Susan Hill - The Woman in Black

Reviewed by Neil Middleton on the show 9th Sept 2010.
When Arthur Kidd is sent to Crythin Gifford to deal with the funeral of Mrs Drablow and her affairs, little did he realise it would turn to a life changing experience.

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill is a book of intrigue and tension. Set at about the 1920's or 30's (there is no specific date so it is how you interpret the time scale) it relives the traditional ghost stories of old. I was first introduced to this tale when, as a gift, I was taken to the Fortune theatre in London to see a play based on the book, for which i might add is very true to the story. After the experience, very unique and captivating to my mind, I just had to get the book to read.

This is just a short story and you could read it in a day, which I did, it was so well written that I just couldn't put it down. The description of the atmosphere and the smells was so precise I was there and for most of the story I was Arthur Kidd struggling to understand what was happening and who this woman was and why she put the fear of god into every cell.

It may not be everybody's cup of tea but if you enjoy stories by M R James, Edgar Allen Poe, Edith Nesbitt and such like I'm sure this will give you equal pleasure.
review by Neil