About me...

I write historical mysteries. My first series, the award-winning Lucy Campion Mysteries, is set in 17th century London. My second series, the Speakeasy Mysteries, is set in a Prohibition-Era Chicago speakeasy.

I hold a PhD in history and currently work at Northwestern University. Born and raised in Philadelphia, I live in the Chicago area with my husband and two sons.

​I am also the current president of the Sisters in Crime Chicagoland Chapter.

 In the News...

MURDER KNOCKS TWICE was nominated for the
  Agatha Award for Best Historical Mystery Award
and the
Bruce Alexander Historical Mystery Award (Lefty)!!!!

My first Lucy Campion mystery, A MURDER AT ROSAMUND'S GATE, was listed as one of "Twelve Enthralling Historical Mysteries that Take Place in England"!

---

I'm so honored that my fourth Lucy Campion mystery, A DEATH ALONG THE RIVER FLEET, is on display at the Museum of London Docklands Exhibit! What a thrill!

---

---

I have a new short story out in Simon Wood's new anthology, TROUBLE & STRIFE, in which all the titles taken from Cockney slang. 

---

My Books

Workshops, Talks & Teaching

ALL UPCOMING APPEARANCES CANCELLED THROUGH MAY

Please contact me about speaking to your group. I have extensive experience in teaching and public speaking. I have run many workshops (especially around writing historical fiction/mysteries, doing research, and providing effective critiques) for libraries, universities, book clubs and writers' groups. 

---

My workshop is in the news! Nice mention of a recent workshop I did on world-building for Northwestern's Summer Writers' Conference in Chicago!

Contact Info

E-mail me at s (dot) calkins (dot)nu (at) gmail (dot) com, "like" my author page on facebook (at) authorSusannaCalkins or find me on Twitter (at) scalkins3.

I am represented by David Hale Smith at Inkwell Management.
For publicity requests, please contact Sarah Melynk (sarah dot melnyk at stmartins dot com) at St.Martin's Press.

Learn more about the history behind the mysteries...