Once upon a time there was the Swan Tavern

The new novel by the author of the publishing phenomenon The Thirteenth Tale, with more than three million readers, translated into 38 languages and winner of the 2019 Gold Crown Award from the Historical Writers Association

"A master of the art of storytelling."
The Guardian

On a dark, foggy night, in the small English village of Radcot, on the banks of the Thames, locals gather at the Swan Inn to share a drink and stories full of folk wisdom. Six hundred years old, the inn is famous for bringing together the best storytellers of folk tales, but that night the evening gathering is interrupted by the arrival of a mysterious man, soaked in blood, carrying an unconscious girl in his arms. Before the man can offer any explanation, he collapses.

Meanwhile, upriver, two families desperately search for their daughters, Alice Armstrong, whom no one has seen for twenty-four hours after her mother's suicide, and Amelia Vaughan, who disappeared two years ago without a trace.

Critics have said...
"With a polished style and an enjoyable pace, Once Upon a Time at the Swan Inn creates a mystery that has two sides: one in the human world and another that seems to transport us to the supernatural, to that limbo between life and death that so many myths and tales have narrated; [...] one is left with the feeling of having navigated a well-crafted story that, like a calm river, has rocked us for a while."
Inés Macpherson, La Vanguardia - Cultura/s

"Its captivating language, picturesque setting, and characters make for a deeply enjoyable, suggestive, and evocative story of our most cherished traditional tales. A reminder of the importance of storytelling and its ability to bring people together despite individual differences and the passage of time."
Melissa Firman, Shelf-Awareness

"A novel steeped in mystery and folklore."
Alice O'Keeffe, The Bookseller

"Setterfield has extraordinary talent."
The Roanoke Times

"A novel that grabs you from the first page."
Jim Crace

About The Thirteenth Tale:
"A totally unique work, in the vein of the best classics of gothic literature. Those who love books about other book lovers will be captivated."
Booklist

"Mysterious and fascinating."
USA Today

"A perfectly toned novel."
Entertainment Weekly

"A book that makes you wake up in the middle of the night longing to return to it [...]. Timeless, charming [...]. The Thirteenth Tale is a book to savor a dozen times."
The San Diego Union-Tribune

"Readers will feel the magnetic pull of this tribute to words, books, and the magical power of story."
People

"Undoubtedly one of the best books published this year."
Daily American

"Readers will be mesmerized by this story within a story, tinged with the mystery of Rebecca and the stubbornness of Jane Eyre. The author leaves no loose ends in the surprising and satisfying ending."
Booklist