Castle Farm for an important purpose—and she’s running out of time. With the help of a reclusive, brooding playwright, Lyn begins to untangle the mystery and is pulled into a world of Celtic legends, dangerous prophecies, and a child destined for greatness.
From Waterloo to Water Street (The Carmarthen Chronicles Book 1) by S.E. Morgan
From Waterloo to Water Street is the perfect escape read if you’re in the mood for historical novels set in Wales.
From the blurb: A grandfather riddled by guilt, a son-in-law risking everything fighting for justice, and two grandsons locked in bitter rivalry. Carmarthen, Wales, 1843—Oppressed by tolls and taxes, rebellion ignites. Rebecca Rioters, disguised as women, tear down toll gates, plunging the countryside into chaos. Amid the unrest, a storm of secrets and rivalries engulf Will Morgan and his family.
Will, a clever but cautious carpenter’s apprentice, seethes with anger that his elder brother will inherit their family farm. His resentment boils over when his charming, radical brother falls in love with Ellen—Will’s closest friend.
Thomas, their cantankerous grandfather, is haunted by the horrors of the Napoleonic Wars and memories of battles fought with the 44th East Essex Regiment. Sharing his memories with Will could be Thomas’s last chance for peace. The workhouse looms for the “deserving poor,” and the protestors risk execution or deportation for seeking “fair-handed justice.” Survival demands courage, sacrifice, and unity.
The Brothers of Gwynedd: The Legend of the First True Prince of Wales by Edith Pargeter
If you enjoy Welsh history books, The Brothers of Gwynedd is a richly detailed historical fiction novel set in Cymru in the thirteenth century. At over 800 pages, the book is definitely a commitment, but one you’ll have difficulty putting down.
From the blurb: A burning desire for one country, one love, and one legacy that will last forever. Llewelyn, prince of Gwynedd, dreams of a Wales united against the English, but first, he must combat enemies nearer home. Llewelyn and his brothers—Owen Goch, Rhodri, and David—vie for power among themselves and with the English king, Henry III. Despite the support of his beloved wife, Eleanor, Llewelyn finds himself trapped in a situation where the only solution could be his very downfall…
Originally published in England as four individual novels, The Brothers of Gwynedd transports you to a world of chivalry, gallant heroes, and imprisoned damsels; to star-crossed lovers and glorious battle scenes; and is Edith Pargeter’s absorbing tale of tragedy, traitors, and triumph of the heart.
“A lively evocation of life on the Welsh borders in the Middle Ages, coupled with an ingenious plot, and the whole narrated with elegant crispness.” —The Times Literary Supplement
The above list focuses primarily on fiction books about Wales for adults. However, here are two novels for young adults for those of you who are looking for them. This way, you won’t have to click to another page. If you’d like to see more choices, you can also find great reads for children and teenagers in the posts 10 High Fantasy Books for Young Adults with Welsh Themes and 9 Best Fantasy Books for 13-Year-Olds Set in Wales.
Fiction Books About Wales for Young Adults: Skrimsli by Nicola Davies
From the blurb: Who are you if you’ve never seen another face like yours? Where do you belong if you don’t know where your home is? What do you call yourself when others call you ‘freak’? How can you be brave when you are full of fear? Why would you choose purpose over love? Skrimsli is the second fantasy adventure from author Nicola Davies, set in a world where animals and humans can sometimes share their thoughts. It traces the early life of Skrimsli, the tiger sea captain who stole readers’ hearts in The Song that Sings Us.
He and his friends, Owl and Kal, must escape the clutches of the tyrannical circus owner Kobret Majak and his twin assassin-acrobats, then stop a war and save the ancient forest, where the Tiger and the Owl are sacred guardians. Skrimsli and his friends are helped by the Palatine, a desert princess and her eagle, a chihuahua who thinks she’s a wolf, a horse with a heart of gold, and the crew of a very unusual ship. This is a story full of excitement and danger that explores themes of friendship, loyalty, identity, and love in the context of some of humanity’s toughest problems.
The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan
From the blurb: Young Gwenni Morgan has a gift. She can fly in her sleep. She’s also fond of strawberry whip, detective stories, and asking difficult questions. When a neighbour mysteriously vanishes, she resolves to uncover the secret of his disappearance and return him to his children. She truthfully records what she sees and hears, but are her deductions correct? What is the real truth? And what will be the consequences for Gwenni, her family, and her community of finding it out?
Gwenni Morgan is an unforgettable creation, and this portrait of life in a small Welsh town on the brink of change in the 1950s is enthralling, moving, and utterly real. Mari Strachan’s debut is a magical novel that will transport you to another time and place.
Are there any novels you’d like to see included in this list of the best fiction books about Wales? Feel free to comment and tell me what you love about your favorite books!
This post is about fiction books about Wales.
Looking for other novels about Wales? You might also enjoy 4 Best Books About Wales for All-Night Reading and 7 Best Welsh Novels Full of Hardship and Hiraeth.
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