Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the gifted ebook to write my honest review for the tour today.
The Black Rood of Scotland, stolen.
A coroner of York, murdered
An evil worse than plague itself, at large…
1361, York. As the country recovers from the war with France, and whispers that the pestilence has returned to England grow louder, fear is in the heart of every nobleman and commoner alike. Sir Ralph de Mandeville, ex-solider and newly appointed Justice of the Peace is sent to Langbarugh, just outside York, to investigate the murder of Coroner Sir Boderick de Whitby.
More deaths quickly follow, and while these are swiftly dealt with as plague victims, Sir Ralph and his two assistants Merek and Peter soon uncover something altogether more horrifying… A greater evil is at large in the northern wapentakes.
As panic escalates and the lines between plague and murder blur, Sir Ralph is thrust into a desperate race against time. Every shadow hides a potential killer, every cough could be a death knell. Can he unmask a murderer lurking in the terrifying shadow of the Black Death before they’re all consumed by a terror more sinister than any plague?
Purchase Link https://mybook.to/desolationsocial
Keith Moray is a new author to me, and Desolation sounded right up my street! A dark medieval mystery whose blurb totally sucked me in immediately!
Set in York in 1361, we are swept back in time so well. There seems to be a rise in deaths due to the plague in the countryside, and Sir Ralph de Mandeville has his hands full. Newly appointed Justice of the Peace and ex-soldier, he is sent to investigate the death of coroner Sir Broderick de Whitby.
As the death toll rises, Sir Ralph, along with his assistants Merek and Peter, soon discover that the Plague is not to blame for the deaths but something much more evil. Can he solve this mystery before the body count rises more?
A complex and cleverly layered mystery that Keith Moray successfully leads the reader down many blind alleys. I was intrigued. There are plenty of characters to keep up with, and I found myself with no clue of how this would play out.
With a plethora of gruesome deaths and so much to keep the reader gripped, this is such a satisfying read. Keith Moray skilfully brings the multiple threads together to create a conclusion that made me want the next book!
Author Bio
Keith is a retired GP, medical journalist and novelist, writing in several genres. As Keith Moray he writes historical crime fiction in the medieval era and in ancient Egypt, The Inspector Torquil McKinnon crime novels set on the Outer Hebridean island of West Uist, and as Clay More he writes westerns. Curiously, his medical background finds its way into most of his fiction writing.
Social Media Links
Facebook: @KeithMorayAuthor
Twitter: @KeithMorayTales
Instagram: @souterkeith
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