I saw this book in my local Oxfam for £1.89, and having loved The Night Watch so much, I thought I'd give another of Sarah Waters' creations a go.
The Little Stranger tells the story of Dr Faraday, a doctor in rural Warwickshire after the end of WW2. At the beginning of the novel, he is called out to a patient at Hundreds Hall, a huge mansion owned by the Ayres, a wealthy aristocratic family. It is only when he arrives there however, that he sees what a state the house has lapsed into since the death of Colonel Ayres, the head of the household. Lack of funds and rapidly deteriorating rooms mean that much of the estate is falling into disrepair. After a number of visits, the doctor strikes up a rapport with the remaining family members, and begins to call in regularly.
Then, mysterious goings on begin to occur. The family's usually very placid dog attacks a visitor, and is put down. Then strange marks begin to be found around the house, until one night, a fire breaks out at random, nearly killing Roderick, the Colonel's son. Driven mad by the happenings, he is institutionalised and Caroline, his sister, takes up the job of managing the manorhouse. I won't give away any more, as it is just too good to divulge!
This is an extremely well written book, as The Night Watch is. It has an intricate and interesting storyline, suspense and intrigue, and the main character is genuinely easy to empathise with. Not one to read on your own before bed (as I made the mistake of doing!) as at times it is quite chilling, but a really juicy novel that illustrates Sarah Waters' talent excellently.
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