Ciao - for people with opinions

Latest reviews Latest questions
Write a review Latest videos
Special offers
Home > Books > Fiction > Thriller Books > T Thriller Books > The Woman In Black - Susan Hill

User Reviews

for The Woman In Black - Susan Hill

Rating Summary based on 12 reviews

  • 5 Stars
    		9
  • 4 Stars
    		2
  • 3 Stars
    		0
  • 2 Stars
    		0
  • 1 Star
    		1

Detailed rating

  • Characters
  • How does it compare to other works by the same author?
  • How does it compare to similar books?
  • Readability
  • Story
  		• 4.2
  		• 4.4
  		• 4.4
  		• 4.7
  		• 4.5
Previous page Next page Page 1 of 2 | 1 to 10 out of 12 Review(s)
  • 33 of 33 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of oldchem

    oldchem

    5 Stars Halloween will soon be on us - why not read this book to prepare Review with images 20/09/2009
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages A true ghost story, pure magic

    Disadvantages Disadvantages BOO!!

    THE WOMAN IN BLACK SUSAN HILL "I looked directly at her and she at me. There was no mistake. My eyes were not deceiving me. It was she, the woman in black." After writing a review yesterday for Susan Hill's 'The Mist in the Mirror', I realised that for some reason I have never written a review on her better known, and in my opinion, far superior book 'The Woman in Black'. As the male contingency Chez Oldchem insisted on watching 'Casino Royale' (I refuse to watch any James Bond without Sean Connery in!!) I dug out my little copy of this wonderful book - at only 160 pages, I knew that I would ... more
  • 16 of 16 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of seanbond87

    seanbond87

    5 Stars My eyes were not deceiving me. It was she, the woman in black." 21/01/2010
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages A TRUE ghost story

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Scary when read alone

    THE WOMAN IN BLACK By SUSAN HILL "I looked directly at her and she at me. There was no mistake. My eyes were not deceiving me. It was she, the woman in black." As I work nights on security I get through endless books; I mainly read crime books and thrillers but enjoy all types of books. Just before Christmas my wife and I had been spending a few days at my in laws and my mother in law gave me a couple of books to borrow. One of these books caught my eyes, for the wrong reason! It just didn’t look like my type of book at all, it was a thin little book with a very old fashioned picture on the ... more
  • 59 of 59 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of steves001

    Level 5 steves001

    Member since 17/08/2010

    Reviews written: 79

    4 Stars The woman in black: a dark tale indeed 26/08/2012
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages An enjoyable ghost story, told in the traditional manner

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Ending slightly disappointing

    Despite some initial reservations, I have to concede Susan Hill’s novella soon had me hooked. The opening pages struck me as a pastiche of Henry James or the M.R. James school of traditional English ghost story but, having brought the paperback on holiday with me, I decided to persevere. As the plot unfolded, it actually turned out to be a real chiller. I was glad I’d packed it. The book was first published nearly thirty years ago and a stage version has so far had a twenty two year run in the West End, starting to rival ‘The Mousetrap’. It was only when a film version was finally released ... more
  • 21 of 21 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of randy_edith

    randy_edith

    5 Stars Truly a Terrifying read 06/12/2011
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Very frightning

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Nothing

    I like to read all sorts of books, mainly historical romances or detective novels but every now and again I like to challenge myself and read something a little bit different. I live alone so I don't normally choose to read a ghost story but I read a book called The Woman in Black by Susan Hill and I am so pleased I did, I really did enjoy it but was left feeling very frightened even after I had finished it. The book is very small and it is only 144 pages long and I think you might be able to read it in one go. It took me two goes and I'd finished. I don't want to give away any plot as people ... more
  • 43 of 43 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Sam_Garland

    Level 5 Sam_Garland

    Member since 31/05/2006

    Reviews written: 25

    5 Stars She's back in black... 31/05/2006
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Excellent gothic novel, the woman in black is genuinely scary.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Short book, and at times the main character can be a little unbelievable.

    The story begins with the main character, Arthur Kipps, struggling over the choice whether to tell his family his story. After agonising over the decision to write it down or not, he decides he will. And it's a ghost story. Mrs. Drablow is dead, and the young upcoming solicitor has been sent to sort out her affairs and documents (quite similar to the main character from Dracula in this respect). When Arthur arrives at the town of Crythin Gifford he is pleased by the pleasant calm and familiarity of the towns inhabitants. However, after describing his business at the Inn he is staying in, the ... more
  • 12 of 21 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Veranilda

    Veranilda

    5 Stars Woman in Black 10/04/2006
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Can finish at one sitting

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Can finish at one sitting!

    For those of us who thought that the glory days of M.R. James were over then take fresh hope with Susan Hill's Woman in Black. In an age where horror seems to have taken over from ghost stories, this is a welcome re-affirmation that fear does not come in blood and gore but in dread. The story is a simple one. A young solicitor is asked to clear the estate of a recently deceased client, but he becomes embroiled in the ghostly going on at the lonely house. Landscape plays a huge role in this novel and the image of the house, surrounded by mist, and often cut off from the village by the rising ... more
  • 5 of 11 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of MissBookay

    Level 3 MissBookay

    Member since 01/04/2012

    Reviews written: 36

    1 Star 5 hours of my life wasted with this book 11/04/2012
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages easy to read

    Disadvantages Disadvantages boring, disappointing, I feel conned

    I really would love to be able to say something good about this book. I bought it expecting to be sitting on the edge of my seat gripped in fear; alas I found myself reading it in the end purely in the hope it would get better; that hope was a waste of my time too. The idea and concept of the story is great and it really could have been a cracking story; I'd go so far as to say it could have been a classic among this genre; alas it will forever sit in my memory as one of the most disappointing stories I've read. I have tried so hard to find something nice; good; interesting to say about this ... more
  • 1 of 9 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of review_master534

    review_master534

    4 Stars The Woman in Black 29/06/2005
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Grabs your attention

    Disadvantages Disadvantages If you want something long to read this isn't for you

    I have just completed my A-level English exam and as one of the novels I had to study, this was one of them. Normally I have found that books we have to read, are boring, hard to read and generally unninteresting. For me, this book was such an attention grabber. I couldn't take my eyes off the book, and wasn't willing to put it down for a moment. From beginnning to end I was completely absorbed with the contents. However, i would recomend that if you are a person easily frightened by bumps in the night, I wouldn't read this during late evening. When reading this late at night (purely because I ... more
  • 0 of 3 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of magicmonkey28

    magicmonkey28

    5 Stars A superb ghost story! 07/07/2009
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Gripping story; Un-put-downable!

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Slightly formulaic

    I've always been a fan of Gothic horror, and after having read great reviews of this book, didn't hesitate to purchase it. I wasn't disappointed at all. The book is very short, but I think this adds to its appeal- it can easily be read in one or two sittings. It has all the core components of a good ghost story (I have read a few negative reviews saying that it's too cliched and formulaic, but hey, if the formula works!)- it has a cynical narrator, a big deserted spooky house, extremely atmospheric weather (lots of misty fog, storms in the night etc)- and an excellent twist at the end of the ... more
  • 0 of 10 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of XebXeb

    XebXeb

    5 Stars The Woman In Black - GREAT book 12/02/2012
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Not too long - perfect for those who rarely read, like me!!

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Not for everyone

    I read The Woman In Black, by Susan Hill, a few years ago and loved it!! Its short but gripping - I couldn't put it down!! I must say the book is a lot better than the recently released film but that might be because I already knew the storyline, having read the book. It's perfect for those who don;t like reading long, bulky books fits perfectly into any handbag! I don't read very often to be honest but this is a MUST READ book! I never thought that a book could be scary but there are certain parts in The WOman In Black which, I hate to say it but actually scared me quite a lot, especially if ... more
Previous page Next page Page 1 of 2 | 1 to 10 out of 12 Review(s)

Compare prices

for The Woman In Black - Susan Hill