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Books/book club

Susan hill

(45 Posts)
Nannarose Tue 15-Feb-22 09:26:53

I too have enjoyed many of the Susan Hill books mentioned, but I am very mixed about the Simon Seraillier books.
They are very odd in many ways. The characters are very well drawn and engaging, and some of the incidents beautifully described. However a lot of the 'procedural' stuff does not reflect real life.
I don't think I realised that she (Susan Hill) was right-wing.

Luckygirl3 Tue 15-Feb-22 09:01:26

When I say "her" I mean Susan Hill.

Luckygirl3 Tue 15-Feb-22 09:00:48

My favourite book is her "Lanterns Across the Snow" - it is a beautiful evocation of a snowy Christmas in an Edwardian (?) rectory through the eyes of a little girl. My copy has beautiful black and white woodcuts.

The Simon Serallier books are excellent. The latter ones have his sister, a doctor, working for a private GP service and plugging its virtues, which reflects her right-wing political leanings.

Sara1954 Tue 15-Feb-22 08:31:21

Two of my personal favourites
‘strange Meeting’ and ‘The Beacon’
I also love the Serailler books. But if you start them, I would start at the beginning.

eazybee Tue 15-Feb-22 07:45:24

The Woman in Black is the most terrifying ghost story I have ever read, and the stage play is excellent. (The film is melodramatic rubbish).
Try The Magic Apple Tree a beautifully written diary of a country year at her home in Oxfordshire, and Howard's End is on the Landing, a cheerful account of her rediscovery of many of her books and their literary associations on her enviably crammed and haphazard bookshelves.

Greenfinch Tue 15-Feb-22 07:28:29

I Am The King of the Castle.

It was recommended to me when I was doing A levels. It is excellent but not if you are looking for a “light “ read. Some may find it upsetting.

Sarahmob Tue 15-Feb-22 07:24:33

I studies ‘A bit of singing and dancing’ for my English A Level and loved the stories. Wasn’t too fussed by the Woman in Black (terrified by the stage production though) and enjoyed Mrs De Winter. I’ll give the Serrailler books a try.

NotAGran55 Tue 15-Feb-22 07:17:11

I enjoyed all the Simon Serrailler books enormously, binge listening on Audible and couldn’t wait for the last one, but was oddly disappointed with it.

Woman In Black was good .

mumofmadboys Tue 15-Feb-22 00:18:35

Another vote for the Simon Serailler books

Granmarderby10 Mon 14-Feb-22 21:44:59

Mrs de Winter, (a sequel to Daphne du Mauriers’ Rebecca)

The Mist In The Mirror.

A Bit Of Singing and Dancing

MayBee70 Mon 14-Feb-22 21:27:20

I’ve got a little note from Susan Hill. She wrote for The Observer at the time of the Iranian Embassy siege and said how frightened she was and how she couldn’t wait to get home to her children and hug them. So I wrote to her and she said she’d been inundated with letters from other mothers. I don’t think she wrote for the Observer after that.

sodapop Mon 14-Feb-22 21:09:25

The Simon Serailler series is very good, one book in the series is a bit off but generally a well written police procedural and family story.
I enjoyed the Woman in Black but not so much her other books.

eGJ Mon 14-Feb-22 21:07:55

All the Simon Serralier books on audible - wonderfully absorbing

Hellogirl1 Mon 14-Feb-22 21:05:20

The Simon Serrailler series here as well.

TerriBull Mon 14-Feb-22 21:02:02

I liked the first Simon Serrailler that I read, "The Various Haunts of Men" I agree they vary greatly some okish, but probably fair to say that about most crime writers, there's a lot of competition out there in that particular genre.

Before the film, I remember seeing the Woman in Black on stage, it did make me jump out of my skin literally! The film was good too.

starshine Mon 14-Feb-22 20:59:11

Another vote for the Serrailler series - The Various Haunts of Men being the first

merlotgran Mon 14-Feb-22 20:44:27

Another vote for the Simon Serrailler series.

Calendargirl Mon 14-Feb-22 20:07:24

The Simon Serailler detective series.

Sparklefizz Mon 14-Feb-22 20:06:57

Yes, I've read several of her books and I find they vary greatly. Some I have enjoyed and others not. I'll try and get back to you with the ones I thought were best.

Willow73 Mon 14-Feb-22 19:59:58

Has anyone read any Susan Hill books? I have just finished ‘A Small Hand’ and enjoyed it.
Which one of her books is best in your views I would like to read more.