This book could not get off the UPS truck and into my hot little hands fast enough.

Booklist sums it up:

Margaret Lea, a bookish loner, is summoned to the home of Vida Winter, England’s most popular novelist, and commanded to write her biography. Miss Winter has been falsifying her life story and her identity for more than 60 years. Facing imminent death and feeling an unexplainable connection to Margaret, Miss Winter begins to spin a haunting, suspenseful tale of an old English estate, a devastating fire, twin girls, a governess, and a ghost. As Margaret carefully records Vida’s tale, she ponders her own family secrets. Her research takes her to the English moors to view a mansion’s ruins and discover an unexpected ending to Vida’s story. Readers will be mesmerized by this -story-within-a-story tinged with the eeriness of Rebecca and the willfulness of Jane Eyre. The author skillfully keeps the plot moving by unfurling a new twist in each chapter and leaves no strand untucked at the surprising and satisfying conclusion. A wholly original work told in the vein of all the best gothic classics. Lovers of books about book lovers will be enthralled.

Enthralled, indeed. The Thirteenth Tale is a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend 400 pages, with engaging characters, plot twists, and a conclusion that ties up every single loose end. I have to say, I like that in a book.

The only thing that could have made the reading more enjoyable would have been a rainy day and a cozy fire to read in front of. But alas, I live in Southern California, where it apparently never rains. And I have no fireplace. But I do have tea, which seemed an appropriate accompaniment when the rain and fireplace did not materialize.

For more on The Thirteenth Tale regardless of whether you have access to rain, a fireplace, or tea, visit MotherTalk.

Full disclosure: I received a free review copy of this book, as well as a small honorarium from MotherTalk for participating in this blog book tour.