Can anyone reccomend a good spooky read.....

[Eaney]

Something along the lines of Woman in Black or something like the film The others.

Thanks

[FairyMum]

ooooo....for me too. I have been looking for really spooky book for ages. Love "woman in black" too!! Doesn'r Susan Hill write spooky books?

[Dophus]

Rebecca - Daphne du Marier

Have you tied Wilkie Collins?

Dracula

It seems to me that modern authors aren't writing spooky books. I shall watch this thread with interest.

[Miaou]

I think a lot of Susan Hill books are spooky (not just in the ghosty sense either). I would recommend "I'm the King of the Castle" and "Gentlemen and Ladies" - my two Susan Hill favourites.

Wilkie Collins "The Moonstone" and "Woman in White" are really good too.

Not seen The Others - is that a supernatural type film/book too? Think dh has read it. If so, what about Stephen King? The Shining, Carrie, etc, all rocking good reads.

[Lonelymum]

My mind must be going to mush: is there anything spooky in Women in White or Rebecca? I have read both within the last 5 years and can't remember anything spooky in them.

Haven't read Susuan Hill in years. Has she written anything recently worth reading?

[Marina]

MR James, Ghost Stories of an Antiquary
Robertson Davies, High Spirits

[Dophus]

Lonelymum

to comment would give away the plots!

[tiffini]

Dean Koontz, is a great author, i enjoy all of his books.

[Marina]

Michael Crichton: Coma. Made into a SCARY film with Genevieve Bujold!

[bundle]

btw, don't bother with Shadow of the Wind, it was acclaimed all over the place, but imo was pants and not at all scary

[Eaney]

Thanks for the suggestions. I love a book or film that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. I agree there are not many modern spooky writers out there.

Which Dean Koontz book would you recommend?

I think I will give Wilkie Collins a try.

Thanks again.

[moondog]

'A Fatal Inversion' and 'A Dark Adapted Eye' by Barbara Vine.

Sounds naff I know, but I think Stephen King's older stuff is cracking 'The Stand' springs to minds as absolutely unputdownable.

[tiffini]

there are so many Dean Konntz books that are just brilliant, but a few of my favourites are,
The Taking
From the corner of his eye
False Memory

[CathB2]

I would highly recommend Phil Rickman, the Merrily Watkins novels which are sort of occult/crime and the others such as Crybe, man in the moss, the chalice etc which are just spooky.

[CathB2]

I would highly recommend Phil Rickman, the Merrily Watkins novels which are sort of occult/crime and the others such as Crybe, man in the moss, the chalice etc which are just spooky.

[suzywong]

yes Marina! MR James really shows the rest how it's done, I didn't dare read the Whistle and I'll Come Running story.

I think it's out of print now but well worth scouting round for

I hear Woman in Black is a cracker too

[Marina]

Urgh, Lost Hearts too, Suzy. Terrifying.
I don't think it was him but there is also a vintage horror called The Monkey's Paw.

[suzywong]

yes yes to Dracula, fantastic parrallel narrative styles,

(sorry am reading thread backwards)

[suzywong]

Lost Hearts, is that an MR James?

(you shoudl have seen the pair of garden spiders I unearthed today after a bit of digging - bloody hell)

[Marina]

I will now have to leave this thread thanks to that Suzy!
Yes, Lost Hearts is. Was memorably filmed for one of those old BBC 2 late night Xmas Eve spooky dramas.
Are you sitting comfortably?

[suzywong]

oh thanks for that I shall read it on the laptop in bed with the lights out!

[binkie]

oh YES MR James

... the soft ineffectual pawing ...

Beloved gave me some creeps, too, but only the book - bit spoilt by the film which was too concrete

[Amberlilli]

Just finished a fab book by Barbara Erskine called Midnight is a Lonely Place.
Could hardly put it down!!!!
Hence house work and children abandoned for whole weekend!!
If anyone wants it let me know!

[suzywong]

I'll put that on my Library list amberlilli


yes the film of Beloved was a real pig's ear wasn't it, I've just read Toni Morrison's Love, which although not spooky is very very very good

[binkie]

what about The Turn of the Screw? much much more than just a spooky story (and now that I have a boy and girl the age of the children ...)

in that case, the film (with Deborah whatsit, the black and white one) and/or the opera (so long as Jonathan whatsit - the one who actually looks undead - being Peter Quint) are equally chilling

[suzywong]

oh yes that's a good one, is it somebody James as well?