Phil Rickman

[DaisyNonna]

Does anyone else enjoy this writer's work?

[scotman]

I have never heard of him.

[DaisyNonna]

Thankyou so much for your gracious reply scotman

[craft1948]

Sorry Daisy, I read a lot but I've never heard of him either. What genre is he?

[Maxim99]

I also read a lot, but have never heard of him either, sorry!

[DaisyNonna]

Hard to categorise but writes fiction based around Herefordshire and the Welsh Marches. He uses local folk legends to produce books which are peripherally dealing with the supernatural, the problems faced by female clergy
and family tension. Well researched and written. Not everyone's choice but interesting if you know or would want to know the area. Particularly good on interpersonal relationships. Excellent as stories!

[Maxim99]

I've just looked him up on Wiki and his books sound very interesting. Might see if our library has any of his books next time I go. At the moment I'm reading a thriller about a writer who is being blackmailed by a psycho called The Death List by Paul Johnston which is a new Author for me.

[DaisyNonna]

Maxim, well worth a try at the library. At mine we generally have to request his books. Not tried Paul Johnston. Will put him on my list.

[craft1948]

I'm reading Bombsites and Lollipops by Jacky Hyams which is about her life as a child in the east end of London just after the war. Really well written and I am enjoying reminiscing.............

[DaisyNonna]

All suggestions gratefully received Craft.

[Jemisa]

http://www.google.co....,r:9,s:43&tx=62&ty=72 Media URL: http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=Phill+Rickman+Author&hl=en&sa=G&biw=819&bih=475&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=w3AsQFzVvFEOtM:&imgrefurl=http://www.atlantic-books.co.uk/our_books/browse_catalogue.asp%253Fcss%253D1%2526edition%253D2441&docid=kc5dE7-D1NumhM&w=200&h=
Description:

[bensmum]

I've read most of his stuff Daisy and I do like him. I will admit to preferring his earlier writings - his deliverance person Merrily Watkins, does irritate me a little and I think the storylines have become a bit "samey". That said I recently read the one about Elgar and enjoyed that and I loved the one set in Ludlow. Thinks it's because I love that part of the country

[LeMarchand]

Read most of the "Merrily Watkins" books, and have a few of his other works as part of the "to read" mountain. Liked them enough to go up to Hereford for a couple of days just to look around and see some of the locations (Hereford centre=bit of a dump, surrounding areas quite nice, though). Got to see the cross where the severed head was left, amongst other places. The "terrible" estate (Plascag?) didn't seem that bad, though.

I must admit that his style is beginning to grate: the (admittedly tense) build up to... something horrible, followed by a chapter of something different and then the resolution to the cliffhanger (which is often a let down). I still find them enjoyable, though I wish he would go for a more out-and-out supernatural tone.

It's a shame the proposed TV show seems to have stalled, as it may well have avoided some of the books' annoyances.