The village of Ledwardine has never been flooded in living memory, but as the river continues to rise with December rains, within days it will be an island. Electricity has been cut and the church is serving as a temporary mortuary for two people who drowned. Only one man feels safe: an aggressively atheist author who has been moved—for his own safety—into a secluded house just outside the village. Meanwhile, archaeologists—assisted by Merrily Watkins’s teenage daughter, Jane—are at work unearthing an ancient row of standing stones that some people would prefer stay buried. The atheist’s temporary home is close to the site, and his young wife is becoming conspicuously agitated. Is it the fear of discovery? With the flood water washing up Church Lane towards the vicarage and the shop running out of cigarettes, it looks to be a cold and complex Christmas for Merrily Watkins.
To Dream of the Dead
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"Credible characters . . . and absorbing archeological lore are a plus." —Publishers Weekly
"Merrily is a most original sleuth and an interesting, sparky woman of emotional and spiritual depth. Rickman is an excellent writer, terrific on atmosphere . . . The best so far." —The Times
About the Author
Phil Rickman is the author of the Merrily Watkins Mystery series.
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Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By K. McMullen
Format:Hardcover
After seeing late friend Lucy Devenish in a dream, to dream of the dead is an omen that there is going to be a flood, Jane Watkins tells Lol, her mother's boyfriend, and it looks like she is right. The December rains have been torrential and nearly non-stop, and the river through Ledwardine is rising as are all the others in the West Midland county of Herefordshire; that and it's only a few days until Christmas. A horrific murder supposedly linked to the unearthing of the Dinedor Serpent, a pagan monument, is then committed in Hereford during this difficult time, and vicar and Anglican dioscean exorcist Merrily Watkins finds herself once more drawn into a web of intrigue and lies.
So you find out as the story of another excellent Merrily Watkins mystery by Phil Rickman opens up. Once more the author had me riveted to every page, making the book last by only reading a couple of chapters a day, as I like to with a good read. The style and complexity of the story kept on surprising me with its unexpected twists and turns, and as usual Rickman's wonderful way of breathing life into his characters, and his descriptiveness of the countryside and towns makes me want to visit Herefordshire and it's neighbouring counties very much. One of those books that I wish the story could go on forever; which it has with the absorbing series Rickman has been putting out for the last ten years.
So you find out as the story of another excellent Merrily Watkins mystery by Phil Rickman opens up. Once more the author had me riveted to every page, making the book last by only reading a couple of chapters a day, as I like to with a good read. The style and complexity of the story kept on surprising me with its unexpected twists and turns, and as usual Rickman's wonderful way of breathing life into his characters, and his descriptiveness of the countryside and towns makes me want to visit Herefordshire and it's neighbouring counties very much. One of those books that I wish the story could go on forever; which it has with the absorbing series Rickman has been putting out for the last ten years.
By BABS
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Tenth, in the Merrily Watkins series, we find characters Merrily, Jane, Lol, Sophie, Gomer and Detective Frannie Bliss embroiled, again, in controversy and intrigue. I simply adore Gomer and his common sense. I admire Sophie for her quiet diligence. Frannie makes crime solving his number one priority and gets on much better with his commanding officer, Annie Howe, this time. Jane exhibits some insecurity in her relationship with Eirion while Merrily and Lol are getting on quite nicely.
It is almost Christmas and it is raining. Alot. A severed head sits in a window of a Gothic monastery, overlooking a rose garden. While Frannie investigates, Jane and Gomer are in conversation near the rising River Wye. Lol and Merrily, wearing her new non-fake Barbour, are at a parish meeting. They are listening to the arguments, for and against, the new luxury housing development that is to be housed in Coleman's Meadow. This meadow is an archaelogical sensitive sight.
Once again, Phil has blended the past with the present by inserting tidbits of folklore and incorporating them with actual documented history. Closing comments, in Phil's books, mention his wife, Carol, who assists him in so many ways. I would like to make mention of this here. Carol, you are truly the woman behind the man.
We do not just have the books to read. Two music CDs have been recorded. Songs From Lucy's Cottage and Message From the Morning. These gems are the collaboration of Phil and talented musician, Allan Watson. To learn more about them, you can visit [...] ---They make delightful listening.
I started reading the Merrily Watkins series over two years ago and also have read several of his stand alone novels. I have not been disappointed.
It is almost Christmas and it is raining. Alot. A severed head sits in a window of a Gothic monastery, overlooking a rose garden. While Frannie investigates, Jane and Gomer are in conversation near the rising River Wye. Lol and Merrily, wearing her new non-fake Barbour, are at a parish meeting. They are listening to the arguments, for and against, the new luxury housing development that is to be housed in Coleman's Meadow. This meadow is an archaelogical sensitive sight.
Once again, Phil has blended the past with the present by inserting tidbits of folklore and incorporating them with actual documented history. Closing comments, in Phil's books, mention his wife, Carol, who assists him in so many ways. I would like to make mention of this here. Carol, you are truly the woman behind the man.
We do not just have the books to read. Two music CDs have been recorded. Songs From Lucy's Cottage and Message From the Morning. These gems are the collaboration of Phil and talented musician, Allan Watson. To learn more about them, you can visit [...] ---They make delightful listening.
I started reading the Merrily Watkins series over two years ago and also have read several of his stand alone novels. I have not been disappointed.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.9 out of 5 stars
14 reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
To Dream of the Dead
Nov 8 2008
By Bloomsbury
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
The latest installment of the adventures of Merrily Watkins, Deliverance Consultant (read exorcist) & parish priest for the village of Ledwardine, is a wonderful book.
Phil Rickman seems incapable of putting a foot wrong in this series. The characters are interesting, totally believable & varied, from Merrily herself to minor bit players, all fully realized & unerringly depicted.
Merrily's daughter Jane has developed convincingly through the series and is arguably the best creation of a teenaged girl in modern fiction. This book sees her struggling with issues that would be vividly familiar to this age group, all concerned with the transition to an independent life.
Her long term boyfriend Eirion is back, as is the complex musician Lol. The multi-layered plot vividly details the uneasy juxtaposition of "progressive" development which disenfranchises many of the long term residents of the area, and the workings of the human heart and spirit.
Rickman is honest and fearless in his examination of motivation and character, and of how struggling to do "the right thing" can make your life very difficult. The many facets of loneliness are a constant refrain in his books. Lol expresses this with his "Alien" sweatshirt & album, & in this book the detective Frannie Bliss - an outsider from Merseyside - finds himself on the outer from the Police force & his family.
Merrily is more of a traditional priest in "To Dream of the Dead", with the supernatural aspects of her job less intense. Rickman handles the supernatural elements of this series superbly & intelligently.
As always, music is an important background element, with the late Nick Drake an invisible presence throughout.
The complexity & richness of this series is amazing. Lesser books than "To Dream of the Dead" have won the Booker prize.
Phil Rickman seems incapable of putting a foot wrong in this series. The characters are interesting, totally believable & varied, from Merrily herself to minor bit players, all fully realized & unerringly depicted.
Merrily's daughter Jane has developed convincingly through the series and is arguably the best creation of a teenaged girl in modern fiction. This book sees her struggling with issues that would be vividly familiar to this age group, all concerned with the transition to an independent life.
Her long term boyfriend Eirion is back, as is the complex musician Lol. The multi-layered plot vividly details the uneasy juxtaposition of "progressive" development which disenfranchises many of the long term residents of the area, and the workings of the human heart and spirit.
Rickman is honest and fearless in his examination of motivation and character, and of how struggling to do "the right thing" can make your life very difficult. The many facets of loneliness are a constant refrain in his books. Lol expresses this with his "Alien" sweatshirt & album, & in this book the detective Frannie Bliss - an outsider from Merseyside - finds himself on the outer from the Police force & his family.
Merrily is more of a traditional priest in "To Dream of the Dead", with the supernatural aspects of her job less intense. Rickman handles the supernatural elements of this series superbly & intelligently.
As always, music is an important background element, with the late Nick Drake an invisible presence throughout.
The complexity & richness of this series is amazing. Lesser books than "To Dream of the Dead" have won the Booker prize.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Nov 21 2008
By T. Williams
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
It's the week before Christmas, Ledwardine is threatened by flooding and a gruesome discovery is made at the old Blackfriars Monastery. The events that follow create a nightmarish advent for Merrily, Jane, Lol, Detective Frannie Bliss and the people living in Ledwardine. In his inimitable style, Phil Rickman once again delivers a tightly-woven tale of murder, greed, hate and religion gone wrong. While Bliss fights to find a cold-blooded murderer and save his career, Merrily fights to save the spiritual core of her parish -- and herself -- from a hateful attack. And the chaos created by those natural and human forces also wreak havoc in the personal lives of the characters we've grown to love.
While Rickman's latest offering is more of a detective story than a supernatural thriller, fans of "woo-woo" will not be disappointed. The supernatural element, though sparingly evidenced, proves crucial throughout.
I particulary loved To Dream of the Dead for the major role Jane and Bliss play in solving the crime. BIG surprises await readers at the end of this one. Put Dream on your Christmas list, if you can wait that long!
While Rickman's latest offering is more of a detective story than a supernatural thriller, fans of "woo-woo" will not be disappointed. The supernatural element, though sparingly evidenced, proves crucial throughout.
I particulary loved To Dream of the Dead for the major role Jane and Bliss play in solving the crime. BIG surprises await readers at the end of this one. Put Dream on your Christmas list, if you can wait that long!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
All this and a soundtrack too...
Sep 21 2009
By Julia E. Adams
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love all the Merrily Watkins books and can't really add to the book reviews here except to say, did you know there are two albums, too? Songs from Lucy's Cottage and A Message from the Morning are CDs of character Lol Robinson's songs, lyrics by Phil Rickman and music by Allan Watson and Hazey Jane II. Readers of the Merrily Watkins novels will recognize Baker's Lament, Cure of Souls, Elgar, and Lucy's Song because snippets of Lol's lyrics appeared in the novels. But now the songs have been completed, and they're gorgeous. Lol was heavily influenced by Nick Drake and elements of Nick are interwoven. Lol spent his own time in the psych ward, hence Heavy Medication Day. Find info at Phil Rickman's website and Hazey Jane 2's myspace page. For all of us fans of the Merrily Watkins books, Lol lives! Added treats are Phil Rickman reading from Traherne, quotations from Leather's Folklore of Herefordshire, and the voice of Gomer Parry.
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Go to Amazon.com to see all 14 reviews
4.9 out of 5 stars
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