Bellman & Black

By Diane Setterfield

Book Overview

#1 New York Times bestselling author "An astonishing work of genius."--Bookreporter.com "Magically transformative."--Bookpage Can one moment in time haunt you forever? From the instant #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Tale comes a "poetic and mysterious" ( Booklist ) story that will haunt you to your very core. Caught up in a moment of boyhood competition, William Bellman recklessly aims his slingshot at a rook resting on a branch, killing the bird instantly. It is a small but cruel act, and is soon forgotten. By the time he is grown, with a wife and children of his own, William seems to have put the whole incident behind him. It was as if he never killed the thing at all. But rooks don't forget... Years later, when a stranger mysteriously enters William's life, his fortunes begin to turn--and the terrible and unforeseen consequences of his past indiscretion take root. In a desperate bid to save the only precious thing he has left, he enters into a rather strange bargain, with an even stranger partner. Together, they found a decidedly macabre business. And Bellman & Black is born.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 147671195X
• ISBN13: 9781476711959
• Release Date: November 2013
• Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Thumbs down.

Such a disappointment. Her book, The thirteenth tale was by far her exceptional effort and success. This book began with promise, I was engaged with interest but it took a deep dive downward with the exhausting details of the business and construction. I began skimming through the pages to the end which landed with a very unsatisfying thump. Quite depressing and boorish. I would say that this book is sadly lacking the gothic mystery and intrigue of her first book.

More Psychological drama than ghost story

If you're looking for a traditional story about a ghost, this one is NOT it. I would not have classified this book as a ghost story like it is billed as. It does have some gothic elements reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe. It just wasn't what I was looking for when I picked it up. It seemed to me that the moral of the story could have been said much more plainly in way less words and been very much more effective. I so wanted to love this book but the storyline just didn't do it for me.