Oh, I loved these! Stevieannie told me about them and lent me the first one... they are glorious, aren't they?

I'd add to your comments (with all of which I agree, btw) that the writing style, and characterisation, the little, meaningful, stupid, spiteful, silly and misguided things that people do and say also contribute to making these books an utter joy. Humanity is very lovingly and accurately portrayed.

I've also read, as an aside, some of his non-Merrily books - they are *much* darker, and I enjoyed them much less, for the record. I think they were also his earlier works, for the most part, so perhaps he began with more of a thriller/horror brief and then found his voice with these.

Right with you on Gomer Parry.