A Murder at Rosamund's Gate by Susanna Calkins, a Mysterious Review.

Review: When chambermaid Lucy Campion's brother is accused of murdering a fellow servant, she must hurry to identify the real killer before her brother is hanged in A Murder at Rosamund's Gate, the first mystery in this historical series by Susanna Calkins, set in 17th-century England.

Lucy works in the household of the local magistrate. And while he is good to his servants, the law of the land is guilty until proven innocent. So when Lucy's brother, Will, is imprisoned for the murder of Bessie, another servant, Lucy leaves the security of her employer and embarks on a journey into secretive gypsy camps; the coarse, filthy streets of London; even the insides of the Newgate prison. She follows a trail that in all likelihood will lead her to finding the killer. Unless, of course, the killer finds Lucy first.

A Murder at Rosamund's Gate is a very engaging mystery, mostly because of Lucy Campion, a hard-working, compassionate, young woman with a sense of humor. She is devoted not only to her fellow workers but also to her employers as well. The Hargraves are passionate in their desire to keep a good household, but are tolerant when a worker is in need. In this mystery there is a wide range of characters of all temperaments, providing a contrasting backdrop of conflict to Lucy's noble task. A good balance of murder mystery, history, and romance makes for an appealing story.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of A Murder at Rosamund's Gate.

Acknowledgment: Minotaur Books provided a copy of A Murder at Rosamund's Gate for this review.

A Murder at Rosamund's Gate

A Lucy Campion Mystery by Susanna Calkins