Candlenight

By Phil Rickman

A supernatural thriller from the author of the chilling Merrily Watkins Mysteries.

For Bethan, a schoolteacher, the old superstitions woven into the social fabric of her West Wales village are primitive and distasteful, which is why she's pleased to welcome the sophisticated newcomers: London journalist Giles Freeman and his wife Claire. Surely they'll let in some fresh air?

But the Freemans are keen to absorb this different culture, a whole new way of life, rejecting the advice of an old colleague who warns them of a hard and bitter land where they've always danced on the edge of the abyss. They soon learn that this community hides an ancient, bloody, and pagan secret - one that will haunt them forever.

A PHIL RICKMAN STANDALONE NOVEL

• Language: English
• Publisher: Corvus
• Release date: Oct 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9780857896889

Phil Rickman

PHIL RICKMAN lives on the Welsh border where he writes and presents the book programme Phil the Shelf on BBC Radio Wales. He is the hugely popular author of The Bones of Avalon, The Heresy of Dr Dee and the Merrily Watkins Mysteries.

Reviews for Candlenight

[libgirl69 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Took me a while to get into this book. V slow build up and a certain amount of creepiness had me flagging until I reached tipping point and couldn't put it down. Great read.

[jen6e6moore · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's a rural horror novel about Welsh nationalism! Which sounds great, and it should be - there are some very effective horror moments in here - but it's just too big and unfocused to be a proper horror novel. There are a lot of characters, and they're written very well, but it makes the plot sprawl beyond recognition sometimes.

[riverwillow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Rickman's first book and what a marvellously evocative one it is. The village of Y Groes is the main character in the book and starts off as Giles's rural idyll and slowly and subtly develops through the pages into a sinister and menacing place, haunted by the past. Superb..

[senorag163 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very enjoyable as all Rickman books are

[ehines_20 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not as good as either Curfew or December. Welsh nationalism is more than a little distracting from the supposed supernatural element here (actually Welsh nationalism is the all-too-prosaic inspiration for the supernatural agents, as well).As always, Rickman creates interesting and likable characters, but there is a feel that maybe Rickman rushed this one a bit. One opportunity he missed is the main English character, who he unwisely kills off. Rickman's lead characters are often bumbling, lovable loser types. Giles is driven and a bit of a bastard, though fundamentally decent. A whole book with him in the lead would have been an interesting change for Rickman.

[coach_of_alva · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting concept that blends the supernatural with ethnic tensions and nationalistic hatreds. I wish he understood Americans better.

[equestrienne · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a fast and fun read and not as predictable as I thought it would be.

There was one drawback which kept this from being a five star book. The modern pagans in this book were really dumb; they believed the old lie about human sacrifice and incorporated it into their worship. Very disappointing.

[carol420 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I can’t say I didn’t like it. Lets just say that I expected more from a “village that hides an ancient and bloody secret.” (from the book cover). When it got around to the “secret” it was well worth the wait, but it took forever it seemed. I liked the characters and I liked the “meat” of the story but it felt that it was somewhat rushed to the end. I also thought some of the characters needed to be fleshed out more so the reader understands their purpose in the story. I have another of Phil Rickman’s books…, [Chalice]…that I am looking forward to starting soon.