I think stories like this are always a little bit let down by their endings. In this case, I found the mystery that remained at the close of the novel a bit aggravating, but atmospherically, it fitted well. The writing is exquisite, of course. Susan Hill writes perfect gothic prose and she's got such a nice turn of phrase that the style is as addictive as the plot itself. I really enjoyed this book. A great autumn read - a little scary, multi layered, and a positive palimpsest of freakishly entwined frame narratives.