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)

a great tale.....

totally engrossed in the story.....I laughed cried and was surprised by the twists and turns it took

Epic Story, Beautifully Written

Setterfield’s story is incredibly imaginative and beautifully written. The narration is icing on the cake. I will listen to this one a third time as well.

Riveting

Rarely have I listened a book and then immediately started to listen a second time. But The Thirteenth Tale is so good, that's exactly what I did. I am the mother of twins, which made it an even more fascinating tale for me. I guaranty you will find yourself sitting in your car, riveted and unable to turn off the engine, or awakened in the night with the urge to slip from bed to listen for just a few more minutes. What a wonderful story. Can't wait to read more of her books.

Wow that's some story!

A tapestry of words in the spirit of the Bronte's. Enjoyed the twists and turns.

Fantastic book

This has to be one of my favorite books of the year. It is perfect!

A Suggestion for your October Shelf

I read this years ago when it was first published and loved it. Repulsed by my most recent October binge read choice (PG), I hung my head and tried to recall that rare book that would fit the season without the gore, violence, and disgust. Then I remembered The Thirteenth Tale. This is not so much a review, but rather a suggestion of a book that might not be in your headlights right now (published September 2006) because:

1. It's OCTOBER!
2. The writing is top rate.
3. It is a modern classic along the lines of The Lady in White.
4. The atmosphere is perfect for an October day or night of curling up by the fireplace and indulging in a ghostly tale.
5. *See #5; it's a ghostly tale.
6. There's never a better time for a good mystery thriller.
7. The characters will appear in your mind in detail, they are created and mannered perfectly.
8. It's smart; it doesn't insult your brain -- it engages it so vigorously you'll have to tell yourself to "pay attention!--stay on track!"
9. Sometimes we need a break from the violence, the F bombs, C bombs and assorted other bombs, even if we used said bombs once in a while. And if your older children choose to read along -- no prob.
10. A book about books...another intriguing element.
11. Is there a better setting for a book? A creepy mansion decaying away in the English countryside?
12. And even if you figure out the mystery...what happened to the Nanny, huh, smarty pants??
13. The narration is icing on an already deliciously ghoulish confection. I liked reading this years ago and can tell you I liked it even more experiencing it being read to me.

A good choice any time, but a superb choice that can be enjoyed in the spirit of the season right now!

Fantastic!!!

I was one of those people who said this book had too much hype for it's own good; then found, to my surprise, that it is worth the hype and then some! I thought the book was fantastic and I enjoyed the voices of both of the narrators. If you are even remotely interested in this book download it immediately!!

Fine book with minor character flaws

This is a fine book with truly excellent narration, but I found it far from an Audible Essential. I really like great Gothic romances, but this one seemed to lack historical authenticity. The characters and perspective seemed essentially modern which, for me, spoiled the illusion. The prose is superior, with a very Gothic romance experience, enjoyable vocabulary, and I moderately enjoyed the book, but this is no Jane Eyre. The story is slow, but that is not uncommon in this genre, and would not have bothered me if the characters had rung true. The closest thing to a protagonist was not a truly likable character which makes a romance kind of hollow. Overall, with the great narration, it was quite a pleasant listen, just not an essential.

Wish I Could Write Like This

After a mildly interesting prologue, I was completely hooked by the tale that began to unfold. The plot detail and character development was marvelous, and the shared narration of the two main characters was luminous. I was completely captivated and spent hours unable to turn the book off when I should have been doing other things. The ending brought the story to a nice, plausible close. Part ghost story, part mystery, part study of dysfunctional family dynamics, I can't recommend this book highly enough.

Disappointing

This read was just okay- very tortuous and certainly not gripping. I appreciate her attempt to make the book feel more like literature than typical current fiction, but felt that her attempt fell short of success. The author clearly loves books along the lines of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Rebecca- I imagine she wishes this book could sit right next to it on a shelf in the library. At times eloquent but never deep, her myriad references to Jane Eyre as a foreshadowing device falls way short of the literary brilliance I expected after reading other people's reviews. I wouldn't recommend this book.