Bone Fire

The Oswald de Lacy thriller is a 2020 Historical Writers Association Gold Crown Award nominee. It follows Oswald de Lacy, a young sleuth in 14th-century England, as he leads his family to a remote castle to survive the plague. When a murderer strikes, it falls to Oswald to unmask him. Everyone is a suspect in this poisoned refuge of secrets, deceit, and malice.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 25 July 2019
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Longlisted for the 2020 Historical Writers Association Gold Crown Award, the brand-new Oswald de Lacy thriller is sure to captivate fans of C.J. Sansom, Minette Walters, and S.J. Parris. Living legends Andrew Taylor and Susanna Gregory join bestselling phenomena SJ Parris and CJ Sansom in a league of extraordinary resurrectionists. If you love their books, I invite you to journey back to fourteenth-century England with SD Sykes. Experience the company of young Oswald de Lacy, one of the most appealing historical sleuths currently on the hunt.

A.J. Finn offers a fascinating glimpse into an almost forgotten period of history. Andrew Taylor praises Sykes for giving the plague a life and character of its own, describing it as swift, remorseless, and deadly. The New York Times praises Sykes for his ability to bring the plague to life and create a sense of urgency and danger.

In 1361, England has been hit with a devastating plague, thirteen years after the devastation of The Black Death. As destruction advances towards his estate in Kent, Oswald de Lacy leads his family to the safety of a remote castle in the marshes, where his friend Godfrey is preparing a fortress to survive the coming disaster. The rules are clear: once the de Lacys and other guests are inside the castle, the portcullis will be lowered, and no one will be permitted to enter or leave until the Pestilence has passed.

However, a murderer strikes, and Oswald is confronted with a stark choice: leave and face the ravages of the plague, or stay and place his family at the mercy of a brutal killer. With word of his skills as an investigator preceding him, it falls to Oswald to unmask the murderer in their midst. Everyone, from the host to the guest to the servant, is a suspect in this poisoned refuge of secrets, deceit, and malice.

As Oswald delves deeper into the investigation, he discovers that the castle holds many secrets, and the lines between friend and foe become blurred. He must navigate through a web of lies and treachery, using his wits and his knowledge of history to uncover the truth before it is too late.

The novel is filled with suspense, mystery, and intrigue, and will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. SD Sykes has created a captivating and unforgettable world, and Oswald de Lacy is a character that will stay with you long after you finish the book.

In conclusion, if you are a fan of historical fiction and are looking for a thrilling and suspenseful read, I highly recommend The Plague Master. SD Sykes has created a masterpiece that will transport you back to fourteenth-century England and keep you guessing until the very end.

Weight: 528g
Dimension: 231 x 171 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781473679993