Beyond Black

Hilary Mantel's "Beyond Black" plunges into a contemporary Britain steeped in decay and unease, seen through the eyes of Alison Hart, a professional medium. Accompanied by her flat-eyed, pragmatic business partner, Colette, Alison tours the Home Counties, offering comforting (and often banal) messages from the deceased to their living relatives. Yet, behind her plump, smiling facade lies a woman haunted by a genuine, terrifying gift. Alison foresees global tragedies, from Princess Diana's death to the collapse of the Twin Towers, and communicates with spirits far more malevolent than the typical departed granny. Her true torment stems from a brutal childhood, plagued by thugs and petty criminals under the neglectful eye of her mother. As the spirits around her grow stronger and more sinister, threatening to expose long-buried secrets, Alison is forced to confront the dark forces of her past and present. Mantel masterfully blends hilariously dark satire with chilling psychological horror, exploring themes of trauma, societal decay, and the terrifying boundary between the living and the dead, all set in an England grappling with its own shadows.