Taking hold

 

     Adam Snow, a dealer in antiquarian books and manuscripts, takes a wrong turning while driving through deepest Sussex one evening and finds himself stopping at the gate of The White House in an effort to get directions. What he finds on walking up the drive is a deserted, half derelict house and a once grand, now wildly overgrown garden, but instead of turning back, Adam lingers a while in the Spring dusk, intrigued by the strange, sad place. All is still and quiet, nothing moves; but then Adam feels a small hand creep into his own.

    That is the first of a series of increasingly frightening experiences which Adam has in places as far apart as Oxford and a French monastery*, and when what had first felt like a benign presence becomes instead a powerful and threatening one, Adam tries to discover the history of The White House and what binds him to it.

    Susan Hill's The Small Hand is - typically of the author - economical, clear and straightforward. No words are wasted, no fancy devices used, it is well-dressed, mannerly story-telling at its best. It's a short book, but I found myself taking it at a measured pace - which I think it demands for its full effect - not wanting it to end, keen for the next exquisite episode. I've read two of Susan's earlier ghost stories, The Woman In Black and The Mist In The Mirror, and I recommend them thoroughly, but there was something about the contemporary setting of this latest book which made it all the more chilling. It's simply, beautifully done.

                                             ~~~~~

*If you don't already know the DVD Into Great Silence, a film about La Grande Chartreuse, I recommend it, too.

Comments

[Coffee and a Book Chick]

I've heard quite a bit about The Woman in Black -- I have it on my Paperbackswap.com wish list, so am hoping that comes to me soon. Now I shall have to add her other works as well!

[Mystica]

I read one Susan Hill mainly because of the hype and was very disappointed. This sounds quite intriguing. Different as well. Thanks for the review.

[Barbara]

Too scary for me, I think.

[GeraniumCat]

I've got this on my wishlist (the Kindle one, I think).

[LizF]

My other half is not a great reader and only really reads when we are on holiday. I gave him a copy of The Woman In Black to read when we were on holiday in a mobile home in Brittany years ago when our younger son was only 6 weeks old (he's 19 now) and he was so deeply engrossed in it that when one of the older children kicked against the wall next to their bed which made a surprisingly loud noise, he yelled 'aaah' and flung the book across the room!

[Kelly Light]

I picked this up the other day and just started it. In fact I think it had been on my mind since seeing your review so thank you! And I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but it is so lovely!