🕯️ Supernatural

All of a Winter's Night: Volume 15

✍️ Phil Rickman
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$27.95
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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A gothic novel about a restless corpse and an exorcist fighting institutional control.

Rickman crafts a narrative where the supernatural bleeds into legal and social realities. Aidan Lloyd’s death is not an end but a catalyst for renewed conflict. The fog-bound ritual suggests forces that defy simple explanation. Merrily Watkins struggles against bureaucratic restrictions while dealing with family dangers. Her role as exorcist becomes both her purpose and her vulnerability. The story examines how old grudges persist across generations. It highlights the fragility of professional standing in the face of ancient customs. The tension arises from characters trapped between modern law and older, darker rules.

Key Themes
nocturnal rituals diocesan exorcist rural traditions
Literary Context

The story is set in Hereford, England, during a time when ecclesiastical authority was rigid. It draws on rural British traditions and the specific cultural context of diocesan roles in the late twentieth century.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · Daphne du Maurier · Thomas Hardy · M.R. James
🕯️
Supernatural
🏛 Corvus 📅 2017 📖 384 pages 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781782396970

📝 Description: All of a Winter's Night: Volume 15

Phil Rickman returns with a tale steeped in rural dread and ecclesiastical tension. The narrative begins with Aidan Lloyd’s bleak funeral, which quickly gives way to a nocturnal ritual occurring within thick fog. This sequence signals that the deceased son of a wealthy farmer will not rest quietly. His concealed past reactivates an old feud, causing a local tradition to reveal its darker nature. Merrily Watkins faces her own mounting pressures as a diocesan exorcist for Hereford. A bishop seeks to limit her authority, placing her future in jeopardy. She and her daughter Jane encounter events that cannot be discussed openly, leaving them potentially on the wrong side of the law. Rickman, known for his sharp wit and gothic atmosphere, weaves these threads into a story where religious duty clashes with ancient grudges. This volume suits readers who enjoy supernatural fiction grounded in specific regional folklore and complex character dynamics. Those seeking fast-paced action or light-hearted entertainment may find the slow-burn tension and legal ambiguities less appealing. The book demands patience as it unravels the sinister side of rural traditions.

💎 Our verdict on All of a Winter's Night: Volume 15

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Rickman delivers a masterful exploration of rural dread, blending gothic atmosphere with ecclesiastical tension. The narrative effectively portrays the clash between institutional control and ancient customs, creating a palpable sense of unease. Merrily Watkins serves as a compelling protagonist, her vulnerability highlighted by bureaucratic restrictions and familial dangers. The fog-bound ritual and the restless corpse provide a strong supernatural anchor, while the legal ambiguities add layers of complexity. This work suits readers who value character depth and atmospheric storytelling over fast-paced action. It demands patience but rewards it with a sinister unraveling of rural traditions. The sharp wit inherent in Rickman’s style balances the heavy themes, making the horror feel both grounded and transcendent.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate atmospheric, slow-burn horror set against a backdrop of specific regional lore will find this volume compelling. It offers a deep dive into the psychological and legal complexities faced by characters trapped between modern bureaucracy and ancient traditions. Those interested in the fragility of professional standing when confronted with supernatural realities will gain insight into Merrily Watkins’s precarious position as an exorcist. The narrative appeals to those who enjoy exploring how old grudges persist across generations, creating a sense of dread that is both intellectual and visceral. It is ideal for audiences willing to engage with complex character dynamics and religious duty rather than seeking immediate gratification or light entertainment.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Rickman delivers a masterful exploration of rural dread, blending gothic atmosphere with ecclesiastical tension. The narrative effectively portrays the clash between institutional control and ancient customs, creating a palpable sense of unease. Merrily Watkins serves as a compelling protagonist, her vulnerability highlighted by bureaucratic restrictions and familial dangers. The fog-bound ritual and the restless corpse provide a strong supernatural anchor, while the legal ambiguities add layers of complexity. This work suits readers who value character depth and atmospheric storytelling over fast-paced action. It demands patience but rewards it with a sinister unraveling of rural traditions. The sharp wit inherent in Rickman’s style balances the heavy themes, making the horror feel both grounded and transcendent.

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