What is this book called? A sort of scary ghosty literary novel...

[DaisyHayes]

I remember reading somewhere a passage from the opening of a book that involved a man being in the grounds of a house and feeling someone (a child) slip their hand into his, only to find no-one there. Or something.

Well, now that sounds shit, and the passage was brilliant. I think it's newish and quite well known... One of you must know it? Please?

Sounds liek Susan Hill The Small Hand

That's it! Thank you! I feel slightly embarrassed now at how ridiculously obvious that was.

ha ha, I'm not usually clued up at all so glad I spotted the title! A good creepy book is Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Selected Tales. The original fairytales but rather creepy, especially snow whte who, when she gets married, bringsher step mother burning hot metal shoes she has to wear and dances to death...

DH read The Small Hand recently and said it was v. good. He likes a well-written chilling ghost story, and this fitted the bill perfectly.

I've read it now. It's shit. I'm pissed off. Anyone got an alternative suggestion?

Dark Matter by Michelle Paver isn't bad - it's an atmospheric little ghost story in the setting of an Arctic expedition.

For something more old fashioned, but very good, I'd suggest M R James - collected ghost stories

Wat about The little stranger

The Little Stranger, yes. Well spooky.

Yes, very atmospheric and wierd, by Sarah Waters

second dark matter

the woman in white by wilkie collins is a classic which deserves to be one!

DaisyHayes, I agree.
I found the first third slightly spooky, or at leasy, atmospheric, then a merry romp toward a predictable end like my yr6 DC when he has to choose between a decent ending for a creative writing assignment and watching a TV programme that's just started however her Serralier (?sp) detective ones are fab.

The Woman in White is acers, as is M R James.

Have read The Little Stranger, which I quite enjoyed, though rather different to Waters' others (has inspired me to re-read Affinity though, so good call).

I'm Kindling Dark Matter AS I TYPE

The winter ghost by Kate Mosse was a good read.

Have you read The Woman in Black by Susan Hill, or would having read The Small Hand put you off? I found The Woman in Black really chilling and scary.

www.amazon.co.uk/The-Greatcoat-Helen-Dunmore/dp/0099564939/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS?ie=UTF8&coliid=I4R3BNLPSN84G&colid=175EO59HGIQEU

has anyone read this? i love her writing and it might fit the bill...

House of Lost Souls scared me.. It's not gory but psychologically scary and very creepy.