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Plague Land by SD Sykes (view source)
Revision as of 13:20, 24 September 2014
, 13:20, 24 September 2014no edit summary
1350 and the plague rattles through England. It's the plague that took Oswald de Lacey's father and brothers, causing him to leave the monastery and become Lord Somershill. It's the plague that had given Oswald the local constable's job when it took the former incumbent. Therefore it's the plague that caused Oswald to investigate the murder of a young girl found in the forest. She was reputedly killed by Satan's emissary, the dog headed beast. Oswald suspects differently if he can conquer the superstition of others and stay alive long enough. He may be scared of the plague but the thing that really frightens him is that it's not just the plague that threatens his life.
Murder thrillers set against the Black Death are apparently like buses. None for ages and then we're treated to both [[Plague by C C HumphriesCC Humphrys]] and now this debut novel from SD Sykes. (Sarah to her mum.) There are major differences, mainly because whereas CC chose the 17th century-pre-Fire-of-London scourge, SD selects the 14th century outbreak before it received its 'bubonic' tag. Something she does have in common with CC is that Sarah provides us with characters that are as interesting as their era.
Oswald, Lord Somershill, is young, sheltered and really not expecting the job, the castle, the land, the serfs and the problems, let alone the murder. A mark of his protected upbringing is that he's amazed when he learns that his father, the late Lord, has bastards scattered throughout the local villages. However, he learns on the job guided by Brother Peter, an older monk whom Oswald first met when he was in cloistered life.