Walters takes readers to one of the darkest periods of human history, 14th century England where the Black Death holds sway. Only Lady Anne believes that the plague is caused by infection and lack of sanitation, the Church decrees the plague has been sent by God to destroy the wicked. Lady Anne has been educated and believes she can save her people if she separates them from the rest of the infected. With her husband away, Anne brings the people of her small holding inside her moated great house, hoping to keep them safe. But a woman who turns her head from God is a woman to be feared and hated and she has enemies living under own roof. Even if Anne can keep her people alive, what will await them in the world outside after the illness has passed? This book kept me up all night, I was fascinated (and horrified) at the conditions people lived in and loved Lady Anne, a strong woman who would let nothing stand in her way