Diane Setterfield's novel is based on the story Vida Winter, a well-renowned author in England. Her dark and tormented past led her to finally divulge her story to Margaret Lea, a quiet, passionate librarian. Even though both women seem to be complete opposites, the readers discover that they both suffer from separation from family and the death of a twin which gives them more in common than they expected.
The Thirteenth Tale is a story about a dysfunctional family, where the birth of a girl named Isabelle led to incestuous feelings from a brother, and the birth of two twin girls; Adeline and Emmeline. However, the readers find out that there are more secrets in the house than just the strange twins. There is a presence of a ghost that drives away the mistress, Hester, and the strange transformation of the radical Adeline into a smart, sensible mistress of the mansion. During Winter's recollection, the readers discover her true identity and the mystery of the twin is resolved.
As for Margaret, she has her own set of troubles to deal with. Her mother's coldness towards her existence and her father's indifference was something she had to endure all her life. The readers discover a hidden passion within Margaret, despite her bland introduction, and as the story progresses, she begins to take charge of her situation and actively solves the mystery behind Winter's life. During her work, she encounters a man named Aurelius, who is connected to the family and towards the end of the novel, they both find a family in each other.
The book was an enjoyable read, and even though the content matter seemed too dramatic at first, Setterfield's use of subtlety left the readers wondering in the end. A plot based on an average family is marvelously unraveled as secrets begin to pour out and I believe the readers will find something to relate to in this book, especially those who are twins or are close to their siblings.

This is an excellent book. It started off a bit slow but really picked up speed. I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book.

If I were to attempt a plot summary here, my guess is that many readers would be (not unjustifiably) put off by what seems to be a sensationalist, V.C. Andrews-ish, melodramatic series of coincidences, assumed identities, secret twins, incest, ghosts, and murder. I don't know if there's any way that a mere summary can do this book justice. Diane Setterfield's genius is that when you're reading "The Thirteenth Tale," you become so wholly engrossed with the characters and the stories they tell that improbable events - which would make you laugh scornfully in the hands of any other author - instead seem to make perfect sense. Each new lurid detail only pulls you deeper into the story, eliciting very real sympathy for the characters living out this tragedy.

The framing device is rather straightforward - a famous author, whose life story has until now remained a mystery, has chosen on her deathbed to assign her biography to an amateur author, the daughter of a bookshop owner. We learn about Vida Winter's life as young Margaret Lea does - beginning, then middle, then end, we're informed firmly. As an unrepentant page-flipper who always peeks ahead to the end, this was enormously frustrating - but ultimately rewarding. Setterfield knows how to drop just enough clues and hints to keep us hooked, making the plot twist both a complete surprise and - upon reflection - perfectly obvious.

The pace does lag a bit about 2/3 of the way through. A subplot involving an orphan abandoned 60 years ago who befriends Margaret isn't fleshed out quite fully enough; I never cared about Aurelius quite as much as I did the other characters. All minor quibbles in the face of a book that grabbed me fully, leaving me bereft and adrift when I was done. What to read next that can possibly compare? I will eagerly await future writings from Diane Setterfield.

Wonderful book. Definitely one of the best I've read in a while.

It's the story of two women. Vida Winters - the most beloved living novelist in the British Isles, now 80 years old. And Margaret Lea - a 30ish, introverted antiquarian bookseller and amateur biographer.

Vida Winters past has always been a mystery, fuelled by the hundreds of `fake' life histories that she has fed to various reporters and curiosity seekers. But now she is dying and she wants Margaret to listen to her tale and write her biography.

At first Margaret wants nothing to do with the project as everything Mrs. Winters has told in the past has been a lie. But slowly she is drawn in (as is the reader) to the story. A tale of wealth & poverty, birth & decay, family & familial indifference, love & loss & twins all set around a dreary and moldering English mansion. As Mrs. Winters story unfolds, so does Margaret's own. The two women are not as dissimilar, as they first appear.

Although beautifully written, this isn't a fast paced novel. It is dark in both setting and story. Think of the cold moors & of Wuthering Heights, the cruelty in the early part of Jane Eyre. It took me a while to get into the story, but by halfway through I was not only hooked, I couldn't put it down.

But what truly made it wonderful was the ending. The stage was set perfectly for the big reveal on Vida Winters. All the clues were in line. I should have seen it coming and yet I didn't. It is not the stereotypical ending to a book. The author did a masterful job, and I love being surprised like that.

And then I spent the rest of the book crying as everything came into focus. I'd highly recommend the experience.

Early on in Diane Setterfield's 'The Thirteenth Tale', the (fictional) author of the aforementioned 'tale' utters the line I have quoted in the title of this review, "When one is nothing, one invents. It fills a void."
Upon reaching the end of this novel, this one line holds greater meaning than initially suspected.

With so many reviews of this book, I am hesitant to provide a plot synopsis (amongst the many), and will focus on what I consider to be the book's strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths: Where to begin? This is a wonderfully atmospheric, well plotted, literary tale with so many parallels to classic literature tales that it's hard for any lover of classic fiction to NOT like....others have called this simply a 'ghost' story, and in ways it is, but it's that and so much more. Setterfield has crafted such a wonderful premise and tale to support it, with so many subplots, that virtually every character mentioned in this novel is of great interest, and has a 'place' in the story that unfolds.

Weaknesses: I only have one criticism of this novel, for which I have not deducted any 'stars' in this review. One thing that typically 'irritates' me as a reader is when someone is recounting a story, giving a narrative, and somehow has details to relate of conversations that they were not privy to, and do not explain how they learned the details. Granted, in this instance, the details were vital to the story, yet I still loathe the 'leap' one must take in order to simply accept that the person narrating the story 'somehow' found out what they are telling of. Whereas Ms. Winter's narrative of her life story is supposed to be the truth, I hesitate to think that she simply invented filler details....perhaps it was an embellishment of what little she DID know to be fact, but it still leaves me feeling a bit 'flat' in reading such things.

That said, this is a wonderful story....a perfect read for crisp fall afternoons when the shadows seem a bit longer and appear sooner in the day. A tale of death and rebirth, being freed by the truth, and the unburdening of the soul, I plan to recommend this novel to fellow readers over and over and over again.

Unsettling and gothic in its mood, and disturbingly eerie in its setting, Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale is a homage to the classic gothic Victorian novel. The author establishes a strange atmosphere, one that gets under your skin. One gets the sense that all is not right in Angelfield household, and that there is some startling or bizarre twist that is going to come out and shock or disturb the reader.

The novel is a ghost story in a sense, as each of the main two characters, Margaret Lea and Vida Winter, have untold pasts that come to haunt each in its own way. There are apparitions that seemingly cross Margaret's eyes, but then there are painful memories from the past that, when revealed, are more haunting. When Miss Lea, a biographer, goes to Vida Winter's residence with the opportunity of learning the renown author's life story, she not only opens up the door to the secrets of Winter's life, but her own.

One enjoyable aspect of Setterfield's work is the mysteriousness that rings forth. The author does enough to hold the reader in suspense all the while giving some insight into the background of the Angelfield household. The ominous appearance of Miss Winter's house is depicted early on: "Barred shutters blacked out the windows and there was not a single sign of human habitation. Closed in upon itself, the place seemed to shun visitors" (37). Miss Winter's failing health seems to add to the dreariness of the setting, and she slowly divulges the bizarre family secrets of Charlie, Isabelle, George Angelfield, Hester, Dr. Maudsley, and the mysterious twins, Adeline and Emmeline. Before everything is over, there will be a fire that sets in motion much tragedy for Miss Winter's family, and mistaken identities will be revealed. The author does enough to keep the wheels in motion, giving you little glimpses here and there so you can try to figure out what will happen next.

While I enjoyed the effort at creating mystery and mood, the overabundance of dysfunction was less-than-appealing. Between insane asylums, incest, murder, deadly fires, affairs, the book goes from Gothic to downright morbid at times. The shocking moments were attempts at furthering the plot and characterization, but come across as a means of gaining cheap "shock value", tabloid-type popularity.

However, the one hiccup doesn't detract from the over all impact of the book. It is a great novel to read on a cold, winter's night when you are thinking about curling up with a good mystery. I don't think it is quite five star material, but the next best thing.

First of all, I applaud Diane Setterfield, the author, for writing such a novel. I believe it must be a challenge to craft a story that is entirely plausible yet gripping and puzzling and unique.

The central character in The Thirteenth Tale is Margaret Lea, a reticent young woman who is the only child of parents who own a bookshop. I say parents, though it is Margaret's father who is the book expert who spends most of each day in the shop with Margaret. The father and daughter share a tender closeness that adds to the humanity of the book.

Margaret confesses that her love for books actually transcends her feeling for many of the people she knows. Her delight is to slip into bed each evening with a hot cup of cocoa on her bedside table and read for hours into the night. As she has a treasure trove of literary works at her fingertips and enjoys various genres of books, including historical accounts and biographies, she becomes intrigued at times by rather obscure figures in history and takes it upon herself to write small biographies on these men and women, which she occasionally has published.

Her work becomes noticed by a Miss Vida Winter, England's best-known author of her time. Out of the blue, Margaret receives a letter from Miss Winter, requesting Margaret's services to write her life's story. Margaret accepts the position, moves to Miss Winter's estate, and later learns that Miss Winter has given twelve earlier accounts of her life to various biographers, which she confesses have all been untrue. As Miss Winter relates the true account of her life to Margaret, what unfolds is a fascinating tale involving generations of a wealthy, recluse family with a truly dysfunctional lifestyle. There are whisperings of ghosts and ages-old family secrets, which are dark and disturbing.

What transpires is that Margaret grows and learns much about herself, as she first listens and then begins to investigate the truthfulness of Miss Winter's tale. Some pleasant resolutions occur regarding Margaret's and Miss Winter's lives toward the end of the book, which give a nice wrap-up to the many threads of plot woven throughout the story. Along the way, however, there are several cringe-worthy moments and mysterious occurrences that keep the reader riveted.

I will say that the story began a bit slowly for me, but I appreciate how Setterfield takes her time to include elegant descriptions of scenes and feelings and situations. The writing is superb. Also, I appreciate that this work does not include the vulgarity, profanity, violence, and sexual inappropriateness so prevalent in so many of today's novels.

Diane Setterfield is a gem, a writer with an elevated and praiseworthy style. Her tale is a moral one, with honorable characters who display acts of kindness and service, despite some genuinely troubling circumstances. This is definitely a novel worth reading.

This was our first book club selection and all in all I really liked it. It kept you interested throughout. I understand the issues some people had with the ending - it got a little complicated and a little implausable. But it was good.

Great discussion in our book club and a great read that kept you guessing until the end.

This was not my "type" of book, but I loved it. From the Victorian style writing to the true mystery surrounding the characters and the eerie details of the story, it was just a great read. The ending could have been shorter, but everything else was great.

This was a great read! It really kept me interested and guessing about several of the "mysteries". It was well written and almost lyrical. I loved the parallels to Jane Eyre and Rebecca. Most enjoyable!

This book was well written with characters that feel as though they are sitting next to you while you read. This was definitely a page-turner and the twists and turns will have you spinning out of control! This book is quite an accomplishment for a debut novel.

It took me longer to finish this book than usual. It just didn't call to me be pick it back up. It's not a ghost story like it markets itself to be; it's just the story of twins that miss each other. I think I was nonchalant about finishing this book because I thought the author was being too obvious with her hints of the secrets of this book. It does turn out, though, that what you think are supposed to be the secrets of the book are not the real secrets. You learn the real secret in the last 50 pages. I have to admit that the author had me fooled. But I didn't like getting 50 pages from the end and wondering where the ghosts were and trying to re-read the book in my mind with this new piece of information. Eh. Whatever.

Maybe I should have read Jane Eyre before reading this book because I simply didn't get all the references. I'm extremely lacking in my knowledge of that genre of book.

This author did have some extremely quotable lines about books and words. The story itself was just sort of "eh".

This book is not the typical genre I'm comfortable reading, however after the third try it was a "go" and ended up being a great read. The ending was, eh!!

I have recommended this book to all of my friends, and to random strangers as well! This is one of the most original plots - grabs you from the start and holds on for a wild ride. You will not want this book to end. It's one of those that calls to you from wherever you are..."read me, read me...". You might as well give up and just read the whole thing, cover to cover, as fast as you can!

There were some very good aspects to this book. Unfortunately, the COMPLETELY implausible ending ruined it. Who could think that made any sense?

The moment I began to read, I felt like I'm suffering from an addiction.

Addicted to the story that made me lost track of time.
Time which seems to flow like fluid.

As I move reluctantly towards the end of the novel, I tried to take it slow but it's just impossible.
When you're suffering from an addiction, you crave for more, isn't it?

The story is about twins, but towards the end there is a major twist.

Best book I've read in 2008

This book was recommended to me by a teacher who used it for a book club discussion. I had never heard of it but got it from the library. It was wonderful, involving, and entertaining. You became invested in the characters, and I feel it would make a wonderful movie as well. I now have purchased it for a Christmas gift, I know my recipient will be pleased.

I must admit that this book is not my typical reading material but I was intrigued by all the fuss and good reviews. Although it started off a little slow, patience proved to be a virtue as the story soon found its stride. The story is tightly plotted with wonderfully drawn characters. The ending was quite satisfying - I find that I am often disappointed in "mysteries" when the ending comes out of nowhere or is too simply concluded.

This is a very entertaining book. It may start out a bit slow but picks up quickly. I ususally read to put myself to sleep, but this one kept me up past my bedtime!

Diane Setterfield demonstrates her deep talent for creating a setting and a world that you find yourself lost in. As a huge fan of Jane Austen's Jane Eyre, this tale was not a retelling of her story; it was instead a new tale woven with different threads but carrying the same tragic theme. Ms. Setterfield's work is a detailed and facinating story that seems to lead us down several paths, only to expertly and surprisingly tie all of the details together at the end. Read this on a dark and stormy night and you will not be dissapointed!

I am happy I got around to reading this atmospheric homage to the great Gothic novels of the past. Although the author seems inspired by Du Maurier and the Bronte sisters, this novel is too well-crafted to be derivative. The writer has a unique and singular talent which is a real pleasure to read. The story moved at a swift pace for me personally, and I found myself purposely trying to slow down, so every twist would reveal itself in good time. Ghosts, a mysterious mansion on the moors, creepy twins, what's not to like? Rollicking good fun.

I'd give this a 4.5 star rating. This book was a real treat. The plot, the characters, and the writing itself were all very enjoyable. My only criticism is that there was very often drama created when the situation didn't warrant it. I know this is common in this genre, but it was a little overdone. All in all though, I would highly recommend the book.

One reviewer said that this is the same "shock-o-rama" one sees on TV these days, insest, abuse and sado-masochism, and I agree. Do we need more of it, especially in literature, whose purpose is to educate and elevate, not merely to entertain in the lowest sense of the word? I don't care that the book it well written, if the subject matter is basically trash. If it's the shock factor that keeps your attention, and not the story itself (which is not great by any means, and should never be compared with Wuthering Heights or Rebecca), nor anything else of value that you may learn while you read, the book is not worth wasting time on. Good thing I've only spent $6 on this garbage.

Get comfortable - make your self cocoa and plump up the pillows - its going to be a long night! I started to read the book the beginning of the weekend. Put it down. Woke up at 4 a.m. and finished it at about 10 a.m. I'm tired, but happy.

Thrilling and mysterious it weaves its spell, making you think you know what is going to happen next, and happy about it, only to find out it twists in another direction. And what satisfaction at the end, to find that every question you have gets answered!

The prose is beautiful and haunting. This is a book to pass on to friends and to re-read. A great gift for the winter holidays. I can't believe this is a first-time author and hope she has more than one tale to tell - at least thirteen!

The Thirteenth Tale was a splendidly delicious story with a beginning, a middle, and an end, just like Vida Winter said. It was an enthralling page turner. There were intriguing and creepy characters and overall, I was captivated and enjoyed it immensely. If you like reading to escape into a really good old fashioned (creepy) tale, this is the one! The plot twists and turns kept me going throughout. I will say, though, that I thought the side slight storyline of the co-joined twin of the biographer was weak, not so interesting, and didn't add to the novel overall. Still, in all, I loved it and would recommend The Thirteenth Tale to anyone who loves to read for variety.

The narrator's personal story was boring & tedious, & became "filler" to the supposedly real story of the reclusive writer. I did stick with it to the end by speed reading over the repetitive stuff (and there's a lot)but I wouldn't do it again. Ultimately the story just wasn't much of a mystery or interesting.

I found myself sucked into Diane Setterfield's dark and gothic world. Sure, many of the characters are strange and unbelievable but that's what the book is all about. The truth is boring...so why not just tell a good ghost story instead?

Incredible book full of twists, turns, and surprises. Very satisfying. Upon finishing, one of those books that stays with you for days...

Very well written book -- original and compelling story, characters and subplot. I loaned my 1st copy to friends and never got it back, so I bought a 2nd copy to read again!

This book is absolutely wonderful. It is full of mystery and ghosts. A modern gothic novel. The author's descriptions of what happens when reading are all too true. This is a book I will gladly recommend to everyone and I can't wait for the author's next book.

I loved this novel so much, that I was heartbroken to find no other books by this author! I will definitely buy whatever she writes!

Many other reviewers have adeptly described the plot of this book (though none of have given away its deep, dark secrets - thanks so much), so I won't spend time there.

If you've ever wanted to read a book where Jane Eyre meets the heroine from Rebecca in a vaguely Faulkner-Dickens-esque novel, than this book is just the thing for you!

Stunning language, profound character development, and of course a little mystery to grab hold and refuse to let you go, even once the last page is read.

I have but one complaint - when can we expect the a new book from Setterfield?

ENJOY - it's a treasure!

I can't think of any book I enjoyed more than the mysterious "The Thirteenth Tale." Beautifully written- I read the whole thing in a day! If you love the classics "Wuthering Heights" and "Jane Eyre" you will be spellbound by this book. I have passed it on to several people and enjoy the lively debate regarding the possibilities of what actually happened, and what the major themes are in the book. AMAZING buy it and enjoy it.

Another fun reading. A lot of references to the English literature and the outcome works fairly well. Not very deep, but I enjoy reading it.

I truly enjoyed this book and found it difficult to put down. The story has characters that slowly build and are finely written.

The story is reminiscent of a gothic ghost story and the beauty is that the mystery is doled out in parcels. I appreciated the way that the author built the unfolding of the mystery little by little and had a nice twist at the final revelation.

The interplay between the characters furthers the story and is genuine. You are exposed to a well written description of the times and society.

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a gothic mystery and can appreciate a story that takes time to build and draw you in.

I found this to be such a beautifully written book. I fell in love with the characters and did not want to put it down. I would very much like to see more from this author. .......simply beautiful.....

Our book club's choice for July was THE THIRTEENTH TALE, by Diane Setterfield. After having read some very quick, zippy reads for the last few months, we decided we want to try something more "literary." Many of us had heard of this book and read the good reviews, so we decided to give it a try.

The set-up is intriguing indeed. This is the story of two women. A reclusive best-selling author named Vida Winter is dying. She has deliberately set out to obscure the facts of her life, telling a different life story to anyone who asks. Margaret Lea is a young bookworm who's written a biography that Vida is impressed with, and Vida decides that she will tell her "true" life story to Margaret. But how "true" is the story Vida tells, and does Margaret have any secrets of her own?

Vida's story has all the elements of the traditional Gothic story: a creepy old estate (Angelfield), a ghost, missing babies, and a few sexual peccadilloes. And the story seems inspired by so many of the greats: Henry James (though the book is a much faster read than that), the Brontes, Daphne DuMaurier (Rebecca). And the story unravels like the old books of Victoria Holt, with plenty of period detail and deception, all through a first-person story.

It's hard not to like THE THIRTEENTH TALE, in that it is such an homage to all the greats, using some of their elements but combining them in a way that keeps the book fresh. We thought it was a bit slow to start, but then again the Gothics usually are. However, the pace does pick up...and, most importantly, it's easy to read. We found the plot turns, and the game of cat-and-mouse between Vida and Margaret, to be very addicting and fun. The tricky thing is that Vida is much more interesting than Margaret; however, Gothic heroines are traditionally understated (think Jane Eyre).

Interestingly, this is one of the few books we've read that divided along gender lines. In general, the women ate it up; the men got through it but said they felt like they were reading a "woman's book." Which led to some interesting discussion! (And let me stand up for the men here--they're an enlightened group! It was fun to discuss the differences between "men's fiction" and "women's fiction.")

All told, an enjoyable read, a notch above the usual Gothic fare--because it does take the elements of the Gothic and make them more modern. You can tell Setterfield has great love of and respect for the classics; and it was pleasant to be in her company.

Diane Setterfield's THE THRTEENTH TALE is difficult to get into, but after the first fifty pages the story picks up. Dysfunctional families, haunted ruins, strains of JANE EYRE, and other allusions flicker and burn in the telling.
"Tell me the truth" is a refrain both compelling and offsetting as Vida Winter after a lifetime of illusion tells her story.
A good read that follows all the traditions, but not a great read.
Writing as a Small BusinessSins of the Fathers: A Brewster County Novel

this story was so slow. I eventually put it down and didnt finish reading it(and I never do that). The author uses words beautifully, if only she could write a story that went somewhere and kept the reader interested.

I found The Thirteenth Tale to be a delightful, wonderful and haunting tale. The characters of Vida Winter and Margaret Lea are developed in an excellent way that allows the reader to feel as though they know both women. Though Vida is a very complex character, she is also one that the reader can find compassion for and holds a mystery until the very end.

The Thirteenth Tale is a story within a story. In addition, the story follows both Vida's life, as well as Margaret's life and the torment that she is feeling within. The secondary characterization is excellent and lends greatly to the story and though there are many secondary characters within the story, the superb writing makes it easy to follow along.

I give The Thirteenth Tale my highest recommendation, to anyone looking for an engrossing read that will keep you wondering and guessing until the very end.

I enjoyed this book, but reading through the reviews I found some common threads among those who didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I. Here are those common threads and my thoughts on them, to help you decide if this book is for you.

- Based upon some very good reviews, many expected this debut novel to be the next 'Jane Eyre' (or another one of their classic favorites - so nothing could compete)
- They wanted a fast-paced page-turner mystery (and this book, though engaging is not that).
- The saga of a dysfunctional family in a mansion was not what they expected (or wanted)
- It took too many words to say too little to many - and the beginning was slow.


My thoughts:
1. The prose in this book is 5-star worthy. Setterfield does know how to write!
2. The book reminded me throughout of some of my favorite childhood books - The Secret Garden (Aladdin Classics) and Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger) - but now written for adults. Negative reviewers often said the same thing - they just didn't particularly like those books.
3. The pace of this book is slower - doled out over meetings between the two protagonists. It is not an "I can't put this down" type book. It is, however, an "I'm looking forward to the next time I can pick it up" type book.
4. You can't help but not like, the main character, Lea and the biographer and the custodian of stories.She's a fellow book lover, as she says "As one tends the graves of the dead, so I tend books....Do they sense it these dead writers when their books are read? Is their soul touched ... by another mind reading theirs. I do hope so."
5. The story is engaging, the premise is different and while a long book --- it spans over 120 years of unique family history and several plots--- it's done well so each chapter is often a nice tale within itself, but with bigger questions still to be answered.
6. It does start out particularly slowly --- allow yourself the first 50 pages or so to ease into this book like you would a warm bath, before you write it off.

BOTTOM LINE: Is this book for you? If you're expecting a good read about interesting characters and liked V.C. Andrews as a child - then you'll probably enjoy this one. If you're expecting a fast-paced page turning mystery instead of the interesting story of Vida Winter and how she came to be who she was and the relationships she had, then you'd best look elsewhere.

I enjoyed this book, but reading through the reviews I found some common threads among those who didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I. Here are those common threads and my thoughts on them, to help you decide if this book is for you.

- Based upon some verygood reviews, many expected this debut novel to be the next Jane Eyre (or another one of their classic favorites - so nothing could compete)
- They wanted a fast-paced page-turner mystery (and this book, though engaging is not that).
- The saga of a dysfunctional family in a mansion was not what they expected (or wanted)
- It took too many words to say too little to many - and the beginning was slow.


My thoughts:
1. The prose in this book is 5-star worthy. Setterfield does know how to write!
2. The book reminded me throughout of some of my favorite childhood books - The Secret Garden (Aladdin Classics) and Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger) - but now written for adults. Negative reviewers often said the same thing - they just didn't particularly like those books.
3. The pace of this book is slower - dowled out over meetings between the two protagonists. It is not an "I can't put this down" type book. It is, however, an "I'm looking forward to the next time I can pick it up" type book.
4. You can't help but not like Lea the biographer and the custodian of stories.She's a fellow book lover, as she says "As one tends the graves of the dead, so I tend books....Do they sense it these dead writers when their books are read? Is their soul touched ... by another mind reading theirs. I do hope so."
5. The story is engaging, the premise is different and while a long book --- it spans over 120 years of unique family history and several plots--- it's done well so each chapter is often a nice tale within itself, but with bigger questions still to be answered.
6. It does start out particularly slowly --- allow yourself the first 50 pages or so to ease into this book like you would a warm bath, before you write it off.

BOTTOM LINE: Is this book for you? If you're expecting a good read about interesting characters and liked V.C. Andrews as a child - then you'll probably enjoy this one. If you're expecting a fast-paced page turning mystery instead of the interesting story of Vida Winter and how she came to be who she was and the relationships she had, then you'd best look elsewhere.

I LOVED this book! Had a bit of a slow start, but after a couple of chapters I even took the book to the amusement park while kids went on rides, it was THAT difficult to put down.

The story is well-developed, the characters compelling.

The only sad part: it's Ms. Setterfield's debut so no others of hers to read... yet!

Highly recommended!!

I found this book quite interesting. In the beginning, I struggled to hold on, as it started quite slow; however, once I got into it and started to feel Margaret, it turned out to be wonderful. Quality writing and a well-crafted story that left me, at some parts, guessing, only to "figure out" the wrong story. I very much recommend it.

The style is strong and enticing, but that was after a slow start. After that it clinches both suspense and the heart. Setterfield knows how to yank and jerk a reader's chain. I found I had a hard time putting the book to rest midway to the end. Expect a surprise nevertheless. This is a quality read perfect for mystery lovers.

I am a fan of the Bronte sisters and Rebecca and this book is in the same style/genre and captures your attention with mystery and intrigue. It is easy to read, compelling, and touching as I found myself bonding with the characters. Although it does pull at the heartstrings it leaves you with a sense of understanding and appreciation. It is a really good book.

I'm not a hype reader, so I didn't pick up this book until May of 2008, long after it had been hyped and written about all over the web. However I was drawn in by the subject matter (a booklover and writer who is asked to write the biography of a very well known and successful, yet mysteriously private, author).

The style is gothic--similar to a Bronte novel, and so it reads as old-fashioned. There is something of a ghost story, and there is a definitely a suspenseful unraveling of the facts.

I highly recommend it. It lives up to the hype.

I couldn't put this book down. It had me guessing until the very end. I highly recommend this book.

This book is exactly what I hoped it to be upon picking it up. It strangely reminds me of a dark roasted coffee- rich and deep and flavoful. It's a brilliantly woven yarn with layers of complexity and so mysterious as it leads you to the next unexpected twist lurking just around the corner. Read it near a fireplace and lose yourself to the brilliantly eerie story.