#MinetteWalters #TheLastHours #Review


*My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review*

When the Black Death enters England through the port of Melcombe in Dorseteshire in June 1348, no one knows what manner of sickness it is or how it spreads and kills so quickly. The Church cites God as the cause, and religious fear grips the people as they come to believe that the plague is a punishment for wickedness.

I was really keen to read this book! I am reading a bit more historical fiction at the moment but the real reason why I requested this novel was because it was by Minette Walters. I really enjoy her crime thrillers and was intrigued to see how she would approach this new direction and what kind of mystery story she would create within this historical setting. 

The Black Death is a very evocative topic and immediately brings lots of vivid connotations to mind, so for a writer such as Walters who is not unused to describing gruesome murders and violent crime scenes, she must have enjoyed creating an atmosphere of fear and depicting scenes of horror as the illness spreads throughout the countryside.

 'He asked her if she knew what manner of disease it was but she said she didn't. None had seen the like of it before. The blood turned black as the body died, and all who saw it shook with terror.' 

Be warned - there are some stomach churning descriptions in some of the passages and Walters does an amazing job of establishing location, setting and historical context. The reader is very firmly placed in the time and place, not only because of the events being described but in a more immersive manner. Walters uses dialogue and colloquialisms to add more conviction and more drama to her scenes. But what really hooks the reader at the beginning is the way the black death permeates every single page.


'....ghostlike figures shrank into shadow as Sir Richard's convoy passed, the lower halves of their faces bound with rags to keep from breathing infected air. ..'


As well as describing death and the effects of the black death on the country, Walters also creates very strong characters and introduces plenty of conflict between them. Lady Anne is one of the main protagonists and she is a both literate and knowledgable and acting on behalf of her husband who is away when the pestilence reaches them. To protect her people, she brings them inside the moat that surrounds the manor house - refusing entry to her husband when he does returns. 


Lady Anne is a strong, female character and I liked her. Walters has created a convincing and authentic female lead that readers will engage with and empathise with. She is constantly challenged by her situation and the decisions she makes which adds much drama and action to the well paced plot. I thought all the characters were bold and although some fulfilled typically villainous types of roles, it made for a good story. The relationships between the women were also well depicted and Walters ensures that the reader becomes involved in each of their journeys. 

This novel was clearly very well researched and the attention to detail was impressive. The reader learns a lot about the black death and the real effects on communities and villages but never does it feel as if we are being educated. Walters is able to establish the social context, the historical setting but ultimately entertain her readers with a good story about survival against all the odds. I think the atmosphere and foreboding sense of death was the most compelling aspect of the book and I could almost feel the disease permeating from the pages. I did have to turn away a few times but I always turned back to see what would happen next! 

If you like historical fiction then clearly you will enjoy this book but even if you don't often choose to read it, why not try Walters? She's very readable and even though it is a lengthy novel, you will find yourself turning the pages easily. 

The Last Hours is published by Allen and Unwin on 2nd November 2017.

For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @KatherineSunde3 or via my blog bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.co.uk or website bibliomaniacuk.co.uk

Comments

  1. Oh i haven't read thid author in a long while and didn't realise she had a new one out. Right on the wishlist, thanks xxx

    Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

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