Murder at Rosamund's Gate - (Lucy Campion Mysteries) by Susanna Calkins (Paperback)

About the Book

In Calkins' atmospheric debut novel, a chambermaid must uncover a murderer in 17th-century plague-ridden London. A chambermaid's life is abruptly changed when a fellow servant is ruthlessly killed.

Book Synopsis

For Lucy Campion, a seventeenth-century English chambermaid serving in the household of the local magistrate, life is an endless repetition of polishing pewter, emptying chamber pots, and dealing with other household chores until a fellow servant is ruthlessly killed, and someone close to Lucy falls under suspicion. Lucy can't believe it, but in a time where the accused are presumed guilty until proven innocent, lawyers aren't permitted to defend their clients, and--if the plague doesn't kill the suspect first--public executions draw a large crowd of spectators, Lucy knows she may never find out what really happened. Unless, that is, she can uncover the truth herself.

Determined to do just that, Lucy finds herself venturing out of her expected station and into raucous printers' shops, secretive gypsy camps, the foul streets of London, and even the bowels of Newgate prison on a trail that might lead her straight into the arms of the killer.

In her debut novel Murder at Rosamund's Gate, Susanna Calkins seamlessly blends historical detail, romance, and mystery in a moving and highly entertaining tale.

Review Quotes

"Susanna Calkins makes Restoration England come alive in her terrific debut, "A Murder at Rosamund's Gate". Murder, romance, and flawless social history combine into a beautifully crafted mystery that captivates until the very last page."--Stefanie Pintoff, author of "In the Shadow of Gotham

""Calkins makes Lucy's efforts to find the real killer entirely plausible, leading to a nail-biter climax with London in flames. This history-mystery delivers a strong heroine making her way through the social labyrinth of Restoration London."--"Booklist

""Set in 1665, Calkins's debut brings London on the eve of the Great Plague to vivid life...the high-quality writing augurs well for future outings."--"Publishers Weekly

""Calkin's debut mystery places her unusual detective in a world rich in carefully researched historical detail."--"Kirkus Reviews"

About the Author

SUSANNA CALKINS became fascinated with seventeenth century England while pursuing her doctorate in British history and uses her fiction to explore this chaotic period. Originally from Philadelphia, Calkins now lives outside of Chicago with her husband and two sons. A Murder at Rosamund's Gate is her first novel.