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outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
When a man is found drowned below a waterfall, it looks like it could be either suicide or an accident until the police search the victim's home. What seemed like a simple case becomes a twisted tale involving paganism, magic, & Nazi history. In nearby Hay-on-Wye, Robin & Betty Thorogood decide to open a bookshop in the place famous for its literary festival & plethora of specialist & antiquarian bookshops, & inadvertently rent a haunted home. Meanwhile with her holiday plans spoiled, Merrily is rattling around Ledwardine feeling a bit like a spare part - daughter Jane has gone on an archaeological dig with boyfriend Eirion, whilst Merrily's partner, Lol, is on a music tour.
I found this a better read than the previous book, probably due to the absence of the very-irritating-at-times Jane Watkins. Less of Jane's antics meant that there was more time to concentrate on Merrily & her working relationship with DI Frannie Bliss, plus the return of the Thorogoods from an earlier book. The storyline itself was interesting, teased out very slowly in the way the reader comes to expect from these books.
I found this a better read than the previous book, probably due to the absence of the very-irritating-at-times Jane Watkins. Less of Jane's antics meant that there was more time to concentrate on Merrily & her working relationship with DI Frannie Bliss, plus the return of the Thorogoods from an earlier book. The storyline itself was interesting, teased out very slowly in the way the reader comes to expect from these books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Incest
nigellicus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
5.0
[edit] | Merrily versus books and Nazis and MURDER! Me versus reading a series in consecutive order!
divapitbull's review against another edition
4.0
3 1/2 stars
I really don't think Rickman could write a bad Merrily Watkins story if he tried. If nothing else, it's like coming home to old friends - how can you not be interested in catching up with them and seeing what new shenanigans they're getting up to. That said, while I very much enjoyed the Magus of Hay, I don't feel it was as "intense" as other installments.
The Merrily Watkins series usually has several different story lines with different characters interweaving and coming together at the end. In past books I would get to the end of a chapter and be dying to know what would happen next. It took all my self control not to skip and read ahead because the next chapter up was following a different story line. Then before I knew it I was immersed in that story line and so I raced towards the end to know what happened. The Magus of Hay kept my interest, but I didn't have that sense of OMG - I HAVE to know what's going to happen next!! It did pick up around the 75% mark and from there I was pretty intent on having all the pieces fit together.
I liked that Frannie Bliss had a large role in this installment as he is one of my favorite characters. I wish there was more of his relationship with Annie and I would have dearly loved to see him get to put it to "acting DCI Twatface Brent". I like the consistency in story line and characters from one book to the next...but when it starts getting on 12 novels over a course of about 15 years...my memory just isn't that good. I wish Rickman would publish a companion book that details major story lines and characters. It isn't critical to understanding each installment; but not remembering drives me crazy. How exactly did Bliss get his head injury - it was at least a few years between books for me - Rickman does fill in some details on this one. But Martin Longbeach and Athena White - what exactly were their deals???? Betty and Robin Thorogood - from A Crown of Lights - 2001 - someone please refresh my memory!!! Trying to hunt and peck back through 11 fairly substantial books is not a feasible solution to my curiosity and early onset dementia.
My other issue with The Magus of Hay is that is was for lack of a better word, subtle. Rickman likes to lead you along with innuendo and assumes you put the pieces together. Unfortunately I'm not that sharp apparently - because there were a few plot points I wish he had spelled out. In particular I'm a little unclear on the whole point of the Sylvia Merchant story line as well as it's resolution. I have a feeling it might make more sense if I could remember the details around Longbeach's deal - but I can't - and then again I could be wrong.
At any rate - I will happily read the next installment.
I really don't think Rickman could write a bad Merrily Watkins story if he tried. If nothing else, it's like coming home to old friends - how can you not be interested in catching up with them and seeing what new shenanigans they're getting up to. That said, while I very much enjoyed the Magus of Hay, I don't feel it was as "intense" as other installments.
The Merrily Watkins series usually has several different story lines with different characters interweaving and coming together at the end. In past books I would get to the end of a chapter and be dying to know what would happen next. It took all my self control not to skip and read ahead because the next chapter up was following a different story line. Then before I knew it I was immersed in that story line and so I raced towards the end to know what happened. The Magus of Hay kept my interest, but I didn't have that sense of OMG - I HAVE to know what's going to happen next!! It did pick up around the 75% mark and from there I was pretty intent on having all the pieces fit together.
I liked that Frannie Bliss had a large role in this installment as he is one of my favorite characters. I wish there was more of his relationship with Annie and I would have dearly loved to see him get to put it to "acting DCI Twatface Brent". I like the consistency in story line and characters from one book to the next...but when it starts getting on 12 novels over a course of about 15 years...my memory just isn't that good. I wish Rickman would publish a companion book that details major story lines and characters. It isn't critical to understanding each installment; but not remembering drives me crazy. How exactly did Bliss get his head injury - it was at least a few years between books for me - Rickman does fill in some details on this one. But Martin Longbeach and Athena White - what exactly were their deals???? Betty and Robin Thorogood - from A Crown of Lights - 2001 - someone please refresh my memory!!! Trying to hunt and peck back through 11 fairly substantial books is not a feasible solution to my curiosity and early onset dementia.
My other issue with The Magus of Hay is that is was for lack of a better word, subtle. Rickman likes to lead you along with innuendo and assumes you put the pieces together. Unfortunately I'm not that sharp apparently - because there were a few plot points I wish he had spelled out. In particular I'm a little unclear on the whole point of the Sylvia Merchant story line as well as it's resolution. I have a feeling it might make more sense if I could remember the details around Longbeach's deal - but I can't - and then again I could be wrong.
At any rate - I will happily read the next installment.
bgg616's review against another edition
3.0
I like this series about the Rev. Merrily Watkins, who works for the church as a sort of "exorcist" though she has never actually had to expel demons. The story is set on the border of England and Wales, in and around the town of Hay-on-Wye. A current description in Wikipedia describes it as a town of 20 bookstores. In the past, there were likely many more and it became a mecca for book lovers. In this novel, Hay is in decline, with bookstores being replaced by nail bars, and boutiques.
This part of the Welsh/English border is thought to be a place of special powers by those who believe in "that kind of thing" including pagans, Christians, and hippies etc. There are compelling descriptions of the places that hold power including three small chapels/churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Part of the plot is the existence of secret Nazi groups who engaged in practices involving magical powers connected to dark forces.
This long novel rambles in parts with a wide cast of characters, both appealing and unappealing. By the end when two murders are solved, and the cases of the disappearance of two young women, decades before, I had lost track of some of the details. This was a 3 and a half star read for me. The details about Hay and the border area were the most interesting aspect of the book. I didn't realize Hay-on-Wye was in decline (this book was published in 2013), but will do more reading up on it.
This part of the Welsh/English border is thought to be a place of special powers by those who believe in "that kind of thing" including pagans, Christians, and hippies etc. There are compelling descriptions of the places that hold power including three small chapels/churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Part of the plot is the existence of secret Nazi groups who engaged in practices involving magical powers connected to dark forces.
This long novel rambles in parts with a wide cast of characters, both appealing and unappealing. By the end when two murders are solved, and the cases of the disappearance of two young women, decades before, I had lost track of some of the details. This was a 3 and a half star read for me. The details about Hay and the border area were the most interesting aspect of the book. I didn't realize Hay-on-Wye was in decline (this book was published in 2013), but will do more reading up on it.
judenoseinabook's review against another edition
4.0
Bloody and unsettling, but fascinating.
Quite worrying to think there may be people out there who are really into all the nazi occult stuff; Phil Rickman is convincing enough a writer to make me think there is a basis in fact
Quite worrying to think there may be people out there who are really into all the nazi occult stuff; Phil Rickman is convincing enough a writer to make me think there is a basis in fact
robhattersley's review against another edition
4.0
Bit macabre, but I enjoyed it, perhaps partly because I know the places in it so well including some only a couple of streets away!
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
3.0
It was somewhat ironic reading this on a kindle considering. I do prefer real books to ebooks. It's an okay story and mystery. A bit Midsome Murders too.