What do you think?
Rate this book
Plague Pit
Deep foundations are being dug on a City building site when some old brickwork is revealed. Part of it collapses, releasing a gust of air so foul that all the men nearby begin to choke and retch. Finally the nauseous stench disperses and they discover a burial crypt dating back to the Great Plague of London in 1665. But these pit should never be disturbed.
But when the intruders begin to show horrifying symptoms – fever, nausea, revolting swellings – the true horror of the pit is revealed.
All die hideously within five days.
By opening a burial crypt that should never have been touched, they have unleashed an infection on the nation that the authorities must prevail to control. Ignoring the threat, the government warn the spreading of a Super-flu to attempt to contain the panic. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the infection.
Charity, a local radio station presenter, and Paul, a scientist, are determined to unveil the truth, and save lives. But the powers from above are too strong. Can the pair find some way to combine the power of science with the power of media? The infection is fast spreading, but Paul and Charity must endeavour to spread the word and find a cure.
All the while, one of the men from the building site has mysteriously disappeared and cannot be traced...
Plague Pit is a chilling horror-thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It was previously published under the pseudonym Mark Ronson.
But when the intruders begin to show horrifying symptoms – fever, nausea, revolting swellings – the true horror of the pit is revealed.
All die hideously within five days.
By opening a burial crypt that should never have been touched, they have unleashed an infection on the nation that the authorities must prevail to control. Ignoring the threat, the government warn the spreading of a Super-flu to attempt to contain the panic. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the infection.
Charity, a local radio station presenter, and Paul, a scientist, are determined to unveil the truth, and save lives. But the powers from above are too strong. Can the pair find some way to combine the power of science with the power of media? The infection is fast spreading, but Paul and Charity must endeavour to spread the word and find a cure.
All the while, one of the men from the building site has mysteriously disappeared and cannot be traced...
Plague Pit is a chilling horror-thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It was previously published under the pseudonym Mark Ronson.
- GenresHorror
221 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1981
112 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 28, 2020
Definitely the book to read for the time we live in at the moment. A group of construction workers unleash the plague over London by unearthing a 300 year old plague pit ("the nuclear waste of the Middle Ages"). The plague spreads anew (here I love the reference to the Book of Numbers:... "for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun"). At first the government says it's a kind of super flue. Then comes the shutdown with looting and havoc. Many people die (loved the phrase "decimated by an invisible invader"). Will Dr Paul Mitch and Charity, coloured radio presenter, manage to get the devastating situation under control? What is the role of extremist British party NBP in this story? What solution was found to fight the outbreak of the plague? Great early 80s pulp horror with many references to the Great Plague of London and Poe (Prince Properso in The Red Death). Highly recommended!
February 12, 2022
I really enjoy anything plague related and this was good!
A bunch of workmen accidentally open a plague pit and manage to infect the whole of London, causing mass deaths and chaos, with looting and violence.
The writing style isn’t the best but the story was interesting enough 🦠🦠
A bunch of workmen accidentally open a plague pit and manage to infect the whole of London, causing mass deaths and chaos, with looting and violence.
The writing style isn’t the best but the story was interesting enough 🦠🦠
May 29, 2017
2.5 stars
This was the novel equivalent of those 'so bad they're good' made for TV films you only ever see when you're off sick from work, and watching any old trash because you're too weak to change the channel.
It was completely over the top but did have some entertaining elements, and the idea of what might happen if there really was a plague outbreak is a terrifying one. An easy enough read for an afternoon's entertainment!
This was the novel equivalent of those 'so bad they're good' made for TV films you only ever see when you're off sick from work, and watching any old trash because you're too weak to change the channel.
It was completely over the top but did have some entertaining elements, and the idea of what might happen if there really was a plague outbreak is a terrifying one. An easy enough read for an afternoon's entertainment!
April 10, 2020
Totally apropos to the current global situation [and shiver-producing] is this 1981 horror novel, republished in 2016. Once germs from a City of London accidentally-excavated "plague pit," initially filled during the Bubonic Plague of 1666, alight on a crew of greedy, treasure-hogging construction workers, the same epidemic is set loose to decimate unprotected modern populations.
I appreciate the comparisons of unprepared health agencies and the speed with which the Pandemic expands with today's conditions. However, the initial occurrence, caused by a not-so-intelligent, angry, antisocial, heavy equipment operator, acting out his aggression, was a little too "staged" to be readily believable, as was the conclusion. Though probably, if Younger Me had originally read this in the 1980's, I might have more likely accepted the premises. After all, in 1980's Horror, "anything went" and a lot of readers ate it up, no matter what form "it" took.
I appreciate the comparisons of unprepared health agencies and the speed with which the Pandemic expands with today's conditions. However, the initial occurrence, caused by a not-so-intelligent, angry, antisocial, heavy equipment operator, acting out his aggression, was a little too "staged" to be readily believable, as was the conclusion. Though probably, if Younger Me had originally read this in the 1980's, I might have more likely accepted the premises. After all, in 1980's Horror, "anything went" and a lot of readers ate it up, no matter what form "it" took.
April 29, 2015
Following in the footsteps of British writer James Herbert (particularly with his novels THE FOG and THE RATS), little-known author Ronson here delivers a tale of the Bubonic Plague decimating the population of London in violent, gory fashion. It’s not a particularly well-written story though, a particular deficit being in the unlikable leading characters, a male scientist and a black female reporter who join forces to combat the plague. The scientist, Paul Mitchell, seems to go through the blender in this one, being beaten up, infected and almost burnt in an incinerator!
This is a bit of a cross-breed of a story, throwing in science fiction elements with plenty of gory and gross descriptions to give it the horror tag. Ronson whittles down the cast of characters throughout so we only have a couple left at the end but the level of suspense is quite weak. There is nobody here to really focus on as a character you don’t want to see die and the atmosphere is cold and bleak rather than frightening.
The novel does have a few scenes of action in it, but these are relatively few and far between and not particularly engaging. Ronson's scenes of ministers discussing the fate of the British are pretty much spot-on, though, and a definite strength. Different plot strands are woven fairly well together, like a Neo-Nazi group who use the outbreak for their own ends and various looters who become crazed through the infection, and a radio station which is pivotal to the story; the latter is a fine touch.
The set-up of the story, the opening of a plague pit, seems to introduce the main characters but these are all quickly killed off and things move on elsewhere. It’s a bit stop-and-start like that. There is a vague sense of realism and Ronson is particularly good at focusing on the grittiness of the situation, which makes an impact but also results in the story being pretty depressing. Unfortunately there are no real surprises here. Ronson goes through the motions unambitiously, delivering a typical horror/end-of-the-world yarn which is neither the worst I’ve read nor the best. In fact it’s a very vanilla-flavoured story that only genre fans are likely to get a kick out of.
This is a bit of a cross-breed of a story, throwing in science fiction elements with plenty of gory and gross descriptions to give it the horror tag. Ronson whittles down the cast of characters throughout so we only have a couple left at the end but the level of suspense is quite weak. There is nobody here to really focus on as a character you don’t want to see die and the atmosphere is cold and bleak rather than frightening.
The novel does have a few scenes of action in it, but these are relatively few and far between and not particularly engaging. Ronson's scenes of ministers discussing the fate of the British are pretty much spot-on, though, and a definite strength. Different plot strands are woven fairly well together, like a Neo-Nazi group who use the outbreak for their own ends and various looters who become crazed through the infection, and a radio station which is pivotal to the story; the latter is a fine touch.
The set-up of the story, the opening of a plague pit, seems to introduce the main characters but these are all quickly killed off and things move on elsewhere. It’s a bit stop-and-start like that. There is a vague sense of realism and Ronson is particularly good at focusing on the grittiness of the situation, which makes an impact but also results in the story being pretty depressing. Unfortunately there are no real surprises here. Ronson goes through the motions unambitiously, delivering a typical horror/end-of-the-world yarn which is neither the worst I’ve read nor the best. In fact it’s a very vanilla-flavoured story that only genre fans are likely to get a kick out of.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2014
A careless workman breaks the seal on a plague pit in the centre of London and when he and his workmates scavenge them, they unleash centuries old Bubonic bugs that devastate early 80s London (it’s supposedly set in the near future - Charles is King - but the time is never specificed). The government tries to cover it up, a radio reporter - Charity Brown - tries to tell all and neo-Nazi’s plan to use the confusion to their own ends. Taking this apocalyptic starting point, Ronson does his best to squash any tension out of the story - the pace is very slow, the effects of the plague are patchily given and there’s no real grasp of the scale or terror that’s present (apart from an excruciating sequence, several pages long, where Charity flies over London describing what she can see). The characters don’t help, with an Aussie who’s all “fair dinkum” and calling women “Shelia” and Charity is a black girl, who apologies for her hair turning afro (when she discovers her hairdressers has been burnt out) and flags down a bus, calling its black driver ‘brother’ (he obligingly stops, saying he’ll help out a ‘sister’). The New British Party - the neo-Nazi’s - don’t seem to fit in at all (and their threat is literally quashed with a sentence) and Radio City, which Charity works for, is apparently the best vehicle to communicate with London (completely ignoring the BBC) On a personal level, however, some of the locations were good fun - Fenny Stratford is about five miles from my office, whilst the characters at one point make a mad dash to Gayton in Northamptonshire. Overall though, this is a wasted opportunity, hampered by poor characterisation and a plodding pace and probably only of interest to completist 70s/80s horror fans.
June 5, 2017
This is another 'what if' scenario where some workers on a building site unearth a plague pit from the time of the great plague of London in 1665. We follow the adventures of Charity, a radio reporter and her friend Paul, a scientist as they, single handedly it would seem, set out to save the world. There is a lot of action, the actual time is impossible to work out, the author says that an event happened in 1960 which was 25 years ago. King Charles is King of England and President Reagan is current President of the USA. Although I have read many historical fiction books about the plague with vivid descriptions of the sick, it somehow seemed more gory because it was in modern London.
There are a few errors which need to be corrected and it is certainly not in the same class as Stephen King or James Herbert, but I finished it and I thought it was a good idea to set it in the 'now' or near future.
There are a few errors which need to be corrected and it is certainly not in the same class as Stephen King or James Herbert, but I finished it and I thought it was a good idea to set it in the 'now' or near future.
December 31, 2022
I agree with other reviewers that the characters were a bit two-dimensional and some plot developments were far fetched. But the story was interesting and moved quickly enough. Overall, an enjoyable read.
November 3, 2016
The Plague Pit was originally published in 1981 under the pseudonym Marc Ronson and has been re-released in the 21st century under what I assume to be the writer's real name, Marc Alexander. The late 70s and early 80s were horror's golden years. Thanks to writers like Stephen King, Clive Barker. Peter Straub, Robert McCammon and others, the horror genre burgeoned into a bestselling marvel. Every printing house in the world was clamoring for horror novels. That tends to bring out a fair amount of chaff. Quite a number of novels of that period disappeared into obscurity for good reason.
The Plague Pit appears to be one of those. It has a good if far-fetched premise. British construction workers in London unearths a long forgotten burial pit of the victims of the Black Plague. The mutated and airborne virus infects the workers who quickly spread it through England and beyond. The book gets in trouble immediately with its premise even if it is a promising one. The idea of the Black Plague staying alive over 300 years is questionable in itself even if the author tries to explain it with a few scientific theories. But I would be able to forgive that if the story was the least bit interesting.
It is hard to imagine how one can make the idea of a deadly and virulent epidemic racing through modern England boring but the author manages it. The biggest reason is found in the characters. All of them are one dimensional with no reason given to root for any one of them. Then there is that stiff dialogue. Much of it does not add to the story and simply tries to be cute which leads me to believe the real purpose of the plague is to warn people to shut the hell up! The author makes everyone jumps through their hoops. There is the spreading of the disease, denial and coverup by the government, and a rapid race to find a cure and a vaccine. Yet the reader is left on the sidelines wondering where this is all going to go if one doesn't care in the first place.
The novel was and still appears to be billed as a horror novel. It doesn't really fits the claim and is what I would call speculative fiction; telling a story of what might happen using a realistic and believable scenario devoid, or with little, supernatural or pure science fiction intent. A epidemic themed tale should have some tense and scary moments though. This is little to none in this book. Some may find this "future plague" novel to be entertainment but I was left with only one thought of wonder. I wondered why anyone would bring it back.
The Plague Pit appears to be one of those. It has a good if far-fetched premise. British construction workers in London unearths a long forgotten burial pit of the victims of the Black Plague. The mutated and airborne virus infects the workers who quickly spread it through England and beyond. The book gets in trouble immediately with its premise even if it is a promising one. The idea of the Black Plague staying alive over 300 years is questionable in itself even if the author tries to explain it with a few scientific theories. But I would be able to forgive that if the story was the least bit interesting.
It is hard to imagine how one can make the idea of a deadly and virulent epidemic racing through modern England boring but the author manages it. The biggest reason is found in the characters. All of them are one dimensional with no reason given to root for any one of them. Then there is that stiff dialogue. Much of it does not add to the story and simply tries to be cute which leads me to believe the real purpose of the plague is to warn people to shut the hell up! The author makes everyone jumps through their hoops. There is the spreading of the disease, denial and coverup by the government, and a rapid race to find a cure and a vaccine. Yet the reader is left on the sidelines wondering where this is all going to go if one doesn't care in the first place.
The novel was and still appears to be billed as a horror novel. It doesn't really fits the claim and is what I would call speculative fiction; telling a story of what might happen using a realistic and believable scenario devoid, or with little, supernatural or pure science fiction intent. A epidemic themed tale should have some tense and scary moments though. This is little to none in this book. Some may find this "future plague" novel to be entertainment but I was left with only one thought of wonder. I wondered why anyone would bring it back.
June 11, 2017
Wow... this was terrible. Good premise, bad execution.
December 7, 2016
Best. Book. EVER!!!
WOW!! What a ride!! My New Favorite Author!!
The whole premise of a still-viable plague pit is wholly believable. The story grabs you by the throats and won't let you go, until sadly, its conclusion.
Incredible story line, it NEVER drags, slows, or hiccups, but keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end! I highly recommend if you love historical adventure could-be-the-end-of-the-world romance-medical thrillers...
AWESOME read!!!
WOW!! What a ride!! My New Favorite Author!!
The whole premise of a still-viable plague pit is wholly believable. The story grabs you by the throats and won't let you go, until sadly, its conclusion.
Incredible story line, it NEVER drags, slows, or hiccups, but keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end! I highly recommend if you love historical adventure could-be-the-end-of-the-world romance-medical thrillers...
AWESOME read!!!
October 28, 2022
When irresponsible construction workers in London, England open a "plague pit" that has lain dormant for three centuries and carry off the gold and silver they find entombed with the bones of the dead, they unwittingly unleash the bubonic plague back upon the world. As the contagion spreads and the government finds itself unprepared for the resulting crisis, it falls to a daring reporter and a disgraced scientist to save England--and perhaps the world--from a grisly doom.
Though I read this book in 2022, Mark Ronson's PLAGUE PIT was published in the early 80's and is written in a tighter, more focused style than we typically see today. This makes for a fast, clean reading experience and Ronson doesn't waste any time getting lost in meaningless subplots. The author moves the plot along efficiently and successfully builds the drama so that the reader feels immersed in a modern metropolis that finds itself besieged by a ruthless medieval scourge. Given that the COVID-19 health crisis is still very much a part of this reader's world at this point in time, PLAGUE PIT really struck a chord, especially with its analysis of the political machinations that are always a part of any public crisis, to say nothing of issues like conflicting news reports, mass hysteria, and the willingness of some to capitalize on civic disasters for personal gain.
Plotwise, PLAGUE PIT is extremely well-constructed, but there are a few issues. Firstly, neither of our lead characters are particularly sympathetic. Charity, our intrepid reporter, comes across as a bit of a self-aggrandizing hothead (as many fictional reporters do). Her scientist boyfriend, Paul, is presented a little better, but he's also written as a rather irresponsible sort with a chip on his shoulder who is difficult to empathize with. Unlikable protagonists are the bane of many otherwise solid books, and that's definitely an issue here. Moreover, the conclusion develops much too quickly and conveniently without much excitement, leaving this reader wishing for something more substantial as the narrative drew to a close.
Generally speaking, PLAGUE PIT is a good book, and for some of us the COVID crisis of recent years has given it an enhanced relevance. It moves along at a strong clip and gives us a realistic picture of modern society engulfed by an unspeakable horror. It loses points for lackluster main characters and an unconvincing climax, but overall, Marc Ronson has still created an entertaining thriller that will probably satisfy most readers.
Though I read this book in 2022, Mark Ronson's PLAGUE PIT was published in the early 80's and is written in a tighter, more focused style than we typically see today. This makes for a fast, clean reading experience and Ronson doesn't waste any time getting lost in meaningless subplots. The author moves the plot along efficiently and successfully builds the drama so that the reader feels immersed in a modern metropolis that finds itself besieged by a ruthless medieval scourge. Given that the COVID-19 health crisis is still very much a part of this reader's world at this point in time, PLAGUE PIT really struck a chord, especially with its analysis of the political machinations that are always a part of any public crisis, to say nothing of issues like conflicting news reports, mass hysteria, and the willingness of some to capitalize on civic disasters for personal gain.
Plotwise, PLAGUE PIT is extremely well-constructed, but there are a few issues. Firstly, neither of our lead characters are particularly sympathetic. Charity, our intrepid reporter, comes across as a bit of a self-aggrandizing hothead (as many fictional reporters do). Her scientist boyfriend, Paul, is presented a little better, but he's also written as a rather irresponsible sort with a chip on his shoulder who is difficult to empathize with. Unlikable protagonists are the bane of many otherwise solid books, and that's definitely an issue here. Moreover, the conclusion develops much too quickly and conveniently without much excitement, leaving this reader wishing for something more substantial as the narrative drew to a close.
Generally speaking, PLAGUE PIT is a good book, and for some of us the COVID crisis of recent years has given it an enhanced relevance. It moves along at a strong clip and gives us a realistic picture of modern society engulfed by an unspeakable horror. It loses points for lackluster main characters and an unconvincing climax, but overall, Marc Ronson has still created an entertaining thriller that will probably satisfy most readers.
November 16, 2018
Plague Pit
By: Marc Alexander
5 out of 5 stars
The story Plague Pit by Marc Alexander is a wonderful mystery/suspense book. It is a story that I enjoyed reading. It had me hooked from the very beginning and I didn’t want to put it down until I had finished the last page. It is a book that gave me chills down my back and has plenty of thrilling moments. It all begins with the collapse of brickwork that should have been left alone. What happens next will bring chaos, terror, and fear. Through it all Charity, a local radio station presenter and Paul, a scientist, try their best to warn the public of the outbreak and find a cure. I enjoyed reading about Charity and Paul. Charity is a woman who is strong and independent. She is one that speaks her mind and doesn’t shy away from making waves. Paul is a man who was has a history with Charity, however, is finding himself agreeing to help her when she asks. He is passionate about his work and will defend what he does. Does the government have the right to keep the whole truth from the public? Will Charity and Paul be able to help find a cure for the plague? How many will die? Read this book to find out. This story had me turning pages and on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. It has some good background information on the plague that ravaged in the past and left so many dead in its wake. Filled with heart-pounding moments this is a wonderfully written story that I would recommend reading.
By: Marc Alexander
5 out of 5 stars
The story Plague Pit by Marc Alexander is a wonderful mystery/suspense book. It is a story that I enjoyed reading. It had me hooked from the very beginning and I didn’t want to put it down until I had finished the last page. It is a book that gave me chills down my back and has plenty of thrilling moments. It all begins with the collapse of brickwork that should have been left alone. What happens next will bring chaos, terror, and fear. Through it all Charity, a local radio station presenter and Paul, a scientist, try their best to warn the public of the outbreak and find a cure. I enjoyed reading about Charity and Paul. Charity is a woman who is strong and independent. She is one that speaks her mind and doesn’t shy away from making waves. Paul is a man who was has a history with Charity, however, is finding himself agreeing to help her when she asks. He is passionate about his work and will defend what he does. Does the government have the right to keep the whole truth from the public? Will Charity and Paul be able to help find a cure for the plague? How many will die? Read this book to find out. This story had me turning pages and on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. It has some good background information on the plague that ravaged in the past and left so many dead in its wake. Filled with heart-pounding moments this is a wonderfully written story that I would recommend reading.
October 31, 2021
Nice little gem to get you set up for the holidays and the frigid weather that lies ahead. After a greedy construction crew unearths a crypt full of skeletons that were buried during the Middle Ages and loots some valuables, a full-fledged epidemic sweeps throughout London. Parliament and the media brush it off as a seasonal cold; Christmas is coming, and you can’t shut down the market, after all! They even try to calm the public by pointing their fingers at East Germans being that have recently performed some bacteriological experiments.
I won’t get into the chaos that ensues after the ancient strain is released, but “Plague Pit” has aged quite well. Mark Ronson (I hope he’s still out there) should write a sequel involving COVID, as the novel certainly keeps up with our current times. He has fun with his characters, but also shows us how arrogant and oblivious the general public can be when things are going wrong.
I won’t get into the chaos that ensues after the ancient strain is released, but “Plague Pit” has aged quite well. Mark Ronson (I hope he’s still out there) should write a sequel involving COVID, as the novel certainly keeps up with our current times. He has fun with his characters, but also shows us how arrogant and oblivious the general public can be when things are going wrong.
January 30, 2018
A very good read, I started it meaning to read for a bit before bed, found I couldn't sleep and read 2 thirds of the book, finishing after work the next night.
The lead characters were interesting though you could see the journalist peaking through, the supporting cast were good and the disease awful.
Bubonic Plague hitting London from an old Pit, not a idea but well written and show's a realist breakdown of society in the face of the disaster.
The way that they coped with the Plague seemed realistic, especially the way the politicians tried to cover it up,
Definitely a keeper
The lead characters were interesting though you could see the journalist peaking through, the supporting cast were good and the disease awful.
Bubonic Plague hitting London from an old Pit, not a idea but well written and show's a realist breakdown of society in the face of the disaster.
The way that they coped with the Plague seemed realistic, especially the way the politicians tried to cover it up,
Definitely a keeper
March 20, 2018
An accident opens a medieval plague pit but its simple greed that spreads the deadly virus. Once again London is besieged by Bubonic plague and not even modern technology can save us. Radio reporter tries to break the story to warn the public she's thrown in jail for frightening the public. Thousands are infected at an open air concert and then millions start to die. One man is completely immune but in his desperation he flees the country spreading the plague as he goes like a modern day Typhoid Mary. Enjoy!
July 25, 2020
Too Easy
I had a lot of hope for this book, but it is too lighthearted, given the subject. The fictional return of plague to London is a very serious idea, but this book treats it almost as secondary to the story. In addition, it’s too easy. The right people are available and can be found. (And they aren’t dead...) The romance is too quick and seems tacked on.
The highlight of the book was the Jewish doctor’s revenge on the new-Nazis. (I do not think that is a spoiler, as I expected it from the moment that scene started.)
I had a lot of hope for this book, but it is too lighthearted, given the subject. The fictional return of plague to London is a very serious idea, but this book treats it almost as secondary to the story. In addition, it’s too easy. The right people are available and can be found. (And they aren’t dead...) The romance is too quick and seems tacked on.
The highlight of the book was the Jewish doctor’s revenge on the new-Nazis. (I do not think that is a spoiler, as I expected it from the moment that scene started.)
September 23, 2017
An interesting take on how an outbreak of plague might affect "modern" (20th century) London, drawing on and making comparison's with Daniel Defoe's "Journal of the Plague Year". It suffers from lack of character development of the two individuals which hold the story together, and reminded me of TV dramas of the 1970s which, if you watch them again now, seem a bit thin and anaemic.
January 10, 2018
It's hard to write an apocalyptic thriller at the moment as it's such a saturated market, particularly disease and plague as it draws a lot of parallels to Stephen King's The Stand. I really enjoyed the story but I don't think it particularly brought anything new to the table. I liked the characters though and thought it was well written.
Recommended.
Recommended.
June 9, 2018
Edge of your seat story!
Yes it's something that could actually happen that's why it's so scary, and if it was mistaken for some other virus, it would sweep through London like it did before!
Yes it's something that could actually happen that's why it's so scary, and if it was mistaken for some other virus, it would sweep through London like it did before!
September 3, 2019
Plague comes back
What would political members do if people began to come down with bubonic plague? This book shows what they would. Their money and political careers come first. Meanwhile the sickness is claiming more and more lives.
What would political members do if people began to come down with bubonic plague? This book shows what they would. Their money and political careers come first. Meanwhile the sickness is claiming more and more lives.
February 28, 2020
Hits close to home
With the CONVID-19 circling the globe gives you pause. Good read, but not recommended for germaphobes. Gives an accurate view of society if something like this occurs.
With the CONVID-19 circling the globe gives you pause. Good read, but not recommended for germaphobes. Gives an accurate view of society if something like this occurs.
December 3, 2016
Plague Pit
A wild and nilistic view of terror and carnage due to a biochemical outbreak of mass proportions. A well written book.
A wild and nilistic view of terror and carnage due to a biochemical outbreak of mass proportions. A well written book.
September 26, 2017
Started well. Fizzled out. Ended badly.
February 10, 2018
a good read
this is definately worth reading. It has a good storyline and flows well.
Will keep my eyes open for any more books by this author
this is definately worth reading. It has a good storyline and flows well.
Will keep my eyes open for any more books by this author
October 6, 2018
Great book
This is an unable to put down book and the characters were very believable. It was easy to get lost in the story
This is an unable to put down book and the characters were very believable. It was easy to get lost in the story
August 21, 2019
Slow at beginning for me but then picks up a frightening on-site to what could happen in our time if the plague should come to Britain and the rest of the world
February 20, 2017
Believable
The story about a modern day outbreak bubonic plague is so much better than the cover would lead you to believe. A plague pit on a construction site is opened and London begins to die. It's apocalypse circa 1980, and reads like current events.
The story about a modern day outbreak bubonic plague is so much better than the cover would lead you to believe. A plague pit on a construction site is opened and London begins to die. It's apocalypse circa 1980, and reads like current events.
January 31, 2017
The Plague Pit is a story about a handful of construction workers who break through to a mass grave that was bricked over during the bubonic plague in 1666. They greedily snag the jewelry that was left on the bodies. Unfortunately, it does not take long before the men become extremely ill. One of them runs into a church where Charity, a young radio journalist happens to be sitting in a far corner. She observes one of the construction workers throw a piece of gold jewelry and screams for forgiveness. Charity then witnesses a team of government men grab the man and whisk him off rapidly.
Charity enlists the help of Paul, a former scientist that she had previously interviewed. He joins forces with her to tell all of England that the government officials are lying to them. There is no super flu. This is an outbreak of the bubonic plague.
I really enjoyed this story as it's so plausible. While reading.. one can entirely believe that this is just how a plague would travel in modern day. I like that the author touches on the science but focuses on the effect the plague would have on modern man. How society would degenerate. How some groups would try to seize the moment to further their political views.
The reason I gave this book four stars instead of five.. the book needs some serious editing. It's not ready for publishing in kindle format. I found over fifty spelling errors. Mainly words that were not spaced correctly. My first clue that this book was written a very long time ago.. was mention of the "current US President Reagan" popped into the story. Once the publisher fixes the spelling errors and updates the story to current day.. it will become a five star book!
Charity enlists the help of Paul, a former scientist that she had previously interviewed. He joins forces with her to tell all of England that the government officials are lying to them. There is no super flu. This is an outbreak of the bubonic plague.
I really enjoyed this story as it's so plausible. While reading.. one can entirely believe that this is just how a plague would travel in modern day. I like that the author touches on the science but focuses on the effect the plague would have on modern man. How society would degenerate. How some groups would try to seize the moment to further their political views.
The reason I gave this book four stars instead of five.. the book needs some serious editing. It's not ready for publishing in kindle format. I found over fifty spelling errors. Mainly words that were not spaced correctly. My first clue that this book was written a very long time ago.. was mention of the "current US President Reagan" popped into the story. Once the publisher fixes the spelling errors and updates the story to current day.. it will become a five star book!
October 29, 2016
‘Plague Pit’ was previously published in 1981 under the name Marc Ronson and has been republished in 2016. It’s a fairly fast paced horror novel which, if you like this sort of thing, you’ll whizz through in a few hours. Smash, band, wallop and it speeds onto the next mini-climax. Set in London, workmen disturb a burial ground from the time of The Great Plague and of course a version of this Plague returns real quick as people are killed off real quick, those closest first. This type of pot-boiling horror novel was popular in the 1970s and 1980s, but I’m not sure how modern audiences will take to it as some of it seems pretty dated now. Others are unintentionally funny, you have one character moaning about having to pay £1 for a pint and there is another great (prophetic even?) about having a Referendum to get Britain out of the EEC! Great stuff. The action flits between a group of characters who are in a race against time to find some kind of cure/solution as the 1981 version of the Plague spreads incredibly quickly. The characters are sketchily drawn, as was the style at the time, and you don’t really get too involved in their survival. It was a solid enough read, but shouldn’t really be compared with the big horror writers from this period, James Herbert, Stephen King, John Saul, Guy N Smith and Shaun Hutson. The best of those authors has not dated at all, unlike some of the stuff in this novel. All in all it was entertaining enough though. I always like reading books set round about where I live, so was very pleased to have Streatham, South London featured in this novel!
I received this book free from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book free from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews