The bone fire

The Somershill Manor mysteries began with Plague Land (2015), which concerned the first appearance of the Black Death in England in 1349, an event that catapulted series hero Oswald de Lacy from life as a monk to Lord Somershill, after his father and two brothers died from the plague. In this, the fourth in the series, it's 1361, and the Black Death has returned to England. Oswald seeks safety for his wife, four-year-old son, mother, and servant, in a friend's fortified castle, surrounded by water on three sides and with a cliff on the other. What happens is a blend of Poe's The Masque of the Red Death and a country-house murder mystery. Sykes is brilliant at showing the elaborate precautions the castle owner, Geoffrey, has taken, with stores of provisions in cellars, an in-house well, and a drawbridge and portcullis to keep out anyone infected, or desperate to escape the plague. As with any good shut-off-from-the world country-house mystery, murders start piling up. Oswald, who has been thrown into investigative work since he became Lord Somershill, uses all his skills to stop the killings (it's fascinating to see him estimate time of death from the knowledge of morbidity gained from his former job of preparing monks' bodies for burial). An absolutely engrossing historical mystery.--Connie Fletcher Copyright 2010 Booklist

Set in 1361, Sykes's excellent fourth whodunit featuring Oswald de Lacy (after 2017's City of Masks) finds Oswald traveling with his family from Somershill Manor in Kent to the Isle of Eden, an island surrounded by marshes on England's south coast, to avoid the bubonic plague. Their destination is Castle Eden, a place of refuge offered by Oswald's friend Godfrey, Lord Eden. Once the castle portcullis lowers behind them, Oswald and his party are cut off from the outside world. Godfrey, who believes the pestilence to be a manifestation of divine punishment, has several other guests plus supplies to last for months. Soon after the nobleman asks Oswald to deliver two sealed envelopes in the event something happens to him, one addressed to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Godfrey is found dead in a tool chest with a head wound. Oswald must ascertain which of the castle's other occupants is responsible, while keeping his family protected from the deadly contagious disease. Sykes effectively uses her diligent research in the service of a memorable plot. This outing reinforces her place in the historical mystery genre's top ranks. Agent: Gordon Wise, Curtis Brown (U.K.). (Sept.)

Which is worse: the plague raging outside the isolated castle or the killer lurking inside?After a turbulent adventure in Venice (City of Masks, 2017), the year 1361 finds Oswald de Lacy, Lord Somershill, back in England, where the plague still rages. He and his desperate family find refuge in Castle Eden, situated on an isolated isle. It's the home of Godfrey, an old family friend whom they encounter outside the castle supervising the burning of a plague house, with the corpses of the disease-stricken residents still insidenot the most auspicious introduction. Oswald works hard to quell the fears of the rest of his partyhis mother; his wife, Filomena; son Hugh; and Sandro, his young valetbut the level of collective angst is high. The fact that Godfrey has prepared a coffin for each of his guests gives Oswald pause. Even odder is Godfrey's determination to leave the castle at will on personal business. Oswald is unable to dissuade him from this foolhardy plan. The next morning, Godfrey's devoted servant, Alice Cross, reports that the clockmakers have found her master dead in their wooden chest. Oswald, who has some experience in these matters, steps up to investigate. Godfrey's brother, Edwin, volunteers to assist him, but his intermittent drunkenness makes him of little help. The colorful array of suspects includes an imperious lord, a nervous doctor, a light-fingered young Dutchman, and the castle fool.Sykes' fourth is anchored in a grimly evocative first-person narrative reminiscent of Poe, and there's a whodunit to boot. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.