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

[Eaney]

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

Thanks

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?

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.

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.

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?

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

Lonelymum

to comment would give away the plots!

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

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

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

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.

'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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

yes yes to Dracula, fantastic parrallel narrative styles,

(sorry am reading thread backwards)

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)

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?

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

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

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!

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

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

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