Diane Setterfield - The Thirteenth Tale Review

The book "The Thirteenth Tale" by Dianne Setterfield kept me interested through two readings--I needed to re-read it for a book club meeting.  I found the second time around that it was even more intriguing (less confusing in retrospect).  This book reminded me of old gothic mysteries written by authors like Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney--the creepy and haunted houses, the evil relatives, the elusive family secrets, hidden clues, etc.

A troubled and somewhat reclusive book store owner is summoned to write the official biography of a beloved and dying writer, Vida Winter.  Ms Winter has told her story before but with much missing, embellished or twisted.  She has selected this writer for special reasons which unfold as the story comes to life.  There are surprises, some shocks, some touching and beautiful writing and moments, unforgettable characters and lots of hidden clues, many of which reference classic books which might already be familiar.  If you are a book lover I would recommend this book.

The only warning from my point of view is that there are some very dark and descriptive themes including apparent mental illness, death, abandonment, and incest.