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-solider 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 swiftly 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?
John Telfer has worked extensively in theatre, including Bristol and London Old Vics, the Royal National Theatre and abroad. His numerous television appearances include five years in Bergerac, playing... more
