Desolation by Keith Moray

 

Desolation by Keith Moray is a medieval mystery set in Yorkshire in 1361. It is a potent brew of violence and fear, with murders galore. This book, out on 17 October 2025, is the start of a new medieval mystery series.

Blurb:

Desolation

The Black Rood of Scotland, stolen.

A coroner of York, murdered.

An evil worse than plague itself, at large...

1361, York. As the country recovers from the war with France, and whispers that the pestilence has returned to England grow louder, fear is in the heart of every nobleman and commoner alike.

Sir Ralph de Mandeville, ex-soldier and newly appointed Justice of the Peace is sent to Langbarugh, just outside York, to investigate the murder of Coroner Sir Boderick de Whitby.

More deaths quickly follow, and while these are swifty dealt with as plague victims, Sir Ralph and his two assistants Merek and Peter soon uncover something altogether more horrifying... A greater evil is at large in the northern wapentakes.

As panic escalates and the lines between plague and murder blur, Sir Ralph is thrust into a desperate race against time. Every shadow hides a potential killer, every cough could be a death knell. Can he unmask a murderer lurking in the terrifying shadow of the Black Death before they're all consumed by a terror more sinister than any plague?

Set in and around York in 1361, the story follows Sir Ralph de Mandeville, a newly appointed Justice of the Peace. Tasked with finding the killers of the Coroner Sir Boderick de Whitby, Ralph and his assistants, Merek and Peter, travel to the wapentake of Langbarugh.

The peace between England and France is very fragile, and any minor trigger could bring a conflict. Then there is The Black Rood of Scotland being stolen from the shrine of the blessed St Cuthbert in Durham Cathedral, which might present a potential threat from Scotland, where it could be used to rally an army. "And if one country sought war, the two may join together. The Auld Alliance as they call it!"

The wapentake of Langbarugh is a place where fear reigns. One death after another keeps most people behind the closed doors, as the rumours of a new wave of pestilence spread further afield.

"It had been thirteen years since the pestilence that they called the Great Death had ravaged the land and killed almost half the population of the country. Now there was talk that it might be returning, and it was only natural that people were fearful".

The plague victims all seem to succumb to the most horrible death during the night. De Mandeville and his side-kicks are trying to uncover several mysteries at the same time. There is a great evil at large, and it's not necessarily the plague.

Could Ralph and his loyal team find out the shocking truth?

Ralph is a decent investigator, he is perceptive, analytical and fearless. "Sir Ralph knew the law as well as any man in England and was always both fair and considered in his judgments".

While Merek and Peter provide brawn and brain to the given tasks, it's de Mandeville who assesses and evaluates the evidence, looking for clues. The three men understand each other well, and despite the differences in social standing, they are truly comrades, set on investigation.

"Several times they had found themselves in dangerous situations and had to fight and guard each other's backs. Each brought different fighting skills that somehow complimented each other".

I read a different medieval mystery by K.Moray a few years ago (The summoner's sins), and rather forgot that his stories revel in gory details. 

Desolation depicts so many sadistic murders that it feels like an overkill (no pun intended).

If you enjoy historical fiction with lots of gore, this book is for you. If you're squeamish, find something lighter to read.

Desolation is a suspensful, vivid and memorable tale of the dark and desperate times.

Potential triggers: multiple murders (including that of a child), death from plague, graphic violence, mutilation of corpses, extensive descriptions of plague symptoms.

Many thanks to Keith Moray and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/desolationsocial

Author Bio –

Keith is a retired GP, medical journalist and novelist, writing in several genres. As Keith Moray he writes historical crime fiction in the medieval era and in ancient Egypt, The Inspector Torquil McKinnon crime novels set on the Outer Hebridean island of West Uist, and as Clay More he writes westerns. Curiously, his medical background finds its way into most of his fiction writing.

Social Media Links – 

Facebook: @KeithMorayAuthor

Twitter: @KeithMorayTales

Instagram: @souterkeith

The Silver Tide by J.H. Mann

 

"The ocean unleashes a surge of emotions and memories. Despite all the pain it has caused, it raises spirits and she ups her pace. The sea is part of her. It surges in her veins as it did in those of her father and brothers..."

"She will discover the truth. Whatever it takes. She owes it to her father, to her brothers, to Norah's son and every other soul who died on that fateful day".

The Silver Tide by J.H. Mann is a moving historical novel, set in Cornwall in 1863. Full of secrets, drama, menace and dark intrigue, romance and passion, with a strong female protagonist.

The Silver Tide

Cornwall, 1863.

On a windswept beach, Maggie Pascoe watches in horror as her family is lost to the sea. Her father and three brothers are among dozens of fishermen from the town of St Branok who perish in a summer storm.

Destitute and alone, she finds comfort in her friendship with widow Norah Bray, whose young son also drowned in the disaster.

But the tragedy was no accident. As Maggie battles to uncover the truth, she hides a devastating secret - one that could destroy her bond with Norah forever.

Inspired by a true story, The Silver Tide is a powerful tale of love, betrayal and one woman's courageous fight for justice.

Like with the other Cornish-themed book by J.H. Mann that I've read (The echoing shore), the story begins with a dramatic prologue. The unexpected summer storm brings a tragedy of astronomic proprotions to the Cornish town of St Branok.

With so many souls lost in the storm, "the town's heart has been ripped out". Seventy one fishermen perish, fifteen fishing boats sink, many other boats are damaged. It looks like St Branok has suffered a mortal blow.

Maggie Pascow is bereft, having lost her whole family to the sea, including her father and three brothers. She is left to cope on her own. As a single young woman without means to support herself, her choices are very limited. The only person Maggie can rely on is her friend Norah, who has lost her young son on that fateful summer day.

"Where would she be without Norah? Where would Norah be without her? They've become intertwined by tragedy. The greatest friendships are forged in adversity, so they say".

Maggie cannot rest until she finds out the truth how the tragedy has happened and whether it could have been prevented. She is considered by many locals as a nuisance, someone who doesn't know her place.

"Everybody has a purpose. Everybody has a home. Everybody has their place in the community, no matter how low it might be. Everybody but her. What is she going to do? What can she do?"

Driven out of her home, Maggie doesn't give up. Her resolve to dig out the truth is unwavering.

St Branok is a typical fishing community, where men's words and opinions matter, while womenfolk are delegated to the supporting task, they have to be obedient and subservient.

Prickly, disobedient Maggie is a thorn in the side of the local bully Jed Hoskin, a self-made man of business who buys silence and loyalty in his community. But even Jed with his nasty sidekick cannot stop her.

While searching for answers, Maggie hides a secret of her own, which could bring her friendship with Norah to a disastrous end.

Maggie is a strong protagonist. You cannot but admire her grit, spirit and inner strength.

There is a well-built cast of supporting characters, from shrewd and wily Norah, trying to survive in the men's world by using her female charms to a very colourful (literally and metaphorically) eccentric parson Kellow, and many others.

The bleak Cornish coastline is recreated vividly, and the historical setting is spotless.

The Silver Tide is an unforgettable story of tragedy, deception and lies, love and loyalty, which is second to none in its evocation of the Cornish coastline.

For me, this tale has all the elements that make the reading perfect - the Cornish setting, the strong-willed heroine, fascinating history, the convincing blend of fact and fiction. A five-star page-turner from the first pages.

Many thanks to J.H. Mann and Rachel's Random resources for my copy of the book.

Praise for J.H. Mann:

"J.H. Mann writes compelling fiction set in Cornwall. He transports his readers to rugged coasts... and introduces us to fascinating characters" - Magraget James, Writing Magazine.

"If you love Cornwall, storms at sea and an engrossing mystery then look no further" - Cathie Hartigan, author of Notes from the Lost and the bestselling Secret of the Song.

"J.H. Mann lovingly evokes the Cornish lasndscape, from the Atlantic coast to the bleak and threatening moors, for his gripping stories" - Debi Alper, author of the Nirvana series of thrillers.

Purchase Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silver-Tide-J-H-Mann-ebook/dp/B0FKH6D69Z

https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Tide-J-H-Mann-ebook/dp/B0FKH6D69Z 

Author Bio – 

J.H.Mann is an award-winning journalist and writer living in the South West of England. His previous novel The Echoing Shore was a Yeovil Literary Prize award winner and the Adult Fiction Winner of the 2025 Selfies Book Awards at the London Book Fair. He has strong family links with Cornwall. His novels are inspired by the many stories told by his mother and father and his own experiences as a shore-based volunteer for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). He lives with his wife, Nicola, and their lively whippet Patch.

Social Media Links –

Facebook – www.facebook.com/jason.mann.9047

Instagram – www.instagram.com/jhmannauthor/

Tik Tok - www.tiktok.com/@j.h.mann.writer 

Website: www.jhmannauthor.com

Kalahari Passage: Koba Book 2 by Candi Miller (book extract)

 

Celebrate Black History Month with a new powerful novel by Candi Miller. I'm thrilled to have an opportunity to publish a book extract on my blog.

Kalahari Passage: Koba book 2

Koba and Mannie have been in jail. Their crime, loving each other across the Apartheid colour bar in southern Africa. Koba escapes her captors and using her bush skills, finds her way across the semi-desert to her former tribal home. But adapting to a hunter-gatherer lifestyle after a decade away, has challenges. And her mortal enemy is on her trail.

   Meanwhile Mannie absconds during his parole and sets off on a sub-continental road trip to find his beloved Koba. But will his new comrades persuade him to join them across the border for training in deadly guerrilla warfare? And what will that mean for his future with Koba? 

   Under tragic circumstances the lovers meet, but the danger they are in means they face  heart-breaking choices.

Kalahari Passage is an action-packed story of a search for identity and love. Readers will be spellbound by Koba’s world where an ancient culture dances, trances and lives in harmony with the land.

 

 

Key ideas

 

●     Unique FMC from world’s oldest living culture, largely unknown outside anthropology. The lineage of Koba’s people goes back to the dawn of humankind. 

●     Dispossession - ancestral land, cultural identity, freedom

●     Interracial love - romantic and family  

●     Racial discrimination and defiance

●     Recent black history - Apartheid South Africa 1960s

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 Book Extract:

Intro for extract

 

This is a letter written by Marta Marais, mother of Mannie, to her foster daughter, Koba, who has been forcibly taken from them and repatriated to her former home in Bushmanland.

 

 

Impalala, near Hoedspruit

South Africa

 

30 September

 

My dearest Koba,

 

I don’t know if this will reach you. I shall send it care of my sister-in-law, Mrs Aletta Marais, at Weltevrede farm, in South West Africa. She was at the station when you left Johannesburg. She was the small woman in the very big hat, who was in front for every picture.

   Lettie, if you are reading this, you shouldn’t be, it’s private. But if you’re here, let me assure you I am very grateful to you for helping the children. Truly. You succeeded where we failed, so don’t take my tease to heart. And please, please, Lettie, help me with one more favour – find a messenger to take this letter to Bushmanland. Ask them to give it to any Ju|’hoan person (Bushman) they see. Koba is from the Ju|’hoan band, which lives in the vicinity of Nyae Nyae. Just tell them to look for the girl who lived with the whites. She might still be wearing a yellow dress. God and you willing, this letter could end up in Koba’s hands. Thank you, my dear. I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, but we are, after all, sisters-in-law. That’s still true, isn’t it, even though Etienne is gone?

   Kobatjie, my heart broke to see you in the pretty yellow dress in the back of a police van. You looked so small sitting next to that policeman they handcuffed to you. I have sent a letter to the authorities to complain. I have argued that you are still a child and they have no right to treat you so roughly. Well, they have no right to treat anyone brutally, but they do, we hear. But you, so small and alone, and after what you’ve been through! Oh, my dear, I shudder to think what detention must have been like for you. I heard such terrible stories during the months I stood outside with the other mothers. Ja-well, I must be careful what I write, Deon says. Still, someone should be brought to account and I will do what I can. Anyway, that’s for the future.

   For now, I want you to know that never a day goes by when I don’t berate myself for taking you from South West Africa. If you’d never come to Impalala none of this might have happened. Oh, Koba, I lie in bed at night crying for the harm my family has done to you and yours. For pity’s sake, believe me when I say I only did what I thought was best for you. I thought I could keep you safe. Ja, I know, I should have made a plan to get you back to the Kalahari years ago, but even after only a year it was already too late – we’d all grown to love you.

   Well, as you would say, ‘my heart is very heavy’. I am trying to believe that it all happened for the best, but I don’t know. I wish they’d let me talk to you. If you ever get this, perhaps you will write back, if you ever get pen and paper, or go near a post office. I don’t suppose there is one where you are going. 

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Purchase Links

Kalahari Passage: https://mybook.to/7qAtkQA

Koba series:  https://mybook.to/T81RWsf

Author Bio –

Candi Miller was born in southern Africa and has spent more than twenty years researching the first peoples of the region, a group who have now adopted the exonym of San or Bushmen. She taught creative writing at UK universities. She now lives in Cornwall where she is writing the last book of the Koba trilogy. She is republishing her novels to support a school feeding scheme she co-founded for San children in 2017.

 

 

 

Social Media Links –

https://candimiller.substack.com

Insta & TikTok @candimillerauthor

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092417402759

Degustabox September Box

 There's a chill in the air, and the evenings are crawling in earlier and earlier, and no wonder, as we've said Goodbye to September.

Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order. 

What did we get in September Box Degustabox?

 Tilda Meals - Hearty Meals Madras Bean Curry and Easy Meals Vegetable Paella - are chosen Product of the Month.

These two latest addition to the versatile Tilda range offer tasty and nutritious meals for one, ready in just two minutes.

Tilda Vegetable Paella is a hearty mix of long grain rice and vegetables (24%), such as carrots, red peppers, green beans, white beans, etc. Made in Spain with imported and local ingredients.

Nutritional values: 333kcal and 2.25g of salt per 250g serving.

Tilda Madras Bean Curry with lentils is a tasty combination of lentils, pinto beans, tomato, fried onion, coconut milk, etc. 

Nutritional values: 293kcal and 5.8g of sugar.

Both products contain 1 of your 5 a day; a source of fibre and protein, vegetarian and vegan; no artificial colours, flavours and preservatives.

Available in Sainsbury's and Tilda.com.

You should receive 1 item in your box. 

Indie Bay Pretzel Thins Ligthly Salted (£1 each) are tasty savoury snacks which have a satisfying crunch. They are thin and crispy and absolutely delicious. Great for dunking, dipping and topping, enjoy them on the go or while watching a film. 

They are vegan, a source of fibre and protein, and are made with natural ingredients. Nutritional information: 137kcal and 2.5g of salt per 35g bag.

Available on Amazon, indiebaysnacks.co and good independent shops.

You should receive two in your box.

Slooow Crispy Multigrain Rolls (£2.80) are prepared with the best 100% natural and organic ingredients. 

The bread is given more than a day from start to finish, and that makes the bread extra tasty - crispy on the ouside and soft inside.

Bake at home for 10 minutes to have fresh crispy rolls for your meal. Great with soups, stews or as a sandwich base.

Nutritional values: 244kcal and 0.59g of salt per serving; vegan, organic.

Available in Ocado, Dunnes Stores and Booths.

Rice Krispies Squares Honeycomb & Chocolate (£0.79) are cereal snack bars, made of Rice Krispies with a honeycomb flavour coating and a chocolate drizzle. 

I buy Rice Krispies Squares cereal bars for my sons, and they enjoy the texture and flavour of this treat. Each bar contains appr. 134kcal.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Mutti Peeled (£1.60) is a versatile Italian tomato product. 

Mutti tomatoes are known to be processed within 24 hours of harvesting to capture the taste of freshly picked 100% Italian sun-ripened tomatoes.

Excellent product for a great variety of recipes, from pasta to stew, from soup to chilli. 

It has an intense fresh flavour and rich texture, the colour is a beautiful bright red. Mutti peeled tomatoes are fleshy and firm, immersed in a velvety passata.

Nutritional information: 22kcal and 2.9g of sugar per 100g.

If your family enjoys a Bolognese (whether meat-based or vegetarian), Mutti Peeled will make a good tomato base for the ragu.

Our family are big fans of Mutti products. I use Mutti in vegetarian stews, vegetable ragu with okra, sweet peppers and butter beans, curries and pasta dishes. 

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Cheez-It Snap'd Cheese & Chilli baked snacks (£1 for 40g bag) are baked with 100% real cheese.

Thin and crispy, and very moreish, these snacks are a big hit with my guys. I buy them pretty regularly.

Crunchy and well-seasoned, Cheez-It makes a great snack, whether you are feeling peckish or having a movie night. 

Nutritional information: 501kcal and per 100g, or 200kcal and 1.4g of salt per 40g pouch. No artificial colours or flavours. Suitable for vegetarians.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

BrewDog Elvis Juice Hot Sauce (£2.50) is an award-winning sauce, inspired by an iconic headline beer and the undisputed King of Citrus. 

Infused with lime juice, it offers bold flavours. Just right for grilled halloumi sandwich, a chicken sub or tacos. 

Spicy and citrusy at the same time, it is hot hot hot. A bit too hot for me personally, while my guys enjoyed it.

Nutritional values: 112kcal and 1.8g of salt per 100ml.

Available in Tesco, Sainsbury's and Ocado.

Sunfly Sunflower Seed Butter Crunchy and Sweet & Salty (£0.90 each) are nut-free, top 14 allergen-free squeeze pouches.

Made with sunflower seeds, and offering a 7g protein boost, you can add them to your smoothies or porridge, spread on toast or eat straight from the pouch.

Nutirional values: 208kcal and 6.8g of protein for Crunchy and 211kcal and 6.8g of protein for sweet & salty. Rich in Vitamin E, magnesium & iron.

Available on Amazon and Ocado.

You should receive two items in your box.

Munchies Sharing bag (£1.65) is another lovely treat, offering a rich caramel and a crunchy biscuit centre, all ensconsed in a smooth milk chocolate. It's a winning combination of crunchy, chewy and creamy.

The sharing bag includes approximately 6 servings of 7 sweets. 

Nutritional values: 156kcal and 18.4g of sugar per serving.

Is it your on-the-go kind of snack, or will you share the bag, while watching a new episode of Slow Horses?

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Fruitbowl Yogurt Fruit Goals (£2.45) are juicy raisins in yogurt flavoured coating in pretty pastel colours. 

These fruity snacks will appeal to children or grown ups with a sweet tooth (a tad too sweet for me). Made with real fruit and using natural colours & flavours, they are just right for a lunchbox or as a sweet treat after school.

Nutritional information: 87kcal and 11.8g of sugar per serving/pouch; suitable for vegetarians, gluten free.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Goodrays CBD Elderflower & Yuzu (£2.29) is a refreshing drink, infused with 30mg of premium sun-grown CBD, and high in Vitamin D.

The flavours are a combination of zesty citrus of the Japanese Yuzu and the sweet floral notes of the British Elderflower.

No added sugar. No artificial sweeteners. 100% vegan.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

If you're a Degusta Box Plus member, you will also receive an extra product - Spice Kitchen Tandoori Masala Spice Blend (£6.50).

What product is your favourite?

And don't forget to order an XXL Advent Calendar. We've had it for several years in a row, and it's always fabulous.