The Small Hand

Susan Hill, who wrote the woman in black (not that i've read it or seen the film due to my aversion to a certain Daniel Radcliffe) is the author of this little ghost story. Like Kelly Clarkson this is short and perfectly formed. A brief synopsis would be a man, a dealer of rare valuable books stumbles across an old dilapidated house while driving to a client. Drawn to the house and its gardens he gets out and has a look around. He feels as though a child is holding his hand ('the small hand'). He leaves the gardens but throughout the novel this small hand continues to haunt him, gripping his hand in different situations trying to lead him into danger. The story twists and turns and the 'big reveal' is shocking but entirely believable. It's a very well written book, I think one of the comments on the front from a newspaper review is that it's subtle and masterly, and that's exactly what it is. It kind of sneaks up on you, reading the first few pages I wasn't at all interested but once I got into it I enjoyed it very much. If you're in the mood for a creepy story with plausible twists and good writing to pass a rainy afternoon with you could do a lot worse than this book.