The Turn of Midnight

Towards the end of 1348 in many parts of Dorsetshire the Black Death still prevails. There have been thousands of deaths throughout England but some communities have remained relatively safe due to enforced isolation and the introduction of hygiene measures. Develish, managed by Lady Anne, is one such community.

Although the people of Develish are safe they will shortly run out of supplies of food so several of the men form a party to bring back much needed supplies to the community. They had already investigated the fate of neighbouring villages so had a good idea where they could locate supplies of wheat as well as herds of sheep. 

Thaddeus Thurkell and Lady Anne hoped to purchase the neighbouring deserted demense of Pedle Hinton and eventually merge the two communities. When Thaddeus, masquerading as Lady Anne's cousin, was betrayed by a former Develish employee, Lady Anne left Develish to intercede on Thaddeus' behalf.

Minette Walters is primarily known as a crime writer so throughout this medieval world faced with destruction that she has created, there is growing tension as this second book in the series reaches its climax. The roles of the gentry versus their serfs, the ability of serfs to earn their freedom, the belief of male superiority over women, the importance of literacy for all, the role of the clergy to impose their views on the rest of the community and the consequences when challenged are some of the themes covered in this two book series.

The Turn of Midnight (published 2018) by Minette Walters is the sequel to The Last Hours (published 2017). They were therefore written shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world.

The Last Hours

 

Dorsetshire in 1348 and a strange plague is infecting the inhabitants resulting in thousands of deaths. What causes it and how how has it come to their region?

In The Last Hours by Minette Walters we meet the inhabitants of Develish who, led by Lady Anne, work tirelessly to prevent this new disease from entering their community. Her husband, Sir Richard, has ridden off to visit another community and returns when he is ill from the plague. He is refused admittance for fear that he will bring the disease to Develish. 

Sir Richard had insisted that a moat should be build around the community and this was instrumental in protecting Develish. When she married Sir Richard, Lady Anne had insisted that new hygiene measures such as an outside latrine should be constructed which also helped protect her people from the spreading of illness in general. Lady Anne had also taught the people of Develish to read and write, against the wishes of her husband. Develish is therefore able to cut itself off from the surrounding countryside and keep the disease at bay. But for how long?

Much of the novel involves the attempts of Thaddeus Thurkel and five boys from Develish who set off on an expedition to locate supplies needed if the people of Develish are to survive the winter. Meanwhile Lady Anne, with the assistance of several of the senior men, continue to keep the villagers safe.

Minette Walters provides graphic descriptions of the effects of the Black Death in wiping out entire communities, yet some people were able to resist the plague. Thaddeus and some of the other characters attempt to work out how the plague has come into their lives in the first place.

The Turn of Midnight by Minette Walters is the sequel to The Last Hours.