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The Small Hand And Dolly (2013)

by Susan Hill(Favorite Author)

3.55 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0345806654 (ISBN13: 9780345806659)

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Vintage

review 1: I really enjoy a good ghost story and here are two good ones. The book consists of two novellas-the first concerns a rare book dealer who, on a trip to visit a client, takes a wrong turn and stumbles upon a derelict house and garden. At one time, it had evidently been quite an attraction, but has now fallen into ruin. As he in looking around, he feels a small hand in his, but there is no one there. Being rather disconcerted, he leaves to continue his trip. After this experience, begins to have panic attacks and suicidal impulses. Eventually, the story of the house becomes known to him and some very spooky things occur. The second story, Dooly, is told by a man who has gone back to the house in he fens where he stayed for some times as a child, after his parent wee kill... moreed. He is joined there for a visit, by a young cousin of his, who is quite the spoiled brat. Her mother is a much married socialite, who spends most of he times traveling the world with her latest husband or boyfriend. For her birthday, the girl wants a special doll and her aunt gets her a baby doll, which is not what she wants and set off a terrible tantrum. She throws the doll down and breaks open the head, and he boy is so upset that late at night he goes out and buries it in the nearby churchyard. This set off some very spooky events much later on. I love Ms Hill's ghost stories. They are very subtle and the eeriness just creeps up on you. She also wrote the excellent Woman in Black.
review 2: Reading Susan Hill is a bit like discovering an old novel by Daphne du Maurier. The writing is slow and methodical with exacting details. Ms. Hill transports the reader to a different time and place with ease. The Small Hand and Dolly are two novellas that also visually remind me of old black and white films of the 1930s -- the creepy haunted house even more so without the addition of color. Mesmerizing, but unlike today’s horror, nothing jumps out at you. No blood and gore. Rather the terror is subtle yet just as frightening. A great read for an autumn night. less

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