Buy used: $12.16

FREE delivery November 30 - December 12. Details

Delivering to Montreal H3A – Update location

Used: Good | Details

Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas US

Add to Wish List

Added to

Unable to add item to Wish List. Please try again.

Follow the author

Lois Duncan

Follow

Down a Dark Hall Mass Market Paperback – Sept. 1 1990

by Lois Duncan (Author)

4.3 313 ratings

See all formats and editions

Amazon Price

New from

Used from

Kindle Edition

"Please retry"

$11.99

—

Audible Audiobook, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$0.00

Free with your Audible trial

Library binding

"Please retry"

—

Paperback

"Please retry"

$16.39

$9.99

Mass Market Paperback

"Please retry"

$12.16

—

Kindle Edition
$11.99 Read with our free app
Audiobook
$0.00 Free with your Audible trial
Library binding
—
Paperback
$16.39

17 Used from $9.99 9 New from $16.39
Mass Market Paperback
$12.16

Why does the exclusive boarding school Blackwood have only four students?

Kit walks the dark halls and feels a penetrating chill. What tterror waits around the next corner?

Reading age

12 years and up
Print length

192 pages
Language

English
Dimensions

10.64 x 1.4 x 17.45 cm
Publisher

Laurel Leaf
Publication date

Sept. 1 1990
ISBN-10

9780440918059
ISBN-13

978-0440918059
See all details

Product description

From the Publisher

Why does the exclusive boarding school Blackwood have only four students?

Kit walks the dark halls and feels a penetrating chill. What tterror waits around the next corner?

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

It was twelve-thirty--half past midnight--on the eighth day of September, and Kit lay sprawled across the bed, writing a letter to Tracy. She knew it was late to be writing letters. If she had been at home with her light on at this hour her mother would have been rapping at the door, calling in a worried voice, "Kit? Is anything wrong, honey? It's much too late for you to be up."

At Blackwood nobody sounded a lights-off curfew, and Kit was glad. Although she had been at the school for well over a week now and was adjusting well on most counts, she still did not feel at ease at night. The light at the end of the hall had not been fixed--"It's almost impossible to get electricians to come out this far," Madame explained apologetically--and though Kit's own room was often lightened by moonlight, she could not shut out a strange nervousness about the oppressive darkness on the far side of her closed door.

She did not sleep well at Blackwood. She dreamed. She knew that she dreamed, for when she woke in the mornings the feeling of the dreams still clung to the edges of her mind, and yet in most cases she could not remember what they had been. She needed to be very sleepy to turn off the light and settle into slumber, and so she had begun to form the habit of studying and writing letters during the early part of the night.

"Dear Tracy," she wrote now, "I'm sorry to have been so long in writing. I got a note off to Mom the first day here so that she would have mail waiting for her in Cherbourg, and then I got snowed under with schoolwork. The work here is harder than it was in public school, mostly, I guess, because the classes are so small. There are only four of us here--can you believe it? Four students in the entire school! So it's almost like having private tutors. I'm taking math and science from Professor Farley, a dear old goat of a man with a funny little bear --really sweet--and literature from Madame Duret. And piano from Jules! I guess I'd better put a row of exclamation marks--!!!!!!!--to give you an idea of what he looks like. All of a sudden I'm getting interested in music.

"The three other girls here are very different. My favorite is Sandy Mason--she's shy and quiet, but nice, and I've started to stir her up a little with plans to short-sheet the other girls' beds and maybe raid the kitchen one night and bring the food up to the rooms for a midnight feast. Lynda Hannah and Ruth Stark knew each other before. They went to the same prep school last year, and when Ruth's parents decided to switch her to Blackwood, Lynda persuaded her mother to let her change schools too. Ruth is homely but very bright, and Lynda is the opposite, awfully pretty but not much in the brains department. They seem to balance each other.

"I still don't understand how we four were selected. Professor Farley says we have the special attributes the were looking for in their students, but I can't imagine what they might be. We seem to have nothing in common with each other, and I don't see how you could have failed to get accepted if I was. I tried to ask Madame Duret about it, but she only said that she didn't discuss test results.

"I wish I could say I like it here. In a way I do. Everybody's very nice to me, and the classes are interesting. But there's something--I don't know how to put it into words, and you'd probably laugh if I did--but I've got this creepy feeling that something's wrong. I felt it first when we entered the gates and started up the driveway, and I feel it more and more every day, as though--"

Somebody screamed. Somewhere in the blackness on the far side of the door. It was a funny scream, choked off in an instant as though a hand had been pressed suddenly to cover the mouth.

It went through Kit like an electric shock. Her hand jerked, and the pen made a lurch across the page, so that the word "though" ran off the side of the paper.

Pulling herself upright on the bed, she sat, tense and shaken, listening. There was nothing but silence.

But I heard it, she told herself. I know I heard it.

Somewhere in the quiet dormitory someone had shrieked. In pain? In terror? Perhaps only from a nightmare, and yet, perhaps for some other reason. For--help?

I won't, Kit thought. I can't. I just can't open that door and go out there.

And yet, what if one of the other girls were ill? No one screamed without reason. Was someone lying even now in one of the rooms along the hall, wretched with fear or in physical agony, praying that her cry had been heard and would be answered?

Slowly, as though impelled by something other than her own will, Kit got off the bed and crossed the room and opened the door. The terrible blackness of the hall stretched before her, lessened only by the patch of lamplight that fell from her own doorway. Beyond this there was nothing but stillness and dark.

Kit stood with one hand on the door jamb, listening. The only sounds she could hear were the thud of her own heart and the quick, sharp noise of her breathing.

Perhaps I imagined it, she thought. Perhaps I dozed off a little, there on the bed, and dreamed.

And then she heard it--not a scream this time but a little moaning sound, half a sob, half a wail. It seemed to come from the end of the hall where Sandy had her room.

Well, that does it, Kit told herself resignedly. I have to go.

Drawing a deep breath as if in readiness for a dive into icy water, she stood poised for a moment on the edge of the patch of light. Then, bracing herself, she stepped out into the darkness.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0440918057
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Laurel Leaf (Sept. 1 1990)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780440918059
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0440918059
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 99.8 g
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.64 x 1.4 x 17.45 cm

Customer Reviews:
4.3 313 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Lois Duncan

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Lois Duncan (1934-2016) was born in Philadelphia, PA, and grew up in Sarasota, FL.

She knew from early childhood that she wanted to be a writer. She submitted her first story to a magazine at age 10 and became published at 13. Throughout her high school years she wrote regularly for young people's publications, particularly Seventeen.

As an adult, Lois moved to Albuquerque, NM, where she taught magazine writing for the Journalism Department at the University of New Mexico and continued to write for magazines. Over 300 of her articles and stories appeared in such publications as Ladies Home Journal, Redbook, McCall's, Good Housekeeping, and Reader's Digest, and for many years she was a contributing editor for Woman's Day.

Lois was the author of over 50 books, ranging from children's picture books to poetry to adult non-fiction, but is best known for her young adult suspense novels, which have received Young Readers Awards in 16 states and three foreign countries. In 1992, Lois was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award, presented by the School Library Journal and the ALA Young Adult Library Services Association for "a distinguished body of adolescent literature." In 2009, she received the Katharine Drexel Award, awarded by the Catholic Library Association "to recognize an outstanding contribution by an individual to the growth of high school and young adult librarianship and literature." In 2015 she was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America.

Six of her novels -- SUMMER OF FEAR, KILLING MR. GRIFFIN, GALLOWS HILL, RANSOM, DON'T LOOK BEHIND YOU and STRANGER WITH MY FACE -- were made-for-TV movies. I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER and HOTEL FOR DOGS were box office hits.

Although young people are most familiar with Lois Duncan's fictional suspense novels, adults may know her best as the author of WHO KILLED MY DAUGHTER?, the true story of the murder of Kaitlyn Arquette, the youngest of Lois's five children. Kait's heartbreaking story has been featured on such TV shows as Unsolved Mysteries, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, Sally Jessy Raphael and Inside Edition. A full account of the family's on-going personal investigation of this still unsolved homicide can be found on the Internet at http://kaitarquette.arquettes.com.

Lois Duncan's personal web page is at http://loisduncan.arquettes.com.

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from Canada

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Crystal C

Points for scaring me

Reviewed in Canada on July 22, 2018

Verified Purchase

Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan
7/22/2018
0 Comments

Picture
Kit Gordy is forced to attend Blackwood Hall while her mom and new stepdad go off on their honeymoon around Europe. At first sight, she sees the school and has immediate bad vibes; the house looks evil. Is it all in her head? No, it is definitely more menacing that she or anyone could ever imagine. There are only 4 students enrolled and each of them soon discover that they all have one thing in common; they can see what others can't and what they can see are ghosts. Blackwood is haunted and Kit soon finds herself fighting for control of her mind against ghosts who each want a turn to live again through her and the other students. Some of these ghosts were poets, musicians and even mathematicians. Kit was right about her suspicions. The staff and Blackwood itself is not as it seems.

This wasn't a bad read. It was definitely scary and I found it hard to read at night because of that, so it gets points for scaring me to death. The main characters were likeable but at certain points in the story some of the things they did was very confusing. I liked that this book could still be scary without the usual blood and gore. The suspense was maddening and unpredictable which is good because there's no point in reading a book if you can guess everything that is going to happen. The love connection between Jules and Kit was very underdeveloped. I also hated the way it ended. I feel like there should be a sequel to explain what happened to Kit and her friends after the end events at Blackwood. Something was missing and I can't quite put my finger on it.

Helpful

Amazon Customer

This edition is a modified version of the original

Reviewed in Canada on May 22, 2021

Verified Purchase

I read the Kindle version of Down a Dark Hall and was disappointed to discover that it has been edited ftom its original version to include modern technology in the story. The original book was published in the 1970s. The modernized version includes references to cell phones, computers, internet, etc, which in my opinion are very misplaced and detract from the authenticity of the story. I grew up reading Lois Duncan in the 1980s, so the changes were instantly noticeable. I couldn't stop noticinb them throughout the book, and it kept me from becoming fully immersed in the story. I can't speak for younger readers, but for longtime Duncan fans,
Even knowing that she had made the changes herself, it was truly a letdown. The story is a classic gothic YA novel, one of the best, and I believe younger generations should be given the chance to appreciate the book in its original version. Surely young people can acknowledge and accept that people did not have cell phones and laptops in the past. I don't see how that woukd affect their appreciation of one of the best supernatural suspense stories ever, in my opinion.

Reviewed in Canada on October 29, 2018

Verified Purchase

Perfect condition!

Reviewed in Canada on December 17, 2017

Verified Purchase

Great book, love it.

Helpful

Amazon Customer

A Quite Chilling Story...

Reviewed in Canada on February 24, 2003

This is a great Lois Duncan book. This was one of the first that I read of her's. When Kit comes to the school the first word that comes to her when she arrives is "Evil". You don't start connecting the dots until the middle of the book. Although I think that this book isn't very good at keeping secrets. Once the hints start coming you pretty much will know the big revelation and what all the girl's have in common to enter this "Special" school. The characters were touched upon pretty well. I think Jules wasn't absolutely necessary and that it would have been nicer if someone like Madame Duret was the Piano teacher instead. The story about the history of the house was a little drawling and could have been shortened without hurting the plot. The reason this book is enthralling is it's one of the most individual plot's and the end is pretty chilling to the soul.

Reviewed in Canada on June 4, 2000

The story of "Down a Dark Hall" whirled around in my head a deep fog. I was completely entranced by the novel and for the hour or so that it took me to read it, all I knew was the highly creepy world of Blackwood boarding school. As usual it started off slow, like all Lois Duncans book seem to do (I have read about six or more), accelerating more and more until you couldn't tear yourself away the story if your life depended on it! This book had a creepy element to it's tale, and it sends a chill straight down your spine. It's style in writing was very similar to many other Lois Duncan books, and like everything else I've read by her- the plot and writing entranced me every time! (Exactly where does she get these wonderful ideas?) I definitely recommend this book, I just finished reading it fifteen minutes ago and wanted to read other readers' responses to the book immediately! Other great reads by Duncan I recommend are "Killing Mr. Griffin" (phenemonal), "The Third Eye" (highly captivating!) and anything else you can get your hands on by her! She is truly an amazing writer, very suspenseful! She's fantastic at the genre she seems to have focused on in her writing career- teen suspense novels. One might glance at a book cover and brush it off as a silly novel, but the cover of these paperbacks honestly don't her stories justice. The amazing words are what count. Well if this hasn't convinced you to read it, I'm not sure what will! So, c'mon...why aren't you at the bookstore, library, or adding this to your "shopping cart" by right now? :) Get to it!

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Kara J. Jorges

Excellent Paranormal Teen Story

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2008

Verified Purchase

The first time I read this book was about 25 years ago when I checked it out from my school library. Though I did not recall the title or the author, through the magic of an Amazon discussion board, I got the information very quickly from another helpful reader and was able to obtain my own copy. Obviously, if it stuck in my mind all this time, the book is a good read, and I'm happy to report I enjoyed it nearly as much the second time as I did all those years ago.

Kit Gordy's father died several years back, leaving her and her mother alone. Nobody truly believed Kit saw her father in her bedroom on the night he died since he was out of town at the time, but now the memory is clearer than ever in Kit's mind. Her mother is about to remarry and take an extended European honeymoon, so Kit is enrolled in Blackwood Academy, an upscale, rural school for girls.

So her mother and new husband can catch their ship, Kit is left at Blackwood a day early. She should be thrilled at the school's picturesque setting, but instead, Kit is unnerved by a pervasive sense of evil. Her first night there, she is bothered by the fact that the hallway to the dorm rooms is stygian dark, and then she is plagued by disturbing dreams about being smothered by her bed's ornate canopy. She hopes her unsettled feelings will change once the school is full of chattering students, but then is surprised to learn that only four students have been accepted to attend the term. She befriends another girl there and has some good times, but no matter how pleasant her days, at night the old mansion's shadows darken, and the hallway to the student rooms is dreadfully dark.

Before long, the students at Blackwood start showing amazing talents in math and the arts, and Kit also notices that they all seem to be getting thinner. She often awakens with sore arms and fingers as if she had been playing hours of piano. Her letters to her mother don't ever seem to arrive, either. Other strange incidents among the students continue to occur and escalate, but Madame Duret, the headmistress, explains them all away, until one night Kit comes upon evidence that nothing at Blackwood is at it seems. Kit and the other girls are in terrible danger and there seems to be no way out.

One of the most important elements to the plot of this book is isolation, which is less and less a part of the modern world. The way it is done in this story is a bit dated, but since it could still work in a modern setting with a tweak or two, it remains believable. The story itself is chilling, with the sinister elements slowly building until its explosive climax. The ending could have benefitted from a little more fleshing out, but again, I believe that is a mark of the time period in which it was written. Books these days tend to drag endings out sometimes past the point where they should.

I enjoyed this book enough as a teenager to seek it out all these years later, and enjoyed it again as an adult. I highly recommend it.

12 people found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Exactly as described

Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2022

Verified Purchase

A good book, very well written. The seller was correct in how they labeled the book (used). I wanted to see the movie on Netflix so or course I had to read the book first. Lois Duncan had made a suspenseful story that you can tell has been modernized and I can't say as a parent or when I was a teenager I would act like Kit does. Still a good story that we read for book club.

Ivan Friant

Scary!

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2020

Verified Purchase

I found the movie, with Uma Thurman and Annasopia Robb, and decided to watch it. And then I realized that it was based on a book, so naturally, I went and bought the book! I have to say that for such a simple story, the atmosphere that Duncan creates around Blackwood Hall is brilliant. It’s another implied horror book, but I was still creeped out and completely believed in the danger. As I said, the actual plot is very simple and not hard to figure out, but the fact that the villains are not what one would expect makes it all the more horrific. Kit is a strong character who is smart enough to carry the story. I think this is the perfect paranormal story to give to teens to help keep their attention. A great story that’s easy to read!

3 people found this helpful

Andrea Hall-Cuccia

Holds Up 35 Years Later

Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2022

Verified Purchase

I read and loved Lois Duncan's suspense novels as a pre-teen and teen, and decided to pick them up again. They've been updated for the 21st Century, but the updates are seamless and don't disrupt the flow or the original storyline. Down a Dark Hall is just as chilling as it was 35 years ago.

One person found this helpful

maddiechele

very good book!

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2013

Verified Purchase

I must say this was a really really good book! I think that any reader who just wants a good page turner should definitely try this one. This book is about a girl named Kit and her mother has recently remarried. Her parents are going on a European tour and they are leaving kit in a boarding school while they are gone. When she arrives at the boarding school for girls, she realizes that something just isn't right. The place just seems sinister. She is very surprised by the fact that are only three other girls that come to the school. They were the only other ones that passed the unusual test. I'm not going to spoil it for you, but I'll go ahead and tell you that it is surprising and was no what I was expecting. I think that if you like to read an easy-read book and a thriller and suspense and mystery all mixed up together then you will like this one a lot!

One person found this helpful

See more reviews

Amazon Music Stream millions of songs	Amazon Advertising Find, attract and engage customers	Amazon Business Everything for your business	Amazon Drive Cloud storage from Amazon	Amazon Web Services Scalable Cloud Computing Services

Goodreads Book reviews & recommendations	IMDb Movies, TV & Celebrities	Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime	Shopbop Designer Fashion Brands	Warehouse Deals Open-Box Discounts

	Whole Foods Market We Believe in Real Food	Amazon Renewed Like-new products you can trust	Blink Smart Security for Every Home

Image Unavailable

Follow the author

Down a Dark Hall Mass Market Paperback – Sept. 1 1990