The Wine of Angels

The Rev. Merrily Watkins had never wanted a picture-perfect parish—or a huge and haunted vicarage. Nor had she wanted to walk straight into a local dispute over a controversial play about a strange 17th-century clergyman accused of witchcraft. But this is Ledwardine, steeped in cider and secrets. And, as Merrily and her daughter Jane discover, a it is village where horrific murder is an age-old tradition.

From Publishers Weekly

In the U.S. release of Rickman's first title featuring Rev. Merrily Watkis and her teenage daughter, Jane, Rickman (Midwinter of the Spirit) moves farther away from the traditional horror genre to craft a first-rate thriller with supernatural overtones. When Merrily takes up residence as the newly appointed priest-in-charge in the picture-perfect community of Ledwardine, she discovers a pagan influence lurking beneath the town's sunny surface that links the community to a horrific, centuries-old murder. In resurrecting the 17th-century murder in the form of a play, tensions between the townsfolk come to a head, and it's up to Merrily to resolve their issues. Rickman deftly illuminates the intrigues of village life and the conflicts between new residents and well-established families; teenagers and older generations; and Merrily and the town's more conservative members. Throughout the story, apples and cider, which is "the wine of angels," is the prevailing image, and it ties in nicely with the pagan traditions and superstitions that plague Ledwardine's past. Although this hefty novel trundles off to a slow start, quirky characters, an abundance of plot twists and an exhilarating conclusion ensure that readers will enjoy this tale.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Over the years, Phil Rickman has won high acclaim for his chilling supernatural tales, including Celtic thrillers as well as the Reverend Merrily Watkins Mysteries, featuring Britain’s first female exorcist. Meticulously researched, rich in historic detail, these atmospheric procedurals are all cracking–good reads. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Phil Rickman was born in Lancashire. He has won awards for his TV and radio journalism, and his highly acclaimed earlier novels Candlenight, Crybbe, The Man in the Moss, December and The Chalice are also available from Pan Books in paperback. The Wine of Angels introduced the Revd Merrily Watkins, whose frightening baptism as a diocesan exorcist was charted in Midwinter of the Spirit, followed by A Crown of Lights, his previous novel. He is married and lives on the Welsh border. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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