| Publisher | Hodder Paperbacks |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 18 February 2022 |
| ISBN-10 | 1473680239 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1473680234 |
| Format | paperback |
| Pages | 304 |
| Price | £ 8.99 |
The Good Death
by
The story of how novice monk Oswald de Lacy became lord of Somershill.
Review
The often troubled, but always principled and sensitive Oswald de Lacy, as readers of SD Sykes’ earlier books will know him, was never meant to be Lord of the Kent manor of Somershill. As the unwanted third son of a once distinguished Norman family, he was packed off in the usual way to become a novice monk, in the expectation that his noble birth would allow him to rise through the church hierarchy to his family’s benefit.
As the hard winter of 1349 approaches, along with rumours of a foul plague sweeping the countryside, the shy and frequently uncertain novice, Brother Oswald, comes across a terrified girl, who, apparently frightened by his monkish habit, drowns in the river despite his effort to save her. He finds out that she’s not the only woman in her village to have disappeared. As they are all from the poorest families, no-one in authority – particularly not the bullying and pretentious village constable – has investigated.
His enquiries convince him that the girls are dead, but he does not know how or why. He believes the village women hold the key to the mystery and appeals to them for help. He’s helped by Maud Woodstock, daughter of a wealthy local farmer, an independent-minded woman who inspires decidedly un-monkish thoughts in the young man.
As the Great Plague tightens its grip on every part of life, the venal Abbott decides it is the Lord’s Will that his monastery should abandon its people and its doors are locked against them and the deadly threat. Brother Peter insists Oswald forgets what so far appears to be a hopeless search. But Oswald will not give up.
More than 20 years later, he is forced to relive the past as his domineering, hectoring and controlling mother, now on her deathbed, demands he explain a letter he had sent to his eldest brother – a letter that led indirectly to the deaths of her brutal husband, her eldest son and Oswald’s wastrel middle brother. Beset by family problems on all sides, Oswald’s past starts to catch up with him.
Although related to the pervious stories, this intricately plotted prequel works well as a standalone. Its colourful characters mostly have something to hide, and the story fleshes out Oswald’s backstory.
Sykes’ easy writing style, sharp observation and occasional flashes of genuine wit combine with her mastery of the period to allow the plot to stay on the right side of realistic and avoid the trap of projecting modern sensibilities onto medieval England. Her inventiveness and gift for description enables her to build a very credible world complete with all its nastiness, poverty, unfairness, brutality and lack of hygiene.
As a series, the de Lacy books are growing in impact and authority. This is a poignant tale of a family’s descent into madness and evil, halted by natural justice – aided by a little intervention, if not from a Divine source at least from one acting in its Name and for the overall good.
As the hard winter of 1349 approaches, along with rumours of a foul plague sweeping the countryside, the shy and frequently uncertain novice, Brother Oswald, comes across a terrified girl, who, apparently frightened by his monkish habit, drowns in the river despite his effort to save her. He finds out that she’s not the only woman in her village to have disappeared. As they are all from the poorest families, no-one in authority – particularly not the bullying and pretentious village constable – has investigated.
His enquiries convince him that the girls are dead, but he does not know how or why. He believes the village women hold the key to the mystery and appeals to them for help. He’s helped by Maud Woodstock, daughter of a wealthy local farmer, an independent-minded woman who inspires decidedly un-monkish thoughts in the young man.
As the Great Plague tightens its grip on every part of life, the venal Abbott decides it is the Lord’s Will that his monastery should abandon its people and its doors are locked against them and the deadly threat. Brother Peter insists Oswald forgets what so far appears to be a hopeless search. But Oswald will not give up.
More than 20 years later, he is forced to relive the past as his domineering, hectoring and controlling mother, now on her deathbed, demands he explain a letter he had sent to his eldest brother – a letter that led indirectly to the deaths of her brutal husband, her eldest son and Oswald’s wastrel middle brother. Beset by family problems on all sides, Oswald’s past starts to catch up with him.
Although related to the pervious stories, this intricately plotted prequel works well as a standalone. Its colourful characters mostly have something to hide, and the story fleshes out Oswald’s backstory.
Sykes’ easy writing style, sharp observation and occasional flashes of genuine wit combine with her mastery of the period to allow the plot to stay on the right side of realistic and avoid the trap of projecting modern sensibilities onto medieval England. Her inventiveness and gift for description enables her to build a very credible world complete with all its nastiness, poverty, unfairness, brutality and lack of hygiene.
As a series, the de Lacy books are growing in impact and authority. This is a poignant tale of a family’s descent into madness and evil, halted by natural justice – aided by a little intervention, if not from a Divine source at least from one acting in its Name and for the overall good.
Reviewed 19 February 2022 by John Cleal
