A Murder at Rosamund’s Gate

Set in 1665, Calkins’s debut brings London on the eve of the Great Plague to vivid life. Lucy Campion, a chambermaid, is fortunate to be employed by a benevolent magistrate named Hargrave, who’s eager to help her better herself. The discovery in a nearby field of a near-naked woman who has been stabbed to death piques Lucy’s interest. Hargrave links this crime to another murder. Following the killing of a fellow female servant, Lucy turns detective. She only intensifies her sleuthing efforts after her brother, William, who knew one of the dead women, is charged with the servant’s murder. When members of her household begin showing signs of having been infected with the Black Death, Lucy must deal with other life-and-death matters. The solution isn’t quite at the same level as the other aspects of the plot, but the high-quality writing augurs well for future outings. Agent: David Hale Smith, DHS Literary. (Apr.)