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The Secrets of Pain
The Secrets of Pain | Phil Rickman
2 posts | 7 read | 2 to read
The elite warriors of the Hereford-based SAS know all about pain and the enduring of it. Syd Spicer, ex-SAS trooper, has found himself back the Regimentthis time as its chaplain, responsible for the spiritual welfare of the hardest men in or out of uniform. Faced with a case which would normally be passed discreetly to Hereford diocesan exorcist Merrily Watkins, Spicer is forced, for security reasons, to try and handle it himself and is coming close to a breakdown. Meanwhile, the scattered communities along the Welsh border have their own crisis. With recession biting deep, urban crime has spilled into the countryside and old barbaric evils are revived. When a wealthy landowner is hacked to death in his own farmyard, the senior investigating officer, DI Frannie Bliss is caught in the backlash, his private life in danger of exposure. With the framework of her own world beginning to crack, Merrily Watkins is persuaded to venture into areas where neither a priest nor a woman is welcome to unearth secrets linked with the border's pagan pastsecrets which she knows can never be disclosed.
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review
OutsmartYourShelf
The Secrets of Pain | Phil Rickman
post image
Mehso-so

When Vicar Merrily Watkins is asked by Huw Owen to give a talk to a new group of possible Deliverance workers, she is surprised to see ex-SAS man, Syd Spicer, hidden away in the shadows. Now back in the Regiment but as its chaplain, he seems withdrawn & troubled, but will not talk to Merrily about it. In other areas, there are strange goings-on in the fields around Herefordshire & crime is finding its way into the countryside (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf as a local farmer is found murdered in his yard. DI Frannie Bliss is in the midst of it all whilst trying to juggle his divorce from Kirsty & his burgeoning relationship with boss Annie Howe, whilst Merrily's daughter Jane puts herself in danger (again).

The eleventh book in the series is a weird mix of violence & paganism. If like me, you are interested in Roman religious history in particular the similarities between Christianity & Mithraism,
13mo
OutsmartYourShelf then it's rather interesting. If not, you may be a little bored. I didn't like the repeated references to cockfighting - anyone who fights any type of animal deserves the worst life can offer - although there was thankfully very little of the actual violence. The violence was definitely more of the human variety. This one was slightly better than the previous book but Jane is really getting on my nerves at the moment. 3⭐
13mo
See All 6 Comments
TheSpineView Well done! 13mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 13mo
Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 13mo
27 likes6 comments
blurb
marybethmoore
The Secrets of Pain | Phil Rickman

Confession: I have a little crush on Barry from the Swan.