Ghost stories... I loved Dark Matter, what else to try?

[AnonymousBird]

I really surprised myself - I thought Dark Matter was fabulous, really intriguing and genuinely had me wondering and imagining what it would be like in that situation. Loved it, lots of atmosphere and suspense. Serious chill in the spine.

Unlike Greatcoat, which was as flat as a pancake!

I've never really explored the Ghost Story genre, only read the odd slightly ghostly story by accident in the past (eg. Lovely Bones), so please can anyone recommend anything else? I have Woman in White, Florence and Giles and White Lie on my Kindle for starters....

Thanks!

[valiumredhead]

I loved it too :)

Woman in Black is very atmospheric.

[Snapespeare]

place marking.

i was asking about 'dark matter' on sunday, i said it was so gripping, but terrifying...i wanted to throw it across the room to get it away from me, but i couldn't!

[AnonymousBird]

Woman in Black - yes, I think I must add that to the list!

Snapespear - I know exactly what you mean, I was literally rigid as I read it, barely daring to turn a page in case something came out..... really clever build up of intensity.

[KurriKurri]

I liked dark matter too, and Woman in Black, have you tried M R James? an old writer but really good classic ghost stories (and you can usually get something by him free for Kindle if you want to try him out), I've also just downloaded (for free) the haunted Hotel by Wilkie Collins and am enjoying it so far.

[KurriKurri]

oh just remembered I've got 'Dolly' by Susan Hill lined up to read soon, - it looks good (though I can't say for sure as I've not started it yet!)

[SusieB13]

I've looked up Dark Matter but it seems that there are a few books with this name, could anyone please let me know who the author is?

Thanks

[KurriKurri]

Susie - Dark Matter is by Michelle Paver

[rockinhippy]

Can I be cheeky & ask if Dark Matter is at all sexually explicit ??

My DD is very keen to read it, she loves scary suspense stuff, but takes it in the right spirit so I'm not worried about her reading it from that POV, but she's still young, so I need to be careful otherwise - thanks

[KurriKurri]

As far as I remember rockin, its not sexually explicit at all, - there is a suggestion of homosexual love towards the end but no sex. It's not gory or anything either - just very atmospheric and creepy. How old is she?

[AnonymousBird]

What Kurri said. No sex, and no gore. But rather good all the same!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

The Woman In White is superb - you're in for a treat!

I was really, really disappointed with 'Dark Matter.' I thought it was pretty boring and the homosexual hintings just felt like the writer desperately trying to be 'innovative' to me. It could have been great but it wasn't.

Then again, I detest 'The Woman In Black' too.

Hippy - How old is your dd? There's one called 'Century' which she might like: an old fashioned ghost story. And don't forget 'Tom's Midnight Garden' which is just gorgeous.

Some of you might like 'The Little Stranger' by Sarah Waters. I don't think she's a very good writer tbh, so it didn't really work for me, although I do think it's her most readable and least irritating one.

[carlajean]

I really enjoyed Dark Matter as well, and would second the suggestion of MR James - simply the best ghost story writer ever IMO. Try Rats, by him, as a good example.

[seeker]

How old is she rockinhippy?

[rockinhippy]

Brilliant - thank you all :) that sounds perfect for her

For those that ask - she's 10, but eating YA books up faster than I can keep up with & though I'm please she loves reading & doing so well, her taste in books is definitely older than she is & it's proving to be a bit of a nightmare as obviously not all are suitable - starting to wish there was some sort of rating system as there is with cinema

Thanks again

[devilinside]

I loved Dark Matter, I can recommend Jonathon Aycliffe for spooky ghost stories

[rockinhippy]

Ooo & thanks for the other suggestions too, I will look into those for her:)

James Herbert has written a few good ghost stories too, though I've found his earlier stuff to be better, I was a bit disappointed with Crickley Hall, though not read his latest one yet, but I do remember reading The Cottage which was spooky, disturbing, but quite lovely too

[KurriKurri]

rockin - as she is a mature reader, she might enjoy some of the classics that are a bit creepy - I'm thinking Jane Eyre maybe, or some of the M R James stuff I recommended further upthread, or Wilkie Collins, Sherlock Holmes and things of that type? She would probably be fine with The Woman in Black and the other Susan Hill spooky stuff - AFAIK they don't have any bad language or sex in them (and they are short enough for you to have a flick through just in case!)

[seeker]

My ds read Dark Matter recently- he's 11, and spent the next 3 nights in my bed. He is a notorious wimp, but even so- be warned!

[rockinhippy]

I wish curri she can be a PITA with her reading tastes, she refuses to read any of the classics at all, which would make my life so much easier, I have tried hard to get her interested, as I know they'd be okay for her content wise, but she says they are old fashioned & "stuffy" - kids eh!!

[seeker]

They are old fashioned and stuffy when you're 10! Never understand this "give them the classics" line- you want to encourage good readers, not put them off!

[rockinhippy]

Thanks Seeker, I will bear that in mind, but she generally laps up scary stuff & I've not had that reaction from her since tiny, so I'm not too worried, I don't mind a bit of swearing, as she hears enough in the street, but is sensible & doesn't swear herself, tells others off if they do - haha - the odd sexual etc reference is okay, as she's not naive & old for her years generally, but Crickley Hall, which I had intended handing over to her as all through it was fine, up until the last couple of chapters when it suddenly got all hardcore S&M & peado

Sorry thread hijack

[rockinhippy]

Cross post [ grin]

[valiumredhead]

On the surface Dark Matter seems pretty tame but it really messes with your mind - my 11 year old would have ended up in my bed too had he read it

[seeker]

Ds came to find me when he finished it- and his pupils were actually dilated with fear- I've never seen that before!

[valiumredhead]

I can believe it! I read it when we were snowed in last winter which made it even more realistic and creepy!