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A review by shalini_gunnasan
The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill
3.0
I have a thing for haunted painting stories, due to my favourite childhood horror writer, M.R. James. The Mezzotint had captured my attention thoroughly. When I read the synopsis for this book, I had hoped for a story in a similar vein.
It didn't disappoint in that the haunted painting has a delicious backstory and nicely plotted inexplicable occurrences. That the painting changes is also a staple of haunted painting stories, and it's fun to see what new changes the characters will come across, and what these changes may mean. However, I didn't feel satisfied in how the painting and the real world collided, and the ending was a bit ridiculous.
Pretty good read though.
It didn't disappoint in that the haunted painting has a delicious backstory and nicely plotted inexplicable occurrences. That the painting changes is also a staple of haunted painting stories, and it's fun to see what new changes the characters will come across, and what these changes may mean. However, I didn't feel satisfied in how the painting and the real world collided, and the ending was a bit ridiculous.
Spoiler
But that's probably because I would have burned the damned thing, and I couldn't empathize with the surviving characters who couldn't do it. I mean, seriously, the thing's evil, KILL IT WITH FIRE already.Pretty good read though.