From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Wine of Angels (Merrily Watkins, #1)

Phil Rickman

Start date: February 15, 2024

Finish date: March 5, 2024

Why we're reading this: We're buddy reading the first in this popular series.…more
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Aug 18, 2018 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Having enjoyed some of Phil Rickman’s stand alone novels, I have meant to try his Merrily Watkins series for ever (not to mention that my good friend, Damaskcat, has long sung the praises of these books to me). Having recently taken a holiday, I decided that I would finally get around to trying this and I am pleased that I did.

This first in the series, sees Merrily Watkins, becoming Priest-in-Charge of the village of Ledwardine. It is supposed to be a quiet and peaceful parish, a time and place ...more

29 likes · Like · see review

Feb 12, 2008 Nancy Oakes rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-series-first-novel, crime-fiction, crime-fiction-uk

At a whim and because it came up in a group discussion, I decided this might make for good reading this time of year. Not that this book is overpowered by what I call the woo-woo factor, but there are plenty of eerie, mystical moments that helped me decide to add it to the Halloween book list.

The Wine of Angels is the series opener featuring Merrily Watkins, who has just received her first real assignment as a newly-ordained Anglican vicar. While visiting the village of Ledwardine, Herefordshire At a whim and because it came up in a group discussion, I decided this might make for good reading this time of year. Not that this book is overpowered by what I call the woo-woo factor, but there are plenty of eerie, mystical moments that helped me decide to add it to the Halloween book list.

The Wine of Angels is the series opener featuring Merrily Watkins, who has just received her first real assignment as a newly-ordained Anglican vicar. While visiting the village of Ledwardine, Herefordshire, deciding whether or not to "go for it" (take the job), she arrives just in time to witness a strange ritual under an old apple tree known as "The Apple Tree Man." It is supposed to be a traditional "wassailing," but one of the villagers (an "incomer," there only about a year and a half) takes it upon herself to add rifles to the mix, citing a reference in a book about collected folk customs. One of the long-time villagers, Lucy Devenish, contests that decision, saying that since it's not a local tradition, what they're doing may end up causing "offence" to the orchard itself, but rifles are fired anyway and Merrily stands by as one of the men blows off his own head. If that's not an attention-worthy opening to a novel, I don't know what is. That event will return to the story later, but in the meantime, the struggle between modern and traditional takes center stage in this mystery, and perhaps the villagers would have done well to heed Lucy's advice, especially after a local girl goes missing, last seen heading to the Orchard.

It's fun, it's intelligent, and it's not just another point A to point B mystery story with a tired plot that's been done over and over again; combined with the huge focus on the people in this book, the ongoing struggle between modernity and tradition, the mysteries of nature, and the secrets that foster behind closed doors sometimes for years, The Wine of Angels makes for a very, very good read. I'd forgotten just how much I enjoyed this novel and I went scurrying back to the shelf to grab the next one, Midwinter of the Spirit, for more.

Recommended for mystery readers who want more than just same old same old.

teensy plot bits revealed here for those who want to know:

http://www.crimesegments.com/2017/10/... ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Jun 07, 2017 dmayr rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-detective-series, murder-in-the-village, books-i-liked, grisly-horror-supernatural-horror

Book was too long. Two thirds over and it seemed like nothing was really happening, but the last few remaining chapters made up for it. Great characterization also.

1 like · Like · see review