A Crown of Lights

Rating:
Summary: new take on an old genre
Review: He is relatively new to the American mass market, and I was thrilled to discover Phil Rickman late last year. He has brought a fresh approach to the British mystery tradition. Central character Merrily Watkins is a modern woman, Anglican priest, and single mother. Rickman has created a real person, one to whom it is easy to relate. Merrily struggles with many of the issues that plague Western society. Spiritual uncertainty, the problems of divorce, working motherhood, sexism, and social injustice all color her decisions and actions. How to be a good (female) priest. How to be a good mom. How to find a life partner. What is love? What is evil? Who is evil? Is demonic possession a reality? Is exorcism a valid response to it? Rickman knows well his psychology, religion, folklore, and history. He can be relied upon to create a literate, compelling story with believable characters and relevance for today.

Rating:
Summary: new take on an old genre
Review: He is relatively new to the American mass market, and I was thrilled to discover Phil Rickman late last year. He has brought a fresh approach to the British mystery tradition. Central character Merrily Watkins is a modern woman, Anglican priest, and single mother. Rickman has created a real person, one to whom it is easy to relate. Merrily struggles with many of the issues that plague Western society. Spiritual uncertainty, the problems of divorce, working motherhood, sexism, and social injustice all color her decisions and actions. How to be a good (female) priest. How to be a good mom. How to find a life partner. What is love? What is evil? Who is evil? Is demonic possession a reality? Is exorcism a valid response to it? Rickman knows well his psychology, religion, folklore, and history. He can be relied upon to create a literate, compelling story with believable characters and relevance for today.

Rating:
Summary: A fitting crown
Review: Merrily Watkins is fast becoming the unassuming thinking person's sleuth. By her own admission, imperfect yet all the more realistic for it, she slides around the inevitable fanaticism that permeates A Crown of Lights and with almost Poirot-esque subtlet teases out the facts and nudges the forces of good and evil back into balance.
The latest Rickman offering doesn't disappoint. He serves up a tingling read of an abandoned church that is portrayed as a vital reclaim to pagan religions. Robin and Betty Thorogood are the unsuspecting new owners of the abandoned church in Old Hindwell that holds its own dark history. Coupled with the sinister interweavings of the Local People and a bitter blood feud between two brothers, Merrily clashes with the fanatical Father Ellis and the antagonistic Ned Bain as each struggle to assert their religious dominance over the sleeping dragon that is warded by five churches. Excellent supporting roles from Merrily's daughter Jane, 'Irene' and Gomer Parry lend to a tale of immensely thrilling supernatural forces and the author has produced another stunning story. A must-read

Rating:
Summary: Rickman never fails to deliver
Review: Phil Rickman is known for writing intelligent, literate stories of horror and the supernatural. This book is no exception.

In this Reverend Merrily Watkins mystery, elements of the supernatural combine with plain old human wickedness. Rickman's books are long, but for the reader who appreciates an intelligent and well-written novel, they are worth the effort. I ordered my copy from Amazon.com.uk -- US readers are lucky to now have _A Crown of Lights_ available stateside.

Recommended. Also, treat yourself to his back list - Rickman writes some of the finest and most original work in this genre. In addition to the Merrily Watkins mysteries, Curfew, December, and Man in the Moss are highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Rickman never fails to deliver
Review: Phil Rickman is known for writing intelligent, literate stories of horror and the supernatural. This book is no exception.

In this Reverend Merrily Watkins mystery, elements of the supernatural combine with plain old human wickedness. Rickman's books are long, but for the reader who appreciates an intelligent and well-written novel, they are worth the effort. I ordered my copy from Amazon.com.uk -- US readers are lucky to now have _A Crown of Lights_ available stateside.

Recommended. Also, treat yourself to his back list - Rickman writes some of the finest and most original work in this genre. In addition to the Merrily Watkins mysteries, Curfew, December, and Man in the Moss are highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: refreshing new take on an old genre
Review: this is a duplicate review sent in error