The Little Stranger

I have just finished reading Sarah Water's new book, 'The Little Stranger'. Although ostensibly a ghost story it is also a vivid portrayal of the breakdown of the British class system.

Hundreds, the Warwickshire manor house at the centre of the story is a hopeless money pit, well beyond the means of the Ayres family who have lived in it for generations.  Narrated by a lowly born local GP it charts his relationship with the crumbling pile and its inhabitants. As with all of Waters previous books it is a riveting read, beautifully written, very intelligent and a real page turner. It is also very scary. I thoroughly recommend it.