Review
There are shades of the gruesome murders of young women by Fred and Rose West in Cromwell Street, Gloucester, in this fourth outing for Reverend Merrily Watkins, Welsh village vicar and Deliverance Consultant (formerly exorcist) after becoming involved in a dispute between an elderly plant hire operator who accuses a spivvy young rival of starting a fire in his yard in which his nephew dies. The young man is later identified as the killer of several young women. But has the whole truth been fully uncovered? Merrily receives anonymous phone calls; candles and incense are left burning in her church and there are alleged angelic visitations on which many will heap scorn. Rickman goes from strength to strength in this beguiling, highly satisfying mix of murder and the occult.
Product Description
The fifth mystery featuring Merrily Watkins. As Electricity pylons now mark the old Roman road from Gloucester to Monmouth. Midway along it is the unlovely village of Underhowle, confronting a new prosperity...but also home to a man the police have identified as the killer of several young women. But for Merrily Watkins, this truth might never have emerged -- but is that the whole truth? For, as the police hunt for more bodies, Merrily is increasingly worried that the detective in charge might have become blinkered by ambition. Meanwhile, Merrily has more personal problems: like the anonymous phone calls...the candles and incense left burning in her church...not to mention the alleged angelic visitations on which many will heap scorn. It is her musician boyfriend Lol who follows an unexpected path into the mind of the confessed murderer, while Merrily herself must quell revulsion in scrubbing away the psychic stain left by a dead monster.
Book Description
The village of Underhowle was on the brink of a new prosperity after half a century of decay, but now it seems destined for notoriety as the home of a serial killer. D.I. Francis Bliss, of Hereford CID, is convinced he knows where the bodies are buried, but diocesan Deliverance consultant Merrily Watkins - called in to conduct a controversial funeral - wonders if Bliss isn't blinkered by personal ambition. And are the killings in Underhowle really linked to possibly the most sickening mass-murders in British criminal history? Meanwhile, Merrily has more intimate problems: the need for discretion over her new relationship with the musician Lol Robinson; and the alleged angelic visitations on which many heap scorn. But it is Lol who follows an unexpected path into the mind of the confessed murderer, while Merrily tries to quell her own revulsion in an effort to scrub away the psychic stain left by a dead monster.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Author
So what is different about the Merrily Watkins mysteries?
Essentially, these are crime novels and, in some ways, very traditional ones, set around the towns and villages of Herefordshire and the Welsh Border, one of the least-known, most rural, most atmospheric areas of southern Britain. (For rural, however, it might be unwise to read cosy.)
All the novels involve police investigations, usually of murder. The central character, however, is an Anglican priest, a woman, who has been appointed Deliverance Consultant for the Diocese of Hereford - a post formerly known as Diocesan Exorcist. Every diocese has one, and they are sometimes involved in murder inquiries.
If you're new to this series, all you need to know about Merrily is that she's not exactly pious, she's insecure, sometimes makes mistakes... and has a teenage daughter more inclined towards paganism.
While virtually all crimes can be rationally explained, Merrily is aware of areas on the periphery where the picture is sometimes chillingly blurred. She knows that not all cases can be dealt with in court. It's a serious cross to bear and, in The Lamp of the Wicked, she has to deal with the residue of a notoriously horrific case of mass-murder, which proved distressing to research.
The five Merrily Watkins novels so far are: The Wine of Angels, Midwinter of the Spirit, A Crown of Lights, The Cure of Souls and The Lamp of the Wicked.
Essentially, these are crime novels and, in some ways, very traditional ones, set around the towns and villages of Herefordshire and the Welsh Border, one of the least-known, most rural, most atmospheric areas of southern Britain. (For rural, however, it might be unwise to read cosy.)
All the novels involve police investigations, usually of murder. The central character, however, is an Anglican priest, a woman, who has been appointed Deliverance Consultant for the Diocese of Hereford - a post formerly known as Diocesan Exorcist. Every diocese has one, and they are sometimes involved in murder inquiries.
If you're new to this series, all you need to know about Merrily is that she's not exactly pious, she's insecure, sometimes makes mistakes... and has a teenage daughter more inclined towards paganism.
While virtually all crimes can be rationally explained, Merrily is aware of areas on the periphery where the picture is sometimes chillingly blurred. She knows that not all cases can be dealt with in court. It's a serious cross to bear and, in The Lamp of the Wicked, she has to deal with the residue of a notoriously horrific case of mass-murder, which proved distressing to research.
The five Merrily Watkins novels so far are: The Wine of Angels, Midwinter of the Spirit, A Crown of Lights, The Cure of Souls and The Lamp of the Wicked.
About the Author
Phil Rickman, born in Lancashire, has won awards for his TV and radio journalism. After five acclaimed novels, he introduced this fascinating new series with The Wine of Angels. He is married and lives on the Welsh Border.
