[Miss Mac]

I'm posting this earlier than normal, because as Bercol pointed out, people have less time in December, so they might want to get their mitts on the book earlier.

Anyway, it's a short book but absolutely the best spine-chiller I've ever read:

Susan Hill - "The Woman in Black"

Quote

When Arthur Kipps attends the funeral of Alice Drablow he is unaware of the tragic secrets which lie hidden behind her house. It is not until he glimpses a woman dressed all in black at the funeral that a creeping sense of unease begins to take hold.

Enjoy ;)

[bercol1]

I am really looking forward to this one Miss Mac sounds like my kinda book.

B

[Miss Mac]

The opening is slightly slow, but I've always found that once Arthur Kipps starts telling his story, you just can't put it down!

Hope you do enjoy it. Should be easy enough to get hold of as well.

[pipistrelle]

My copy has just arrived from Amazon, now to find time to read it :whistle :lol:
Ax

[cavegirl]

Love this book the TV version was actually quite good too.

[Miss Mac]

As it's 31st, dare I ask about this, or has everyone been too madly busy to read?

:lol:

[Old Bat]

I'm always on the lookout for a new author and book so I'll give this one a try! :up If you like thrillers have you tried P J Tacy - Want to Play?? VERY good! Also Jodie Picoult books! :)

[pipistrelle]

I read it :D Anyone else?

A x

[Miss Mac]

I know BK and Bart have because they both borrowed my copy :lol:

[Twinkle]

I have been dreadful these last few months and have not read anyones book. :blush: :ninja:

[Busyknitter]

Yup I read it and enjoyed it. :D

I don't normally like horror/ghost genre books, but this one was so atmospheric and well written that I was captivated right till the last page. And a bit scared.

I particularly liked the timeless quality of the writing (anyone want to hazard a guess at which decade it is set in?)

BK

[bercol1]

I loved this book that's two in a row. :excellent Thanks Miss Mac

Did anyone else get reminded of "Wuthering Heights" while reading it.

Not much time to write more, off to another party but will catch up later.

B

[pipistrelle]

I liked it too, very easy to read. The senario of the haunting is very upsetting.
As for the period, I know what you mean, it seems victorian but there are more 20th century references, cars etc (yes I know these were around in 19thC but didn't get that impression) I guessed pre WW2?
Anyone know the real period?

A x

[Miss Mac]

Susan Hill is still writing now, so it's difficult to pin it down exactly. I'm not sure she's ever said.

I'd always placed it somewhere between 1900 and 1920, simply because of the dual use of cars, train and also pony and trap. The style is Victorian ghost story, but it's always seemed slightly later to me. I wouldn't place it any later than 1920, simply because of the age Arthur Kipps would have been when he was retelling his story (that has to be pre-ww2, I agree with you there).

It's a real classic, regardless.

Which bit did you find creepiest?

For me it was always the bit with the nursery, simply because it is so sad - this empty room with all the toys and clothes in it. That combined with the voices out on the marsh reliving the accident over and over again.

Shivers.

[Busyknitter]

The scene at the end in the park creeped me out completely. Such malevolence. :(