The Turn of Midnight

by Minette Walters, Allen & Unwin

This is the sequel and conclusion to The Last Hours – the author’s historical story set in England during the time of the plague. It’s autumn in the year 1348 and the people of Develish remain alive and well thanks to the leadership of Lady Anne, who had the foresight to quarantine their entire community within the walls and moat of the manor house. But after months of segregation from the outside world, they know the time must soon come to venture out and find the supplies necessary to ensure their continued survival and to learn news of other settlements. Bastard-born slave Thaddeus Thurkell, who has the respect of Lady Anne, leads a group of Develish’s boys out into the surrounding countryside to do just that, but also to avert a dangerous crisis within Develish resulting from the flirtatious and disruptive behaviour of 14-year-old Lady Eleanor, the daughter of Lady Anne’s late husband, Sir Richard. What they discover and experience sees the group change from boys to young men, but other, more far-reaching, social changes will be required if Develish is to move forward into the future. Lady Anne knows what needs to be done, but others are determined that she won’t succeed. A fascinating, intelligent look at how religion, power and tradition conflict with modern thinking in a time of enormous challenges.