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The Woman in Black
- Narrated by: Paul Ansdell
- Series: The Woman in Black, Book 1
- Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 31-10-06
- Language: English
- Publisher: Long Barn Books
- Whispersync for Voice-ready
Regular price: £9.09
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When Simon Serrailler was a rookie constable with the Met, he did something reckless in the course of a night's work which caused a man's death. But his act was praised by his colleagues, and he was called a hero. Years later, now a detective chief superintendent who has been badly injured in the course of duty, he receives a medal for bravery at Buckingham Palace while recollecting that fateful night of his early career, when chance disguised itself as bravery.
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Summary
As is so often the case with truly well-constructed fiction, this story contains all the exquisitely crafted detail and richness that film adaptations can struggle to encompass. Only enhanced by Paul Ansell's thoughtful narration, this is Susan Hill at her best.
Eel Marsh house stands alone, surveying the windswept salt marshes beyond Nine Lives Causeway. Once, Mrs Alice Drablow lived here as a recluse. Now, Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor with a London firm, is summoned to attend her funeral, unaware of the tragic and terrible secrets which lie behind the house's shuttered windows.
It is not until he glimpses a young woman with a wasted face, dressed all in black, at the funeral, that a sense of profound unease begins to creep over him and take hold, a feeling deepened by the reluctance of the locals to talk about the woman in black or what happens whenever she is seen.
And Kipps has to stay on in the lonely house, sorting out Mrs. Drablow's papers, when the mist begins to enshroud both it and its surrounding graveyard and the high tide cuts it off from the world beyond.
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What members say
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Overall
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4 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars511
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4 Stars271
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3 Stars143
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars423
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4 Stars140
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3 Stars64
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2 Stars19
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1 Stars4
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars373
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4 Stars164
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3 Stars78
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2 Stars32
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1 Stars13
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Elizabeth
- lancaster, lancashire, United Kingdom
- 07-04-08
A Great Listen.
Great story, reads like a diary account. The narrator is fluent and expressive. Recommended.
15 of 15 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Carolyn
- Leicester, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
- 07-01-07
Enjoy!
Spooky, atmospheric book. A real treat for a winter's evening! Suasan Hill always writes good books and it is read convincingly too.
22 of 23 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Pamela
- London, United Kingdom
- 28-07-11
Spooky
I really loved this, so atmospheric and the narrator was great, he really captured the panic of the main character. I really loved to the language in this, so descriptive. You could nearly see everything happening in front of you as you listened. I would definitely recommend this, a great homage to the classic ghost story.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Karen
- Gravesend, United Kingdom
- 23-09-10
Brilliant
I have seen the theatre production of this book about three times now and I loved every one. The book was just as good if not better.
I love descriptive books and this one was very much one of those.
The narrator was good too. Even though I knew what was coming I couldnt put my ipod down and got quite cross when it run out of power! This is one of those books that i could listen to year after year. Marvelous!
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Richard
- COVENTRY, WEST MIDLANDS, United Kingdom
- 23-09-10
As scary as M R JAMES
One of the most spine chilling ghost stories ever written. Atmospheric, absorbing, utterly spooky. Be warned, if you are of gentle spirit, this story is not for you. It certainly kept me awake a good few nights and I do not consider myself to be an overly sensitive soul. It will play havoc with your nervous system! Susan Hill is a wonderful novelist and her love of classic ghost stories has clearly driven her to write her own. Master of the ghost story M.R.JAMES would have been proud to have called this story his.
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Adele
- Strusshamn, Norway
- 19-10-11
A classic, spine chilling story
This is a dark, chilling and wonderfully mystical tale, brilliantly narrated by Paul Ansdell. Set in, or around, the Victorian era, the story superbly envelops and entwines its characters, ghostly atmospheres and settings. At times, one almost gets the feeling of being there, and more than once did I find the hairs prickle at the back of my neck! I am not surprised this book has now been adapted to the screen -it definitely deserves the attention!
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kandra
- Guildford, United Kingdom
- 01-12-15
Don't judge this story by the Film!!
I listened to this book purely because Susan Hill wrote it! and I love her Simon Serrailer series!! The book did not frighten me at all - it was nicely suspenseful and kept me listening. But the ending truly brought it all together for me almost like a Jeffery Archer short story. When I saw the film I was disappointed and can only be thankful that I read the book first or I would not have touched it with a bargepole after seeing the film. Saying that, the film diverges from the book so much that even if you have seen it - go and read /listen to the book! It will be just as good because the film does not tell you the real story.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kev Duncalf
- 04-03-16
woman in black
loved it you felt as though you were there you could smell the smells feel the damp wonderful narrative 5 star book
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Gail
- Uttoxeter, United Kingdom
- 12-11-11
Terrifyingly unnerving - well recommended
Susan Hill has a talent for writing stories that unnerve by creating an atmosphere of creeping terror, rather than in-your-face horror. I have seen The Woman in Black at the theatre, and didn't think it could be improved on, but Paul Ansdell's utterly convincing narration took the story to a whole new level for me. I will be looking for other books narrated by him.
If I may offer one piece of advice thought.... please do not do as I did and listen to it as you drive on your own down dark country lanes in the November fog!!
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- catsatcastle
- 14-09-11
Classic ghost story
I finally got around to listening to the unabridged reading having first heard the radio dramatisation and then seen the stage play and now feel that is not the best order. Having been scared out of my wits by the stage version, I found the book much less frightening as the play heightens the shocks in the story.
It is a good ghost story and is well narrated. It has the classic style of the narrator reliving the events long afterwards around the fire on a dark winter night. The climax is very chilling and the theme of grief and loss pervades the whole story with the narrator forever haunted by his experiences.
It's a good listen.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mel
- 25-01-12
Classic Gothic Ghost Tale
Surrounded by family on a snowy Christmas Eve, the fireplace ablaze, the tree bedecked and aglow....what secret memories could possibly cause the senior Arthur Kipps to tremble with terror when family members turn out the lights and begin telling harmless ghost stories around the tree? Woman in Black is an engrossing classic ghost story--no bells no whistles--with a lush style of writing that lays out an almost palpable atmosphere. Paul Ansdell perfectly captures the spirit (so to speak) of this post-Victorian placed tale with his narration. Very enjoyable, easy listen--and (at least at the time of this posting) a nice little price for the entertainment value.
55 of 57 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alycee
- 13-01-12
Eerily facinating!
I loved listening to this book. I was caught up in the story right away and could feel the horror and fear the character in the story felt by the way the narrator read and related the events of the story. I got everything I expected from reading a "Ghost Story." I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a good ghost story.
30 of 31 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Janice
- 22-10-11
Believably spookey
Any additional comments?
This is the perfect ghost story - enough detail to bring you into the scene, but not overwritten to make it tedious. Told in the first person, you experience the mystery along with the main character. (I just loved the brave little dog, Spider). Wonderfully read by Paul Ansdell. The story moves right along and is the perfect length - a great way to get through a 4 hour road trip.
25 of 26 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Karen
- 23-01-10
good story and narration
This book is a great one to hear for those who like a ghost story with an actual ghost, rather than mere suggestions of ghosts. Paul Ansdell's narration was excellent, I thought, as well. He was great at making different accents for various characters, and for expressing the panic and fear felt by the protagonist. There are two reasons why I did not give this 5 stars: One is b/c I like to be driven to fear when reading a supernatural story, and while The Woman in Black was engrossing and full of supernatural occurrences, it didn't make me shudder or wonder about shadows in the corner of my room at night. The 2nd reason is b/c I was disappointed with the ending, which I will not spoil for anyone reading this who has not yet listened to the story.
40 of 44 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Eva
- 21-12-11
Hidden classic
What made the experience of listening to The Woman in Black the most enjoyable?
I loved how the story moved along and took you with it. It made me want to hear more.
Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?
Toward the end it did. I can't say that I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. However I was there enough to want more.
What does Paul Ansdell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
He did a great job reading it as well as giving each character their own voice. I love the accent, it just fit.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The last time he see's the woman in black and what happens. It was horrible and sad.
Any additional comments?
I found this book on a recommendation. I am so glad I followed up on it. I hope the rest of her stories are as wonderful as this one was. It is a must read if you like the horror and suspence genres.
21 of 23 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- D. Hutchins
- 25-04-12
Loved it!
Any additional comments?
OK so I'll be honest. The movie intrigued me. My kids made fun of me because I would watch the trailer over and over again but I wouldn't go watch the movie. I'm not much of a movie person - the trailer was creepy enough for me. But I made the decision that I would read the book, then see the movie. I really loved this book. I loved the narration which was very soothing and SUCH a wonderful contrast for the eeriness of the content. I think that was my favorite part! Now I can't wait for the movie to come out on DVD. I am planning SUCH an evening for my family...
17 of 19 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- H
- 18-11-11
Chilling tale, fantastic narration!
The Woman in Black is so darkly enchanting. I had seen trailers for the movie which provoked me to give the book a try. The story alone is profound, moving, and horrifying... but narrator, Paul Ansdell, read with such emotion and feeling that served to better the listener's understanding of Arthur Kipps' horror. I found myself delightfully nervous for Kipps as I listened. I would definitely and already have recommend this to everyone.
A first rate story by Susan Hill. I know I shall be searching for other books narrated by Ansdell.
16 of 18 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- karen
- 20-10-11
Wonderfully creepy -- just excellent.
A classic tale of haunting, almost Poe-ish, and a pure pleasure. I've enjoyed everything Susan Hill has written, and this novella was no exception. A wonderfully-told tale, lots of things that go bump in the night -- or even during the daytime, with plenty of shrieks and groans, but -- interestingly enough -- no undue blood or gore. Just a good old fashioned ghost story, The narrator was perfect -- just enough of an accent to make it exotic and sound as though it was a tale from long ago. Highly recommended.
14 of 16 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Patricia
- 02-01-12
Play vs. Book
Would you consider the audio edition of The Woman in Black to be better than the print version?
I haven't read the print version but saw a mini play of The Woman in Black. The audio version brings more depth to the characters.
How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?
No change at all. Was good.
What does Paul Ansdell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
The voice, the tones which gave you a visual of the story.
Any additional comments?
The audio version had more to it then the mini play. The play didn't go into the life of the characters. More just a gloss over.
11 of 13 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Diane
- 22-10-17
Spooked
I did not have high expectations for this novella, having watched portions of the movie starring Daniel Radcliffe which was over the top with gruesome horror and jump out of your skin moments. The book, on the other hand, is much more subtle, to chilling effect— giving me goosebumps on more than one occasion. I loved the Gothic style and creeping horror that slowly envelopes the main character. Narration is pitch perfect. A wonderful, creepy Halloween treat!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful