THE LAST HOURS

Minette Walters Loot.co.za (R203) Allen & Unwin

JUNE, 1348: the Black Death enters England through the port of Melcombe in Dorsetshire.

Unprepared, the people of the county begin to die in their thousands.

In the estate of Develish, Lady Anne takes control of her people’s future – including the lives of 200 bonded serfs. Strong, compassionate and resourceful, she chooses slave Thaddeus Thurkell to act as her steward. They decide to quarantine Develish by bringing the serfs inside the walls.

With this sudden overturning of the accepted social order, conflict arises. Ignorant of what is happening in the world outside, they wrestle with themselves, with God and with the terrible uncertainty of their futures.

Who has the courage to leave the security of the walls?