The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel
Instant #1 New York Times bestseller "Readers will feel the magnetic pull of this paean to words, books and the magical power of story."--People "Eerie and fascinating."--USA TODAY Sometimes, when you open the door to the past, what you confront is your destiny. Reclusive author Vida Winter, famous for her collection of twelve enchanting stories, has spent the past six decades penning a series of alternate lives for herself. Now old and ailing, she is ready to reveal the truth about her extraordinary existence and the violent and tragic past she has kept secret for so long. Calling on Margaret Lea, a young biographer troubled by her own painful history, Vida disinters the life she meant to bury for good. Margaret is mesmerized by the author's tale of gothic strangeness--featuring the beautiful and willful Isabelle, the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess, a topiary garden and a devastating fire. Together, Margaret and Vida confront the ghosts that have haunted them while becoming, finally, transformed by the truth themselves.
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Community Reviews
Eerie, spooky, haunting....and a delicious read that was too good to savor.
A story within a story that pulls you right in and clutches you with the right balance of intrigue, mystery and noteworthy prose. I have not read a gothic-inspired mystery in ages and this one is enticing me to plunge into another - so pleased that I bought this book - :)
This is my favorite read of the year so far. I loved this book. Hauntingly beautiful and wonderfully written. The audio version was pure perfection.
I kept making guesses and was so happy that very few of my guesses were correct. I haven't binged a book like this in such a long time.
Wonderful, wonderful book.
I kept making guesses and was so happy that very few of my guesses were correct. I haven't binged a book like this in such a long time.
Wonderful, wonderful book.
Mysterious, Intriguing, Satisfying
I enjoyed this book. It is mysterious and at times suspenseful but never scary. A dilapidated old mansion in the English countryside, hints of ghosts, family secrets, rare books, libraries, beautiful gardens, biographical and psychological research, personal demons, and a missing true story to be told from a deathbed. There are so many questions and unexpected turns in the story that it held my attention for hours at a time. Even though some of the story seemed implausible, it was well written with rich descriptions and nice tempo.
The big question, one that the author has intentionally left unanswered, is what is the time period for story? My guess is around the 1950’s-70’s as there are cars, construction machinery and telephones but very little technology that is used to assist with research such as computers and the internet. Even so, the mansions and countryside gave it a much earlier feel.
I liked the setting for this story and wanted to wander through the house and gardens myself. I loved “the girl in the mist” as it set my mind working on all sorts of possible explanations. It was a wonderful story.
I enjoyed this book. It is mysterious and at times suspenseful but never scary. A dilapidated old mansion in the English countryside, hints of ghosts, family secrets, rare books, libraries, beautiful gardens, biographical and psychological research, personal demons, and a missing true story to be told from a deathbed. There are so many questions and unexpected turns in the story that it held my attention for hours at a time. Even though some of the story seemed implausible, it was well written with rich descriptions and nice tempo.
The big question, one that the author has intentionally left unanswered, is what is the time period for story? My guess is around the 1950’s-70’s as there are cars, construction machinery and telephones but very little technology that is used to assist with research such as computers and the internet. Even so, the mansions and countryside gave it a much earlier feel.
I liked the setting for this story and wanted to wander through the house and gardens myself. I loved “the girl in the mist” as it set my mind working on all sorts of possible explanations. It was a wonderful story.
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