Hill is a narrator of suspense, creating a sense of discomfort and unease. This was shown to best effect in The Woman in Black. There is also the understated menace that lurks in I'm the King of the Castle. This collection of five stories shows the versatility of Hill's skills. The quintet traverses eras of Victorian London through to 1950s suburbia. There is a certain degree of repetition and turn of phrase, but the general sparseness of Hill's prose serves to focus the reader's attention and only heighten the tension. I did not feel there was a weak story in this collection, but particularly enjoyed ‘Boy 21’ and ‘The Front Room’. 8 out of 10.
By Susan Hill