Susan Hill (1) (1942–)

Classic ghost stories, so classic that they trespass into clichéed territory. There are uneasiness and creepiness at moments, but the overall narrative does not keep together. Plus, characters' reactions in front of the supernatural are not convincing at all. It's a pity, because there are glimpses of good psychological insight hinting at a narrator with some potential. Being this valid for all four stories, I am not sure whether I should give this writer a second chance.
Anecdotal: the evil grandmother seems pretty much molded on my own maternal grandmother. Even as an atheist with much respect for the gray areas in ethical matters, "evil" has always been the only word seemingly fit to describe her. Luckily enough, she was also too self-centred to even think of doing what the satanic granny does in the end of the short story...… (mere)

The Pure in Heart is the second of Susan Hill's series featuring DCI Simon Serrailler. However, this is not a police procedural. It's a complex psychological drama cleverly supported by the framework of one.

Hill's characters are fully-formed humans, even those who only make a brief appearance. The DCI is grieving the brutal death of a colleague and potential love interest, Freya Graffham, which happened at the end of the previous novel, The Various Haunts of Men. He's worried about his profoundly disabled younger sister, at odds with his bullying father over Martha as with everything else. His other sister and best friend Cat Deerbon is days away from giving birth. Then a nine-year-old boy goes missing and despite all the efforts of Lafferton CID, no solid leads appear. Young DS Nathan Coates, who's worked hard to get away from Dulcie Housing Estate, and the rest of his colleagues exhaust themselves as they confront the reality that David is, in all probability, dead. Meanwhile, twenty-something Andy Gunton is released from prison, headed back to Dulcie, vowing never again to be behind bars. But his sister doesn't really want him around, his parole officer might as well be from another planet and his past seems determined to catch up with him.

David's family implodes following his disappearance. Simon and Cat's mother is hiding a terrible secret, and Simon's occasional lover, the smart, scented, successful red-haired Diana, is intruding into his private space, desperate with love that he cannot reciprocate.

The Pure in Heart has left me wanting much more from these characters.… (mere)