The Plague Letters by V.L Valentine Blog Tour

 Historical fiction is fast becoming one of my favourite genres to read. So I guess it really comes as no surprise that I was rather pleased to be given a spot on the blog tour for V.L. Valentine's novel The Plague Letters.

This seemed like such a fitting read for the here and now. I couldn't help but draw comparisons to what we are facing now with Covid 19. Meaning that although the story would be classed as historical fiction, this is a novel that ends up feeling rather relevant.

London, 1665. Hidden within a growing pile of corpses, one victim of the pestilence stands out: a young woman with a shorn head and pieces of twine delicately tied around each ankle.

Symon Patrick, rector of St. Paul's Covent Garden, cannot say exactly why this corpse amongst the many in his churchyard should give him pause. Longing to do good, he joins a group of medical men who have gathered to find a cure for the plague, each man more peculiar and splenetic than the next. But there is another - unknown to The Society for the Prevention and Cure of Plague - who is performing his own terrible experiments upon unwilling plague-ridden subjects.

It is Penelope - Symon's unwanted yet unremovable addition to his household - who may yet shed light on the matter. Far more than what she appears, she is already on the hunt. But the dark presence that enters the houses of the sick will not stop, and has no mercy...

Will we never learn?

The Plague Letters - the setting, London 1665 during - you guessed it - the Great Plague.

The novel, not solely about the plague (although this of course plays a big part), we follow Rector Symon and his chosen assistant Penelope as they embark on a mission to find a killer.

WHAT IS ONE MORE CORPSE, WHEN ALL AROUND YOU ARE DYING...

It all seems like a race against time.

As doctors try to quickly create a cure for this horrid disease that seems to be taking lives at a rapid rate, there is another problem lurking in the dark. A murderer, quietly roaming the streets of London, seemingly running experiments of their own on the poor sick and dying, innocent people.

A well written and expertly researched book. It was fascinating to see the spread of infection. The use of maps alongside the body count, clever.

This hugely atmospheric and entertaining historical thriller will transport readers to the palaces and alleyways of seventeenth-century London. Perfect for fans of Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Andrew Taylor and C.J. Sansom.

As the numbers continued to rise, the sense of urgency rose.

I found myself completely immersed in it all, partly due to the concept of the story itself, also because of the way it was written. The language used, I found myself using accents in my head as I read.

What also set this book apart from others was the fact that most of the characters are actually quite awful, and when I say that I mean that they aren't likeable. Quite crude and unpleasant. I'll admit there were some who I thought perhaps deserved to know what catching the plague would feel like.

This is both history and mystery combined.

With a brilliant mix of dark humour and ghostly yet I'd say beautiful settings, I cannot wait to have a physical copy of this book in my hands.

Please do follow the rest of the blog tour for more insight into The Plague Letters: