Susan hill

Clawdy

I've enjoyed most of the Serailler series, but Simon is curiously unlikeable. And that odd story about his father seems to have gone nowhere - although I haven't read the last one yet, so could be wrong.

I’ve just read the last one. I agree that Simon is rather unlikeable. Won’t spoil it for you, will just say Dad doesn’t feature much in it. (I couldn’t actually remember if he’d died in the last one).

I found it a bit disappointing, the book I mean.

I've enjoyed most of the Serailler series, but Simon is curiously unlikeable. And that odd story about his father seems to have gone nowhere - although I haven't read the last one yet, so could be wrong.

The Springtime of the year by Susan Hill is a book about bereavement. I thought that was very good. I also enjoyed Family although it is sad.

eGJ Thankyou I will do the same, would love to read it again!

pinkprincess Family is available on Amazon, thanks for the tip - I’ve ordered it!

The first book by Susan Hill that I read, years ago now, was Family. It was her auto biography up to the birth of her second child, a premature baby who sadly died.
I believe it is now out of print but a very good read, considering it's sad end.

Fantastic Fiction is a great website Peasblosson. Every author and their books. I find Elly Griffiths audible is very good. I heard her latest last week and have now started again with The Crossing Places

I loved the Simon Serailler series. Currently enjoying Rachel McLean’s Zoe Finch books.

Thankyou Sparklefizz!

Calendargirl
I read the first book randomly, a recently published one, then decided I liked it, so went back to the beginning, I think I’ve just read the two you’ve mentioned

Thanks?

Printer's Devil Court and The Woman in Black.

Peasblossom

The Crossing Places and The Janus Stone are the first of the Ruth Galloway books. I read them out of order, which is ok, but makes much better sense to read them in order.

I’ll try Elly Griffiths. Can anybody tell me the title of the first one or two to look out for?

I enjoy Susan Hill x ept when she gets a bit “preachy” about her personal beliefs and presents them as the ‘right thing”.

Granmarderby10

Crime novels? Though one and the same; the late Ruth Rendell and Barbara Vine have been excellent and utterly absorbing.

I absolutely loved Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine, I was very sorry when she died a couple of years ago, a great loss. Her books were more than just crime novels. I reread Asta's Book last year, one of her very best, it reminded me of how good she was. Although we have some great crime writers around right now, such as Elly Griffiths to name but one, imo Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine, in spite of turning out the occasional dud, at her best was exceptional

Ilovecheese
Yes, aren’t they smug, still love the books though.
Sparklefizz
Agree about the Ruth Galloway books, only recently discovered them, so only read about three, but she’s a really likeable character.

Nannarose Elly Griffiths' latest Ruth Galloway book (released last week) is on special offer at Amazon. I treated myself.

^one of my absolute favourites! And others by Elly Griffiths.
Perhaps we should start another 'crime novels' thread?^

What I like about the Elly Griffiths books is that they are not too graphic and I enjoy the humour. I don't like gory murderous descriptions to give me nightmares.

Crime novels? Though one and the same; the late Ruth Rendell and Barbara Vine have been excellent and utterly absorbing.

I agree eazybee about the film version of The Woman In Black though people raved about it especially the younger family members on Facebook at the time. I was underwhelmed?
I watched the original tv version years ago absolutely terrifying.
I’ve also read it and heard it on the radio as well. Still works for me.

Sparklefizz - one of my absolute favourites! And others by Elly Griffiths.
Perhaps we should start another 'crime novels' thread?

Also Ilovecheese - spot on with the Seraillers - although with their weird history - nothing to be smug about!

I find the Serailler family unbearably smug, but the books are well written.
Greatly enjoyed a bit of singing and dancing,
The Woman in Black really scary on stage.

I wasn't keen on the first Simon Serailler book I read so haven't read the others.

One series of detective books I have loved (thanks to NanKate's recommendation) is the Ruth Galloway series written by Elly Griffiths. They are really good and kept me going last year.

Sorry to go off piste .....

Yes saw it on the London Stage again like you Witzend in the depths of winter. My son had been taken to see it with the drama department on a school trip a couple of years previously and did warn me that it had scared the living daylights out of them, early teens if I remember rightly, which stayed with them all for quite a while. In spite of that warning still jumped out of my skin and the dramatic effects were very scary.

TerriBull

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.

We jumped out of our skins too! Saw it one New Year’s Eve with a dd, who unlike her elder sister, was too young to go out raving.
NYE can be a good time to get usually booked-up theatre tickets.