Macavity Award Finalist (2014)  Sue Feder Historical Mystery Award

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When someone she loves faces hanging for the murder of a fellow servant, Lucy Campion, a 17th century English chambermaid, must interpret the clues hidden in miniature portraits, popular ballads, and a corpse’s pointing finger, before the true murderer turns on her...
Barnes & Noble Bookseller's Selection
("Mystery Pick" and "Featured New Arrival")

Best Books of 2013
Chicago Book Review

"...the high-quality writing augurs well for future outings."
--Publisher's Weekly

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

See what other reviewers are saying...

 "New Fiction Pick for Summer"
The Paris Star Online (Paris, Ontario)

       "Calkins’ debut leaves the reader eagerly anticipating Lucy’snext sleuthing adventure in what
promises to be a first-rate historical series."
Richmond Times Dispatch
         
"In Susanna Calkins' excellently written, well-researched and engaging debut, Lucy confronts murder, scandal, and the plague." -Washington Independent Review of Books

   "...absorbing debut novel"-Limerick-Royersford-SpringCity Patch
         
“Calkins pays close attention to detail which means that the novel is historically accurate, and she only uses creative license in a few instances.  I could relate easily to the different characters, and I liked that Calkins didn’t paint any of them as all good or all bad.  The fast-paced plot kept me hooked throughout the novel….I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history or a good murder mystery/thriller.”
The Random Librarian

Cayocosta Book Reviews
“Wonderfully atmospheric, this book will grab readers at the first paragraph. Lucy is a likeable heroine and readers can only hope that this is just the first of many adventures.”

librarycrystal
"You won’t want to miss this novel... a great choice for your next weekend at home."

A Book and a Review
“I loved the way the author showed the differences between not only the classes, but between the acceptance and expectation of men/women."
Fresh Fiction
  • “A MURDER AT ROSAMUND'S GATE is a historical fiction mystery must read. Susanna Calkins easily combines history, mystery, and even some romance into exciting, page turning adventure.”
Book of Secrets
  • “For me, this book was more than a mystery. It was an eye-opening look at what London was like in the mid-1660s, including the plague and fire that ravaged London, class struggle, the plight of women, and the laws of the time. The author's engaging writing style made it easy to slip back into the past and experience these things with Lucy.”

1776 Books: A Philadelphian's Literary Journey
  • “A Murder at Rosamund's Gate is Susanna Calkins's absorbing debut novel.  Just a warning that time WILL easily slip away as you become engrossed in this historical fiction mystery.”

She Blinded me with Library Science!
  • Calkins is "clearly is an excellent storyteller with a knack for character writing.  I'd wholeheartedly recommend this book to a pretty wide variety of people - personally I loved it and it both met, and exceeded my expectations of what I wanted from it.”

Book Babe
  • “A good yarn and a fascinating look at life in England in a time when things began to change...social classes, positions, servants' rights...all because of plague and fire.”