Everyone loves a good story more than the truth! Vida Winter has become a prolific and hugely popular writer by fashioning her stories according to that stated belief. But now illness is rapidly diminishing her capacities, and she believes it is time to do something different!

Margaret Lea, an antique book lover/author/collector, is shocked to discover her family has a long and painfully vague secret dramatically affected her own life. So when Vida Winter contacts her to share the "truth" in a biography she wants Margaret to write, this younger writer becomes intrigued by the similar secrets held from the famous writer's adoring public for decades.

However, there's always the chance that Vida is still fabricating fantastic, imaginative tales and Margaret is never sure whether she's getting the real thing until both realize they are forced to confront the painful parts of their past lives in order to become the living "truth."

Diane Setterfield is a master of the gothic tale and also of the art of storytelling. The reader will zoom through these pages, totally caught up in an other-worldly tale with mystery, sanity, insanity, violence, beauty, separation, intimacy, and so very much more beyond what these simple words can describe!

If you love reading, telling or hearing a grand story, creating a stunning or mesmerizing tale, you will LOVE this novel!!! What a magical treat!!!! This reviewer has not been so captivated by such an artfully written story in a very long time!!!

This book is bound to be a winner of many awards and be loved by many more than satisfied readers!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on December 2, 2006

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