This ninth volume of the "Capelburgh" series follows the previous book, "Seigneur de Chapellebourg." Plague returns in 1361 and once more George Crandall makes every effort to keep it out of his happy world of Capelburgh. Disaster threatens, however, when a tragic accident forces George down to Newcastle just as the plague arrives in that city. He escapes, but plague follows as a shipmate, bringing scenes of unparalleled horror in the confines of a small wooden boat. Ranulf, George's son, sharts to show his fitness to inherit his father's honour by helping solve a murder mystery and George records the failure of his attempt to ensure a happy marriage for Edgar. Then, just as life seems to be returning to normal, disaster sudden and unlooked for, falls on Capelburgh, a disaster from which it will never recover, despite George's best efforts to bring his people through it.