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mh_books's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
andrew61's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I enjoy the Merrily Watkins series about the Herefordshire diocese, unlikely exorcist, a single mum looking after her teenage daughter in a quiet border parish.
I feel troubled, however, by this story, which draws heavily on the true life events that haunted the region after the discovery of the crimes of Fred and Rose West.
I will read more of the character who I enjoy, but I put it down feeling uncomfortable that such tragedy was used in this novel.
I feel troubled, however, by this story, which draws heavily on the true life events that haunted the region after the discovery of the crimes of Fred and Rose West.
I will read more of the character who I enjoy, but I put it down feeling uncomfortable that such tragedy was used in this novel.
Content Warnings
This book draws heavily on the real life events concerning Fred and Rose West. This makes it difficult reading
exogenesis's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
evapalhay's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
hayesstw's review against another edition
3.0
I think I've read this book before, in fact I'm pretty certain I have, as many of the scenes rang bells for me, but the plot did not. Though there was so much that seemed familiar, i had no idea what was going to happen next, and so it was like reading the book for the first time. I had made no note of having read it before, so could not even tell when I had read it in relation to other books by [a: Phil Rickman|182452|Phil Rickman|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1292252234p2/182452.jpg].
But whenever I read it before, reading it now makes me think that the book marks a turning point in Rickman's novels, the point at which he switched from writing supernatural thrillers to writing whodunits. Being aware of what he wrote before and what he wrote after this book makes that clear, and as a result the book is rather jumbled and messy.
Merrily Watkins, for those who don't know Rickman's books, has taken over the job of diocesan exorcist for the Church of England Diocese of Hereford, but, since "exorcist" doesn't fit with the modern image the church isd trying to project, she is given the rather twee title of "Deliverance Consultant", and his called in to deal with haunted houses and demonised individuals. She is also the Vicar of Ledawardine, a picturesque tourist village on the Welsh border, and single mother of a teenage daughter making the transition from New Age to atheism.
A parishioner, Gomer Parry, who runs a plant hire business, and features in even more of Rickman's novels than Merrily Watkins, hears that his workshop has burned down, and suspects a business rival Roddy Lodge, whose shoddy workmanship he has criticised. But the discovery of a woman's body excites Detective Inspector Frannie Bliss of the West Mercia police, who thinks he has a serial killer on his hands, an imitator, or even disciple of the infamous Fred West, serial killer of Gloucester.
The whiff of old evil brings Merrily's mentor in deliverance ministry, the Revd Huw Owen, hot-footing it over the border from Wales, and all the while her boyfriend, Lol Robinson, a failed rock-folk musician, is making a reluctant come-back. To add a further complication a new parishioner at Ledwardine, Jenny Box, has seen a vision of an angel over the village, which inspired her to move there from London.
[Potential spoiler ahead]
This tangle of people with different aims and vested interests ends up in a tangled mess with a spectacularly botched funeral and a botched exorcism, with Merrily Watkins and Huw Owen working at cross purposes, in a series of scenes that are rather like a bad dream, where an important event is continually inturrupted or sidetracked by a series of distracting happenings, and each interruption is itself interrupted by something else.
If I did read this book before, it didn't look like a turning point, but reading it this time it now looks like the point at which Merrily Watkins makes the transition to becoming a 21st-century Miss Marple, only a bit younger and less astute.
But whenever I read it before, reading it now makes me think that the book marks a turning point in Rickman's novels, the point at which he switched from writing supernatural thrillers to writing whodunits. Being aware of what he wrote before and what he wrote after this book makes that clear, and as a result the book is rather jumbled and messy.
Merrily Watkins, for those who don't know Rickman's books, has taken over the job of diocesan exorcist for the Church of England Diocese of Hereford, but, since "exorcist" doesn't fit with the modern image the church isd trying to project, she is given the rather twee title of "Deliverance Consultant", and his called in to deal with haunted houses and demonised individuals. She is also the Vicar of Ledawardine, a picturesque tourist village on the Welsh border, and single mother of a teenage daughter making the transition from New Age to atheism.
A parishioner, Gomer Parry, who runs a plant hire business, and features in even more of Rickman's novels than Merrily Watkins, hears that his workshop has burned down, and suspects a business rival Roddy Lodge, whose shoddy workmanship he has criticised. But the discovery of a woman's body excites Detective Inspector Frannie Bliss of the West Mercia police, who thinks he has a serial killer on his hands, an imitator, or even disciple of the infamous Fred West, serial killer of Gloucester.
The whiff of old evil brings Merrily's mentor in deliverance ministry, the Revd Huw Owen, hot-footing it over the border from Wales, and all the while her boyfriend, Lol Robinson, a failed rock-folk musician, is making a reluctant come-back. To add a further complication a new parishioner at Ledwardine, Jenny Box, has seen a vision of an angel over the village, which inspired her to move there from London.
[Potential spoiler ahead]
This tangle of people with different aims and vested interests ends up in a tangled mess with a spectacularly botched funeral and a botched exorcism, with Merrily Watkins and Huw Owen working at cross purposes, in a series of scenes that are rather like a bad dream, where an important event is continually inturrupted or sidetracked by a series of distracting happenings, and each interruption is itself interrupted by something else.
If I did read this book before, it didn't look like a turning point, but reading it this time it now looks like the point at which Merrily Watkins makes the transition to becoming a 21st-century Miss Marple, only a bit younger and less astute.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
4.0
In this installment of Merrily Watkins, Rickman makes use of the real-life murders committed by Fred and Rosemary West. The couple raped and murdered several young women. There is a two-part mini-series called Appropriate Adult that details the case against the couple. There are several books about them as well. Part of what Rickman is addressing is the always questioning of more – were all the bodies found. (If you are an American, a recent example would be the Grim Sleeper).
But to say this book is simply a mystery involving a real-life murder case would be misleading.
The art of the novel is the question of relationships. Not so much marriage, though that is touched on as well, but romantic relationships and family relationships. There is Jane who not only faces a crisis of faith but also suffers through romantic problems with Irene as she worries about whether or not her mother is throwing away a relationship with Lol. Lol, Jane thinks, is spending too much time with a singer who really resembles Kate Bush.
So that’s another reason to like this novel.
There is the new woman in the village who is a bit too famous and a bit too interested in Merrily, as well as her husband. There is Bliss’ marriage, which may be falling about. There is the woman whose sewage semester needed to be dug up and oopsie there’s a body.
Merrily gets brought into the case because of Gomer and because, well, her nose.
But the murder almost feels secondary to the tangle of interconnect personal relationships and changing towns that consumes the novel. In addition to the issues above, there are also questions about what, if anything, you owe the dead, abuse, and sexuality. The pacing is almost wandering, but engrossing. A reader will wonder how Rickman can take all the threads and weave them together. Never fear, he does, quite well in fact.
The one thing I did miss in the book was more interaction between the Watkins women. I can understand the reasoning for it, but Merrily and Jane work best when they speak to each other.
But to say this book is simply a mystery involving a real-life murder case would be misleading.
The art of the novel is the question of relationships. Not so much marriage, though that is touched on as well, but romantic relationships and family relationships. There is Jane who not only faces a crisis of faith but also suffers through romantic problems with Irene as she worries about whether or not her mother is throwing away a relationship with Lol. Lol, Jane thinks, is spending too much time with a singer who really resembles Kate Bush.
So that’s another reason to like this novel.
There is the new woman in the village who is a bit too famous and a bit too interested in Merrily, as well as her husband. There is Bliss’ marriage, which may be falling about. There is the woman whose sewage semester needed to be dug up and oopsie there’s a body.
Merrily gets brought into the case because of Gomer and because, well, her nose.
But the murder almost feels secondary to the tangle of interconnect personal relationships and changing towns that consumes the novel. In addition to the issues above, there are also questions about what, if anything, you owe the dead, abuse, and sexuality. The pacing is almost wandering, but engrossing. A reader will wonder how Rickman can take all the threads and weave them together. Never fear, he does, quite well in fact.
The one thing I did miss in the book was more interaction between the Watkins women. I can understand the reasoning for it, but Merrily and Jane work best when they speak to each other.
mrspoonzs's review against another edition
4.0
Phil Rickman's books are like returning to an old friend. Well written characters that act in a way that seems natural rather than to steer the plot in an intended direction.
As always a pleasurable read and it will not be too long before I return to the world of the Rev Merrily Watkins and her further adventures.
As always a pleasurable read and it will not be too long before I return to the world of the Rev Merrily Watkins and her further adventures.
jourdemayne's review
5.0
[b:The Lamp of the Wicked|325750|The Lamp of the Wicked (Merrily Watkins, #5)|Phil Rickman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173765783s/325750.jpg|1779116] is a tremendously dark, creepy book, but it is also one of the shortest long books I've ever read. Each entry in [a:Phil Rickman|182452|Phil Rickman|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1292252234p2/182452.jpg]'s Merrily Watkins series is excellent, and recommended. If you're looking for an absorbing, well-written, intelligent series with strong, believable characters, try [a:Phil Rickman|182452|Phil Rickman|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1292252234p2/182452.jpg].
pranavroh's review
5.0
The best entry in the series so far. Gritty, disturbing and a very good psychological thriller. Everyone should check this one out.
Brilliant.
Brilliant.