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Lucy Campion Mysteries #7
Death Among the Ruins
Midnight assignations, dresses fit to meet the queen . . . and murder most horrid! Printer's apprentice Lucy Campion investigates a puzzling death in this thrilling historical mystery set in seventeenth-century London.
London, 1668. Printer’s apprentice Lucy Campion is suspicious when she meets a young ragpicker who claims to have fine clothes to sell from a lady of quality. Are the garments stolen . . . or a sign of something worse?
Her suspicions are soon realized when the clothes are identified as belonging to a recently deceased elderly aristocrat. Young Mercy Sykes has robbed a grave! Mercy is arrested, and it’s only thanks to Lucy’s intervention that the ragpicker, who's struggling to support her family, isn’t locked up.
Lucy doesn’t expect to see Mercy again, but their meeting soon has unexpected consequences. For when Mercy finds a dead woman in the ruins of Christchurch, dressed in unexpected finery, it’s to Lucy who she turns for help . . .
Lucy Campion is a feisty working-class heroine, plying her trade as a printer's apprentice in Renaissance London. If you're new to the series (it's safe to jump right in), we can't wait for you to meet her in this twisty, puzzle-packed historical mystery, brimming with authenticity!
London, 1668. Printer’s apprentice Lucy Campion is suspicious when she meets a young ragpicker who claims to have fine clothes to sell from a lady of quality. Are the garments stolen . . . or a sign of something worse?
Her suspicions are soon realized when the clothes are identified as belonging to a recently deceased elderly aristocrat. Young Mercy Sykes has robbed a grave! Mercy is arrested, and it’s only thanks to Lucy’s intervention that the ragpicker, who's struggling to support her family, isn’t locked up.
Lucy doesn’t expect to see Mercy again, but their meeting soon has unexpected consequences. For when Mercy finds a dead woman in the ruins of Christchurch, dressed in unexpected finery, it’s to Lucy who she turns for help . . .
Lucy Campion is a feisty working-class heroine, plying her trade as a printer's apprentice in Renaissance London. If you're new to the series (it's safe to jump right in), we can't wait for you to meet her in this twisty, puzzle-packed historical mystery, brimming with authenticity!
240 pages, Hardcover
First published June 6, 2023
6 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Susanna Calkins
22 books345 followersSUSANNA CALKINS, author of the award-winning Lucy Campion series, holds a PhD in history and teaches at the college level. Her historical mysteries have been nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark and Agatha awards, among many others, and The Masque of a Murderer received a Macavity. Originally from Philadelphia, Calkins now lives in the Chicago area with her husband and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 25, 2023
This murder mystery really gives the reader a sense of the time period. The book really gets into Lucy's personal life as well.
This book is written well since it takes you through a lot of twists and turn, but you also feel the emotions and empathy Lucy feels as the story progresses.
I haven't read a bunch of books in this time period. I felt like this book really paid attention to those details without losing the character development. This is the first book I picked up in the series and am hoping to read others.
Thank you to Severn House and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
This book is written well since it takes you through a lot of twists and turn, but you also feel the emotions and empathy Lucy feels as the story progresses.
I haven't read a bunch of books in this time period. I felt like this book really paid attention to those details without losing the character development. This is the first book I picked up in the series and am hoping to read others.
Thank you to Severn House and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
June 13, 2023
Lucy Campion fan! My mom and sister enjoy these books more than mine, I think.
June 5, 2023
Many thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review Death Among the Ruins. All opinions and comments are my own.
Printer’s apprentice Lucy Campion, our plucky heroine through seven books now, has her hands full in Death Among the Ruins. She gets involved in the case of a dead servant girl wearing her mistress’s clothing, all occasioned when a ragpicker is caught wearing the dress. Ah, grave-robbing, such a wonderful (but lucrative) business. And so, Lucy becomes caught up in the dead girl’s death, taking us on a journey of murder, ill-treatment of servants, and family secrets that ends in a shattering fashion. At the end Lucy will have a new story to set out for Master Aubrey, one that will sell many a copy.
Our secondary story centers around Lucy’s wedding. She’s still concerned about the social disparity between herself and Adam Hargrove, her fiancé. The author plays this up well, because this could be a real problem. Her soon-to-be father-in-law, the magistrate, assures her that all will be well, that she will be accepted into their family with no problems. Well, that is as may be, but what will other members of our English society say? (And don’t forget, Lucy is also a “working woman.”) It will be interesting to see how this is handled in future books.
Readers will find that Death Among the Ruins has a skillful reveal, and certainly paints a picture of 17th century London wonderfully. Another worthy effort from Susanna Calkins.
Printer’s apprentice Lucy Campion, our plucky heroine through seven books now, has her hands full in Death Among the Ruins. She gets involved in the case of a dead servant girl wearing her mistress’s clothing, all occasioned when a ragpicker is caught wearing the dress. Ah, grave-robbing, such a wonderful (but lucrative) business. And so, Lucy becomes caught up in the dead girl’s death, taking us on a journey of murder, ill-treatment of servants, and family secrets that ends in a shattering fashion. At the end Lucy will have a new story to set out for Master Aubrey, one that will sell many a copy.
Our secondary story centers around Lucy’s wedding. She’s still concerned about the social disparity between herself and Adam Hargrove, her fiancé. The author plays this up well, because this could be a real problem. Her soon-to-be father-in-law, the magistrate, assures her that all will be well, that she will be accepted into their family with no problems. Well, that is as may be, but what will other members of our English society say? (And don’t forget, Lucy is also a “working woman.”) It will be interesting to see how this is handled in future books.
Readers will find that Death Among the Ruins has a skillful reveal, and certainly paints a picture of 17th century London wonderfully. Another worthy effort from Susanna Calkins.
June 30, 2023
I was so happy to be “reunited” with Lucy again! I have loved being immersed in the world of 17th century London in this series while trying to solve mysteries alongside Lucy. With each book in this series, Susanna Calkins writing evolved along with Lucy’s story and I feel that “Death Among the Ruins” is her best one yet in this series.
Even if one has never read a Lucy Campion mystery, there are enough mentions of Lucy’s life and adventures to catch the reader up to Lucy’s current life.
I could not put this book down as the mystery developed and kept me guessing to the end. I felt the pace of the overarching mystery was steady, but did not lag thanks to smaller truths that had to be found throughout the story.
I also enjoyed the observations and discussions about the class system of 17th century London. Lucy’s social position was put at a juxtaposition to several of the characters lives and it made me think more about how society may overall evolve, but how the core of unspoken societal rules never changes.
The world of Lucy Campion has mirrored some of today’s current events throughout the series, which was especially noted in this book in the author’s acknowledgements. For me personally, this mirroring made reading about Lucy more like reading about a good friend who would empathize with your reaction to events.
Even if one has never read a Lucy Campion mystery, there are enough mentions of Lucy’s life and adventures to catch the reader up to Lucy’s current life.
I could not put this book down as the mystery developed and kept me guessing to the end. I felt the pace of the overarching mystery was steady, but did not lag thanks to smaller truths that had to be found throughout the story.
I also enjoyed the observations and discussions about the class system of 17th century London. Lucy’s social position was put at a juxtaposition to several of the characters lives and it made me think more about how society may overall evolve, but how the core of unspoken societal rules never changes.
The world of Lucy Campion has mirrored some of today’s current events throughout the series, which was especially noted in this book in the author’s acknowledgements. For me personally, this mirroring made reading about Lucy more like reading about a good friend who would empathize with your reaction to events.
March 26, 2023
I’ve been reading the Lucy Campion series since the first book and I’ve quite enjoyed them all. It’s been interesting to see her grow and find her place in the late 1600s world she inhabits. The mystery in each book unfailingly are well written, and have me guessing to the very end.
In this outing we find Lucy attempting to solve the murder of a servant while also navigating her apprenticeship and her upcoming marriage. I enjoyed spending time with Lucy and her close friends and families. Such a unique group. Her insight and empathy towards the murdered woman shed a light on her own innet world an allowed her to face her biggest fears in her upcoming marriage. It was well done, and had me rooting for her at every turn.
I’m not sure if there any more books within this series, but if there aren’t, this was a wonderful conclusion to Lucy’s story. Thank you Netgalley and Severn House for my DRC in exchange for my honest opinion.
In this outing we find Lucy attempting to solve the murder of a servant while also navigating her apprenticeship and her upcoming marriage. I enjoyed spending time with Lucy and her close friends and families. Such a unique group. Her insight and empathy towards the murdered woman shed a light on her own innet world an allowed her to face her biggest fears in her upcoming marriage. It was well done, and had me rooting for her at every turn.
I’m not sure if there any more books within this series, but if there aren’t, this was a wonderful conclusion to Lucy’s story. Thank you Netgalley and Severn House for my DRC in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 13, 2023
Death Among the Ruins is a fantastic historical mystery taking place two years after the Great Fire of London, in which Lucy Campion finds herself involved with a murder mystery - a body found in an area of fire ruins - through interactions with people in the general area where she lives and her "in" with the local constable. Within the main storyline, there is a secondary storyline involving Campion's personal life.
As the story goes, we find out the in and outs of what British society was like in 1668 as well as what such things could lead to of all things - a murder!
This book flows and the end - I didn't see it coming! It was fantastic! An absolutely must read! I cannot wait for another book!
As the story goes, we find out the in and outs of what British society was like in 1668 as well as what such things could lead to of all things - a murder!
This book flows and the end - I didn't see it coming! It was fantastic! An absolutely must read! I cannot wait for another book!
March 19, 2023
The latest in this excellent, historically rich series has a well plotted mystery, family drama, and considerable advancements in the main characters’ lives. As always, Calkins imbues the books with rich historical detail that are convincingly woven into the stories. There are relatively few series set in the late 17th century, so I always enjoy learning from these books. Lucy is drawn into yet another murder mystery when a ragpicker finds a woman’s body in the ruins of a church. As always, Lucy works to help the constabulary work out the truth, although in this entry she is also coming to terms with her own looming life changes. Followers of the series will find the ending very rewarding.
April 15, 2023
The brutal murder of a maidservant is a the center of this intriguing and very entertaining whodunit full of family secrets, lies and violence, a terrific murder mystery set in London at the end of the 1660s.
As usual with this wonderful series the plot is superbly choreographed and the ensemble cast is exquisitely drawn and the author offers us a magnificent fictional portrait of London after the Great Fire of 1666.
This is historical fiction at its best and it deserves to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this terrific ARC!
As usual with this wonderful series the plot is superbly choreographed and the ensemble cast is exquisitely drawn and the author offers us a magnificent fictional portrait of London after the Great Fire of 1666.
This is historical fiction at its best and it deserves to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this terrific ARC!
April 14, 2023
This latest installment of the Lucy Campion series relies very heavily on telling, rather than showing. I appreciate that the main character considers clues and problems in a logical manner, but much of the book consists of Lucy speaking aloud to herself. Dialogue often comes across as rather abrupt, and the setting is a sketch, rather than a clear picture. The final clues to the mystery are improbable and far too neatly laid out. I am not sure if the series will continue but I am not likely to read additional installments.
May 5, 2023
Death Among the Ruins is a solid mystery novel that will keep readers engaged from start to finish. The plot is well-crafted and the characters are complex and interesting. However, readers who haven't read the rest of the series may find themselves struggling to connect with the story on a deeper level. Overall, I'd recommend this book to fans of the mystery genre who are familiar with the series.
May 20, 2023
It wasn't easy for a young woman to navigate life in London in 1668- and this is especially true for young Mercy, a rag picker who is fortunate enough to meet Lucy, a printers apprentice and ace solver of mysteries. This has murder, issues of class, romance (sort of), and a look at life, I've only read one of the preceding novels, making this more or less a fine standalone for me- and I'll look for the next one. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of historical mysteries.
August 18, 2023
The basic story was fine and Lucy is still an interesting character, but there were parts of the book I didn’t really enjoy, I found some of it quite depressing and the ending to the mystery was a bit too melodramatic.
Having said that I was still happy to give three stars.
Having said that I was still happy to give three stars.
April 7, 2023
So pleased to snag an ARC of this one! This series truly keeps getting better and better and better.
July 2, 2023
I always look forward to a new Lucy Campion! This was another good adventure, but I hope things don't change too much for her. I love her true accounts and crime solving.
December 24, 2023
All I can say, is I love this series! Great time period. Easy readability with great characters! Can’t believe I have to wait another year or more till the next book in the series.
March 27, 2024
Although I'm not certain how historically correct parts of this are it was an easy, pleasant read.
June 5, 2023
Having read all of the previous books in this series, I can definitely say that Death Among the Ruins is a solid historical mystery. The plot is well-crafted and filled with complexities. Caukiins core characters are, as always, interesting and engaging.
An entertaining addition to a wonderful series.
An entertaining addition to a wonderful series.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews