The Woman in Black: A Ghost Story by Susan Hill

The Woman in Black: A Ghost Story by Susan Hill

Published by Vintage (Reprint edition above)

Published on October 10, 1983 (original), January 3, 2012 (reprint)

Genre: Ghost Story

Page Count: 164

Source: Purchased

Format: Paperback 

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Description: The classic ghost story from the author of The Mist in the Mirror: a chilling tale about a menacing spectre haunting a small English town. Now a major motion picture starring Daniel Radcliffe.

Arthur Kipps is an up-and-coming London solicitor who is sent to Crythin Gifford—a faraway town in the windswept salt marshes beyond Nine Lives Causeway—to attend the funeral and settle the affairs of a client, Mrs. Alice Drablow of Eel Marsh House. Mrs. Drablow’s house stands at the end of the causeway, wreathed in fog and mystery, but Kipps is unaware of the tragic secrets that lie hidden behind its sheltered windows. The routine business trip he anticipated quickly takes a horrifying turn when he finds himself haunted by a series of mysterious sounds and images—a rocking chair in a deserted nursery, the eerie sound of a pony and trap, a child’s scream in the fog, and, most terrifying of all, a ghostly woman dressed all in black. Psychologically terrifying and deliciously eerie, The Woman in Black is a remarkable thriller of the first rate.

Note: The description appeared on the 2012 reprint.


Hello again.

This review is about The Woman in Black: A Ghost Story by Susan Hill. I purchased a copy for my personal use. Any quotes that may occur below are from the text and not my words.

This is the only book that I have ever read by this author and I stumbled upon it one morning around three. I couldn't sleep and was online browsing through books. I was in the mood for some classic horror stories. I downloaded a couple and then saw this one and decided to purchase the paperback edition rather than ebook. It sat in my TBR stacks for a while until I finally decided to read it.

I am so glad that I did. This story has that amazing gothic horror feel. I was not quite sure where it was going to lead me. It has strong characterizations and surprisingly deep story line. My heart was in my throat at times. I had not seen the movie yet so there was no influence from that. I am quite thankful for that fact. As I read, a very sinister movie began forming in my mind. I can still picture her how I imagined her and it makes me shudder a little. That is the great thing about a book of this nature. It left me with a sense of unease that only truly well written ghost stories can.

I am rating this book Four Red Books because there were parts that were almost painfully slow. It was a strong story for the most part and shocked me many times. Some parts of it may haunt me forever. Susan Hill definitely knows how to spin a tale that can curdle your blood and leave you begging for more.


InkedBookDragon