The Sign of the Gallows

In Susanna Calkins' latest seventeenth-century historical mystery, the fifth in the series, printer's apprentice Lucy Campion investigates the seeming suicide of a man in London, and finds herself plunged into a world filled with cryptic clues, dark secrets . . . and terrible danger.

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 .

A dead man at a crossroads. A secret message. A ring with a warning about death . . . Printer's apprentice Lucy Campion is caught up in a strange and puzzling murder case in this twisty historical mystery set in seventeenth-century London.

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 . . .