Both a classic gothic novel and British ghost story, The Woman In Black was the perfect quick read this Halloween season.

The first thing that you will notice is that Susan Hill’s writing style feels a lot older than its time, reflecting on the ghost stories of the past. There are a few less suspenseful moments, but her prose allows for so much detail to be conveyed, beautifully conveying the eerie descriptions of the house and its setting.

Brilliantly descriptive and hauntingly atmospheric, we are told the story through Arthur Kipp’s narration as he retells his experience of Eel Marsh House. What I like about Arthur is that he takes things as they are. He knows the woman in black is a ghost, but he also knows that there’s a reason for her suffering and feels compelled to find out more.

Having seen the 2012 film adaptation, I knew what to expect in terms of plot, although there are some quite big changes. But while I expected to be a little spooked and to have to sleep with my light on at the thought of seeing the shadow of a woman in black in my bedroom, what I didn’t expect was to feel the emotion of the woman in black’s grief.

The Woman In Black is so much more than just a spooky tale. It completely drew me in, making me feel on edge with the tense and well-paced scares, but also gripping me emotionally with the revelations of the woman in black’s past. Ghosts linger when they have something unresolved, and there are obvious reasons why the woman in black wants her revenge.

The final chapter really took me by surprise, making it a story that will stick with me, and one that I intend to read again.