A Murder at Rosamund’s Gate by Susanna Calkins is a historical mystery set in London during the Restoration (available April 23, 2013).
I’m the type of reader who loves a thrill ride, especially set in somewhere unfamiliar and fascinating. Which makes me not quite the right reader for this beautifully written book.
A Murder at Rosamund’s Gate is set in the time after Charles II’s Restoration in London, and revolves around a servant trying to solve the murder of her friend. I was eager to read a mystery set in the time period, as it’s one not normally covered in mysteries.
The story, a debut by Susanna Calkins, has a great many strengths. I was immersed in the world of Lucy Campion, a maid in the home of a well-to-do family in London. The upstairs/downstairs division between Lucy and her fellow servants and the family they serve was particularly well-drawn, and her duties and responsibilities were laid out in fascinating detail, including how to get rid of household waste. The trips to the market were similarly interesting, especially when, early on, Lucy is slyly able to retrieve an item stolen and return it to the rightful owner. There’s also a lovely sequence in which the servants gather at a local party while their employers celebrate in more royal style.
The murder of one of her fellow maids, which seems connected to a previous death, sets Lucy on an investigation to find the culprit, especially after her brother is accused of the crime. In this, she has the help of the heir of the house, though it’s unclear whether he is helper or killer for a long time. The climax, set during the Great Fire in London, is exciting and the reveal of the murderer’s identity.
The story itself moves slowly. At times, it seems far more interested in detailing Lucy’s everyday life than in the murder plot and the secondary romantic plot. I could put this down without worrying about the characters, partly because, while I admired Lucy, her actions seemed inconsistent. She’s well versed in the downstairs politics but for a girl growing up after tragedy in her life, she seems a little too naïve about sex or the perils related to men’s attention. At one point, she goes to visit her brother in prison and encounters several threats to her person. I’d call it an act of courage but Lucy seems unaware of how dangerous descending into a prison, even to visit, could be.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves historical details and a fascinating glimpse into the time period, and the book does pick up after about 200 pages. I just wish the mystery had been as enthralling as their everyday life.
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Corrina Lawson is a writer, mom, geek and superhero, thought not always all four on the same day. She is a senior editor of the GeekMom Blog on Wired.com (www.wired.com/geekmom) and the author of a superhero romance series and an alternate history series featuring Romans and Vikings in ancient North America. She has been a comic book geek all her life and often dreamed of growing up to be Lois Lane.
This looks interesting!
Interesting premise
I love stories like this.
I enjoy historical mysteries – this looks interesting.
I love historical mysteries so this would be a great win for me.
luv to win. thx
I haven’t read any other mysteries set in this time period, so it looks quite interesting.
i would love to read this.
looks good
So Groovy!
sounds like a winner 2 ME
I enjoy a good historical mystery and this one looks like a wonderful read!
Love love love the letter in her hand, on the cover….Such an art form!
OOOOOOh! this sounds amazing!
Very nice!
I love thrillers and this time period sounds fascinating for a mystery.
I like books set in this time period that are about “real” people instead of the aristocracy.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I love mysteries and the setting of this book looks good. I like historical novels.
bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com
historical mysteries are the best!!!!!!!!!!
This sounds very interesting. I love historical novels.
I miss London. I would love to read this book and reminisce.
Sounds right up my alley!
Would love to read this!
What a wonderful premise: a mystery involving the serving class in the period of the Restoration. This debut work by Susanna Calkins sounds like a really good read!
The cover is very intriging and the description sounds like a compelling read.
Sounds like an interesting book. Thanks for the review.
Okay, to be sure, upstairs/ downstairs says it all. This has to be read!! And preferably by me.
I love a good historical mystery. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Sounds great !
Can’t wait to read–I love historical mysteries.
I’m an Anglophile. What can I say? There isn’t a month that goes by that I don’t consume an English mystery or two. This sounds delightful!
I enjoy all historical fiction because it grants a glimpse into a world and a time in a way that history textbooks cannot. Historical fiction brings history to life.
Sounds like a good read. I like historical fiction. Dee
The setting is a favorite of mine and historical suspense
is fabulous!
Thanks very much…
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Oh, a historical thriller with the help sleuthing around to add lots
of suspense. I love it!! Drop my name into the hat for a chance to win A Murder at Rosemund’s Cafe. Sounds like a great read.
Historical mysteries are my favorite. Thanks for the giveaway!
Historical mysteries are my favorite.
It sounds interesting!
I’m anxious to read this one.
Enjoy historical mysteries. Count me in. Always looking for new authors to read.
I want to win. 🙂
I’d love a chance to win this book. The book sounds tantalizing. I love the author’s description of herself and would love to see if that translates into her work.
I’d really enjoy reading an historical crime mystery. I’m in on this one!
Love it
Another to add to my list!
Aargh, I wish it would show red before you posted, lol!! Would love to win this!
I would certainly like to win a copy of this book. I enjoy historical mysteries, and this seems to be a new type of dectective.
Would love to read this!
I love historical mysteries
[b]Right up my alley!![/b]
Can’t beat the combination of historical fiction and a mystery!!
Life has certainly changed since the setting of this story! At least for most of us.
I love historical mysteries . If it is anything like Anne Perry, count me in. The richness of the period will always keep me interested.
Historical mystery…awesome!!
This book sounds intriguing!
Death of a maid! Yes!
Love historical mysteries, especially when they go into detailing everyday life. Thanks for the chance to win.
This book sounds cool. Would love to win it!
Historicals are cool. Sign me up!
sounds good
Historical fiction with a mystery…what fun to read.
Looks like a good read. I enjoy a good british mystery.
I have this one on my wish list!!
Excellent review and I agree. It’s also the first in a seres.
I’m not entering as I already have an ARC.
Can’t wait!
I haven’t read a mystery set in the more civilized city set in this time period. It would be interesting to see how the author handles the difficulties of a servent moving about freely enough to solve a crime, even with the help of one of the upper classes. Most detective of these eras are people of means. I’d like to read the book and add it to my library.
I love English mysteries of this period. Good read.
I normally don’t historical mysteries, but I would love to give it a try.
A historical murder mystery! I’l love to read it!
I am a thriller fan. This would be a new time period. Would love a copy.
It’s great reading mysteries set in historical eras I don’t know a great deal about – educational and thrilling. This would be great to read.
Please enter me to win this. I would love to review it.
Looks great.
This looks great.
pbs next? sounds great!
This looks interesting. I enjoy a cracking good historical mystery!
I’d give this one a read!
[b]OH…you guys are ‘killing’ me! I absolutely love historical British mysteries! [/b]
[b]My mum and I love reading about the ‘upstairs/downstairs division’. I would LOVE to win this book!! TA!
*in case you’re wondering…’TA’ is brogue for ‘thank you’* 🙂
[/b]
I do love to read historical mysteries
Sounds like a great read!
It doesn’t look like I left a comment yet. I’d like to read this, so thanks.
I would love to read this book—thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
Sounds great!
[url=http://www.wired.com/geekmom/author/corrina/]Corrina Lawson[/url] dreamed of growing up to be Lois Lane while I hoped to be Little Lulu . . . .
I appreciate your review. I like historical mysteries and reading about London in this time period would be very interesting.
I have loved the Restoration as a setting for historical mysteries ever since I read John Dickson Carr’s Devil in Velvet. I love the sound of this story.
The story sounds interesting. I’d love to win a copy.
I love mysteries and would love to win this one.
Never read much about this time period so would love to try.
Bruce
I love historical fiction—looks very interesting!
The link for this contest isn’t working either. This book sounds fascinating!
I would love to read this book
Sounds interesting! Send me a copy.
Sounds interesting! Send me a copy.
I would love to review this on my blog!!
Looks like a winner of a story!
Historical mysteries are my favorite. This looks intriguing.
I appreciate a tight, well-written historical crime drama.
I love historical murder mysteries, can’t wait to read this book.
sounds like a fun one!
Thank you for the great giveaway please count me in 🙂
Sounds like a good historical mystery!!
would really love to read this! i love anything with a historical basis.
looks like a great read
Looks to be a good read.
Awesome giveaway!!! Thanks
daveshir2005@yahoo.com
I love this review and would love to win and review this.
[url=mailto:jrs362@hotmail.com]jrs362@hotmail.com[/url]
i love to read!
It sounds like a great read. Thanks for the giveaway.
Looks mysterious! I’d love to read it. Thanks!
Looks good, include me!
I like it!!
Sounds so interesting, count me in!
looks great!
looks interesting.