Mark of the Plague

Product Description Christopher Rowe is back and there are more puzzles, riddles, and secrets to uncover in this follow-up to the Indie Next pick The Blackthorn Key, which was called a “spectacular debut” by Kirkus Reviews in 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… About the Author Since escaping from university with a pair of degrees in theoretical physics, Kevin Sands has worked as a researcher, a business consultant, and a teacher. He lives in Toronto, Canada. He is the author of the award-winning and bestselling Blackthorn Key series. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Mark of the PlagueCHAPTER1“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, the molded