Woman in Black
When I think of ghost stories, I immediately think of Susan Hill. As if we were not spoiled enough with its predecessors, such as The Woman in Black, we now have her latest release, just in time for Halloween and Christmas; Dolly.
The story of two children, Leonora and Edward, who visit their aunt and her housekeeper for the summer in her house in the far reaches of the English Fens. The house is archetypically in decline and its surroudings are damp and overgrown even when the sun shines everywhere else. In the beginning the maliciousness appears to have one purpose; to challenge the stability of Edward, however when Leonora does not receive the gift of a dolly for her birthday, circumstances become much worse and have deathly implications for all involved.
Susan reported that she did not have an idea for another ghost story following the huge success of the film adaptation of The Woman in Black, but luckily for all of us, she did. She has written other ghost stories, such as The Man in the Picture and The Small Hand and The Woman in Black has captured audiences for over twenty years in London’s West End. It is safe to say that this author has complete control over the hairs on the back of your neck!
I will certainly not be waiting until Halloween to read this book; I will be getting it on its day of release.
Dolly is out on the 5th October 2012.