The Crown Jewels Murders: A historical mystery from 17th century London

The Samuel Pepys Mysteries #8

by Ellis Blackwood

Only a madman – and Colonel Blood – would dream of stealing England’s Crown Jewels.
The crown, orb and sceptre are not merely priceless treasures, but symbolic of the monarch’s omnipotence. Lose them, and the kingdom may follow.
Commissioned to foil Blood’s audacious plot by Charles II himself, Abigail Harcourt and Jacob Standish are no longer merely Samuel Pepys’s inquisitors – they are the King’s inquisitors.
And the burden weighs heavy.
Aided by the brash and dashing Edward Burke – His Majesty’s personal spymaster – Abby and Jacob must trawl the maze of secrets within London’s indomitable Tower, seeking Blood and his accomplice.
But who could that be, when all are suspects, with politics, power and unimaginable wealth the motive? Make no mistake…
There will be Blood.

The Crown Jewels Murders continues the Samuel Pepys Mysteries, historical mysteries steeped in period colour and brimming with fiendish whodunits. Click Read Now or Buy Now and step back into Pepys’s London – once you do, you won't want to leave.

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2026

About the author

Ellis Blackwood fell in love with the writings of Samuel Pepys, and the 17th-century England he inhabited, through the great man's published diaries. The Samuel Pepys Mysteries are the result of that literary love affair.

Reviews

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another engaging and fun installment of the series. This one had me on the edge of my seat, wanted to shake Jacob at one part of the book. Love his character but he isn't as sharp and people knowing as Abby. Already looking forward for the next book. Havnt been any book in the series I didn't like.

[Di Prokop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abigail Harcourt and Jacob Standish are tasked with their biggest challenge yet — protecting the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London on behalf of the king in Ellis Blackwood’s The Crown Jewel Murders.

So well plotted, in this eighth installment of the Samuel Pepys Mystery series, Blackwood artfully shows that everything we thought we knew is not necessarily so, keeping readers guessing until the very end.

The entire series leading up to and including The Crown Jewel Murders has taken place in less than six months from September, 1666 to January 1667. Each book, each adventure leading to the next for Abby, Pepys’ housemaid turned inquisitor and Jacob, who became Pepys’ inquisitor as a deathbed promise to Jacob’s father. With each mystery the pair became more confident in their skills and in each other.

Blackwood’s masterful skill in 17th century world-building only gets better as he takes readers along through the Tower of London, deftly bringing costumes, architecture, the infamous jewels and even the lion statues today’s visitors see to life.

I love historical fiction. Each of Blackwood’s mysteries had me wanting to learn more, wanting to find out what story may have been the inspiration behind it. For The Crown Jewels Murders, it may have been Thomas Blood, a real man, who is not only behind the fictional plot to thieve the exquisite jewels in this mystery but also for his own attempt at a Crown Jewels heist in 1671.

I highly recommend The Crown Jewel Murders to lovers of historical fiction, suspense, mysteries and British mystery series, in particular. I can hardly wait to read the series finale in April. I received an advance reader’s copy from Vintage Mystery Press, courtesy of the author.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another extremely exciting and baffling murder mystery involving the intrepid King's Investigators. Colonel Blood is determined to steal the crown jewels from the Tower of London, an impossible feat, surely, but one really should not underestimate the bold, reckless and clever villain. And pitting their wits against him, young Abigail and Jacob, probably totally out of their depth.

I always enjoy reading about these two and this book is no exception. 5 stars for sure!