THIRTEENTH TALE

Margaret Lea, amateur biographer, is summoned by Vida Winter, a secretive author of stories, to write her as yet unpublished thirteenth tale and to write the story of her life. Beginning with the tale of her twin's death in a horrific fire, Winter tells stories of her life that are intertwined with gothic tales until it is almost impossible to separate fact from fiction. Ruthie Henschall, the narrator of Margaret's tale, is mesmerizing, drawing the listener into her confusion and skepticism about Vida and her life. As Vida, Lynn Redgrave's voice is surprisingly rough and uneven. Better sound editing and volume control could have mitigated these distractions, which draw the listener away from the captivating tale as it uncovers ghosts of the past. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 07]