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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My only prior knowledge to this story is the film adaptation with Daniel Radcliffe, but I wanted to read the original to see how it compared. Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor, is sent to settle the affairs of Alice Drablow. He sees a woman dressed in black at her funeral, though apparently no one else does. At Eel Marsh House, a house beyond a causeway, Arthur is haunted by noises and sightings of the woman. This story did a fantastic job at showcasing a classic ghost story format. A ghost comes back from the past, and so does a ghost story. In the opening of this narrative the storyteller talks of coming out "from under the long shadow cast by the events of the past". At its end, the storyteller has managed a difficult task. Thus the book's terse concluding sentences: "They asked for my story. I have told it. Enough." I loved the revenge theme of the story and the tragic ending for the protagonist, doomed to live his life in grief after the traumatic death of his loved ones. I don’t expect modern readers to be very fearful of this story. Ghost stories are not effective without atmosphere. That's why we tell them around campfires or late at night in dark rooms. And for a generation raised on slasher flicks and daily news about terrorist attacks and school shootings, it's a lost cause to try to "scare" people with words in a book. However this is a glimpse into the classic and traditional ghost story format, and I do think readers would enjoy the classic atmosphere as a product of its time. Susan Hill doesn't try to do anything particularly new with the story. The ghosts are not clever or different or original. There's no deep hidden meaning, or if there is, I didn't feel inclined to dig for it. But what she does very well is convey atmosphere. The movie is a lot more Amityville Horror and The Shining than the book was, with more gruesome effects and a lot less subtlety. The movie tries to generate thrills from sudden noises and abrupt ghostly appearances in windows, mirrors, etc. The book does it with atmospheric dread. And it does it well.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Haunting, Atmospheric, and Devastatingly Gothic
The Woman in Black is a masterclass in quiet horror—steeped in gothic atmosphere, melancholy, and the kind of dread that creeps in slowly and never quite lets go. Susan Hill’s prose is beautifully evocative, written in the style of classic Victorian ghost stories, and it perfectly captures the isolation and eerie stillness of the marshlands and Eel Marsh House.
Paapa Essiedu’s narration is outstanding. His voice is expressive, thoughtful, and completely immersive, adding emotional depth to a story already rich in mood and tension. The subtle background sounds—creaking floorboards, wind, distant cries—elevate the experience without distracting from it, creating a fully cinematic listening experience.
And the ending? Far more heartbreaking and horrifying than the film adaptation. Just when you think there might be peace, the final moments hit like a gut punch. I had tears in my eyes. It’s bleak, tragic, and unforgettable.
I can’t believe it took me this long to finally listen to this book—it's a gothic gem, and in many ways, far superior to the movie. A must-listen for fans of classic ghost stories and slow-burn horror with emotional weight.
The Woman in Black is a masterclass in quiet horror—steeped in gothic atmosphere, melancholy, and the kind of dread that creeps in slowly and never quite lets go. Susan Hill’s prose is beautifully evocative, written in the style of classic Victorian ghost stories, and it perfectly captures the isolation and eerie stillness of the marshlands and Eel Marsh House.
Paapa Essiedu’s narration is outstanding. His voice is expressive, thoughtful, and completely immersive, adding emotional depth to a story already rich in mood and tension. The subtle background sounds—creaking floorboards, wind, distant cries—elevate the experience without distracting from it, creating a fully cinematic listening experience.
And the ending? Far more heartbreaking and horrifying than the film adaptation. Just when you think there might be peace, the final moments hit like a gut punch. I had tears in my eyes. It’s bleak, tragic, and unforgettable.
I can’t believe it took me this long to finally listen to this book—it's a gothic gem, and in many ways, far superior to the movie. A must-listen for fans of classic ghost stories and slow-burn horror with emotional weight.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No