** spoiler alert ** 
 A truly amazing read! 
 I first stumbled across this lovely novel in the thrift section of an antique shop in New England. Its charming cover (all done up with stacks of books) immediately caught my eye. Alas when I heard it was a "ghost story" my heart sank. This may sound strange coming from a person who LOVED the old tv show "Are you Afraid of the Dark?" but I generally HATE ghost stories. 
 So it was with a heavy sigh thinking "What a pity! The rest of the plot, about an author who tells a different story every time somebody asks her about her life, sounded so GOOD, too!" that I left the book behind and went on with my window shopping. 
 But fate was to bring me and this book together again. A friend was talking to me about books she wanted to read and I said, "Wow that sounds a little like this one book I saw once," and recited what I knew of the plot of Thirteenth Tale. 
 She got it out of the library, told me I HAD to read it, and so I did, and BOY AM I GLAD! 
 The "ghost" as it turns out wasn't even really a literal ghost after all, and the plot twist was mind-blowing. 
 Basically, you spend the ENTIRE book thinking Vida Winters (the author who tells different accounts of her life) was a violent twin to a sweet (but mentally slow) sister. You find out, instead, she was a secret cousin (or possibly a half-sister) living with the twins. She eventually (and somewhat unwillingly) takes over the violent twin's identity after a fire burns down their house. 
 Also, the main character in present times (the woman learning of Vida's story), has to be one of the most relatable characters ever. Her love of books, her family troubles, you feel so keenly all of these. And she too has a twin-related secret. She had a twin who was still attached to her body when she was born, and had to be cut away so she could live. (Was anyone else somewhat disappointed that they changed this to her actually HAVING her twin with her as a child until an accident in the film version?) 
 Beautifully written, invoking themes of old favorites like Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, this book is a don't miss for all story lovers! 
 Indeed, I recommend this book so highly I'd flat out say it's just a little BETTER than Wuthering Heights, much as I love good old WH.