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

“Lavish period detail, romantic tension, and a complex puzzle make the heroine’s fifth adventure one of her best”

“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”

“Calkins is an excellent storyteller and draws the reader into Lucy’s world effortlessly ... This is a wonderful series, a really wonderful array of characters, and best of all a great mystery at the center of things”

“An enjoyably complex mystery with a clever heroine neatly interweaves detailed historical background with fascinating characters”

“An involving tale. Solid historical mystery, with intriguing hints about the future”

“This fourth series entry stands well on its own . . . A nice option for devotees of Anne Rutherford and Samuel Thomas”

“Absorbing . . . Calkins’ tantalizing clues and rich historical details depicting everyday life and class differences draw readers into the seventeenth century”

“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”