The Small Hand [Hardcover]

`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

"'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)" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

The chilling tale of a man in the grip of a small, invisible hand ... A superlative ghost story by the author of The Woman in Black and The Man in the Picture, to be read by the fire on a cold winter's night.

Returning home from a visit to a client late one summer's evening, antiquarian bookseller Adam Snow takes a wrong turning and stumbles across the derelict old White House. Compelled by curiosity, he approaches the door, and, standing before the entrance feels the unmistakable sensation of a small hand creeping into his own, 'as if a child had taken hold of it'. Intrigued by the encounter, he determines to learn more, and discovers that the owner's grandson had drowned tragically many years before. At first unperturbed by the odd experience, Snow begins to be plagued by haunting dreams, panic attacks, and more frequent visits from the small hand which become increasingly threatening and sinister ...

'Masterfully done...subtle, elegant' The Times Late one summer's evening, antiquarian bookseller Adam Snow is returning from a client visit when he takes a wrong turn. He stumbles across a derelict Edwardian house and, compelled by curiousity, approaches the door. Standing before the entrance, he feels the unmistakable sensation of a small cold hand creeping into his own, 'as if a child had taken hold of it.' At first he is merely puzzled by the odd incident but then begins to suffer panic attacks, and to be visited by nightmares. He is determined to learn more about the house and its once-magnificent, now overgrown garden but when he does so, he receives further, increasingly sinister, visits from the smal hand. 'Beautifully written ... highly recommended' Spectator 'Wonderful ... [it] does what a good story ought to do: it keeps you guessing, pulls you in' Guardian 'The mistress of spine-tingling fiction' Tatler --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Susan Hill is the winner of numerous literary prizes including the Somerset Maugham and Whitbread Awards. Her literary memoir, Howards End is on the Landing and the ghost story The Man in the Picture are both published by Profile, and she is the author of a highly successful crime series (Chatto & Windus). The Woman in Black has been running in the West End for twenty years.