The fourth novel in the best-selling eight-volume Angel Mountain Saga,
about the life and times of the incorrigible, passionate and very
imperfect heroine Martha Morgan.
Martha Morgan, the Mistress of Plas Ingli, has a premonition of grave
danger to come. As the effects of poverty and starvation afflict the
neighbourhood Martha tries to influence the corrupt Turnpike Trusts, who
are compounding the miseries of the poor by building new and illegal
toll gates and rigorously collecting tolls.
In 1839 the destruction of the tollgate at Efailwen triggers off a phase
of rioting which spreads across West Wales. The riots are always led by
somebody called Rebecca and the rioters are always referred to as her
daughters. For a time there is guerrilla warfare with the police and the
army out-manoeuvred by men who know every inch of the countryside.
Martha is never far from the action, and as the riots spread she and her
family and servants are sucked into a murky world of intrigue and
betrayal. With considerable heroism on the part of her nearest and
dearest, and with not a little luck, Martha manages to keep out of
trouble. But as the riots build to a climax, she decides on a final
foolhardy gesture and things start to go badly wrong....
