I have been a fan of Minette Walters for many years and have read most of her crime/thriller books with The Sculptress and The Ice House being particularly memorable. So I was a bit unsure when she swapped genres and moved to writing historical fiction. But The Last Hours intrigued me, because it is set in the time of the plague, something I have always been fascinated by and have enjoyed reading books about it. (The Domesday Book by Connie Willis is an excellent example.)
The Last Hours is set in June 1348 when the Black Death comes into England via the port of Melcombe in Dorsetshire. People begin to due in huge numbers, no-one was prepared for this situation.
But in the estate of Develish, Lady Anne takes control and decides to quarantine the estate, bringing the serfs inside as well, instead of leaving them outside the walls to fend for themselves.
But this is not the accepted way to behave and not everyone is happy with her decision.
I loved the idea of this and how Lady Anne realises all life is valuable. But what consequences will her decision have?
The Last Hours is set in June 1348 when the Black Death comes into England via the port of Melcombe in Dorsetshire. People begin to due in huge numbers, no-one was prepared for this situation.
But in the estate of Develish, Lady Anne takes control and decides to quarantine the estate, bringing the serfs inside as well, instead of leaving them outside the walls to fend for themselves.
But this is not the accepted way to behave and not everyone is happy with her decision.
I loved the idea of this and how Lady Anne realises all life is valuable. But what consequences will her decision have?