The Turn of Midnight by Minette Walters was published in 2019 and follows straight on from the events in The Last Hours, published in 2017. I received this book from a generous bookish friend in 2019 and it's languished on my TBR until now. Together these two historical fiction titles form the Black Death duology, which is set in 1300s Develish, Dorsetshire.

I read The Last Hours in October 2017 and despite reading The Turn of Midnight six years later, I didn't find myself lost at all. The Last Hours ended on such a memorable cliffhanger that left me out of sorts at the time, yet the author does an excellent job reminding us about the precise state of play when we last caught up with the various characters. My favourite historical fiction authors - Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir and Ken Follett - also manage to strike this balance between boring and repetitive recaps and helpful pointers that enhance the narrative without distracting from it.

To further drive home this point, halfway through The Turn of Midnight, the review copy of The Armour of Light by Ken Follett arrived in my mailbox. I'd requested it from the publisher and it was 730+ pages long so I reluctantly set aside this book in favour of ensuring I met my reviewing commitments. Picking this back up again 2 weeks later, I needn't have worried that a further interruption would diminish my reading enjoyment.

Again Lady Anne is the hero of her demesne, and together with Thaddeus, they have a plan to secure their futures after the black plague has swept through the countryside. The pestilence exposed the worst in some people and the best in others, some cowered in fear while others responded with kindness, unwilling to believe God was punishing them for their sins.

If you've been reading my reviews for any length of time, you'll have noticed that I love a good quote. I take a note as I'm reading and later transcribe all of the quotes when drafting my review. Many of these quotes end up on the cutting room floor but I didn't record any while reading The Turn of Midnight. I checked my review of The Last Hours and I didn't note any quotes while reading that one either. Perhaps it's a relief to read a quote-free review from me for a change, but I can assure you this wasn't due to a lack of great writing.

Lady Anne is a compelling character, a widow navigating a man's world and constantly challenged at every turn, she must be clever to dodge their accusations, negotiate safety and a future for her people. The dialogue was tight and amusing and the ending was immensely satisfying.

The Turn of Midnight by Minette Walters is highly recommended for historical fiction readers, but it won't really work as a standalone, so for maximum understanding and enjoyment, I recommended starting with The Last Hours. ( )

Sequel to The Last Hours
Focus on Thaddeus trying to pull off being a member of the nobility in order to marry Lady Anne and sun Develish and the neighbouring empty (of nobles) estate. Lots of verbal sparrring and jocking for position, especially towards the end of the book.
Lots of good detail (Lady Anne trying to get comfortable riding a long distance) but not too much. Enough to bring you into the setting and time. Characters felt better developed in this book.
Very enjoyable read. Stopped for several weeks in the middle (due to life, not lack of interest in the book) and writing this review a couple of weeks later. Not 100% on my start date, but it's close, as I started shortly after after finishing the first book. ( )

Als de pest over het hoogtepunt heen lijkt te zijn, gaat Turkell in de omgeving van Develish op onderzoek uit. Hier en daar zijn overlevenden. Die van een naburige hoeve komen mee naar Develish. Ook vindt Turkell hier en daar waardevolle spullen en goud. Met Lady Anne bedenkt hij een plan om de slaven van Develish vrij te kopen. Daarvoor wordt de afkomst van Turkell, die nogal donker van huidskleur is, "veranderd" in verwantschap met Lady Anne, met invloeden vanuit Egypte, waarvandaan soms schepen de kust aandoen. Het kost nog wel moeite om de rentmeester van de leenheer ervan te overtuigen dat Turkell echt Lord Athelstan is.

An interesting, light, but fun read. This is a sequel (or continuation) of the story begun in "The Last Hours" - which needs to be read first due to character development and storyline. The author is extremely optimistic regarding the interaction of nobility and serfs. Unfortunately, I think an enlightened and beneficent member of the landed gentry such as Lady Anne is unrealistic. All said, the book is an enjoyable diversion. ( )

This is the excellent follow up to The Last Hours, and is just as engaging and well written with a brilliant sense of time and place. Superb characterization throughout and I can't help thinking if Lady Anne where here today she would have sorted 'Brexit' by now and with half the trouble.
If you have not read book one WHY NOT, but rest assured the Author kindly provides a brief resume before this book starts.
Highly recommended. ( )