Picked up a couple of Susan Hill books on a recent book trawl. They were sitting on a cobwebby Halloween themed shelf in the Oxfam book Shop in Ann Street. They were both such lovely wee editions I could not walk away from them so I bought them with the intention of a late night autumnal feast. Then found myself reading them almost immediately. They just looked and felt so right for the time of year
Although the work feels reminiscent of some other stuff I have read recently , it was in an altogether pleasing way rather than a tumble of familiar tropes. She has her own voice and does her own thing. I was reminded of some of the genuinely unpleasant manifestations which occur in MR James stories. His ghosts are never benign and it is difficult to to think of a more unpleasant spirit than that of the vengeful, wicked and unrelenting Woman In Black, Susan Hill's most notorious creation. Similar fiends stalk the pages of these wee collections. There are no jump scares nor Tales From The Crypt full stops and violent ends. Sometimes years pass without resolution and wisdom always comes too late.
Which you must admit is a tempting concoction to taste, much less swallow. Why not pick them up, uncork a bottle and retire to your Edwardian study to sup with panthers, or at least listen for their soft padding feet, circling in search of an ending.
