The Thirteenth Tale
by Diane Setterfield
by Diane Setterfield
THE THIRTEENTH TALE by Diane Setterfield
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 10/9/07
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Reviewed by: K. Osborn Sullivan
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a fascinating and rich Gothic mystery about a young Englishwoman who is hired to write the biography of a famous,
dying author. The author has always kept her past a secret from her millions of fans, and the biographer is about to find out
why. The young woman moves into the old author's home in the remote English countryside, and spends the ensuing weeks
compiling details of the author's bizarre and disturbing early years. As the dying author tells that one final tale, her
biographer finds herself working through some of her own demons. Interestingly, the biographer's demons at times bear an
uncomfortable resemblance to the ones she is writing about for her employer.
THE THIRTEENTH TALE is a modern-day story, but it is written in an old-fashioned, Gothic style that takes its time to
reveal its many secrets. It includes all the elements of a classic Gothic novel: a crumbling haunted house, English moors,
dense fog, and a young heroine who finds herself in a potentially dangerous situation. It is gripping, at times frightening, and
always interesting. I was kept guessing about how the story would eventually be resolved, and was pleased by how
skillfully the author pulled all of the pieces together.
My biggest complaint about THE THIRTEENTH TALE is that the main character felt somewhat one-dimensional. It is
possible, however, that the characterization might have been intentional. The main character has been damaged by her own
past, so maybe this was demonstrated by making her seem less-than-complete. In any case, that is a minor complaint for
the book because many of the other characters are so well drawn.
This is an excellent book for readers who like a good, unusual mystery. There was even a happy ending for those
characters who were capable of enjoying happy endings. Be warned, though, that this novel is written for adults. Its
dreaded "adult themes" include (vague, not graphic) references to incest, sex, and children born out of wedlock, as well as
(explicit) mental illness. But if you're willing to overlook those issues, this is a great story and a fascinating mystery for older
readers.
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 10/9/07
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Reviewed by: K. Osborn Sullivan
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a fascinating and rich Gothic mystery about a young Englishwoman who is hired to write the biography of a famous,
dying author. The author has always kept her past a secret from her millions of fans, and the biographer is about to find out
why. The young woman moves into the old author's home in the remote English countryside, and spends the ensuing weeks
compiling details of the author's bizarre and disturbing early years. As the dying author tells that one final tale, her
biographer finds herself working through some of her own demons. Interestingly, the biographer's demons at times bear an
uncomfortable resemblance to the ones she is writing about for her employer.
THE THIRTEENTH TALE is a modern-day story, but it is written in an old-fashioned, Gothic style that takes its time to
reveal its many secrets. It includes all the elements of a classic Gothic novel: a crumbling haunted house, English moors,
dense fog, and a young heroine who finds herself in a potentially dangerous situation. It is gripping, at times frightening, and
always interesting. I was kept guessing about how the story would eventually be resolved, and was pleased by how
skillfully the author pulled all of the pieces together.
My biggest complaint about THE THIRTEENTH TALE is that the main character felt somewhat one-dimensional. It is
possible, however, that the characterization might have been intentional. The main character has been damaged by her own
past, so maybe this was demonstrated by making her seem less-than-complete. In any case, that is a minor complaint for
the book because many of the other characters are so well drawn.
This is an excellent book for readers who like a good, unusual mystery. There was even a happy ending for those
characters who were capable of enjoying happy endings. Be warned, though, that this novel is written for adults. Its
dreaded "adult themes" include (vague, not graphic) references to incest, sex, and children born out of wedlock, as well as
(explicit) mental illness. But if you're willing to overlook those issues, this is a great story and a fascinating mystery for older
readers.