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The Magus of Hay

Merrily Watkins, Book 12

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The Magus of Hay

By: Phil Rickman
Narrated by: Emma Powell
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About this listen

A man's body is found below a waterfall. It looks like suicide or an accidental drowning – until DI Frannie Bliss enters the dead man's home. What he finds there has him consulting Merrily Watkins, the Diocese of Hereford's official advisor on the paranormal.

It's nearly 40 years since the town of Hay-on-Wye was declared an independent state by its self-styled king. A development seen at the time as a joke. But the pastiche had a serious side. And behind it, unknown to most of the townsfolk, lay a darker design, a hidden history of murder and ritual magic, the relics of which are only now becoming visible.

It's a situation that will take Merrily Watkins – on her own for the first time in years and facing public humiliation over a separate case – to the edge of madness.

©2013 Phil Rickman (P)2014 Isis Audio Fantasy Fiction Horror Mystery Supernatural Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Scary Paranormal Detective

Critic reviews

"Ancient history, violent deaths, feuds, intrigues and murder. A most original sleuth." (The Times)

"First rate crime with demons that go bump in the night." (Daily Mail)

"Compassionate, original and sharply contemporary, Rickman's crime series is one of the best around." (The Spectator)
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Loved it, another great book from Mr Rickman and read beautifully by Ms Powell. Looking forward to the next one.

Great as usual

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Sweeping scope, slightly mad. An author who has slipped the surly bonds of sense, I think. You need your wits about you when reading this one. Much of the time I had little idea what was going on. In the end I was none the wiser. The narrator sounded like she had a bit of an idea how it all fitted together, not me. Best of luck!

Ambitious but bloody awful really

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This is my least favourite from this series. No Lol, no Jayne it was definitely missing the back characters of other stories. The usual mystery and murder but lacked the usual up lift. To be honest this was depressingly dark with no light.

I'm still confused

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