A muddled mystery with a creepy house, Masons, Templars, and some other New Age shenanigans. It does sort itself out in the end and we actually get to find out who the killer was this time. I do like how well Rickman handles Jane's POV. It always feel distinct. ( )

Following the recent publication of the eleventh book in the series I've decided to reread the series. The Duchy of Cornwall calls Merrily in to investigate and mediate when their builder walks off a restoration project. Merrily is shocked when she seems to feel an evil presence in the house and, in preparation for a blessing, tries to find the source of the feeling, is this an ancient evil or is its source more modern? I love how Rickman blends ancient and modern history in this story, bringing in the Knights Templar and hippie drop out communes from the 1960s. Superb. ( )

Phil Rickman's Merrily Watkins series keeps getting better and better. In this book we delve into the past (during the 13 and 14 centuries) when the Knights Templar still existed. I like the way that Rickman examines the history of this very interesting time. He links this with Merrily's efforts to bless a house that Merrily knows has very evil prescences in it. The only thing that she's not sure is whether or not the evil dates back that far, or is it perhaps more recent than that? I am terribly interested in the Knights Templar and in the era so this made the book even more fun for me. Another thing that I really noticed, Rickman's characters have grown and changed since the beginning of the series. I can't believe how real they seem! Merrily finds herself in an ancient secret that still seems to have modern-day people protecting it in this wonderful book. Can't wait for the next one which happens to be the last one in the series so far. Hope Phil Rickman is going to write more Merrily Watkins stories. ( )

One of the very best of the Merrily Watkins series. ( )