The Thirteenth Tale

A Novel

By: Diane Setterfield

Narrated by: Bianca Amato, Jill Tanner

Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

All children mythologize their birth... So begins the prologue of reclusive author Vida Winter's beloved collection of stories, long famous for the mystery of the missing thirteenth tale. The enigmatic Winter has always kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, she summons a biographer to tell the truth about her extraordinary life: Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth remains an ever-present pain.

Disinterring the life she meant to bury for good, Vida mesmerizes Margaret with the power of her storytelling. Hers is a tale of gothic strangeness, featuring the Angelfield family, including the beautiful and willful Isabelle, the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess, and a devastating fire. Struck by a curious parallel between their stories, Margaret demands the truth from Vida, and together they confront the ghosts that have haunted them.

The Thirteenth Tale is a return to that rich vein of storytelling that our parents loved and we loved as children. Diane Setterfield will keep you guessing, make you wonder, move you to tears and laughter, and in the end, deposit you breathless yet satisfied back upon the shore of your everyday life.

©2006 Diane Setterfield (P)2007 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Finalist, Literary Fiction, 2007

"Bianca Amato is stunning as Margaret....[her] respect for the power of story and the written word is heard in every utterance. Jill Tanner accomplishes a tour de force as the enigmatic and mysterious Vida. In conversation her voice has the hesitancy and fragility of an elderly woman, but her voice takes on the strength and power of a master storyteller as she weaves her spellbinding life story." (AudioFile)
"Readers will be mesmerized by this story-within-a-story tinged with the eeriness of Rebecca and the willfulness of Jane Eyre. The author skillfully keeps the plot moving by unfurling a new twist in each chapter and leaves no strand untucked at the surprising and satisfying conclusion. A wholly original work told in the vein of all the best gothic classics. Lovers of books about book lovers will be enthralled." (Booklist)

For Language Lovers

The write is quite a word smith. The narration was well done and the story brilliantly crafted. Throughly enjoyed it.

A new favorite

I enjoyed this book when I listened to it the first time, as it is well written somewhat in the style of old favorites from Austen, Dickens, and the Brontes. Excellent pacing and real, complex characters allowed the intrigue to develop and continue to suck me in. Then when I had a second listen for a new bookclub, the richness of the story and the writing revealed itself even further. I've listened to it 4 times now and find something new every listen.

For those who love 19th century english literature, this novel is destined to be a new treasure. For those who simply enjoy a great mystery, a well written book, or a good story, this novel is a worthy investment of time and money.

Excellent!

Excellent story. All I can say is listen. You won't regret it!

Loved this book!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, a wonderful listen which was beautifully written and crafted.

Have you listened to any of Bianca Amato and Jill Tanner ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but they were each amazing and made it easy to listen.

Spellbinding

I am a lover of Gothic novels and was one of the best of which I have ever had the pleasure of listening. Once you meet Miss Winter she will have you captivated until the very last. I am an avid audio book listener and this is one book I will listen to again and again. I anxiously await Ms. Setterfield’s next novel.

Enthralling

After the first 30 minutes I was so engrossed in this story I had a hard time turning it off!
The intro was a little slow for me, and sometimes I found Margret's character annoying, but once Miss Winter starts telling her story I was sucked in!
I've read a lot of stories in my time, and I'm telling you the twist totally shocked me, but fit perfectly.
This is one book that is totally worth the time!

Very good

Amazing book. Great read. Totally a mystery had to listen to it twice. Absolutely regiment it to friends.

ARRESTING AND ORIGINAL

I sampled the story and was immediately captivated by the narrator. After finishing the book, I read the reviews and was surprised by the number of reviews written! Clearly something to talk about! Struggling to finish one of The Best Authors, this book was a breath of fresh air, the kind of book I have not read before. The story within the story so passionate and painful, it was hard to put down.
The author brilliantly anatomizes the relationship between characters, delicately takes the reader back into the past and captures the very essence of the human relationships: love, revenge, hate and lust. It is a gripping tale and, like a great painting, can be revisited and rediscovered. I highly recommend this book.

Twists and Turns

This book had so many twists and turns. I loved it. Old fashioned Ghost Stories are the best.

Fabulous story, even better narration!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story within a story. The narrator's performance was amazing! It reminded me of music played on a minor scale. Fit the story perfectly!