The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

This is a book outside my comfort zone. I don't read a lot of scary book, and this is said to be a classical, scary Victorian style, ghost story. What made me take it? A reference at the back to indicate that this book has been compared to Henry James' The Turn of the Screw. That is really all I need.

Arthur Kipps, is a young lawyer who travels to a village in the middle of nowhere, to take care of the estate of recently deceased Alice Drablow. Her house is situated outside the village, on an island which is only accessible via a small bridge, or road, during low tide. It is a monstrous house, with a life of its own.

Already during the funeral, he sees a peculiarly dressed woman in black. Everyone seem reluctant to even talk about the lady, and he gets no answers to his question on who she is. While staying in the old house, he is haunted by sounds, locked doors, wind, fog and rain. He hears things which sounds real, but are they?

This is a traditional ghost story with all the usual elements. It is very well written, not overly dramatised, and we can feel both the helplessness of Kipps, as well as an urge to find out who the woman in black is. And then comes the ending...! Spooky, to say the least. Yes, Henry James comes to mind. I am afraid that it might stay with me longer than I wish.

It has been made into a film with Daniel Radcliffe. It is also a theatre play in West End where it has been running for 25 years. It is obviously rather famous, but I have never heard of it. What about you?