From the Bookshelf of Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge…

The Thirteenth Tale

Diane Setterfield

Start date: January 28, 2015

Finish date: February 3, 2015

Why we're reading this: I sort of cheated,this book was not recommended to me personally but it did come highly recommended on tw…more
[close] I sort of cheated,this book was not recommended to me personally but it did come highly recommended on two pod-cast's I follow. The Book Riot podcast and Books on the Night Stand podcast. I was on a long waiting list for this book so when it came available I had to read it. This is the only challenge I could work it into. Anyway, great story!

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Jan 20, 2024 Deb rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

A diverting gothic, Victorian story. I enjoyed it quite a bit, although the ending seemed a bit rushed compared to the leisurely storytelling of the first 3/4 of the book.

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 09, 2008 Mara rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, books-about-books, suspense, twins

This was a very engaging story. Written in the style of a Gothic novel, this story is very reminiscent of Jane Eyre, with a unique twist. The secret to the story is revealed to the reader as the main character figures it out, in a very realistic way.

What prevented this book from getting 5 stars was what I felt to be an unnecessary subplot that only served to bog the story down. I understand that our main character needed a "hook" of some kind to be convinced to write the biography she's been cha ...more

Like · see review

Dec 08, 2011 Shrop rated it really liked it

This is more a 3.5 star for me but I rounded up because I did really enjoy the escape of it. Engaging and suspenseful read, just sometimes got a little hokey.

Like · see review

May 25, 2008 Juliezs rated it really liked it

Shelves: library, read-in-2008, read-in-2012

This was a great story, I'm really glad that I finally read it, after having several people tell me to. The intertwining stories of past and present, and mysteries revealed and solved were very engrossing and kept interested and guessing until the end. I appreciated the characterization of the relationship between the woman hired to write the biography and the woman who is telling her story, poignant and true. ...more

Like · see review

Mar 20, 2008 Laura Vultaggio rated it really liked it

I loved this book. It really is like a modern day Jane Eyre of sorts and it's definitely "un-putdownable" as Barnes and Noble says. It's also a perfect read for someone who loves reading and literature and it keeps you guessing until the very end. ...more

Like · see review