Hello! I picked up *Kiss of Death* by Malcolm Rose, drawn in by its captivating title and cover. It's a gripping thriller—less about scares, more about lingering questions and moral twists.
The story shows 17th-century history from Eyam village in Derbyshire, where villagers heroically quarantined themselves during the Black Death to protect others. This selfless act sets the stage for a tale of separation, loss, and enduring messages. The tragedy starts here: a young couple, Rowland Torre and Emmott, get separated due to the outbreak when the church decides to quarantine the village. Still, they meet daily from a distance. Rowland finds comfort knowing Emmott is safe, until one day she stops showing up. He later learns she died in April. Heartbroken, Rowland writes a message for Emmott on a lead plate and throws it into what becomes known as Mompesson's Well. Mompesson was the man who enforced the quarantine.
Jumping to the present, three friends—twins Kim and Seth (opposites in personality), plus Seth's best mate Wes—visit Eyam on a school tour. Bored by history lessons on Mompesson's Well and the plague, they get tempted by "wishing" coins and other items, sparking greed and trouble.
Seth, though just a kid, always tries to stop them. But Kim and Wes don't listen. They steal donation money from Meadowhall shopping centre's fountain (meant for a hospital). Then, on a tour to Eboracum, they steal another historic item—a lead plate with something written in Latin.
As misdeeds pile up, mysterious plague-like illnesses strike, forcing young Seth to uncover connections to the past and fight to set things right. The book blends history with mystery in a short, thoughtful package—less intense thriller, more powerful lesson on consequences.
To save his sister and friend, Seth must return everything to its rightful place. He donates the Meadowhall money to the hospital—but things don't improve. Then he has to return Rowland's message coin (R.T.) to the well—a very difficult task. Seth doesn't lose hope. He does everything possible to save them. In the end, he wakes up in a hospital bed himself, but everyone recovers.
But there's a final twist! Kim gets into an accident with an ambulance. She was wearing the coat bought with money from Mompesson's Well, and the lead plate falls from her pocket. Written on it in Latin: *"He who wears another's cloak will be crushed to a rotting corpse."*
The collector (perhaps a guide or history lover) repeatedly warns them to return things to their original places, but the kids don't take it seriously. This causes all their suffering.
The book is good—a blend of history and mystery, short but deep. Less thriller, more lesson. Malcolm Rose shows how the greed can be deadly.
Also Seth's courage teaches us to have the bravery to correct mistakes. "Stealing others' things isn't just about money—it's stealing history and respect. Anything not in its rightful place becomes poison—whether an old coin or a new coat." Worth reading, especially for kids and teens. 4/5 ⭐
This story took me back to the covid times when everybody was so panicked about the disease. But very less people were there who were selfless like Mr. Mompesson & Mr Thomas Stanley.
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