Miss Vida Winter is a renowned British author (reminiscent of JK Rowling). She's now 80 years old and is about to die, yet she has one more story, one more "tale," in her - her own life story. She seeks Margaret Lea, an amateur biographer to record what she has to say.

At first Margaret is apprehensive but Miss Winter entices her with an eerie, compelling story. As Margaret sits down to record Miss Winter's words she learns they have something in common - a twin. And each of them has been haunted in their own way but their twin.

Miss Winter begins her tale of the Angelfield family - a family with money, but touched by a bit of 'madness.' Margaret soon discovers Miss Winter's mother, Isabelle, also had a hint of 'madness.' As Margaret continues, the twists and turns that Miss Winter's story takes stuns her.

going away for a weekend and just delving into it. It's a read that's hard to put down.

the character of Miss Winter. She was compelling and complex.

There was nothing I didn't like.

write a book review.

It was reminiscent of VC Andrew's work, which I really enjoyed. The book didn't make me feel as much as it made me think.

is Diane Setterfield. She's a former academic who lives in Yorkshire, England.

It's hard to put down once you get into it and Setterfield will draw you in quickly. Her characters are interesting and her tale is creepy - in a good, storytelling way.

Well, if you didn't care for VC Andrew's Dollinger series you might not like this one. There are taboo topics that are indirectly addressed.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was hard for me to put down. I kept turning the pages even even though I knew I had to stop. Setterfield's writing is crisp, yet dark and she's not overly wordy. A compelling read.

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Created Aug 07, 2008 at 6:17pm • Submit your own review...