The Thirteenth TaleThe Thirteenth Tale
Score Modern
What it's about
Margaret Lea, a quiet young woman who works in her father's antiquarian bookshop, is summoned by Vida Winter, the most famous novelist in England, who has always told reporters invented stories about her past. Now old and dying, she wants Margaret to write her true life story: a gothic tale of a crumbling house, twin sisters, a governess, a fire and a ghost.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It's a love letter to Jane Eyre and old-fashioned storytelling, with a twisty mystery.
You'll love it if you liked
Rebecca
The Blind Assassin
FingersmithGood to know
There's incest, child neglect and violence. It became a BBC film.
By the numbers
- Readers39 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller63 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #37 of the 86 horror books we rank
- #245 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #853 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1581 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Dark, Gripping, Moving
If you like this, read next
The Bottoms
Joyland
Fairy Tale
The Butcher Boy
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
The Green MileExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Thirteenth Tale worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #1,581 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Thirteenth Tale about?
Margaret Lea, a quiet young woman who works in her father's antiquarian bookshop, is summoned by Vida Winter, the most famous novelist in England, who has always told reporters invented stories about her past. Now old and dying, she wants Margaret to write her true life story: a gothic tale of a crumbling house, twin sisters, a governess, a fire and a ghost.
How long does it take to read The Thirteenth Tale?
About 10 hours (406 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Thirteenth Tale?
If you liked it, try Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood or Fingersmith by Sarah Waters.