This is the first book by Minette Walters that I have read and it certainly won't be the last.
The historical setting is fourteenth century Dorset when the Black Death entered England on the fleas on rats. The villagers lives are totally governed by the Lord of the desmesne (new word for me!) and the Church.
The characters are beautifully portrayed - the cruel ignorant lord, his kind educated lady, their bitter daughter, the faithful steward, the drunken priest etc. The book conveys the terror of the villagers to the threat of pestilence and to the difficult choices that had to be made in order to survive.
The Last Hours reminded me of Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth and I look forward to reading the promised sequel.
The historical setting is fourteenth century Dorset when the Black Death entered England on the fleas on rats. The villagers lives are totally governed by the Lord of the desmesne (new word for me!) and the Church.
The characters are beautifully portrayed - the cruel ignorant lord, his kind educated lady, their bitter daughter, the faithful steward, the drunken priest etc. The book conveys the terror of the villagers to the threat of pestilence and to the difficult choices that had to be made in order to survive.
The Last Hours reminded me of Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth and I look forward to reading the promised sequel.