This was a slow burn but once the action began then unputdownable! A village totally cut off from the rest of the country due to a terrible new disease that is killing people in their hundreds! A Lady brave enough to dictate new rules and regulations that question the Norman class system and to then take on the huge responsibility of her people! Loved the characters and the complexity of the relationships between Thaddeus the serf, the Lady Anne and her daughter Eleanor. It certainly painted a terrifying picture of the predicament between the serfs and the nobility back in the fourteenth century and how the plague played a huge part in the changes to that system. Hadn’t realised this is the first in a series so was most upset not to know the outcome so will HAVE to read the next book which I eagerly await! Loved it!

The Last Hours by Minette Walters', is a historical novel set in 1348 during the Black Death's arrival in England. The story centers on Lady Anne, a forward-thinking woman who takes drastic measures to protect her people by quarantining her estate. Her efforts to safeguard her community from the plague are met with resistance, particularly from her cruel husband and others who are steeped in superstition and ignorance. The novel’s attention to detail when depicting medieval life and the terrifying onset of the plague is one of its strengths. Walters vividly portrays the fear and chaos the disease brings, and this makes the historical setting come alive.

The slow pacing, long stretches of introspection and description begin to feel repetitive. Some characters, particularly the antagonists, lack depth and come across as one-dimensional. The dialogue has a tendency to feel too modern, which can jar the reader out of the story.

Despite these imperfections, The Last Hours is an intriguing look at a dark period in history via a strong female protagonist. It’s a decent read for fans of historical fiction, even if it doesn’t quite reach the heights it aims for.

This wasn’t the book for me. It wasn’t what I hoped. Not what I expected. I couldn’t give it a chance. It’s not something I would read

I could tell this was meticulously researched and very well written, although unfortunately it wasn't for me. I have given it four stars because I suspect that others who are more au fait with this genre would love it - and it was just a matter of my taste not quite gelling with the style and plot.

I read this book ages ago and was sure I had written a review, which I usually do as soon as I.ve finished it. This book stuck in my mind because it was so good. I can thoroughly recommend it.

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley (yes I have a backlog!) for letting me read this book in exchange for a review. As a fan of historical fiction I was very interested in reading a novel based around the Black Death as I hadn’t read one before. However, although I enjoyed it for the most parts, I’m afraid it let me down.

The range of different characters was actually great, as everyone had their role in town which was to be expected, from the Lady of the Manor, to her daughter, and the people who serve them. Unfortunately, the daughter, Eleanor, was such an arrogant child that I had to force myself through the book because I just couldn’t stand her.

As soon as people start to die, the story begins to take a turn and it was good reading how the characters reacted to their situation, with some leaving to seek out food and water that wasn’t contaminated- although this was to draw us away from a subplot about Eleanor being promiscuous with local boys.

Everything about that subplot was unnecessary- we didn’t need it.

The writing is good, and the characters feel like real people, I just found myself getting lost in various places.

There has been a lot research done into the area of the time, and of the black death, by the author, and this definitely added to the story- it put the situation into the real world, and although we know the Black Death happened, its different when you can imagine it happening as if you were there.

I did enjoy this book once I started to get into the story, there were just certain characters and historical inaccuracies (like the language used) that made me give the rating I did.

It was a good book, but I don’t think I’ll be reading the sequel any time soon.

2.5/5 stars.

Spoilt heiresses just don’t work on me.

England, 1348.
The Black Death is sweeping across the land at incredibly alarming speeds and people are dying left right and centre. Superstition is ripe as to what the cause of this plague might be, and many are convinced it comes as a punishment from God for the sins of humanity.
In Dorset, the young Lady Anne is one of the only few who draw the link between the general habits of hygiene and the pestilence. She is assisted by her trusted steward, Thaddeus but has to overcome fear and religious dogma that is ingrained in most people.
I could barely put this down and upon finishing I rushed to purchase the second part to this story: The Turn of Midnight, which was equally as gripping.
Highly recommend this novel if you are into historical fiction - you won't be disappointed!

I am in charge of our Senior School library and am looking for a diverse array of new books to furnish their shelves with and inspire our young people to read a wider and more diverse range of books as they move through the senior school. It is hard sometimes to find books that will grab the attention of young people as their time is short and we are competing against technology and online entertainments.
This was a thought-provoking and well-written read that will appeal to young readers across the board. It had a really strong voice and a compelling narrative that I think would capture their attention and draw them in. It kept me engrossed and I think that it's so important that the books that we purchase for both our young people and our staff are appealing to as broad a range of readers as possible - as well as providing them with something a little 'different' that they might not have come across in school libraries before.
This was a really enjoyable read and I will definitely be purchasing a copy for school so that our young people can enjoy it for themselves. A satisfying and well-crafted read that I keep thinking about long after closing its final page - and that definitely makes it a must-buy for me!

I consider historical fiction one of my favourite genres so when the mood came over me to transport myself back in time to a period of history, I picked up The Last Hours by Minette Walters. Minette Walters is known for her thrillers, although I have never read one (yet), so I expected The Last Hours to be a bit of an historical thriller. Oh I couldn't have been more wrong. I can't remember the last time I struggled to finish a book but I almost gave up on The Last Hours at 33% but not one to be beaten...I forged ahead.

One thing that really stands out for me is the main character of Thaddeus Thurkell. He's a bit of a black sheep in his family but Lady Anne sees his potential and makes him steward of the demesne when the pestilence claims the lord of the manor. Thaddeus is such a genuine and honest character and I loved the way he interacts with everyone from the highest to the low.

To inject a bit of thriller into the novel, Minette Walters does throw in a murder and although there are a few suspects it was pretty easy to guess who the murderer was. I still enjoyed this aspect of the book though, as the pace had been quite slow up until that point. To be honest, if there hadn't been a murder I would have had very little to discuss about the book.

I'm sure lovers of 14th Century history will enjoy this novel, but reading it felt more like the lost hours for me. I found the pacing slow and the storyline pretty uneventful and I was actually very surprised to find that the story was 'to be continued' in book 2: The Turn of Midnight. Although this book wasn't for me, I'm happy to say that it definitely hasn't put me off wanting to read Minette Walters' critically acclaimed thrillers.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

An interesting read from an excellent writer- Lady Anne decides to protect her people inside the walls of her moat and fort. The Black Death is reigning hell on the country and her brutal husband is outside the walls which she refuses to open. A really compelling and engaging read, I can’t wait to read the sequel. Lady Anne is a modern woman in an extraordinary time.

I thought it was a good mix of fact and fiction, it was well blended and structured effectively. Minette Walters knows her craft and deploys it well!!

An absolutely stunning read! I was totally gripped throughout and really felt I was living in Develesh myself. Fantastic characters that are magnificently brought to life in this tale of the Black Death. I am thrilled that there is a second installment and look forward to devouring more of this addictive saga.

I cannot remember when I last read a novel by Minette Walters although her psychological crime thrillers occupy a considerable section of my bookshelf. As soon as I read the blurb for ‘The Last Hours’, I was fascinated. What could Walters do with a historical drama based on the Black Death of 14th century England? I wasn’t disappointed. ‘The Last Hours’ tells the story of the Develish demesne in Devon in 1348 when infectious illness spread rapidly and threatened to wipe out the 200 bonded serfs, servants and family. What did take me by surprise is that ‘The Last Hours’ is only the first instalment of the story, so there is the unexpected anticipation of the next book now to enjoy.
The first character we meet, pre-infection, is Eleanor. The only daughter of Sir Richard and Lady Anne of Develish, she watches preparations for the departure of her father and his retinue as they travel to meet the neighbouring lord to whose son Eleanor is promised. Eleanor seems at once fascinated by and repelled by a serf, Thaddeus Thurkell, who she distains for his illegitimacy. As a first chapter it sets up the relationships and future action in such a detailed way, I found myself re-reading it for clues. Because, though this is a historical novel, never forget it is written by Walters, author of ‘The Scold’s Bridle’ and ‘The Ice House’.
Mystery, deceit, betrayal, lies and gruesome horror are a part of the story of how Lady Anne marshalls the population of Develish, family, stewards, servants and serfs alike, to survive when infection threatens to engulf them. Thaddeus is a key character, educated, tough and inspiring, he becomes a key figure when Sir Richard’s party returns from its visit to the neighbouring Bradmayne estate. Facing disease, Lady Anne must decide how to save the lives of the majority. Her knowledge of basic medical practices and herbal remedies, gleaned for her girlhood in a nunnery, enable her to reorganise Develish for survival. Walters does not lighten her descriptions of the Black Death; its symptoms, the corpses and infection are explicitly described but not in a sensationalist way, instead they add tension to the plot. Can this group of people possibly survive when whole Devonshire villages are dead and packs of wild dogs roam the countryside? How can you protect yourself from infection when the source of the disease is unknown and there is no help from outside?
The storyline is handled with expert timing. Just at the point where I wondered where the next threat would come from, Walters splits the storyline in two. After a suspicious death of a teenage boy, Thaddeus takes a group of five youths across the moat to explore the surrounding countryside to assess the threat from bandits and disease, and search for food. Meanwhile Eleanor’s behaviour is becoming more extreme, her hatred for her mother and the serfs make daily life difficult for all in such a confined space. Indulged by her father, Eleanor has grown to be a selfish, arrogant, ungrateful young woman who believes in her own superiority and expects special treatment even in such abnormal times. As well as a historical study of the disease, ‘The Last Hours’ also examines the social changes of the time, as serfs become educated and, encouraged by Lady Anne, consider a life independent of the feudal system.
I can’t wait for the next instalment of the Develish story.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/

I used to be a big fan of Minette Walters, eagerly devouring each of her chilling psycho thrilled. But that was a good while ago and I haven't read her for ages, with more edgy American and Scandi authors replacing her.

The Last Hours breaks with Walters past work, it is a historical novel set in the time of the Black Death. Lady Anne is the compassionate and strong willed mistress of the Devilish (yes really!) estate which is quarantined to protect against the plague after its brutal master has succumbed to the disease. The Last Hours combines the evolving relationship between Lady Anne and her mysterious steward Thaddeus with a vivid description of the spread of the plague and the wasteland surrounding the estate.

It is quite readable but not outstanding, the plot meanders in a somewhat predictable way to a climax which is then snatched away with a "to be continued". I am not sure that I will bother to follow this through to conclusion.

3/5

I know Minette Walters as a successful writer of detective fiction but it seems she is equally talented in the area of historical fiction. This is the story of a medieval manor house, nobles and serfs, and their trials and tribulations as they do their best to survive the Black Death.
The writing style is very readable, the research lightly worn and the story exciting. Now I just have to wait for the sequel.

I loved this author's crime books but i feel this book is really poorly judged. The characters are two-dimensional and unrealistically modern in their attitudes. Having read to the end to see what the result was, I was very disappointed to see ' To Be Continued' which is poor from a book that wasn't promoted as part of a series.

A highly enjoyable historical adventure story set as the black death stalks through England. The heroine Lady Anne has been educated by nuns and recognises the need for quarantine even keeping her sick husband, a venal hypocrite, out of their moated manor house. Gradually we discover that Lady Anne has (rather too) modern opinions about the relative places in society of peasants and the aristocracy and demonstrates loving care for her villagers, treating them and educating them The story moves at a strong pace and has many enjoyable elements of suspense,mystery and danger. Im certainly looking forward to the continuation of the story in the next book as the villagers start a new life.
I was given the book by Netgalley, in return for an honest review.

This book took my breath away. It’s a strong historical fiction set during the Black Death and my only complaint was coming to the end and finding out it’s a cliffhanger!

There are a number of mysteries that come up in this book. The slightest mentions of different things during the course of the book can turn into a main plot point at any time and it’s so satisfying to see it so elegantly done rather than dropping a huge hint early on and teasing you for the next 300 pages. The writing style is subtle and wonderful, I had no problems reading this book in long sittings and my attention never strayed.

The chapters alternate between the perspectives of Lady Anne, a well educated and kind woman who is now left to care for her people and Thaddeus, her enigmatic and intelligent steward. Though they’re both very clever and strong characters, we never learn much about their private thoughts and they have several surprises in store as we learn their histories.

This book shows how people might have survived the plague with the knowledge of diseases at the time, Lady Anne knows that good hygiene is important in keeping away disease, so she applies what she knows to keep everyone safe. She doesn’t have any unlikely wisdom that no-one of the time would have, which keeps the story believable.

Apart from surviving the plague, the story also includes a lot about the serf/landowner divide and about how societies would change when kept penned in tight to avoid the outside world. It explores the question of what social changes there would be in the country when the majority of people have died, and it's fascinating.

To be continued.....stopped me in my tracks. I cannot wait for the second book in this series to be announced. The Black Death rushed apace through England and Minette Waters focuses her attention on its impact in Dorset. The Last Hours is peopled with wonderful characters as well as hated ones. The research is phenomenal. This is a story you will find it very hard to put down. In my case meals were rushed and bedtime delayed until deep into the night.. It is undoubtedly the best historical novel I have read in the past couple of years.

It's a fascinating period of history and the book is obviously well researched. There are some good scenes, especially ones that deal with the conflicting views. However, I found many scenes just went on too long and I found myself becoming bored with some characters - particularly the young lads Thaddeus takes away with him, I found them all interchangeable so honestly couldn't tell who was who. I can't help thinking the story was stretched out in order to allow for a second book - which I won't be reading.

Set against the spread of The Black Death in the 14th Century this novel imagines a town where the wife of the feudal lord, Lady Anne has secretly been educating her husband's "serfs" in reading, numeracy and crucially recognizing the benefits of good hygiene. So while the towns around them fall to the plague at a frightening rate Develish finds it's self an island of good health, although they don't really understand why. Lady Anne realises early on that to quarantine themselves is the best course of action. But soon inner tensions and jealousy fro. the outside threaten their haven.

So despite reading quite literally thousands of books this is my first Minette Walters. Yes I know, shocking. But actually I think this helped because I went in with no preconceptions. To say this is slow is an understatement. But slow doesn't mean boring. From the very start of the novel I was immediately deeply invested in the characters and their fates. It won't be a surprise to many to hear I found the Walters writing compelling and extremely enjoyable. My main gripe? Well it's a gripe and a bonus. I didn't realise this was part of a series so I was left disappointed at no conclusion but also excited at the prospect of more to read!