Mark of the Plague [Paperback]

Christopher Rowe is back and there are more puzzles, riddles, and secrets to uncover in this follow-up to the Indie Next pickThe Blackthorn Key, which was called a “spectacular debut” byKirkus Reviewsin a starred review.

The Black Death has returned to London, spreading disease and fear through town. A mysterious prophet predicts the city’s ultimate doom—until an unknown apothecary arrives with a cure that actually works. Christopher’s Blackthorn shop is chosen to prepare the remedy. But when an assassin threatens the apothecary’s life, Christopher and his faithful friend Tom are back to hunting down the truth, risking their lives to untangle the heart of a dark conspiracy.

And as the sickness strikes close to home, the stakes are higher than ever before…Mark of the Plague

CHAPTER

1

“THIS IS A BAD IDEA,” Tom said.

He stared sidelong at the device at the end of the workbench, as though, if he looked at it directly, it might poke out his eyes.

“You don’t even know what it does yet,” I said.

He bit his lip. “I’m pretty sure I don’t want to.”

The contraption did look rather . . . well, odd. It was five inches tall, with a bulging top balanced over a narrow upright cylinder, wrapped tightly in folded paper. The upper part of the device balanced on three wooden prongs sticking out of the bottom. A wick of cannon fuse trailed from its end.

“It’s like a mushroom,” Tom said. “With a tail.” He edged away from the workbench. “A flammable tail.”

I couldn’t help feeling slightly wounded. Odd or not, this device was the most important thing I’d ever made. All of the other equipment in the apothecary workshop—the ceramic jars, l+