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The Small Hand
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Review
`A superbly chilling ghost story - a metier that Hill has made her own' Bookseller --Bookseller
`Superior chills from the author of The Woman in Black' -- Woman & Home
`A distinguished modern exponent of the genre... This beautifully written novel may be short, but not one word is wasted' --Spectator
`On chilling form' -- Vogue
`If the proof of a good ghost story is a bad dream, this one worked for me' --Intelligent life
`On top form' --Good Housekeeping
`This is a wonderful piece of storytelling that does what a good story ought to do: pulls you in' --Jeremy Dyson, Guardian
`Seductive as it is disquieting, atmospheric and brilliantly suspenseful' --The Lady
`Short and crisply told ... The tension is built up gradually until it is taut and physical' --Independent
`Precise and stylish' Big Issue -- Big Issue
`Classic' -- Mail on Sunday
`As seductive as it is disquieting, atmospheric and brilliantly suspenseful' -- The Lady
`It's hugely enjoyable and a perfect read for a couple of hours by the fireside on a dark winter's evening' -- Daily Mail
`Short and crisply told ... The tension is built up gradually until it is taut and physical' -- Independent
`Masterfully done ... subtle, elegant' -- The Times
`A beautiful volume housing a chilling take on the good old-fashioned ghost story' -- Red
`Most definitely suited to reading beside a roaring fire while fingering the thick cream pages of this well-produced hardback' -- Observer
'An elegant entertainment for a winter's night' --Financial Times --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
`Superior chills from the author of The Woman in Black' -- Woman & Home
`A distinguished modern exponent of the genre... This beautifully written novel may be short, but not one word is wasted' --Spectator
`On chilling form' -- Vogue
`If the proof of a good ghost story is a bad dream, this one worked for me' --Intelligent life
`On top form' --Good Housekeeping
`This is a wonderful piece of storytelling that does what a good story ought to do: pulls you in' --Jeremy Dyson, Guardian
`Seductive as it is disquieting, atmospheric and brilliantly suspenseful' --The Lady
`Short and crisply told ... The tension is built up gradually until it is taut and physical' --Independent
`Precise and stylish' Big Issue -- Big Issue
`Classic' -- Mail on Sunday
`As seductive as it is disquieting, atmospheric and brilliantly suspenseful' -- The Lady
`It's hugely enjoyable and a perfect read for a couple of hours by the fireside on a dark winter's evening' -- Daily Mail
`Short and crisply told ... The tension is built up gradually until it is taut and physical' -- Independent
`Masterfully done ... subtle, elegant' -- The Times
`A beautiful volume housing a chilling take on the good old-fashioned ghost story' -- Red
`Most definitely suited to reading beside a roaring fire while fingering the thick cream pages of this well-produced hardback' -- Observer
'An elegant entertainment for a winter's night' --Financial Times --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"'Masterfully done... subtle, elegant' (The Times) 'Short and crisply told... The tension is built up gradually until it is taut and physical' (Independent) 'On chilling form' (Vogue) 'Beautifully evoked... what's most impressive is what hangs between the spare lines of Hill's precise prose... this is a wonderful piece of storytelling that does what a good story ought to do: it keeps you guessing, pulls you in' (Jeremy Dyson, Guardian)"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a beautifully produced book but, sadly, the contents are a disappointment. Adam Snow, a blameless antiquarian book seller, has a series of supernatural experiences : a small hand grasps his, sometimes passively and sometimes with malevolent intent. Wherever he travels he is almost certain to encounter this ghostly phenomenon but in spite of the high quality of Suan Hill's writing, it is difficult to become engaged with the story and none of the characters is particularly endearing.
The descriptions of the various locales (particularly the monastery of Saint Mathieu and the overgrown garden) are superb but somehow this story never takes off.
The descriptions of the various locales (particularly the monastery of Saint Mathieu and the overgrown garden) are superb but somehow this story never takes off.
115 of 124 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Adam Snow, an antiquarian book dealer, narrates the tales of his dealings in `The Small Hand' after one night journeying back from a client he decides to take the back quieter routes `through the Downs' on his commute back to London only to discover himself completely lost. Eventually he happens upon a drive way and a sign saying `garden closed' and knowing there must be some kind of large house he decides this would be the best place to find directions. The house he discovers however is in a mild state of dereliction yet it seems he is not alone for as he turns back to the car a small hand takes hold of his only no one is with him.
After his first bemusement to what takes place and dismissal as his imagination due to the atmosphere things start to take a turn for the more sinister when Adam starts to become gripped by fear for no apparent reason. Initially thinking this must be some kind of series of panic attacks he becomes more concerned when on a trip abroad he starts to see things and a presence seems to be dragging him closer and closer to danger when ever it can find opportunity. I shall leave it there because if I give any more away I would say too much and part of the joy of this book, and the chilling factors too, is the fact that things happen when you aren't expecting them too and there is an interesting back story and good few twists that all add to the experience it wouldn't do to ruin.
You might have guessed but I did really enjoy this book. I curled up with it on a Saturday evening when it had gone dark and I had the house all to myself. I can report that it had the desired effect too as the random house noises I don't normally notice started to make me jump. I think it's in part the fact the story is in first person and so you read on as if it is happening to you. In the main I think it's all down to Susan Hill's writing and the atmosphere she subtly builds as the story goes on. Its not a book that scares you like a sudden 'BOO' would, its one that initially chills and then builds and builds on that.
After his first bemusement to what takes place and dismissal as his imagination due to the atmosphere things start to take a turn for the more sinister when Adam starts to become gripped by fear for no apparent reason. Initially thinking this must be some kind of series of panic attacks he becomes more concerned when on a trip abroad he starts to see things and a presence seems to be dragging him closer and closer to danger when ever it can find opportunity. I shall leave it there because if I give any more away I would say too much and part of the joy of this book, and the chilling factors too, is the fact that things happen when you aren't expecting them too and there is an interesting back story and good few twists that all add to the experience it wouldn't do to ruin.
You might have guessed but I did really enjoy this book. I curled up with it on a Saturday evening when it had gone dark and I had the house all to myself. I can report that it had the desired effect too as the random house noises I don't normally notice started to make me jump. I think it's in part the fact the story is in first person and so you read on as if it is happening to you. In the main I think it's all down to Susan Hill's writing and the atmosphere she subtly builds as the story goes on. Its not a book that scares you like a sudden 'BOO' would, its one that initially chills and then builds and builds on that.
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I read this story on my new Kindle, which I think may have detracted slightly as other reviewers have mentioned the quality of the cover and presentation of the book. I can't comment on those, but as a reading experience, I was a little underwhelmed by The Small Hand.
The premise is excellent and follows in the established tradition of ghost stories. An antiquarian book dealer becomes lost one night and ends up in the 'closed' garden of a house that used to be a tourist attraction. This is where he has his first encounter with 'the small hand' and it's genuinely thrilling and very creepy.
Very soon after this though, the story becomes less traditional and more stereotypical. I guessed almost immediately why the narrator was being haunted and was hoping I'd guessed wrong, but I hadn't.
The writing is wonderful, sparse and precise. Ms Hill doesn't use a dozen words where one will do and I really admire her for this. I just feel the story, on this occasion, is a little too thin. It would have made a good short story, but stretching it out to novel-length feels wrong.
It's a beautifully written book, and you won't want to put it down.
The premise is excellent and follows in the established tradition of ghost stories. An antiquarian book dealer becomes lost one night and ends up in the 'closed' garden of a house that used to be a tourist attraction. This is where he has his first encounter with 'the small hand' and it's genuinely thrilling and very creepy.
Very soon after this though, the story becomes less traditional and more stereotypical. I guessed almost immediately why the narrator was being haunted and was hoping I'd guessed wrong, but I hadn't.
The writing is wonderful, sparse and precise. Ms Hill doesn't use a dozen words where one will do and I really admire her for this. I just feel the story, on this occasion, is a little too thin. It would have made a good short story, but stretching it out to novel-length feels wrong.
It's a beautifully written book, and you won't want to put it down.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very disappointed
I read this book after reading a favourable review of it in the newspaper - Susan Hill is famous for ghost stories and the story sounded suitably ghostly. Read more
Published 10 hours ago by Ms. M. Cheung
so excited..so disappointed.
after reading so many of susan hill's books,and after reading other reviews,and the look inside section of the book on amazon i could not wait for my copy to arrive... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. M. Howe
small hand
This was recommended in a newspaper review but although it began and continued well enough it was generally a predictable and therefore boring conclusion.
Published 2 months ago by schreiber
Short, solid storytelling but unremarkable
The storytelling style is solid enough and you'll get through the book in no time at all, with it's short chapters, large print, and over generous spacing. Read more
Published 2 months ago by alexskp
Distilling the essence of a ghost story
Having recently re-read The Woman in Black I decided to read Susan Hill's most recent ghost story "The Small Hand". Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ian Kirkpatrick
The Small Hand
An antiquarian book dealer, lost on his way home finds himself drawn to an abandoned house and garden. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Rich
the Small hand
As with all Susan Hill books, they promise to be ghost stories. The reviews on the books entice you in. BUT, they don't deliver. Read more
Published 4 months ago by James
Understated and unsettling
In this little ghost story, Hill reworks some of the elements of the Turn of the Screw to create a haunting psychological tingler. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jo Bennie
Possibly better than The Woman in Black-and that's some achievement
When you've written something as well known, original and popular as "The Woman in Black" it must be incredibly tough to produce another work that's anywhere near as good but, I'm... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Faydra
Good ....but....
I love susan hill's books... They are well written, they are succint ,they get on with the story...and the variety of the subject matter is amazing.... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Muse rule!
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