Phil Rickman

Phil Rickman (born 1964) is a British author known for his historical crime novels. Raised in the Forest of Dean, he worked as a teacher before turning to writing full-time. Rickman's Merrily Watkins series features a female Church of England vicar who solves crimes involving the supernatural. The first novel, "The Wine of Angels," won the CWA Dagger Award for Best First Crime Novel in 2000. The series has been adapted into a BBC television drama. Rickman has also written several stand-alone novels, including "The Chalice" (2005) and "Curtain Call" (2009). His work has been praised for its atmospheric settings, strong characters, and exploration of religious themes. Rickman has won numerous awards, including the British Book Awards Historical Fiction Award for "The Remains of an Altar" (2016).