Having watched the film and theatre adaptations of the Woman in
Black, I felt that I knew the story well and there would be few surprises.
However, I battled goosebumps throughout the entirety of this short novel.
Susan Hill paints a desolate and rural landscape of unnerving rumours,
terrified residents and a chilling plot of grief and malevolent revenge. An
uneasy feeling runs through this book. There is a desire to carry on reading,
but this runs the risk of seeing the woman in black. (Miss G's ultimate
spine-chiller).
The Travelling Bag: And Other Ghostly Stories by Susan Hill
Here
are four suitably scary stories that will give you an idea of why Susan Hill’s
books are the perfect Halloween treat. Despite their short length, Hill offers
the reader supernatural stirrings, stenches of decay and ghostly figures. This
book is ideal for those wanting a quick but lingering burst of horror. (Miss
G's go-to collection of spooky stories).
Salem's
Lot by Stephen King
The
renowned horror writer's second novel tells the story of an author hoping to
write about an abandoned house in his childhood neighbourhood. He is confronted
with its new spooky new residents and experiences a series of bone-chilling
events involving a very scary child! This is a terrifying tale that rewrites
the traditional vampire story. (Mrs O's favourite blood-thirsty read).
A
Discovery of Witches, Deborah Harkness
This book explores a
modern world where vampires, witches and daemons share the same streets, social
circles and institutions as everyone else. How will an ancient manuscript
reveal their origins? With Gothic
attention to detail, the shadows are as much a character in this book as those
who lurk within them. The TV series is currently on Sky One. (Mrs G's bewitching recommendation).
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Henry James’s Victorian novel follows the troubled employment of a new governess in charge of two abandoned children. A sinister tale of supernatural sightings that will leave the reader doubting whether everything they see is real. (Ms J's super sinister read).