markdavidhill Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Strangely enough, I've just started reading fiction after years of autobiographies, biographies and factual accounts of sailing, cycling and alike. In the past couple of weeks, I have read 'The Small Hand', by Susan Hill, 'Dark Matter' by Michelle Paver and just finished 'The Woman in Black' by Susan Hill. Epic, by the way. Where next? Your recommendations will be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 I've been finding it really tough to find decent ghost stories. I've read the ones you mention, and ones such as King's The Shining, Dickens' The Signal-Man (and A Christmas Carol, obviously!). Then there's Henry James' The Turn of the Screw. Peter Straub's Ghost Story has been recommended to me, too, but I think it falls more into the horror genre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 I'm not a reader of ghost stories generally (too much of a scaredy cat), but having a quick search, I've found an author to add to Karsa's recommendations, which hopefully might trigger the memory of someone else who has actually read them and can tell you if they're any good! The author is M. R. James and the two books I've seen are Collected Ghost Stories and Casting the Runes and Other Ghost Stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Butter Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Funnily enough, I was just going to suggest M R James' Ghost Stories. They're as good as anything in the field, and better than most. Dennis Wheatley is also pretty good if you want a good old scary read. The Devil Rides Out is, of course, his best-known work, but I'd recommend the omnibus The Best of Dennis Wheatley, which contains a couple of other top-notch stories as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I was also thinking of MR James. There's a nice Vintage edition out. I haven't read it, but it's on my wish list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueK Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I have ready all of MR James's short ghost stories (some more than once) and safely say they are creepy and can make you jump. You might be interested in this set of books. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1907360204/ref=oh_o06_s00_i00_details Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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