The Sign of the Gallows - (A Lucy Campion Mystery) by Susanna Calkins (Paperback)

About the Book

London, 1667. On her way to a new market to peddle her wares, printer's apprentice Lucy Campion is knocked off her feet by two men in a hurry. When she reaches the desolate crossroads, she discovers why: there, dangling from the hanging tree, is the body of a man. Did he take his life? Lucy is determined to uncover the truth, whatever the danger .

Book Synopsis

London, 1667. On her way to a new market to peddle her wares, printer's apprentice Lucy Campion is knocked off her feet by two men in a hurry. When she reaches the desolate crossroads, she discovers why: there, dangling from the hanging tree, is the body of a man. Did he take his life? Lucy is determined to uncover the truth, whatever the danger .

From the Back Cover

SUSANNA CALKINS THE SIGN OF THE GALLOWS London, 1667. On her way to a new market to peddle her True Accounts and Strange News, printer's apprentice Lucy Campion quickly regrets her decision to take the northwestern road. Dark and desolate, the path leads her to the crossroads - and to the old hanging tree. She doesn't believe in ghosts, but she's not sure ghosts don't believe in her. But before she even reaches the crossroads, she's knocked off her feet by two men in a hurry. What were they running from? To her dismay, she soon discovers for herself: there, dangling from the tree, is the body of a man. Did he commit self-murder, or is there something darker afoot? The more Lucy learns, the more determined she is to uncover the truth. But this time, even the help and protection of magistrate's son Adam, and steadfast Constable Duncan, may not be enough to keep her safe from harm . . .

Review Quotes

Absorbing . . . Calkins' tantalizing clues and rich historical details depicting everyday life and class differences draw readers into the seventeenth century-- "Booklist on The Masque of a Murderer"

An enjoyably complex mystery with a clever heroine neatly interweaves detailed historical background with fascinating characters-- "Kirkus Reviews on A Death Along the River Fleet"

An involving tale. Solid historical mystery, with intriguing hints about the future-- "Booklist on A Death Along the River Fleet"

Assured . . . Calkins's familiarity with the period and her use of obscure details, such as the fire court set up to adjudicate claims after the Great Fire of 1666, are a plus-- "Publishers Weekly on The Masque of a Murderer"

This fourth series entry stands well on its own . . . A nice option for devotees of Anne Rutherford and Samuel Thomas-- "Library Journal on A Death Along the River Fleet"

Calkins makes fine use of advances in mathematics and cryptography of this period, while also drawing in the chaos of the Great Fire and plague in London as agents of change in society. For anyone interested in 17th-century England, this mystery is a treat. Publishers Weekly

A crisply written, cleverly plotted, and nicely detailed historical mystery, with a lively heroine and a satisfying ending. Booklist

"Lavish period detail, romantic tension, and a complex puzzle make the heroine's fifth adventure one of her best" - Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Susanna Calkins is the author of the award-winning Lucy Campion mystery series, set in seventeenth century London, and the Speakeasy mysteries, set in Prohibition-era Chicago. She has a PhD in history and works at Northwestern University. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she currently lives in the Chicago area with her husband and two sons.