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The Last Hours by Minette Walters (view source)
Revision as of 10:06, 12 August 2020
, 10:06, 12 August 2020no edit summary
I don't normally read historical fiction, but Minette Walters is one of the giants of the crime genre and I was fascinated to see how she was transport her skills to a new genre. The answer was simple: good writing shines in any genre and the ability to tell a good story is never restricted. I know that it's a cliché to say that I couldn't put the book down, but I was a hundred pages in before I even bothered to look up from the page - and that was only to work out what I didn't need to do so that I could continue reading.
You can't ''not'' love Lady Anne, or fail to admire Thaddeus Thurkell. I did think that Lady Eleanor Develish might descend into caricature as redeeming features are few and far between, but Walters pitches it just right and produces a twist which might just make you think again. The story's obviously been exceptionally well researched, particularly with regard to the status of women, the influence of the church and the lack of knowledge about sickness. The knowledge is worn lightly - you never feel that you're being lectured.
There is one caveat though: although most plot lines plotlines are satisfactorily tied up there are a few which dangle in the wind. The book doesn't ''quite'' end on a cliffhanger but the final words are ''To be continued...'' All I can say is that it had better be quick!
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
For a non-fiction look at the effects of the Black Death , we can recommend [[The Scourging Angel: The Black Death in the British Isles by Benedict Gummer]]. If you'd like to try some of Minette Walters' crime writing we enjoyed [[The Cellar by Minette Walters|The Cellar]]. {{amazontext|amazon=1760632139}}
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