The Man in the Moss

The Man in the Moss by Phil Rickman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

"Though dead for two millennia, he remains perfectly preserved in black peat. The Man in the Moss is one of the most fascinating finds of the century.

But, for the isolated Pennine community of Bridelow, his removal is a sinister sign. A danger to the ancient spiritual tradition maintained, curiously, by the Mothers' Union.

In the weeks approaching Samhain -- the Celtic feast of the dead -- tragedy strikes again and again in Bridelow. Scottish folk singer Moira Cairns and American film producer Mungo Macbeth discover their Celtic roots are deeper and darker than they imagined. And, as fundamentalist zealots of both Christian and satanic persuasions challenge an older, gentler faith, the village faces a natural disaster unknown since the reign of Henry VIII."
~~back cover

Well, I liked it, and then again I didn't. Interesting premise, interesting subject. But the methodology overrode the assets: this is one of those books that delights in keeping you guessing about what's going on, who's who, etc. by having each chapter be about a totally different person, place and/or thing. It's not until about the middle of the book (& it's a thick one at 594 pages) that the plot begins to formulate itself.

And then there are all the mysteries -- why did this happen? And how did it relate to that? And how will this person's actions help or hinder the growing menace? Why is the heroine so much in demand by the forces of evil? etc.

I think it could have been done better.