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.
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3 comments:
Merrily?
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.
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.
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