The Rev. Merrily Watkins had never wanted a picture-perfect parishor a huge and haunted vicarage. Nor had she wanted to walk straight into a local ...
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Dec 17, 2009
Christia
rated it: 
Phil Rickman is my favorite author and I would happily recommend any of his books, although this is probably one of my favorites. The Wine of Angels is part of a series that is part mystery and part supernatural. If you are lucky enough to find his books in the US (he is British) you will find them mistakenly (I think) shelved in the Horror section of your bookstore.
The main character is a female vicar named Merrily Watkins who is assigned to the village of Ledwardine on the bord More...
The main character is a female vicar named Merrily Watkins who is assigned to the village of Ledwardine on the bord More...
Aug 25, 2007
LJ
rated it: 
THE WINE OF ANGLES (Paranormal-England-Cont) - G
Rickman, Phil – 1st in series
Pan, 1999- Paperback
Rev. Merrily Watkins and her daughter, Jane, have come to Merrily's first parish in the small town of Ledwardine; a town whose history revolves around two families and the making of cider. Shortly after arriving, Merrily attends a wassailing where one of the citizens dies from gunshot. Merrily is beset with nightmares and the feeling there's literally more than can be seen and inv More...
Rickman, Phil – 1st in series
Pan, 1999- Paperback
Rev. Merrily Watkins and her daughter, Jane, have come to Merrily's first parish in the small town of Ledwardine; a town whose history revolves around two families and the making of cider. Shortly after arriving, Merrily attends a wassailing where one of the citizens dies from gunshot. Merrily is beset with nightmares and the feeling there's literally more than can be seen and inv More...
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Nov 08, 2007
Beli_grrl
rated it:
This was not really my cup of tea, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I normally never read mystery stories. They just don't do it for me. I tried this one on recommendation from a friend. It seemed like it had been such a long time since I had read a mystery that it was time to give them another chance.
This one is really well written. The characters are fairly well fleshed out and likeable. The story builds up nicely and has a pretty good finish.
It's rather longish. I have t More...
This one is really well written. The characters are fairly well fleshed out and likeable. The story builds up nicely and has a pretty good finish.
It's rather longish. I have t More...
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Dec 24, 2011
Mark
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The Merrily Watkins series is one of those ‘genre-by-the-back-door’ series: it’s about the supernatural, but so subtle that readers normally put off by such things can read them as ‘a dark crime novel’ without too much unease.
Merrily Watkins is a single mother who, after the death of her husband, becomes ordained as a Vicar (or as they prefer these days, ‘a Priest-in-Charge’) . After working in the drug dens and crime zones of Liverpool, she is given the picturesque country parish of L More...
Merrily Watkins is a single mother who, after the death of her husband, becomes ordained as a Vicar (or as they prefer these days, ‘a Priest-in-Charge’) . After working in the drug dens and crime zones of Liverpool, she is given the picturesque country parish of L More...
Jun 05, 2011
Laisterdyke
rated it:
This is the first of Phil's Merrily Watkins books - while she will become the diocesan exorcist (or rather, deliverance consultant), in this one Merrily is just about to be made priest in charge at Ledwardine - newly moved from an inner city parish in Liverpool, and accompanied by her teenage daughter Jane. They're initially living in the local pub while the vicarage is made habitable - but, in the orchard at new year, something terrible happens, and Merrily soon has to come to grips with things
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Dec 11, 2009
Bryn
rated it:
This is the first book in the Merrily Watkins series. It's probably best to do them in order - but not essential. I came in half way through with 'The Fabric of Sin' - which I was sent to review for White Dragon, fell in love with the writing style and sought out more, so this is my fourth.
The books stand alone, the stories complete within themselves. However, there's relationships and situations that evolve across the novels, so if you do read all of them (in order is probably bette More...
The books stand alone, the stories complete within themselves. However, there's relationships and situations that evolve across the novels, so if you do read all of them (in order is probably bette More...
Jan 27, 2012
Debbie
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book. It is a deceptively simple read, full of hidden layers and depth.
Merrily Watkins (Named after the Christmas carol 'Ding Dong Merrily on High' because she was born on Christmas Day) is a fairly inexperienced woman minister who has just been appointed Priest-in-Charge in the small sleepy rural village of Ledwardine, the 'Village in the Orchard'.
Not only do Merrily and her 15 year old daughter Jane have to adjust to the move to the country and the pr More...
Merrily Watkins (Named after the Christmas carol 'Ding Dong Merrily on High' because she was born on Christmas Day) is a fairly inexperienced woman minister who has just been appointed Priest-in-Charge in the small sleepy rural village of Ledwardine, the 'Village in the Orchard'.
Not only do Merrily and her 15 year old daughter Jane have to adjust to the move to the country and the pr More...
Jan 22, 2012
Shayna
rated it:
I am hooked. Phil Rickman has reeled me in with his Merrily Watkins Series, and this is the book that started it. I have a thing for mystery, the paranormal, romantic undercurrents, sarcasm, history, and quirky characters … and somehow Rickman has wound all this into one meticulously written, historically based, romantically challenged and paranormally charged series of quirky and sarcastic but still completely relatable characters. Whew… mouthful. While the Wine of Angels isn’t my favorite o
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Mar 01, 2011
Barbra
rated it:
The first in the Merrily Watkins series and I really enjoyed it. Will be reading more of this series.
Back Cover Blurb:
The Revd Merrily Watkins had never wanted a picture-postcard parish.....or a huge haunted vicarage. Nor had she particularly wanted to walk straight into a local dispute over a controversial play about a strange seventeenth century clergyman accused of witchcraft.....a story that certain old established families would rather remained obscure.
But this is Ledw More...
Back Cover Blurb:
The Revd Merrily Watkins had never wanted a picture-postcard parish.....or a huge haunted vicarage. Nor had she particularly wanted to walk straight into a local dispute over a controversial play about a strange seventeenth century clergyman accused of witchcraft.....a story that certain old established families would rather remained obscure.
But this is Ledw More...
Feb 02, 2012
Jessica
rated it:
I loved this book. Thank goodness for the internet that allows us to import books that aren't available here. This author was on Diana Gabaldon's methadone list, so I decided to try the first book in the series. Merrily Watkins is a fabulous character. I am excited to see what is next for her and her teenage daughter, Jane. They definitely had adventures in this first book. Merrily is the first woman priest/vicar in a small English town. Her arrival sets things in motion that uncover some deep d
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Jul 30, 2011
This was the first book I've read by this author. I strongly dislike his gimmick of revealing something to the characters at the end of a chapter but keeping the reader in the dark. I strongly dislike his cliff-hanger ending of so many chapters. His protagonist, a priest who lies frequently and easily, and her daughter are both whiney and self-absorbed, and you know there's something wrong when you're rooting for the bad thing to happen to one of the main characters, already. If this book had ki
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Jan 13, 2010
Julie
rated it:
"The Wine of the Angels" is the first in a series of novels about a young, 30-something female priest in England who becomes an exorcist. The book was thick (give it a point for that, as I mow through books quickly), and it was remarkably well written, believable and deliciously creepy/supernatural without being downright frightening. A very interesting blend of Anglican/religious thought, murder mystery, paganism and a taste of horror here and there, with very interesting and likable
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Jul 26, 2011
Littermate
rated it:
A mystery with supernatural elements. Main character is a female vicar but the tone of the book is not Christian, not Pagan, though there are elements of both. It is, rather, spiritual more than it is religious though that aspect never becomes the focus. The focus of the story is the wriggly dark underbelly of English country life, extending from the past into the present. Excellent book and definitely not cozy. Oh, and it rekindled my interest in Nick Drake, whose music and life features throug
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Jan 19, 2009
Nancy
rated it:
Wavering somewhere between a mystery and a novel of supernatural suspense, novelist Phil Rickman (one of my favorite supernatural suspense writers) introduces the "priest-in-training" Merrily Watkins, who is trying to do her best as an Anglican vicar in a village caught between the new "incomers" and those who have always lived there. She finds a lot of prejudice against women in the clergy, along with some other bizarre occurrences that she is unable to explain. Set in the E
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Feb 27, 2009
Mike
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Terrific book! I loved Merrily, her daughter, and all the other characters. I read this a couple years ago but have not read any of the others in the series. But I can vividly remember this story - it was long and rambling and very enjoyable. Merrily is a lady priest in a small English town full of past scandals. In this one she moves into a haunted rectory and gets involved with all kinds of weird stuff going on. Perfect for those who like a long lazy read with lots of characterization.
Aug 17, 2010
Ellen
rated it:
I suspect it's worth reading all the entire series and so I've ordered them via amazon (mostly used). It is rare to have a clergy genre mystery that isn't a cozy read. This series is about the borderlands, physically between Wales and England - and symbolically between the physical and spiritual.These are about what goes "bump-in-the-night" and at the center of the action is a clergywoman of the Anglican type. For me, this was a good read.
May 13, 2010
Dana
rated it:
I enjoyed this novel and have continued to read the series. I enjoy the characters and the mysteries. He does a good job with combining the supernatural elements with human crime. Merrily is a delight and Jane is perfect. I like Lol. I found it pushed me into his other novels in the series. I have been reading them out of order due to availability but I like how they explore the landscape, village life, and mystery.
Feb 04, 2012
Jill
rated it:
An absolutely gripping read. I couldn't put it down. It started of as the rather buccolic English countryside with the odd quirky character read... charming and pleasant as these things are. But it kept getting darker and murkier and downright scarier. Not to mention more "real" and messy, just like real life.
A friend recommended the series and I'm highly glad she did. I'm off to read the next one.
A friend recommended the series and I'm highly glad she did. I'm off to read the next one.
Feb 02, 2012
Moira
rated it:
I enjoyed this mystery although it did feel a bit dragged out at times. It was quite plodding at times but the ending was exciting. I am definitely not going to visit Herefordshire any time soon and all my fears about small villages have been reinforced by the characters in the book! I have bought the second book though as I found the main characters extremely engaging and I care about what happens next. Overall a good read if a little longer winded than it needed to be.
Sep 15, 2011
Samantha
rated it:
It was very enjoyable and well written. I've knocked a star off as the ending felt rushed and no real closure for the characters. The characters were well rounded and interesting and there are still some unanswered questions which I hope will be addressed in the second book. I also liked the mix of cider, folklore and local history and it was nice to have a murder mystery book set in the countryside.
Aug 09, 2011
Zena
rated it: 
Well 600+ pages and a very poor ending... it seems that the last 100 pages the author struggled to find an ending, so killed off a few more people and made it all rather wishy washy. Am glad there were other interesting things about the book, which didn't make it at total waste of time to read.. ie. tweaked my interest in Nick Drake and made me re-read the Metaphysical poets of my A-level days. In reality though, pretty poor book, and wouldn't read another by Phil Rickman.
Nov 10, 2010
Sandi
rated it:
This book is so interesting and creepy at the same time. Phil Rickman really knows how to create atmosphere and develop characters! His whole "Merrily Watkins" series is fantastic and a real treat if you like creepy without too much gore. In fact Phil Rickman's stand alone novels are excellent too. If you've never read him, I urge you to do so cause you won't be sorry.
Jul 27, 2011
Its a little strange. But in the end it was an okay read.
Merrily Watkins is on the move again and for the first time,
she seems to have lost her connection with her heavenly father.
Too many strange people, too many secrets, and what on earth is
going on with her daughter?
Merrily Watkins is on the move again and for the first time,
she seems to have lost her connection with her heavenly father.
Too many strange people, too many secrets, and what on earth is
going on with her daughter?
Nov 19, 2010
Denise
rated it:
I think these mysteries/thrillers are great. I like the heroine, the Rev Merrily Watkins, who smokes and drinks and battles with her own beliefs and those of her teenage anti-religious daughter. I like the sleepy town setting where all kinds of strange things happen, the supporting cast of realistic but colourful characters, and the sense of atmosphere that Rickman pulls off so well. This is the first in the series.
Dec 02, 2010
Purchased the audio recording from my other much loved website Audible.com. I am finding it a hard listen to get into. I have started the book twice and I am having a hard time in making a connection with the characters and the story. But after reading the reviews I shall not give up.
Jun 06, 2011
Jacky
rated it:
Merrily Watkins, vicar, daughter Jane
Lol, musician, fan of Nick Drake
Lucy Devenish, local wise woman (she dies)
The pagan landscape of Herefordshire is a major part of the book.
I really liked this.
Lol, musician, fan of Nick Drake
Lucy Devenish, local wise woman (she dies)
The pagan landscape of Herefordshire is a major part of the book.
I really liked this.
Oct 18, 2011
Roger Neilson
rated it:
Surprised at how much I enjoyed this, not what I'd have gone for initially - had assumed ti was another historical novel like the other one I read. Perhaps a little overpopulated with characters, but it all gets sorted in the end and pretty unpleasant stuff.
Aug 21, 2009
Lori
rated it:
I am anxious to finish because I am tired of reading this book. I think it really could have ended about a hundred pages ago. I read all of Phil Rickman's other books (and quite enjoyed them), so I was looking forward to finally getting around to reading this series. Maybe the ending will save it.
Finally finished this mammoth book, and all I can say is that I will not be reading any of the other books in this series. I will stick to Phil Rickman's other horror/supernatural novels More...
Finally finished this mammoth book, and all I can say is that I will not be reading any of the other books in this series. I will stick to Phil Rickman's other horror/supernatural novels More...
Jan 08, 2009
Teresa
rated it: 
This is a real soap opera. When every two pages end in suspense, it's meanwhile back in the orchard, and that goes on for six hundred plus pages.
Feb 01, 2012
Diane
rated it:
Update.....Phil Rickman has a new fan!! 2nd book in the series available on kindle ;)
Recieved this book by mail yesterday..not available on kindle :(...my fav author Diana Gabaldon is a fan of this series....I hope to be also!
Recieved this book by mail yesterday..not available on kindle :(...my fav author Diana Gabaldon is a fan of this series....I hope to be also!
