Oh, my! Why is it not possible to give this book 6 stars?

I had hesitated when I was considering this book. I had never heard of the author, but there are lots of books by authors unknown to me. I thought it might be a bit interesting, but the idea of reading a novel about the Black Plague and enjoying it seemed a bit.... well, I couldn't imagine it.

The story is set in a demesne in the area of Dorset where the Black Plague seems to have started in England. Develish is the home of Sir Richard, his wife Lady Ann, and their daughter Eleanor. Sir Richard sets out on a beautiful day with gold as a dowry for Eleanor to marry a local lord's son, Sir Peter. But while he is gone, the plague begins to make lives quickly! Develish is not affected and Lady Ann takes precautions by bringing all the serfs into the area of the manor which is surrounded by a moat. The hope is that by isolating themselves, they will remain disease free. But it doesn't take long for the 200 people living there that supplies are limited. It is a fearful thing to leave not knowing what causes the death and how to avoid it. What will they do when their carefully rationed supplies run out? How will they know when it is safe to leave?

I think almost everyone learns a bit about the Black Death while in history classes in school. We learn that a huge percentage of the people died. We learn that it was carried by fleas on rats. What we never seem to be exposed to is a personal story of how the survivors experienced everything. What fear they must have had when someone who was healthy died within three days! Religion and the Church were so important to them. What did they think when the priest died and they faced death unshriven? What about the idea of not having a Christian burial? And what would happen if there were no laborers to plant for the next season? The entire feudal system was changed with the economic and social upheaval.

Ms. Walters did such an excellent job with her characters! Each character seemed so real to me. Lady Ann was raised in a nunnery and is wise and gentle. Her husband and daughter are egocentrical and very class conscious. They are landed gentry and serfs are there to do their bidding and to be punished severely if they did not so much a bow a head when the family was passing by. I can imagine the characters, the serfs and their conversations, their actions. Ms. Walters slowly and carefully introduces each one. Their personalities unfold just as does that of a person you meet and get to know over time. This is one of those books where I became very involved in the characters and what their fates might be; I wanted them to live! I had to keep reminding myself that if they didn’t die in the book, they’d be dead now after 600 years anyway.

I pondered as I read. What could the title “The Last Hours” refer to? Would Develish be overtaken by the plague? Would they abandon the manor and scatter to different areas? How might this story end?

I highly recommend this book! I can hardly wait to read more of Ms. Walter’s works.
But I have one spoiler, so don’t read any farther if you don’t want to know.

The last line of the book is the worst line to ever read in a book: TO BE CONTINUED.

The best way I can describe this book is to imagine you're looking at a painting, a piece of Medieval folk art. Everything you see is flat and simple. Now imagine you're reading a written description of the scene in the painting. That's this book. Flat characters. Simplistic plot. Simplistic writing. Some characters are villains and some are heroes and it's easy to tell differentiate between the two with a quick look. And like a painting, this book has no conclusion. After 500 pages of nothingness, this book has no real ending. It's a total and utter waste of time.

It's such a shame because I'm going through a bit of a Medieval phase right now. I was really excited to read a novel set during the Black Death. But this book did not deliver on its promises.

The Black Death has reached London and the estate of Develish has isolated itself under the rule of its Lady. The social order is quickly overturned and serfs rise in status. Starvation and plague are feared, and under this tension petty conflicts between the characters quickly escalate.
The novel suffers from too many narrators, too many subplots, and too many 21st century morals being pushed into a 14th century setting. I couldn't finish it.

“The Last Hours” by Minette Walters is her first historical fiction novel that I’ve read.
It’s set in 1348 England during the Black Death Plague. The main character, Lady Anne of Develish, is a brave and exciting heroine.
Though this novel wasn’t the suspenseful mystery/thriller that I was expecting of Walters, I enjoyed it just the same. I look forward to the next book in this series.

As a person who is extremely intrigued by the Black Plague, this was a must-read for me. I became immediately drawn into the plight of the people of Develish. The book appears to be very well researched as well as being extremely well-written. The story follows the relationships between Thaddeus, Gyles, Eleanor, Isabella and Lady Anne and plays them well against each other. This also seems to be the first in a series that deals with the Black Death and I will most definitely be indulging the forthcoming sequels as well! The character development and questions left answered at the end of the novel are wonderful but most definitely not irritating in the way that some "cliff-hanger" endings can be. There is a sense of closure but also questions left for the next installment, which is how all good series books should end. I highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction!

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Mira for the advanced reader copy of this historical fiction novel. I thought this tale of an isolated fiefdom during the Black Plague in 1348 was fairly entertaining. As others have commented, the character of Lady Anne seemed somewhat unrealistically modern in her thinking and fortititude, but I guess it wouldn’t have been much of a story otherwise! I knew going in that is was a planned trilogy, so I wasn’t surprised by the unsatisfying ending, but I’m glad the author didn’t leave ALL the loose ends hanging. If you want to read about the Black Plague, I would recommend Geraldine Brooks’ Year of Wonders before this.

Unable to share review. Ghostwritten for a website client. NDA protected (between website and writer).

In The Last Hours, Minette Walters has created an evocative tale in what promises to be the first of a trilogy. One isolated British fiefdom hears tales of the impending Black Death and makes plans to avoid its wrath. Complete with graphic descriptions of life among both the lords of the manor and the serfs in the field, Walters weaves a tale of intrigue, survival, madness and an epic quest. The ending was not satisfying to this reviewer but all may be revealed in the epilogue.
I received a free copy of this ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was the first book by Minette Walters I have ever read. Will I read more? I sincerely doubt it.
The premise of this book was interesting and catching. I love history, England and strong female characters. The period of The Black Death was interesting as well.
However, the book, from very early on, felt more like a fantasy or 'hindsight' novel rather than historical fiction. Lady Anne seems way too modern, too strong. All of the male characters seem to be weak, measly and irrelevant. All the passions and emotions are secondary to planning and descriptions of what needs to be done to avoid the plague.
'To be continued' ending was really the tombstone on the book. What more can you possibly say on the subject? The book is too long anyhow. Too long and slow going.
A very valuable experience in reading I will avoid next time.

I read this in a day. And a night. I couldn’t put it down. And even better it’s huge and there are 2 more to go. Minette Walters is one of my favourite authors and despite not usually reading historical fiction her name sold me. She gets into characters that convinces more than any other author I’ve ever read and this is no different. I can’t wait for number 2 but I’ll read it slowly this time and savour it{ RECOMMENDATION ALL THE WAY.

In the past, Walters has written some chilling and intense thrillers, but it has been ten years since her last full length published novel. In this one she turns her extensive talent to a well researched historical. There is still a suspicious death, in fact there are many deaths as this book tackles the horrifying and world altering, Black Death.

The year is 1348, and Sir Richard is traveling to another demense in order to negotiate a marriage for his daughter. He will never return home, nnor will many accompanying him except for the baseborn serf Gyles. Lady Anne, a very wise and fair Lady, takes charge and in defense of this plague brings all serfs inside the enclosure and seals off the entries and exits. Her daughter, who despises her mother, despises the serfs, may be, after the plague, her mothers greatest enemy. There are secrets here that come out within the story, and some fascinating characters, fascinating history. A social parable as the Black Death changes the socio economic make up of the country. Religious aspects., as many back then thought only sinners would be stricken, and those in God's favor would be spared. A strong woman character, whose strength of purpose, and ability to act was not common during this time period. I adored this character, as well as Gyles, Thaddeus and Isabelle.

I understand this will be one of three in this historical trilogy, in fact, this one ends on a cliffhanger. So, now I wait. Fans of Karen Maitland's Company of Liars, will enjoy this as will fans of general historical novels. The Black Death killed so many, was such a frightening time in history.

ARC from Netgalley.

What attracted me to this story was the Black Death theme. However, very quickly, it became clear that this book is not for me. A lot of people are being introduced with no sense where the story is going. Personally, I prefer something more structured.

When you like Post-Apocalypse SF stories you will like this historical novel. Yes you read that correctly.!!

It is 14th century England and a strange illness spreads like wildfire from one demesne to the other killing most people. No one knows what it is or what causes it.

England is in those days a feudal society. The king is the feudal lord of dukes and earls. They are the feudal lords or barons and those are the ones mere knights swear fealty to. On the domains work and live the serves who are more or less slaves tied to the land and unable to leave. Though there are also towns with freemen.

The demesne Develish is owned by a poor knight who has just that one manorhouse and the serves working there on his demesne in a valley in Dorsetshire. He is married to Lady Anne and they have a daughter. The man is a total jerk and stupid to boot. His wife however had some training because she was raised in a nunnery. She can read and write and knows basic healing. When he is away from home and tales of the mysterious illness reach Develish Lady Anne decides that all the people of the village should come inside the manor and behind the moat. She reasons that in her convent ill sheep were separated from the healthy ones and that helped prevent illnesses spreading.

The book is a very good read. I was two days glued to my Kindle. The Middle Ages came alive. Instead of a "death everywhere"-story it is a layered story that also deals with the aftermath of a pandemic. Ok they are not ill but can they go and find food? What happens when a whole area is death? How can you see this in a religious concept? What happens when there is no law and order? What will happen with them without an heir?

There are also a lot of personal secrets to be revealed.

I really enjoyed learning stuff about the Middle Ages that I did not know or realised like the banishment of cats or the fact that the average person never left his village and had no idea what was behind the hills,

So far the positive things about the book. I also have some negative things to say:
1) Minor detail: something is off with the editing. Some words starting with an f like flooding are spelled f looding;
2) What other reviewers also mentioned: Anachronisms. I cannot imagine abortions in such a religious and ignorant time. Also the people think the Plague is caused by rats. And hints are given to the flees who carry that disease. But that was only discovered in the last century. People used to think it was a punishment by God or cause by air (hence the birdmen masks of the doctors that were stuffed with vinegar. Side effect a flee hates vinegar). And why would a moat protect them? Rats can swim.
But that is not the only thing that made me wonder about the historical correctness. No woman would be able to refuse her lord and master. And even when a lady would be a good person I cannot imagine her thinking she is equal to her servants. Another thing is the Saxon-Norman thing. Was that not done and dusted by then? It is more than 150 years after the Battle of Hastings.
3) BIGGEST SOURCE OF IRRITATION: Suddenly my Kindle stopped and I thought it malfunctioned. Turned out it was the end of a first book of a series. That was nowhere mentioned. I would be so pissed off if I had paid 12 dollar for just a partial story (and part 2 not even printed) even when it is a long story. Yes you can write a series but end then book 1 on a logical moment. For instance the boys expect Taddeus to leave for France. When the writer would end the story the moment he leaves Develish to find his fortune elsewhere it would be a logical moment to say "to be continued".

A real 5 start story but I deducted one for the crappy ending.

A well researched and well written historical novel about the Death Plague. The plot is interesting, the characters are well developed and it was hard to put it down.
Many thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for this ARC

The Black Plague began in 1348 in Medieval England and claimed millions of lives. While we have heard about it in history, this book conveys the story from the perspective the Lord and Serfs of the demesne of Develish.

How and why did some survive while others perished? What kept some healthy and free of the sickness? While fiction, you can see that the events portrayed in the book could be an actual account of the one such demesne and its inhabitants. Along with the intrigue and secrets that go on in any community.

I look forward to the sequel.

It is June of 1348, and the Black Death has reached England. While chaos starts to ensue in the English countryside, Lady Anne of Develish will fight for her small community in order for them all to survive. While her evil husband is away, Lady Anne will take charge of the estate, barricading the area around the household in an attempt to save her people from sickness and inevitable death.

But whenever a large number of people get crammed in small spaces for too long, differences start to arise and fights are inevitable. The secrets that lay hidden in the family for decades will start to arise, and tension will grow stronger every day. As food rations get smaller and time goes by, Lady Anne will have to struggle to keep Develish's situation stable, while at the same time decisions will have to be made; what are two hundred people going to do when the food runs out? Should they go back to the outside world or are they still in danger? And what happens if the whole country finds out about the family's secrets?

The Last Hours is a dark, intelligent historical fiction book that hides many secrets. Revolving around a pained past and a bleak present, the plot escalates slowly but surely, leading to the unveiling of painful secrets that leave the reader wondering: do the characters make the right choices?

The lead heroine, Lady Anne, is a strong, calm woman, who is determined to fight for the people that work for her estate. Unlike most noble families of the time, she is a caring person who considers all her serfs family, and that is what makes hes stand out in her era. Many characters make their appearance, most of whom have intertwining pasts, leading to intriguing background stories.

The Last Hours is an interesting, very well written book, and it is the first one in a series. Strongly recommended for the fans of historical fiction, it blends in perfectly with some hints of mystery, making it a very pleasant read. I look forward to the next book of the series!

What can I say Minette Walters is such a brilliant, talented writer. Her attention to historical detail is second to none. The black death cannot have been an easy subject to research but she records it perfectly. Cannot recommend this book enough.

From book description: "June, 1348: the Black Death enters England through the port of Melcombe in the county of Dorsetshire. Unprepared for the virulence of the disease, and the speed with which it spreads, the people of the county start to die in their thousands. "

I love historical fiction, but have to admit to being surprised that one of my favorite authors of dark psychological fiction has returned with a novel set during the first outbreak of the the plague. The Black Death was, really, the first dystopian situation.

In The Last Hours, Lady Ann of Develish cuts her estate off from the rest of the world in time to prevent the disease from laying waste to her people. Lady Ann is a strong character with a better understanding of disease and contagion than most from her years in an abbey before her marriage. The enforced quarantine gives the people in the Manor a chance to survive.

Safety from the contagion is only part of the problem, however. As time passes, there is also the threat of starvation. Eventually, Thaddeus Thurkill and a few adolescents leave the safety of the Manor seeking supplies.

The novel has several stories going on and plenty of well-rounded characters, both good and bad. This is a story of personalities united in survival mode. Carrying on the dystopian idea, those infected by the plague are reminiscent of zombies. The infected carry death and no one understands how or why.

I'm always in for survivor stories.

Well-researched, but modern enough in thought and language to create a fascinating tale of the endurance of humanity against the odds.

The incident in which Thaddeus is frightened by a cat made me curious. From a brief mention I made on my other blog when I finished reading: An interesting side-note: The plague has devastated the countryside, entire villages dead or fled. The Dorset countryside is largely bereft of the living when a character investigates an abandoned building that, unaccountably, has no evidence of rats. Thaddeus is initially terrified when a strange creature jumps out at him. A demon with strange eyes? The young man had heard of cats, but never seen one because the Church considered them familiars of witches.

When I read the section about the Church associating cats with evil, I was surprised. I'd never heard that before--which is when I did a little research and found plenty of authentication. The Church at the time preached against cats, which were associated with witches and the devil and were often killed. In some areas, cats were essentially unknown. Some authorities believe that the prejudice against cats was one of the reasons the plague was so devastating in certain areas--the rat population had no predators.(from Bayouquilts
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and there is a sequel in the works--but then I love history and historical novels. A Garden Carried in the Pocket

Read in March; blog review scheduled for July 24.

NetGalley/Harlequin-Mira

Historical Fiction. August 7, 2018. Print length: 547 pages.

I selected this book based on an online recommendation. The cover and description were appealing, so I decided to give it a shot. The author is new to me, but the era of history is not. Fourteenth century history does, however, seem to be unfamiliar to the author.

Very little of the attitudes, speech, and beliefs of the characters of this book felt 14th century to me. Besides being flat, one-dimensional characters, many of them sounded like modern people thrown into a novel about the plague. Faith and church, which were an important part of life to most people, rich or poor, at this time, are treated with disdain and mockery by almost every character. Medical knowledge of the 21st century is injected throughout the novel to create an island of survivors while everyone around them is dying.

The only character I had any sympathy for was one the author tries very hard to paint as a villain. But I had pity for the neglected and abused fourteen-year-old daughter whose mother had long ago decided that insults were her favored parenting tool. We are supposed to believe that at some point Lady Anne had tried her best with Eleanor, but her treatment of the girl is horrifying, and it is not shocking that the girl has turned into a brat doing whatever it takes to get some attention. That's what neglected kids do.

As for Thaddeus and his boring ramble through the countryside abusing his own crew of teenagers.....I don't even know what the point of that was. There is a murder that is solved along the way, but no one seems too concerned about it.

The book ends with 'to be continued' but I will not be looking for more of these selfish, anachronistic characters' stories.