Book Review: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

When small-town writer Margaret Lea receives a direct request to write Vida Winter's life story, she is unaware of the contorted journey that awaits her. The reclusive author has been mysterious, specifically surrounding the enigma of the thirteenth legendary tale. Mrs. Winter has published an analogy of stories totaling twelve with reference to a mystical thirteenth saga, yet no one has yet uncovered this sacred story. Given that several scribes have come before, Margaret becomes intrigued regarding the possible justification that she should be entrusted to compose the infamous author’s memoir.

Filled with unique twists and turns, The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield is an unforgettable fictitious tale of twins, family mysteries and sordid tales that defy modern logic. While devoted sections of this sinister book generate a frightful work of fantasy, the story itself is quite intriguing. The initial premise of the book intimately connects two unique sets of twins together. Sufficiently separated for a marked period, one set becomes reconnected with dire consequences. Since Margaret is similarly a twin, albeit her twin died in infancy, she sincerely feels an enduring fascination with Vida’s fantastical story. The unspoken details surrounding the death of Margaret’s twin lay like an impenetrable veil over the Lea family. Mired in phenomenal secrecy, much like the clandestine nature enveloping the thirteenth tale and Mrs. Winter's mysterious seclusion, Margaret unintentionally stumbles upon the documented existence of her twin.

Rather than speaking of her own biography Vida dictates the incredible tale of Adeline and Emmeline March, two girls who were born under extraordinary circumstances stemming from a strange lineage. Once Isabelle March appears on her brother’s doorstep with two small babies, Charlie Angelfield is astonished by this intrinsic change in his life and his family. The girls do not retain any secure connection to their vulnerable household, despite the possessiveness of their maternal uncle towards their mother early on. The girls barely note her profound absence while their mother is a resident of an asylum. Bizarre happenings dominate despite the loosely watchful eye of the Missus and John-the-Dig. Given the fundamental abandonment of their uncle, Adeline and Emmeline evolve tremendously into undisciplined youths. Allowed to run amok in their own home and local neighborhood, the children wreak havoc everywhere much to the chagrin of the community. At one point the girls steal a pram, remove the baby, and push themselves down a hill. As the unpredictable behavior of the girls reaches reckless proportions, a private governess arrives in an apparent attempt to tame their behavior. This employment proves a detriment to both as the governess soon separates them. Each of the girls suffers horribly as a direct result. Upon reunification, the girls thrive; however, the cryptic activities of Angelfield Manor abound. The children mysteriously appear and disappear while objects react almost as if they have taken on a life of their own.

A commonality that resonates powerfully throughout the ambitious novel is the peculiar notion of apparitions and unexplained events. While the Angelfield Manor endures its fair share of unusual happenings, from disappearing items to fierce attacks with phantom spirits, similar occurrences seem to travel through the Winter Estate as well. Things are similarly obscure as objects go bump in the night and ghostly figures appear. Margaret finds herself awakened by puzzling feelings, including sensations of being surreptitiously watched. Notwithstanding, the enduring mystery of the thirteen tale, a number itself riddled with superstition.

The continuous flow of the complex narrative as told from several principal characters’ perspectives is delightful. The striking fiction within the legend of the March children as recited by Vida Winter naturally generates a profound dimension to the story itself. The incredible complexity behind the pedigree of the Angelfield dynasty, including the children’s genealogy, evolves throughout the descriptive book and progressively develops as the novel advances. Each alternative story narrated by Vida Winter powerfully builds upon the previous information disclosed. The author moves seamlessly between the present-day storytelling of Mrs. Winter to Margaret and the narrative past with the March twins. The storyline sustains the reader's interest until the final page. This literary suspense produces a bewitching novelty.

The book is skillfully composed with a superb plot, flourishing with incredible complexities throughout the entire book. Some pivotal scenes between the family members are graphic in nature, lending itself to a thriller genre. If one prepares for the menacing sections from the onset then the prospective reader would likely thoroughly enjoy this book. This could be an excellent novel for someone anticipating a spooky treat to supplement their fall reading list or anytime for suspense that steadfastly keeps the reader in eager anticipation until the ultimate conclusion.

Book Review: Keeper of the Light by Diane Chamberlain

When Annie O’Neill’s nearly lifeless body arrives through the doors of the Kill Devil Hills Emergency Room Dr. Olivia Simon is struck by two coinciding reactions. The first is to sprint into action bound by her duty as a doctor to rush to the aid of her dying patient. The second response is one of disbelief. After all, this is the woman with whom she has been competing, the one with whom Olivia will never measure up. Thus, begins Keeper of the Light by Diane Chamberlain. This intricate story evolves as the narrative reveals the web that joins together two diversely different women, Olivia and Annie. Olivia's husband Paul's involvement with both of these women complicates matters significantly. As the plot expands, Annie’s husband, Alec, becomes entrenched in a friendship with Olivia, searching for an explanation for what forced Annie through the emergency room doors from the beginning.

Olivia discovers herself equally on a path for answers, hungry to determine the rationale behind the community and her own husband’s infatuation with the illusive Annie as well as the grasp that she has over everyone she encountered. Olivia struggles with her own psyche, attempting to find an identity in comparison to Annie including how she can fit into the life that Annie once lived. Olivia wonders at the fascination that her own husband has with Annie, struggling against the strain this mirage of a creature has had on her marriage. She discovers many sordid secrets about herself, her husband, and the illusion of Annie.

In the backdrop lays the ancient lighthouse and the public’s quest to salvage it. Alec and a team of dedicated followers stand strong to spare the lighthouse from destruction. Along with the aging caretaker, they seek to preserve the history of the historical landmark that stands as a beacon of light for their populace. The lighthouse symbolizes a guiding star for them, ushering in lost sailors and lost souls. For those that are without a direction, the lighthouse provides a refuge. For those that possess secrets, it offers shelter to keep those confidences safe. When all is revealed, will the Pharos be strong enough to weather the storm or will everything come crashing down around the feet of these fragile characters?

The interwoven personalities are poetic as their storylines converge into one overarching plot. The author demonstrates an aptitude for maintaining tension throughout the book. The characters and their conflicts throughout the story are accessible. For instance, as Alec attempts to relate to his adolescent daughter while she wants nothing to do with him, this is a developmentally appropriate response in the teenage and parent relationship, especially given extreme circumstances. The complexity of the relationships is navigated throughout the various plot twists. These individuals and their interactions develop in predictable and unpredictable ways as the novel progresses.

As Olivia is examining herself and journeying to decipher why it is that she does not measure up to Annie, these sensations are completely understandable. When she engages in her quest to uncover the mystique of the overall fascination with Annie, Olivia is relatable in that many people would experience the same emotions in her position. In her doubting of herself and her marriage, she is vulnerable and emotional, reacting in predictable ways. In her inquiring of Paul’s willingness to throw away his marriage on a figment of his imagination, the reader identifies with her through the ability to sympathize with her heartbreak.

The love affair with the lighthouse is very endearing. As the committee unites for the universal cause of saving the beacon from certain destruction, this demonstrates the spirit of the population. The enduring spirit of the lighthouse committee and the commitment to their cause, including preserving the past is inspirational. The dedication to the lighthouse is admirable given that the fixture of the land has been there longer than any of them. It is affecting they are so committed to conserving it.

While there are many intriguing aspects to this book, there are a few aspects that are not as engaging. Some of the action of the saga is unbelievable. While these aspects are meant to keep the plot moving, the actions could polarize the reader. People are much more complex than those revealed in this book. Conversely, individuals are sometimes illogical when they are emotional. For the purposes of fiction, the deeds might be exaggerations of irrational behaviors. For instance, Paul’s response to receiving startling news by running out of the lighthouse leaving everyone behind appears nonsensical. This does not seem like something that people would do in a traditional society, however people behave harshly in extraordinary circumstances. Undoubtedly, the activity of the narrative is produced from the perspective of preserving the drama.

This book emerges as an excellent timeline of a community in the midst of a crisis. As they move through the action of the fiction, they are predictable yet emotional in some areas and understandably unpredictable in other areas. The image of the lighthouse as a beacon for the citizens is poetic. The characters coming together intertwined in a tapestry is exceptional. It makes for an engaging read as the author has thoroughly developed each character and created them to each fit into each other person’s story. Each of the individuals evolves over the course of the book. This feature maintains the reader's engagement in the narrative until the end, providing a mystery of interconnections throughout the novel. This book is a complex tale that correlates aspects of romance, suspense and the struggles of family life. As this is the first in The Keeper Trilogy, it would be intriguing to follow these characters to note how their stories evolve over the ensuing books.