The novel follows Anna, an 18-year-old widow, as her isolated 17th-century English village of Eyam is gripped by the bubonic plague. Her life is quickly upended when the deadly disease arrives via a bolt of cloth, claiming her two young sons. Under the steadfast guidance of Reverend Michael Mompellion, the villagers make the decision to quarantine themselves, transforming their home into a deadly prison to protect neighboring communities.
As the plague intensifies, the village plunges deeper into the grim reality of the unfolding tragedy. Anna and Elinor, the rector's wife, become the village's primary caregivers, witnessing unimaginable suffering and death daily. The community resolves into despair, madness, moral decay and mix of superstition.
After Elinor's death (not by plague), Anna's world is shattered, and a painful truth comes to light regarding the rector's past. She has no other choice than leave the village. She embarks on a journey to North Africa, ultimately building a new life as a skilled healer, a path shaped by her dreadful experiences.
While the book start with a fascinating premise, the story becomes tedious - kind of reflection of the plague's stricken reality, which makes it heavy and draining read.