Wednesday 5 December 2012

Currently Reading: Midwinter of the Spirit

Midwinter of the Spirit
by Phil Rickman

Blurb: When offered the post once styled 'diocesan exorcist', the Revd Merrily Watkins - parish priest and single parent - cannot easily refuse. But the retiring exorcist, strongly objecting to women priests, not only refuses to help Merrily but ensures that she's soon exposed to the job at its most terrifying. 

And things get no easier. As an early winter slices through the old city of Hereford, a body is found in the River Wye, an ancient church is desecrated, and there are signs of dark ritual on a hill overlooking the city. Meanwhile, reports of psychic unrest in the Cathedral itself - where the famous shrine of St Thomas Cantilupe lies in fragments - reflect an undying evil lying close to the heart of the Church itself. 

The knife edge Phil Rickman walks is the most impressive things about these books. He's very careful to ensure that the supernatural explanations are never clear cut. Like the characters themselves you have to take a great deal on faith. Much like real life in fact.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Merrily?

Anonymous said...

What an abundance of squee. I discovered you yesterday, and now, through you, Phil Rickman. I only need to figure out which of his books to read first.

Liquorice Torpedoes said...

I approve, Phil Rickman is another of my favourite authors, along with Neil Gaiman (who hasn't written anything for AGES). The Wine of Angels is the first Merrily Watkins book but his other books are really good too.