Hi everyone! I hope you are all keeping warm as the autumn chill sets in all around us. I am retreating into hoodies, blankets, and sweaters at this very moment. Those aren’t the fun chills, though. Let’s get into spooky chills. If the title of this novel sounds familiar to you, it is because there is a movie based on this book that I highly recommend. For those of you who love a good jumpscare, then definitely check out the movie adaptation. But if you want to go to the source, then continue to my review of The Woman in Black.

Trigger Warning: Some graphic depictions of death, Loss of a child, Grief, Mourning

Arthur Kipps is a young solicitor in London who is eager to take on bigger challenges in his career. His employer sends him off to the countryside village of Crythin Gifford to settle the affairs of a client, Mrs. Alice Drablow. Arthur decides to remain at Mrs. Drablow’s estate, Eel Marsh House, which is isolated in the middle of the marsh with only a causeway connecting it to the village. Unaware of the tragedy that once befell the isolated house, Arthur finds himself in the middle of a horrifying ordeal as the horrors of Eel Marsh House surface from below the bog.

What I greatly appreciated about this book is how Susan Hill captures the essence of gothic Victorian literature without the lengthiness of a typical Victorian-era novel. The Woman in Black has all the trappings of a classic ghost story with a chilling atmosphere and plenty of suspense. It is also a pretty short read with the novel being 163 pages exactly. I am biased because I have an affinity for gothic Victorian literature. (It was a big part of my Masters). You don’t have to be into Victorian-era literature, though. The Woman in Black is a perfect addition to your TBR if you want something macabre and unputdownable for spooky season.