REVIEW (from Kimota #9)

The pre-publicity for this book had named it ‘Old Cider’, and that’s exactly what it’s about. So are these horror writer’s scraping the bottom of the barrel with a tale of haunted cider? Well, no. This isn’t really a horror novel at all but one of the most superb mystery novels about.

It conforms to the format superbly by giving mysteries galore for the reader to unravel, like why did the Reverend Williams hang himself in the 17^th century? Why did Alison leave her faded rock star boyfriend to take up with the lord of the manor who was becoming rapidly impoverished? Why did Edgar seem to shoot himself with a shotgun? Within a superbly populated rural village setting these mysteries are slowly answered leaving only more questions and mysteries.

The new vicar, or ‘Priest-in-charge’ as she is known, stumbles through the mysteries with her faith tottering, as ancient and modern alliances and vendettas make her life Hell.

The threads of mystery twist and turn in seeming isolation until the end when a well knitted and satisfying garment is made. Perhaps a poncho!

The supernatural element provides a colour and pattern to the weave; a sparkle in a complex pattern, but Hell, it’s what drew me to read the book in the first place, and it’s a damn fine colour.

Ruth Rendell eat your heart out, your rule is at an end…. Auld Ciderrrrrrrrrrrr….!