The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Book Description

Reclusive author Vida Winter has spent the past six decades penning a series of alternate lives for herself. Now old and ailing, she is ready to reveal the truth about her extraordinary existence and the violent and tragic past she has kept secret for so long. Calling on Margaret Lea, a young biographer, Vida disinters the life she meant to bury for good featuring the beautiful and willful Isabelle, the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess, a topiary garden and a devastating fire. Together, Margaret and Vida confront the ghosts that have haunted them while becoming, finally, transformed by the truth themselves.

Review

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield is a mesmerizing gothic novel. Full of family secrets and creepy atmospheric houses, I couldn’t put the book down.

Margaret Lea nearly prefers stories and fictional characters to real people. Nearly.

To be frank, I identified a little too much with Margaret. Granted, her approach to life is infinitely more disciplined than mine! But her love of literature, book-focused life, and penchant for solitude called to me.

Something I found fascinating about The Thirteenth Tale was how little it mattered when the novel takes place. The character writes letters, uses a telephone, train, and car, but there are no events or technologies to pinpoint the story’s era.

Another thing I loved about The Thirteenth Tale was its exploration of the power of storytelling itself. The novel delves into the idea that stories can heal and transform, even as they uncover painful truths. It’s a love letter to literature, a celebration of the written word, and a testament to the enduring magic of storytelling.

Utter catnip for a writer!

Bring Back the Gothics

Setterfield’s vivid writing instantly set me in the secluded English countryside. Think heavy skies, crumbling mansions, and the tantalizing lure of learning dark family secrets.

As a tween, I binged gothic mysteries and suspense novels. My imagination hungered for villainous villains, eerie settings, and creepy paranormal plots. But other than Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I hadn’t read one in years.

When I finished The Thirteenth Tale, I hankered for a little more. Maybe it’s the onset of fall weather here in the Pacific Northwest, or the spooky decorations popping up all around me. But isn’t that also the mark of a well-written book read at the perfect time?

Like all great gothic novels, The Thirteenth Tale delivers a labyrinth of intricate narratives. Each layer unravels a piece of a dark and haunting past. Setterfield’s prose is rich and evocative, painting vivid images. The novel is full of delicious symbolism, duality, conflict, and story.

The Thirteenth Tale has a hauntingly beautiful narrative. Setterfield has crafted unforgettable characters and a plot that kept me guessing until the end. The Thirteenth Tale is a gothic gem that will ensnare the hearts of any readers who appreciate the timeless allure of a well-told story. If you enjoy masterfully crafted tales of family, identity, and the lengths one will go to protect their secrets, this is a book for you.

Content Warning

Child Abuse, Death, Gore, Incest, Mental Health, Rape, Self-Harm, Violence

The header photo is a composite image. Base image by freestocks on Unsplash