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