A review by broro117
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

2.0

On paper, this should've been a book I really enjoyed. A gloomy wintry atmosphere, gothic elements, a Victorian setting--but something was missing here, and so it comes off more as a cheap imitation of the other, better gothic novels it CONSTANTLY references (does Setterfield know any other books besides Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights or The Woman in White?). The characters and story are flat and strangely emotionless and I didn't find myself caring about any of them, except for maybe Aurelius. I found many aspects unbelievable but not in a way I think the author intended. None of the anticipated big reveals were particularly shocking, while some seriously dark stuff

(incest)

was oddly glanced over. 

Also, I may be totally out of line here, but I just don't buy that

the loss of a conjoined twin at birth could cause the kind of enduring trauma Margaret displays, especially if you only found out you had a twin at all several years after the fact

.

Overall, I'd rather just read one of the aforementioned classic gothic novels, and it kinda feels like that's what Diane Setterfield wants you to do anyway?