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A review by divapitbull
The Magus of Hay by Phil Rickman
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.