Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Thirteenth Tale | 2006 | Diane Setterfield | Buy |
| 2 | Bellman & Black | 2013 | Diane Setterfield | Buy |
| 3 | Once Upon a River | 2018 | Diane Setterfield | Buy |
Diane Setterfield has published three standalone novels, each drawing on the gothic and historical fiction traditions. The Thirteenth Tale (2006) tells the story of a reclusive author who summons a young biographer to record her life story. Bellman & Black (2013) follows a Victorian businessman haunted by a childhood act of cruelty. Once Upon a River (2018) is set along the Thames in 1887 and centers on a mysterious girl who appears to return from the dead.
All three novels share a fascination with secrets, storytelling, and the weight of the past.