A mystifying tale

The Thirteenth Tale

By: Diane Setterfield

Genre:  Adult historical fiction

Pages: 406

Published: 2006

Read: November

4 out of 5

This is definitely one of my favorite historical fiction novels. It is so intriguing, unique, and all about books! What could be better? The first half of the book I literally could not put down AND I have read it once before – years ago.  Vida Winter’s book of thirteen tales has always been missing the thirteenth story. When she finally decided to tell her story, sick and dying, she begins with a story of twins, Adeline and Emmeline, growing up in Angelfield. This only baffles the biographer and the reader more as they become engrossed in the Mrs. Winter’s story. It is one mystifying tale within another mystifying tale. My one criticism would be that the ending moves too fast, as a reader I started to get lost in how Margaret unraveled the mystifying tales. Still a great novel, I recommend this to fans of historical fiction, Kate Morton and book clubs everywhere.