Oxford 1275.

The Prophecies of Merlin foretell a plague and a river of blood.

A plague of Small Pox is ravaging England. Oxford is in quarantine, running out of food and living in fear of disease. Wales is in a volatile state of unrest. Rebellion against the crown is imminent.

In the dark corners of Oxford University someone is stealing and destroying blasphemous books. William Falconer is told to root out the thief. But theft becomes murder when the owner of one such book is found with his skull crushed.

Plague is not the only killer stalking the streets of Oxford.

Then another scholar is brutally murdered. Fear grips the University. It appears The Prophecies of Merlin, foretelling a river of blood, are coming true.

When another regent master is found decapitated, Falconer knows scholars are in danger . . . and he has more than his reputation to lose if he fails to solve this murderous riddle.

But when the killer sets his sights on Falconer no prophecy can foretell the devastation that will follow . . .

Fans of C.J. Sansom, Ellis Peters, S.J. Parris, Paul Doherty, Rory Clements and S.W. Perry will devour this gripping medieval mystery series.