Bestselling author to launch new book at Hereford Library

Bestselling author Phil Rickman is to sign copies of his new novel "To Dream of the Dead" at Hereford Library on Saturday, October 4.

As part of the National Year of Reading, Herefordshire Council's libraries service and Waterstones have teamed up to sell the latest Merrily Watkins mystery book at the library from 10.30am until noon on October 4.

There will be a second signing opportunity at Waterstones in the afternoon from 1.30pm until 3pm.

The book is set in the village of Ledwardine which has never flooded in living memory but, as the river continues to rise with December rains, it will soon be an island. Electricity has been cut and the church is serving as a temporary mortuary for two people who have drowned. Only one man feels safe: an aggressively atheist author who has been moved, for his own safety, into a secluded house just outside the village.

Meanwhile, archaeologists, assisted by Merrily Watkin's teenage daughter Jane, are at work unearthing an ancient row of standing stones which some people would prefer stay buries. The atheist's temporary home is close to the site and his young wife is becoming conspicuously agitated. Is it the fear of discovery? With the flood water washing up Church Lane towards the vicarage or the shop running out of cigarettes. It looks to be a cold and complex Christmas for Merrily Watkins.

Councillor Adrian Blackshaw, Herefordshire Council's cabinet member for community services and economic development, said: "The county's libraries always like to support new authors and this will be a wonderful opportunity for his fans to get a signed copy of this latest novel.

"Our libraries are stocked with a wealth of novels from many different authors which are available for free hire and I would encourage people to come and see the selection we have. If we don't have the book you want, we can also get it for you," he added.