The Thirteenth Tale

Atmospheric and gripping

I couldn't stop listening to this wonderfully atmospheric story. The pleasure greatly enhanced by Jenny Agutter's accomplished narration. It's difficult to pigeon-hole the book: it delves into psychology and the paranormal; into a quest for the truth about identity and echos some of the themes in Jane Eyre. It's one of those books that sucks you into it's world and leaves you wishing it hadn't ended.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

A Fabulous Twisting Tale

I first came across this book in paperback form and although it was a bit of an epic novel I waded my way through hooked by its secrets and saga. I really wanted to experience the story a second time but just didn't have huge chunks of time to sit down and read it so I purchased the audio version and it is as wonderful as I remember it!

The book takes place over two time periods and I must admit it is the older era which I find the most enrapturing and interesting. By the end of the audiobook the twists and turns will have you on the edge of your seat and you will want to listen to the whole thing again in order to consume every little detail.

Fantastic!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A great reader but a dodgy plot.

Although the author spins a good yarn, this book left me feeling dissatisfied.
We do not know what year it is and the themes of the story are unmistakenly gothic. It has an engrossing atmosphere but the convoluted plot left me wondering if I'd got it right by the time I reached the end.
The main strength of this audiobook is the excellent narration by Jenny Aguter. This is what kept me listening.

5 of 7 people found this review helpful

Too much gloom & over dramatised doom

I had to give up on this book by Chapter Five, I found the prose slightly ridiculously over dramatic, for example, feeling pain in every cell of the body and so on. I usually don't mind suspending disbelief a bit but his story was so stuck in one doom laden mood I just wanted to get out.

4 of 6 people found this review helpful

Very engaging.

I barely put it down. I have it in audio at night and a paperback by day. Absolutely brilliant. I was shocked at how quickly I became enthralled in ever word, paragraph and page. Very beautifully written and a joy to read or listen to.

Satisfying mystery with excellent characters.

Loved the story and couldn't wait to hear what happened next. Narrator a little flat but you get used to it.

Exceptional tale of mystery and imagination

Diane Setterfield's tale of the twins and the weaving of her magic reminded me of the great classic reads. There was a touch of Rebecca meets Woman in White.
I particularly warmed to the richness of her descriptions and stylistic prose; the way she described the house is such anthropormorphic ways was fabulous.
I will recommend this book to anyone as a great page turning read.

Riveting, disturbing, amazing

A little way into this brilliant, Jenny Agutter narration I started to realize that I had seen a TV drama version and could just about remember the basics of the plot. It says something about the strength of the writer that this did not undermine my enjoyment of it one bit! Even the twist, the gist of which I was waiting for.
I'm not certain the plot really adds up to something entirely credible but that doesn't matter at all as one is swept along on this unsettling gothic ghost story.
The framing device of interviewer and interviewee and the rather common place, unlikely heroine of the latter day story, to me, perfectly offsets the darkly unfolding family saga of ages past. Angelfield House is not a place one would wish to reside for very long. It is a relief to be whisked back to the present day from time to time.
This is also a book about books. About publishing and the experience of both writing books and reading them. A rich literary feast which haunted me for some time after it had ended.

Great book, well written.

I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it. There is a twist to it and I didn't see coming but when he arrives you realise that it was there all the time. It is well written and well narrated. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Intriguing Story

An interesting and intriguing story that keeps you hooked all the way to the end. I love the ending as well.