Review - The Thirteenth Tale

By Diane Setterfield.
A slow story start, but because of the language of the book, I loved it from the first paragraph. I loved the way the words turned in my ear’s mind. The story itself takes interesting twists like a Sondheim musical. I have a feeling that I “predicted” the ending exactly where the author intended me to predict it. This book throws back to the days of Dickens and the Brönte sisters (to whom she plays homage throughout the book) in both style, language, and story with its dark mansion and secrets and plain-girl heroine. I loved the characters.
My one bane: the author tied up every loose end a bit too tightly in the end. In my opinion, the story would have fared better without the last chapter. Let my imagination have something with which to play.
This book has done well in the market, and I think rightfully so. I tried waiting for the hold line at the library, but waiting in line with the other kids to see Santa was not for me. I needed a GPS short cut. I went through Amazon. It was worth it.