Phil Rickman - The Wine of Angels Review

This is the first novel in series about the Rev.Merrily Watkins, a widowed, single parent, female priest in the Anglican Church. If that sounds a little odd as the basis of a really good book, just wait.

The only reason she was not divorced from her unfaithful, unscrupulous husband - was he died in a car wreck with his girlfriend. Merrily (a sometimes frazzled mother of teen daughter Jane) takes up a new living in the parish of Ledwardine on the border of England and Wales. (Manipulated into taking on the position of diocese "deliverance" minister. For those of use not up to speed in the modern, politically correct, church vernacular - that is the diocese exorcist.)

Phil Rickman is expert at painting fully rounded characters. His novels never lack vividly real people and places. As an ex-pat Brit, I know the area quite well and he catches not only the people of that region but the atmosphere of the landscape as well. If you've ever wondered what it's really like in a small British town or village, forget Agatha Christie and the country mansion set, this is it. Superstition's, bigotry, history, breathtaking surroundings - real olde witchcraft, warts and all !

The stories in this series are never simply paranormal or overtly spooky, he cleverly leads you along with all the normal daily minutia but does leave you wondering......could it be ? So if you like a good "who done-it" murder with more than a flavour of "something other" - you're in for a treat. By the bye - I've read the whole series and his non-Merrily novels, he hasn't disappointed me yet.