Book Review: Dolly by Susan Hill

The remoter parts of the English Fens are forlorn, lost and damp even in the height of summer. At Iyot Lock, a large decaying house, two young cousins, Leonora and Edward are parked for the summer with their ageing spinster aunt and her cruel housekeeper. At first the unpleasantness and petty meannesses appear simply spiteful, calculated to destroy Edward's equanimity. But when spoilt Leonora is not given the birthday present of a specific dolly that she wants, affairs inexorably take a much darker turn with terrifying, life destroying, consequences for everyone.
[The above is from http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16069121-dolly]

I found this to be much scarier than 'The small hand' but not entirely sure I fully understood it. I won't spoil the ending but I came away thinking that what happens to the male character isn't necessary and quite unfair. I think I needed further explanation and I felt that it ended quite abruptly leaving a lot unanswered.

As with all her books Susan Hill has got the atmosphere perfect and I could picture myself in the house, on the fens, in the church yard but always with that sense of unease. I particularly hated Leonara but couldn't help feel sorry for her at the end of the book.

An enjoyable spooky story that will while away a few hours.
 

Susan Hill's ghostly novella is set in the damp and desolate landscape of the English Fens. Young orphan Edward Caley is sent to spend the summer holidays with his Aunt Kestrel at Iyot House. There he gets to know his spoilt cousin Leonora. What happens that summer has lasting consequences... - See more at: http://www.susanhill.org.uk/dolly#sthash.YJidM1HK.dpuf

Susan Hill's ghostly novella is set in the damp and desolate landscape of the English Fens. Young orphan Edward Caley is sent to spend the summer holidays with his Aunt Kestrel at Iyot House. There he gets to know his spoilt cousin Leonora. What happens that summer has lasting consequences... - See more at: http://www.susanhill.org.uk/dolly#sthash.YJidM1HK.dpuf

Susan Hill's ghostly novella is set in the damp and desolate landscape of the English Fens. Young orphan Edward Caley is sent to spend the summer holidays with his Aunt Kestrel at Iyot House. There he gets to know his spoilt cousin Leonora. What happens that summer has lasting consequences... - See more at: http://www.susanhill.org.uk/dolly#sthash.YJidM1HK.dpuf

Susan Hill's ghostly novella is set in the damp and desolate landscape of the English Fens. Young orphan Edward Caley is sent to spend the summer holidays with his Aunt Kestrel at Iyot House. There he gets to know his spoilt cousin Leonora. What happens that summer has lasting consequences... - See more at: http://www.susanhill.org.uk/dolly#sthash.YJidM1HK.dpuf

Susan Hill's ghostly novella is set in the damp and desolate landscape of the English Fens. Young orphan Edward Caley is sent to spend the summer holidays with his Aunt Kestrel at Iyot House. There he gets to know his spoilt cousin Leonora. What happens that summer has lasting consequences... - See more at: http://www.susanhill.org.uk/dolly#sthash.YJidM1HK.dpuf

Susan Hill's ghostly novella is set in the damp and desolate landscape of the English Fens. Young orphan Edward Caley is sent to spend the summer holidays with his Aunt Kestrel at Iyot House. There he gets to know his spoilt cousin Leonora. What happens that summer has lasting consequences... - See more at: http://www.susanhill.org.uk/dolly#sthash.YJidM1HK.dpuf