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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The ties that 'bine', 4 Dec 2001
The Cure of Souls, Rickman's fourth novel featuring the Revd. Merrily Watkins, finds her settled, more or less, into her role as Diocesan Deliverance Minister. But in spite of her growing experience, the job seems only to grow more difficult. This time, the lines between good and evil blur, leaving Merrily uncertain how-or who-to free from spiritual bondage.
The diseased crops of the Frome Valley are a good metaphor for the psychic condition of those now living there. Something is sucking the life out of not only the land but of the people. That what remains of a once flourishing valley draped in hop bines is a rural wasteland-scape is painfully evident to Lol Robinson, who is about to re-enter Merrily's life after going off to take courses in psychotherapy. Led by 'Prof' Levin to the legendary luthier, Al Boswell, Lol learns not only about the region's gypsy heritage but that the romany ways still pervade the lives of those who live ... and die ... in the Frome Valley. And from this culture comes a psychic adversary as mysterious as the romany themselves.
Lol's close encounter with the legendary "Lady of the bines" leads him to the vicarage of the Reverend Simon St. John and his wife, the intriguing Isabel. Simon's refusal to exorcise the house, a converted hop kiln, of a local "entrepreneur," places the task in Merrily's hands. Soon Merrily, Lol and Simon realize that it will take all three of them, and more, to deliver this town from what plagues it. In perfect contrast to the wilt and waste of the main setting is the continued flourishing of Merrily's "flower," her indomitable daughter Jane. Rickman's secondary story, that of Jane's growth into young womanhood and her and her own spiritual and psychic quest, provides a wonderful parallel to the main storyline. And in a way that he does probably better than any other writer in the business, Rickman deftly weaves this sub-story into the main textual fabric, adding to the narrative tension and the intrigue of his tale.
Phil Rickman's The Cure of Souls is a sophisticated blend--part ghost story, part detective story, part myth--and totally gripping. His unerring ability to bring each character fully alive on the page and make every scene in which he places them believable will not disappoint. This book is just 'The Cure' for a cold winter's night!
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, 10 Jan 2002
2001 was a good year for Phil Rickman fans, with two new novels to his name. (OK, three if you include Phil's, erm, partner-in-crime, Will Kingdom novel, MEAN SPIRIT.) For my money, though, this one is the best of them. It's summer, and the temperature's rising in more ways than one. A haunted hop-kiln. a drop-out trainee psychotherapist/sensitive musician (yep, folks, Lol Robinson's back, after being criminally dismissed from the last book in a couple of sentences), the wonderful and irreverent Simon St John (from DECEMBER; along with Prof Levin and Simon's missus, with her useful collection of carnal verbs), as well as Annie Howe, whom we see a lot more of than the last book, too. Jane is here, too, of course, Merrily's new-age daughter (think a pagan version of Winona Ryder in MERMAIDS), desperate to unburden herself of certain things you really do want to get rid of at 16. This is a sexy book. Its motifs recurr nicely in Rickman's spare yet full descriptions of the countryside all the action occurs in. The supporting cast is, as ever, great and quirky; the dialogue sparkles -this is how people really do talk - and the plot powers everything along to an inevitable conclussion. This is Phil's 4th Rev Watkins book, and by now, according to series' conventions, she should be staking vampires and shooting werewolves in an unavoidable escalation of events. But no, Rickman's smarter than that, he knows characterisation is what keeps people interested, not stakes and silver bullets. And with Merrily, Jane and Lol he's on to a winner. This is one of my favourite reads of the year; great characters and a great story which Rickman puts to bed nicely. Of course you should get a copy
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rickmanian Times, 8 Jan 2002
Phil Rickman never fails to impress me. Not only is he the master of dark crime, he is also an adept at characterisation and plot. Not only is there a plot that the likes of Ian Rankin and James Lee Burke would be proud of, he also has a talent to make you really care for the characters, whether they be the principal or supporting members of the cast. So it was with excitement bordering on obsesive that I rushed to get the latest 'Merrliy Watkins' episode. I wasn't disapointed.Romany lore and the local hops history, give weight to the realism and authenticity, making the unexplainable moments all the more chilling. Get Rickman of the horror shelves! This is dark crime at its best, so do your self a favour and jump on the Merrily Watkins train. This man deserves to be on the best sellers list...
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