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The Woman in Black: Angel of Death
The chilling sequel to the international bestselling novel The Woman in Black
It’s Autumn of 1940, and German bombs are destroying the cities of Britain as WWII takes its toll on Europe. In London, children are being removed from their families and taken to the country for safety. Teacher Eve Parkins is in charge of one such group, and her destination is an empty and desolate house that appears to be sinking into the tidal marshes that surround it.
Its name is Eel Marsh House.
Far from home and with no alternative, Eve and the children move in. But it soon becomes apparent that there is someone else in the house; someone who is far deadlier than anything that would face the children in the city. She’s called “The Woman in Black,” and she won’t rest until she has her revenge …
It’s Autumn of 1940, and German bombs are destroying the cities of Britain as WWII takes its toll on Europe. In London, children are being removed from their families and taken to the country for safety. Teacher Eve Parkins is in charge of one such group, and her destination is an empty and desolate house that appears to be sinking into the tidal marshes that surround it.
Its name is Eel Marsh House.
Far from home and with no alternative, Eve and the children move in. But it soon becomes apparent that there is someone else in the house; someone who is far deadlier than anything that would face the children in the city. She’s called “The Woman in Black,” and she won’t rest until she has her revenge …
304 pages, Paperback
First published October 24, 2013
79 people are currently reading
1207 people want to read
About the author
Martyn Waites
46 books108 followersMartyn Waites (b. 1963) is an English actor and author of hard-boiled fiction. Raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, he spent his post-university years selling leather coats, working in pubs and doing stand-up comedy. After a stint in drama school, Waites pursued life on the stage, performing regionally in theaters across England. TV and commercial work followed, and he continued to act full-time until the early 1990s, when he began writing his first novel: a noir mystery set in the city of his birth. Mary’s Prayer was published in 1997, and Waites followed it with three more novels starring the same character, an investigative journalist named Stephen Larkin.
Since then he has divided his time between acting and writing. After concluding the Larkin series in 2003, he created another journalist, troubled reporter Joe Donovan, who made his first appearance in The Mercy Seat (2006). Waites’ most recent novel is Speak No Evil (2009). Along with his wife and children, he lives and works in Hertfordshire, a county north of London.
Since then he has divided his time between acting and writing. After concluding the Larkin series in 2003, he created another journalist, troubled reporter Joe Donovan, who made his first appearance in The Mercy Seat (2006). Waites’ most recent novel is Speak No Evil (2009). Along with his wife and children, he lives and works in Hertfordshire, a county north of London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
March 29, 2024
4⭐️= Good.
Hardback.
This was an easy read and one that I enjoyed. This was not written by the same author as The Woman In Black but it makes a good sequel.
The only thing I would say is that maybe I would have liked for it not to have been quite the same as the original, as I kind of knew what was about to happen. This really was quite sad in places…in a horrific kind of way.
Hardback.
This was an easy read and one that I enjoyed. This was not written by the same author as The Woman In Black but it makes a good sequel.
The only thing I would say is that maybe I would have liked for it not to have been quite the same as the original, as I kind of knew what was about to happen. This really was quite sad in places…in a horrific kind of way.
August 31, 2015
This was a surprising read - the reason I say that is when you look at its pedigree you do stop and wonder. The original Woman in Black was written by Susan Hill by in 1983, she is still very much alive and writing - so why wasn't she involved with this sequel. Then you have a sequel that is commissioned by the publisher - not a good sign considering their motivations are not necessarily those of the author (money?) and then you have the publisher is Hammer Horror - or at least its resurrected sibling (no pun intended), a name linked to films NOT books.
So all in all - not the most auspicious of starts - but no wait the book was actually very good, home come. Well the secret really lies with this author Martyn Waites. A self confessed Hammer Horror fan. So what - well apart from wanting to give the book his all, if nothing else so he can claim (in his own words) that he has published work with the Hammer name on it, but also because he knows their genre as intimately as anyone, and that shows. The book reads so easily and yet loses none of the atmosphere or tension you would expect in a film. The staging is perfect. The text invokes the same images as the original but now with a modern twist - well one in keeping with its 40s setting. In short I wasnt sure what to make it, especially since the film came out very shortly after the book, well at least it came to my attention around that time.But no the fact you have a well versed fan who knows his craft, he has created a very good book and one worthy to carry its title.
So all in all - not the most auspicious of starts - but no wait the book was actually very good, home come. Well the secret really lies with this author Martyn Waites. A self confessed Hammer Horror fan. So what - well apart from wanting to give the book his all, if nothing else so he can claim (in his own words) that he has published work with the Hammer name on it, but also because he knows their genre as intimately as anyone, and that shows. The book reads so easily and yet loses none of the atmosphere or tension you would expect in a film. The staging is perfect. The text invokes the same images as the original but now with a modern twist - well one in keeping with its 40s setting. In short I wasnt sure what to make it, especially since the film came out very shortly after the book, well at least it came to my attention around that time.But no the fact you have a well versed fan who knows his craft, he has created a very good book and one worthy to carry its title.
March 2, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
The Woman in Black: Angel of Death is a sequel to “The Woman in Black”. The main problem? It’s not written by the same author, and you notice it almost right away. While “The Woman in Black” had a great narrative, was quite original back in the day, and offered characters that weren’t more than cardboard figures, here we get quite the opposite.
The characters are bland, boring, and very stereotypical. There’s nothing new, fresh or original. We have the disturbed protagonist, haunted by a secret in their past, who somehow becomes the target of the haunting. A young, traumatized boy, becomes the pawn of evil. A woman driven mad by despair. A soldier haunted by his past. Everyone has secrets, no one is safe, but everyone is a stereotype. Even the growing love between Eve and the soldier she meets on the train to Eel Marsh House, is a love riddled with stereotypes.
The writing wasn’t nearly as impressive as in “The Woman in Black”. There was no grain of suspense. The story itself was predictable. The villain – the ghost haunting Eel Marsh House – is a bleak impression of what she was in the original. Here we get a ghost that can be reasoned with, a ghost who defies all logic of ghosts (aren’t they bound by any rules anymore? Apparently not.). We even get scenes from the point of view of the ghost, which makes her a lot less scary than in the original.
I’m not a fan. The book wasn’t bad, but it pales in comparison to its original.
The Woman in Black: Angel of Death is a sequel to “The Woman in Black”. The main problem? It’s not written by the same author, and you notice it almost right away. While “The Woman in Black” had a great narrative, was quite original back in the day, and offered characters that weren’t more than cardboard figures, here we get quite the opposite.
The characters are bland, boring, and very stereotypical. There’s nothing new, fresh or original. We have the disturbed protagonist, haunted by a secret in their past, who somehow becomes the target of the haunting. A young, traumatized boy, becomes the pawn of evil. A woman driven mad by despair. A soldier haunted by his past. Everyone has secrets, no one is safe, but everyone is a stereotype. Even the growing love between Eve and the soldier she meets on the train to Eel Marsh House, is a love riddled with stereotypes.
The writing wasn’t nearly as impressive as in “The Woman in Black”. There was no grain of suspense. The story itself was predictable. The villain – the ghost haunting Eel Marsh House – is a bleak impression of what she was in the original. Here we get a ghost that can be reasoned with, a ghost who defies all logic of ghosts (aren’t they bound by any rules anymore? Apparently not.). We even get scenes from the point of view of the ghost, which makes her a lot less scary than in the original.
I’m not a fan. The book wasn’t bad, but it pales in comparison to its original.
July 5, 2023
I went in to this one with admittedly low expectations. I often find movie adaptations to be quickly made and of low quality. But I was very surprised with this one. Really enjoyed the writing style, very well paced and the horror scenes were described brilliantly. The characters were well fleshed out also and I wanted to keep reading everytime I had to put it down. I would say the ending was a little lacking for me, but that's the only criticism I can think of.
In war torn England, a teacher takes a group of children to a country Manor to escape German bombs. But when one of the children is giving a wooden puppet by a woman no one else can see. Eve discovers a malicious entity inhabits the house, can she protect the children and escape? Or will the ghost take the children as her own?
In war torn England, a teacher takes a group of children to a country Manor to escape German bombs. But when one of the children is giving a wooden puppet by a woman no one else can see. Eve discovers a malicious entity inhabits the house, can she protect the children and escape? Or will the ghost take the children as her own?
December 9, 2013
I didn't have high hopes going in. After all, this is a novelisation of the forthcoming movie sequel to Hammer's The Woman in Black, rather than a genuine sequel to the original book by Susan Hill. But as TWIB is one of my favourite books, and the first film was commendable, I had to give it a stab.
Sadly, the book suffers greatly from novelising a film script. The structure feels as if it is following on screen action shot for shot, instead of producing a narrative that works on the page. I will be very surprised if the film is very different to what I've already experienced on the page. But this also creates further issues. A film can jump from character to character as scenes change - or even within a scene. But it is very jarring in a book. Sometimes, the point of view changes with dizzying speed so that you leap from the mind and thoughts of one person into another within a paragraph. I always thought that was a major novelist faux pas so I was surprised to come across it so blatantly - and jarringly - throughout.
Also, the book is clearly a sequel to the film version and differs from the original novel in significant ways. This isn't so bad because, as I said before, the film adaptation of TWIB is pretty spiffy (despite the changed ending). But then this new version takes some of these differences even further so that the ghost at the heart of the novel behaves and manifests in ways completely at odds with Hill's original vision. Or at least that's how it seems to me. Here is a ghost that can (as in one scene) be reasoned with. Instead of a supernatural force of nature following clear rules, this ghost seems far too - well, human. Should a malevolent ghost like the eponymous woman in black experience doubt?
Plus, when the point of view shifts to the ghost, you realise the book has crossed a line the original never would. We're not supposed to relate to this character. It should exist outside of our understanding and rational thought. That is exactly what makes a ghost terrifying . But here, the ghost becomes pantomime villain.
And naturally for a film novelisation that follows a standard film structure, many events are predictable and genuine suspense is rare.
Waites also has a writing style that screams for an editor. (Was there one on this?). Too many events are described either passively or in retrospect, instead of placing the reader at the heart of the action. Again, this suggests a literal transcribing of events on the screen (or in the script) but makes for poor prose.
But more than all this, Waites seems to lack the background in ghost story lore that would have highlighted exactly why this doesn't carry the same power of the original. Hill always said TWIB was inspired by her love of the tales of Henry James, Dickens, M.R. James, etc - the masters of the form. And these suggest very clear rules for how a ghpst story should be told - not a formula, just an understanding of what works. None of these seem to be present here - such as the need for a strong central character around who the events transpire - hence why there is always suspense about what they experience.
It's a shame, it really is. One can only hope that Hammer decides to not flog this horse any more, or if they do to bring on board someone who truly understands how to structure a genuine Jamesian ghost story.
Sadly, the book suffers greatly from novelising a film script. The structure feels as if it is following on screen action shot for shot, instead of producing a narrative that works on the page. I will be very surprised if the film is very different to what I've already experienced on the page. But this also creates further issues. A film can jump from character to character as scenes change - or even within a scene. But it is very jarring in a book. Sometimes, the point of view changes with dizzying speed so that you leap from the mind and thoughts of one person into another within a paragraph. I always thought that was a major novelist faux pas so I was surprised to come across it so blatantly - and jarringly - throughout.
Also, the book is clearly a sequel to the film version and differs from the original novel in significant ways. This isn't so bad because, as I said before, the film adaptation of TWIB is pretty spiffy (despite the changed ending). But then this new version takes some of these differences even further so that the ghost at the heart of the novel behaves and manifests in ways completely at odds with Hill's original vision. Or at least that's how it seems to me. Here is a ghost that can (as in one scene) be reasoned with. Instead of a supernatural force of nature following clear rules, this ghost seems far too - well, human. Should a malevolent ghost like the eponymous woman in black experience doubt?
Plus, when the point of view shifts to the ghost, you realise the book has crossed a line the original never would. We're not supposed to relate to this character. It should exist outside of our understanding and rational thought. That is exactly what makes a ghost terrifying . But here, the ghost becomes pantomime villain.
And naturally for a film novelisation that follows a standard film structure, many events are predictable and genuine suspense is rare.
Waites also has a writing style that screams for an editor. (Was there one on this?). Too many events are described either passively or in retrospect, instead of placing the reader at the heart of the action. Again, this suggests a literal transcribing of events on the screen (or in the script) but makes for poor prose.
But more than all this, Waites seems to lack the background in ghost story lore that would have highlighted exactly why this doesn't carry the same power of the original. Hill always said TWIB was inspired by her love of the tales of Henry James, Dickens, M.R. James, etc - the masters of the form. And these suggest very clear rules for how a ghpst story should be told - not a formula, just an understanding of what works. None of these seem to be present here - such as the need for a strong central character around who the events transpire - hence why there is always suspense about what they experience.
It's a shame, it really is. One can only hope that Hammer decides to not flog this horse any more, or if they do to bring on board someone who truly understands how to structure a genuine Jamesian ghost story.
February 26, 2014
I really enjoyed this book, though it scared the hell out of me even reading it in the middle of the day with sunlight streaming through the window. 'Angel of Death' is set in the autumn of 1940. Eve Parkins is a young teacher who accompanies a small group of children along with their headmistress to Eel Marsh House where they will (supposedly) be safer than in London. Once they arrive there we discover the village of Crythin Gifford has been abandoned (hardly surprising!) and once the children reach Eel Marsh House, the Woman in Black returns. And as the old saying goes - 'Whenever she's seen, and whomever by, one thing's certain, a child shall die.'
I think author Martyn Waites does an excellent job of bringing the Woman in Black story forward to 1940. There's a whole new cast of characters, of course, but the Woman in Black is as terrifying as ever. Waites makes Eel Marsh House every bit as dark and creepy and threatening as it was in Susan Hill's book. There's a definite sense of creeping horror and doom throughout. A great sequel to Hill's masterpiece. Very, very, very creepy. Would NOT read if I was alone in the house at night.
I think author Martyn Waites does an excellent job of bringing the Woman in Black story forward to 1940. There's a whole new cast of characters, of course, but the Woman in Black is as terrifying as ever. Waites makes Eel Marsh House every bit as dark and creepy and threatening as it was in Susan Hill's book. There's a definite sense of creeping horror and doom throughout. A great sequel to Hill's masterpiece. Very, very, very creepy. Would NOT read if I was alone in the house at night.
January 15, 2014
Angel of Death, the follow up to Susan Hill’s hugely popular Woman in Black, is, as I understand it, the book version of the screenplay. Set during the evacuation period of the blitz, the action begins quite quickly as a group of young children and their two teachers are sent to take ‘refuge’ in Eel Marsh House.
The gloomy, foreboding atmosphere kicks in as soon as the doomed group steps off the final train of their journey. For the first half of the book, the spooky goings on are centred on Eve, the younger and softer of the two teachers, and little Edward, who is mourning the recent death of his mother, and so beings a steady stream of haunting scenes that had be reading at breakneck speed.
The climax had me gasping in a few places and gripping onto the book as I desperately turned the pages. Although it only took my one evening to finish this book, I thoroughly enjoyed my brief revisit to the misty, boggy marshes of Eel Marsh House and, as the ending is left clearly open for a third installment, shall look forward to the next visit.
Reviewed by Charlotte Foreman on behalf of BestChapLit.com
The gloomy, foreboding atmosphere kicks in as soon as the doomed group steps off the final train of their journey. For the first half of the book, the spooky goings on are centred on Eve, the younger and softer of the two teachers, and little Edward, who is mourning the recent death of his mother, and so beings a steady stream of haunting scenes that had be reading at breakneck speed.
The climax had me gasping in a few places and gripping onto the book as I desperately turned the pages. Although it only took my one evening to finish this book, I thoroughly enjoyed my brief revisit to the misty, boggy marshes of Eel Marsh House and, as the ending is left clearly open for a third installment, shall look forward to the next visit.
Reviewed by Charlotte Foreman on behalf of BestChapLit.com
October 30, 2013
I really wanted to enjoy this book having read the original Susan Hill novel, (and her other books), seen the play twice and even liked the movie. I thought this had a lot of potential - that Eel Marsh House still stands empty and in 1940 it is requestioned to be used for evacuees from London. So the Woman in Black would have a whole school full of children and teachers to haunt, torment, etc. A great set up.
However it didnt work for me - the suspense wasnt there, Waites just didnt capture the suspense, fear and power of the original novel or even the film. I really wanted to like it and Waites is obviously a great fan of this genre but I just couldnt and didnt.
He also needs to do some historical research - the RAF DONT have Captains- they have Group Captains but that is quite a Senior rank, they didnt have Halfiax's in 1940. The British didnt have jeeps at this stage in the war wither The Blitz, which is referred too, was 1940-1941, but most evacuations began 1939-1940. The bad winter that is mentioned and that one of the characters has a husband and son in France suggests again that its the winter of 1939-1940. But the mention of the Blitz sounds like a year later.
This historical confusion wont bother many but it bothered me, a lack of simple research distracted me and affected the story.
This novel is basically the script of a new film coming out in 2014, I hope the film is better than the novel.
However it didnt work for me - the suspense wasnt there, Waites just didnt capture the suspense, fear and power of the original novel or even the film. I really wanted to like it and Waites is obviously a great fan of this genre but I just couldnt and didnt.
He also needs to do some historical research - the RAF DONT have Captains- they have Group Captains but that is quite a Senior rank, they didnt have Halfiax's in 1940. The British didnt have jeeps at this stage in the war wither The Blitz, which is referred too, was 1940-1941, but most evacuations began 1939-1940. The bad winter that is mentioned and that one of the characters has a husband and son in France suggests again that its the winter of 1939-1940. But the mention of the Blitz sounds like a year later.
This historical confusion wont bother many but it bothered me, a lack of simple research distracted me and affected the story.
This novel is basically the script of a new film coming out in 2014, I hope the film is better than the novel.
did-not-finish
September 30, 2015Decided not to read on the basis of numerous poor reviews. Also, it seems the film version is already in production and will be released next year, so this isn't so much an original story as a novelisation of an existing screenplay.
June 10, 2016
*review written as someone who hasn't read The Woman In Black*
Thoroughly enjoyed The Woman In Black: Angel of Death. Very tense and highly creepy. Plenty of terror, deep descriptions and macabre occurrences to keep my morbid mind happy.
Thoroughly enjoyed The Woman In Black: Angel of Death. Very tense and highly creepy. Plenty of terror, deep descriptions and macabre occurrences to keep my morbid mind happy.
May 12, 2020
This was better than I thought it would be! I really enjoyed this book and flew through it. The tone matched the previous book really well, even though this one was written by a different author.
This book was very visual for me, everything that was written I could see and feel very clearly while reading it. If I can get a hold of the movie I think I will give that a go too!
This book was very visual for me, everything that was written I could see and feel very clearly while reading it. If I can get a hold of the movie I think I will give that a go too!
September 8, 2014
The Angel of Death.
Firstly this book is NOT Susan Hill's " The Woman in Black" and I am not going to compare them. I enjoyed this book immensely, it had everything to keep you interested and some good scares thrown in. A job well done Mark Waites. Please read this and make up your own minds, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. If you are a fan of the Original, then read this as a different story which it is and embrace it as such. It compliments the other novel well. Beware of black mould on your walls.....
Firstly this book is NOT Susan Hill's " The Woman in Black" and I am not going to compare them. I enjoyed this book immensely, it had everything to keep you interested and some good scares thrown in. A job well done Mark Waites. Please read this and make up your own minds, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. If you are a fan of the Original, then read this as a different story which it is and embrace it as such. It compliments the other novel well. Beware of black mould on your walls.....
November 24, 2017
Fantastic, but oh so freaky! Now to build the courage up to try the film!
Read
October 23, 2023I read this by mistake, thinking I was re-reading the novel it is based on, which I don't remember well but gave a terrific review in 2014.
It was kind of an odd experience, since nothing ever seemed particularly familiar, and I kept wondering what had impressed me so very much a decade back about this perfectly, well, perfectly adequate light literary thriller.
It was kind of an odd experience, since nothing ever seemed particularly familiar, and I kept wondering what had impressed me so very much a decade back about this perfectly, well, perfectly adequate light literary thriller.
July 4, 2022
I absolutely loved Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black but this didn’t reach the same heights. I guess it’s to be expected from a movie novelization, but still, I expected a lot more.
November 6, 2025
I literally read the wrong "the woman in black" but I was somewhat entertained while doing bucilla kits.
November 3, 2013
The original novel had the appeal of a classic Ghost story, a slowly creeping panic of realisation. This follow up is really a follow up of the Hammer film, rather than the book, and has a more "go for the throat" scare factor, and mutates the "Woman in Black" figure to something totally other than the original book's intentions(I can imagine that Susan Hill will be grumbling all the way to the bank after giving her permission for this to be written).
Having said all that, this book does have its own worth, even if it buries itself in typical scare movie cliches. I was enjoying it a lot till the move to the fake airbase and then the whole thing started to descend into an anti-climax of a finale, and its "see it coming a hundred miles away" postscript ending. That, basically, took off a mark for me.
I am sure the movie will be a success, but its time to call an end to it after that. We don't need a "Woman in Black" franchise going on and on, and getting further and further away from the original concept.
Having said all that, this book does have its own worth, even if it buries itself in typical scare movie cliches. I was enjoying it a lot till the move to the fake airbase and then the whole thing started to descend into an anti-climax of a finale, and its "see it coming a hundred miles away" postscript ending. That, basically, took off a mark for me.
I am sure the movie will be a success, but its time to call an end to it after that. We don't need a "Woman in Black" franchise going on and on, and getting further and further away from the original concept.
January 18, 2014
It has creepy moments, it hasn't been overwritten or filled with horrible cliches and metaphor, but it's still silly.
Why?
Because it is so obvious, the characters so stereotypically odd, that you can anticipate nearly everything that happens.
Spoiler alert:
The things that have been seen before and then written into this book?
A young, disturbed boy who is manipulated by the evil entity.
A woman whose own sad past makes her stronger/could be the ruin of her.
A soldier whose pain haunts him.
A blind man who is a keeper of the haunted house's secrets.
The haunted house.
A mad woman.
This lack of originality could (perhaps) be traced back to the fact it's a sequel to Susan Hills' book, but surely there could have been twists and turns that made it surprising?
One star for decent enough writing.
Another star for the creepy bits.
But if this is what the horror genre is like then I pass.
Why?
Because it is so obvious, the characters so stereotypically odd, that you can anticipate nearly everything that happens.
Spoiler alert:
The things that have been seen before and then written into this book?
A young, disturbed boy who is manipulated by the evil entity.
A woman whose own sad past makes her stronger/could be the ruin of her.
A soldier whose pain haunts him.
A blind man who is a keeper of the haunted house's secrets.
The haunted house.
A mad woman.
This lack of originality could (perhaps) be traced back to the fact it's a sequel to Susan Hills' book, but surely there could have been twists and turns that made it surprising?
One star for decent enough writing.
Another star for the creepy bits.
But if this is what the horror genre is like then I pass.
March 19, 2014
I started this book, having read The Woman in Black. I was a bit dubious about reading this because of the poor ratings. But, now, having read the book , I don't understand the poor ratings because I found this book to be excellently well written. Yes I must agree on some certain aspects of the chapters were a little bit short, but so are James pattersons , and no one seems to give him a 1star rating. The story begins again at Eel Marsh House, which is a safe haven for war children. Eve and Jean are the main characters in this story, as they are the school teachers who are responsible for the children. I will not spoil this book, in case i spoil it for you readers. But this is an excellent , scary book , that I finished in 2 days. Enjoy
April 27, 2014
Excellent sequel to 'The Woman in Black', set this time in 1940 when Eel Marsh House is put into use to house child evacuees from London. Teacher Eve Parkins and her headmistress try to make the best of the poor conditions but the malevolent presence soon makes it presence felt and children start to die, despite Eve's best efforts. Apparently this is going to be made into a film later this year - I look forward to seeing it! 8/10.
January 9, 2022
I love being scared and this book did that. The authorised sequel to The Woman In Black and its scared me as much as the original.
Set against a backdrop of the Blitz a group of children and their two teachers are evacuated to Eel March House where they start to experience visits from the Woman in Black.
This book was compulsively readable and freaked me out from start to finish. A very atmospheric read.
Set against a backdrop of the Blitz a group of children and their two teachers are evacuated to Eel March House where they start to experience visits from the Woman in Black.
This book was compulsively readable and freaked me out from start to finish. A very atmospheric read.
December 28, 2013
This book was a terrible disappointment. Leaving the plot to one side, I was irritated throughout by the writer's poor use of English in a cliched and often ungrammatically expressed narrative. The style is anachronistically colloquial and a very poor imitation of Susan Hill's original.
Read
January 25, 2024Atrocious. This has to be in the running as the worst book I've ever read. It wasn't even remotely frightening
January 10, 2014
I would not recommend this book to anyone.
November 9, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars (Really Liked)
💧💧💧💧 4 An emotional wringer
🔪🔪🔪🔪 4 Graphic violence
🏰🏰🏰 3: Believable and well-researched
🔍🔍 2 Weak and convoluted
Horror, Fiction, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Ghost Stories, Supernatural, War
🎧 7 hrs
a novelization of the film sequel to Susan Hill's classic ghost story. Set during the Blitz in 1940, the story follows a group of evacuated children who take refuge in the haunted Eel Marsh House, reigniting the terror of the Woman in Black.
💭:
This narrative delves into personal tragedy, grief, and the psychological impact of war. The protagonist, Eve, is already burdened by her past, and her encounters with the Woman in Black's vengeance against the children she cares for create a consistently tense and emotionally exhausting atmosphere. The story is notoriously brutal, with this installment specifically targeting innocent children. The explicit depiction of deaths and psychological torment contributes to a terrifying and harrowing ambiance.
Set against the backdrop of WWII and the London Blitz, the story establishes a profound sense of unease and vulnerability. Although it may not fit the traditional mold of a historical novel, the era's details enrich the setting, providing justification for the evacuation to the secluded Eel Marsh House. While there is a mystery for the protagonist to unravel, the identity and motives of the Woman in Black are already clear to readers familiar with the original tale. Thus, the mystery serves more as a backdrop for the horror rather than a central puzzle to be solved.
I ended up reading this out of order, before "The Woman in White," but it happened nonetheless. This story leans more towards creepy psychological thrills rather than slasher horror.
💧💧💧💧 4 An emotional wringer
🔪🔪🔪🔪 4 Graphic violence
🏰🏰🏰 3: Believable and well-researched
🔍🔍 2 Weak and convoluted
Horror, Fiction, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Ghost Stories, Supernatural, War
🎧 7 hrs
a novelization of the film sequel to Susan Hill's classic ghost story. Set during the Blitz in 1940, the story follows a group of evacuated children who take refuge in the haunted Eel Marsh House, reigniting the terror of the Woman in Black.
💭:
This narrative delves into personal tragedy, grief, and the psychological impact of war. The protagonist, Eve, is already burdened by her past, and her encounters with the Woman in Black's vengeance against the children she cares for create a consistently tense and emotionally exhausting atmosphere. The story is notoriously brutal, with this installment specifically targeting innocent children. The explicit depiction of deaths and psychological torment contributes to a terrifying and harrowing ambiance.
Set against the backdrop of WWII and the London Blitz, the story establishes a profound sense of unease and vulnerability. Although it may not fit the traditional mold of a historical novel, the era's details enrich the setting, providing justification for the evacuation to the secluded Eel Marsh House. While there is a mystery for the protagonist to unravel, the identity and motives of the Woman in Black are already clear to readers familiar with the original tale. Thus, the mystery serves more as a backdrop for the horror rather than a central puzzle to be solved.
I ended up reading this out of order, before "The Woman in White," but it happened nonetheless. This story leans more towards creepy psychological thrills rather than slasher horror.
October 7, 2023
Disappointment.
The original Woman in Black is chilling, and has a place on my "Read every year - Halloween" shelf.
This book lacks that sense of growing dread, substituting a "who's next" kind of suspense instead. Since the book didn't make me care about the children, that "suspense" fell flat.
The main character seemed flat, and I couldn't be made to care much about her, either. The romance that bloomed between her and another character turned out to be merely a plot device - he's only there so that he can show up in the nick of time and rescue her. (And that's too bad, because his backstory made me care more about his fate than any other character.)
And what, exactly, does he rescue her from? The house falls apart, evidently the work of our infamous Woman in Black, although that ability was not part of the original, and makes little sense. The original was an entity insane with grief, but she had no superpowers.
The dead village children? Why would they turn into evil little monsters and attack the living children and their teachers? Again, a plot device that makes no sense. In the original, the village children are just dead - they don't become supernatural entities, malevolent or otherwise.
I will not be watching the film that this book is based on. The original Woman in Black was made into two films, and both were chilling and had an internal consistency that is sorely lacking in this so-called "sequel."
The original Woman in Black is chilling, and has a place on my "Read every year - Halloween" shelf.
This book lacks that sense of growing dread, substituting a "who's next" kind of suspense instead. Since the book didn't make me care about the children, that "suspense" fell flat.
The main character seemed flat, and I couldn't be made to care much about her, either. The romance that bloomed between her and another character turned out to be merely a plot device - he's only there so that he can show up in the nick of time and rescue her. (And that's too bad, because his backstory made me care more about his fate than any other character.)
And what, exactly, does he rescue her from? The house falls apart, evidently the work of our infamous Woman in Black, although that ability was not part of the original, and makes little sense. The original was an entity insane with grief, but she had no superpowers.
The dead village children? Why would they turn into evil little monsters and attack the living children and their teachers? Again, a plot device that makes no sense. In the original, the village children are just dead - they don't become supernatural entities, malevolent or otherwise.
I will not be watching the film that this book is based on. The original Woman in Black was made into two films, and both were chilling and had an internal consistency that is sorely lacking in this so-called "sequel."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2023
As sequels go, 'The Woman in Black: Angel of Death' is not unreadable. It is not Susan Hill, however. I can see the ideas of this book working if done right. Ultimately, however, I wasn't scared once while reading this book. As a horror, that means it has failed. The characters and story are incredibly one-dimensional, and Martyn Waites seems to disregard the source material completely.
'The Woman in Black: Angel of Death' is also a novelisation of the unfortunate sequel to 'The Woman in Black' (2012), starring Daniel Radcliffe. What works in a novel does not work in a movie, however, which Waites does not seem to understand. Large sections of this book were written like a script or even a description of what happens on screen. This narrative choice contributes to the lack of terror. Tension works differently in literature.
I read this book for my University research, and I couldn't recommend it unless you are reading for a similar purpose. There is a mountain of better horror fiction.
'The Woman in Black: Angel of Death' is also a novelisation of the unfortunate sequel to 'The Woman in Black' (2012), starring Daniel Radcliffe. What works in a novel does not work in a movie, however, which Waites does not seem to understand. Large sections of this book were written like a script or even a description of what happens on screen. This narrative choice contributes to the lack of terror. Tension works differently in literature.
I read this book for my University research, and I couldn't recommend it unless you are reading for a similar purpose. There is a mountain of better horror fiction.
October 5, 2023
the woman in black is my favourite book written so far. angel of death is the “second” book, but written by a different author and i have been wanting to read this for a while now
the author from angel of death has a different writing style than susan hill, but one that goes really well with the original book. which makes it come together really well
the story is great and different from the first one but of course with the same ghost and in the same place just about a century apart, and this book takes place in second world war
i have watched the movies a billion times so i already knew how this book was going to go, but i really liked it still. (it is one of my favourite movies for a reason too)
i am glad martyn did his own take on this story and i will definitely be rereading this and the original multiple times, over and over again. because i love these books so fucking much
i am gonna be honest, this book was scarier than the first one and it is also the first time i have ever gotten jumpscared from a book (i did for a fact not know that this was possible) (it was very weird)
the author from angel of death has a different writing style than susan hill, but one that goes really well with the original book. which makes it come together really well
the story is great and different from the first one but of course with the same ghost and in the same place just about a century apart, and this book takes place in second world war
i have watched the movies a billion times so i already knew how this book was going to go, but i really liked it still. (it is one of my favourite movies for a reason too)
i am glad martyn did his own take on this story and i will definitely be rereading this and the original multiple times, over and over again. because i love these books so fucking much
i am gonna be honest, this book was scarier than the first one and it is also the first time i have ever gotten jumpscared from a book (i did for a fact not know that this was possible) (it was very weird)
December 7, 2025
I found this to be a good sequel to the original woman in black by Susan Hill. The storyline runs along the same as those in the original book by Ms. Hill. The overall setting is different in that it takes place during World War II and the Village and Home Eel Marsh House have been derelict for many years. The town people packed up and left to avoid the ghost of Jennet Humfrye (WIB).
Eve Parkins, a school teacher who has with a school had mistress, taken a group of children out of London to avoid the bombing by the German planes. Edwin, one of the little boys is an orphan as he watched his mother killed as a result of a bombing. He is shell, shocked, and easy. Pray for Jennet. Despite her attempts, Edwin does not fall prey to her national nations. Sadly, two other children do. Eve and the children are aware of the malevolent presence in the house and are frightened.
I can see this being made into a film one that would rival the original BBC production. Mr. Martyn Waites has written a story full of dread and horror. The ending leaves hope for yet another sequel. Four STRONG stars for the Audible book version.
Eve Parkins, a school teacher who has with a school had mistress, taken a group of children out of London to avoid the bombing by the German planes. Edwin, one of the little boys is an orphan as he watched his mother killed as a result of a bombing. He is shell, shocked, and easy. Pray for Jennet. Despite her attempts, Edwin does not fall prey to her national nations. Sadly, two other children do. Eve and the children are aware of the malevolent presence in the house and are frightened.
I can see this being made into a film one that would rival the original BBC production. Mr. Martyn Waites has written a story full of dread and horror. The ending leaves hope for yet another sequel. Four STRONG stars for the Audible book version.
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