Book Review: The Thirteenth Tale is a book to enjoy: drink some cocoa, suspend your disbelief, don't overthink, just go with the flow and get sucked into the mystery. Let yourself be 14 again. This book has two big things going for it. First, most of the story takes place in bookstores or libraries (the big ancestral manor house kind from English films), with many references to novels and reading (Jane Eyre is mentioned enough times I lost count). Second, Setterfield's ghost story deliberately attempts to recreate the feel of Gothic suspense in novels by the Brontes, Wilkie Collins, DuMaurier (and though not quite so obvious, there's a hint of Shirley Jackson as well). Much like Northanger Abbey, The Thirteenth Tale gently teases readers of such authors, "ladies of romantic imagination." Setterfield's writing is lush, evocative, and easy to quote (there are some clunkers, "looking into souls" and such, but that fits our Gothic atmosphere). There are bits of creepiness, but tastefully done. Since I'm not Harold Bloom, my only complaint is that the ending is too neat, too cute, and too quickly wrapped up; there are some who like a tidy conclusion. Our narrator says that she doesn't want to leave "readers pondering what became of" the characters, but she has a last trick up her sleeve: one big mystery is left unresolved. Argh! The Thirteenth Tale is a quick and compelling read, an entertainment. It's fun. Enjoy. [3½★]
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