England in 1350 is a country devastated by the Plague. Oswald de Lacy has been a novice in a monastery since he was seven but when his father and two older brothers die of the plague, he returns home to become Lord of Somershill Manor - at the age of eighteen.Suddenly in charge, Oswald finds everything about him changed. There are fewer people to work his lands and fewer people in general to do anything. Terrified by what has happened to them, people search everywhere for an explanation. Sin, superstition and astrology are prime causes.
When a young girl is found dead in the woods, her body slightly decayed, some blame the cynocephaly (or dog heads) for the attack. But Oswald is not superstitious by nature and might even be an atheist. Urged on by Brother Peter, who left the monastery with him, he begins the job of investigating. Part of his inquiry focuses on why the dead girl visited him just hours before her disappearance.
When her sister disappears just days later Oswald battles not only local superstition but also the parish priest and another landowner in his efforts to solve the murders - and discover their connection to him.
This book captures eloquently the unrest and distrust that existed in that devastating time. Oswald must battle not just his inexperience and the lack of trust that people place in him but also the unrest of the times. All around him seems dark, dreary and hopeless. But in spite of that he perseveres, unable to rest until he discovers the truth.
A fascinating look at an interesting time.
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