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The Man in the Picture

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The Man in the Picture

By: Susan Hill
Narrated by: Paul Andsell, Jessica Rushton
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About this listen

 A mysterious depiction of masked revellers at the Venice carnival hangs in the college rooms of Oliver's old professor in Cambridge. On this cold winter's night, its eerie secret is revealed by the ageing don. The dark art of the Venetian scene, instead of imitating life, has the power to entrap it.

To stare into the painting is to play dangerously with the unseen demons it hides, and become the victim of its macabre beauty....

©2007 Long Barn Books Ltd (P)2008 Long Barn Books Ltd Ghosts Horror Thriller & Suspense Scary Haunted Suspense

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SPOILERS
Whilst I did enjoy this book, and there were obvious points of difference in that this involved a painting, nonetheless the vengeful spurned lover and the series of events (I don't want to spoil it too much for others), paid more than lip service to Susan Hill's other more famous story. I found it a little predictable as a result. Also the recording must have been edited in a hurry as for the first time with an Audible book, there were repeated sections on at least two occasions that should have been edited out . Good but no cigar!

Alternative title, Woman in White?

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A very (tongue in cheek) eerie story excellently read & played. I could imagine many would feel scared by it though. Good listen

Very eerie but good fun

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It's easy to listen to and well read. It wasn't boring but it did not scare me or grip me either and there are more engaging and interesting thriller stories like the woman in black

It's not bad but not thrilling

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Kept in suspense although never really explained the picture's origin. All narrators were good and easy to listen to.

Intriguing

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A wonderful reading of the excellent book by Susan Hill. An incredible atmosphere and telling that catapults the reader to the conclusion. This story should definitely be made into a television or film version.

The Man in the Picture

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You can rely on Susan Hill to deliver a story that is genuinely spooky and without resorting to crass over the top horror. This is a fantastic example and just the right length for one atmospheric sitting.

Another scary story from Susan Hill

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Nice naration and story but not quite in the same league as Woman in Black. Worth a listen for the price.

Good but not great.

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A classic story well delivered, there were two moments where the editing caused a sentence to be repeated but otherwise great.

Well written classic

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I first read this in book form years ago and it was one of the most surreal reading experiences of my life. I honestly felt like I had seen the picture before. Not quite the same now as I now know the story but it was nice going back to it. It's not too long so could be done in one listen and is narrated well. Hills shorter ghost stories are better than her novels, in which I've noticed she has a habit of not finishing her thoughts. Harder to do this when the stories are shorter. The story is a nice little supernatural one, not scary as such but engrossing.

Good listen

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I am a great fan of Susan Hill. I enjoy her detective series and her gothic horror (particularly The Woman in Black). This book however is not up to her usual standard at all. Moreover, in some places one could be forgiven for thinking it was written by an amateur attempting to write for the first time. Let’s hope it is just a temporary blip.

Sadly not one of Susan Hill’s best.

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