Review: Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield

Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield 336 pages, Hardcover Published November 2013, Atria Books Source: NetGalley, publisher for review
William Bellman is introduced to the reader as a child shooting a rock at a rook with a catapult. His perfect aim sends the bird to the ground. Dead. From here on out, his life seems to be blessed with good luck- in wealth, family and friends. However, it doesn't last. Illness and death find him and change him forever. A mysterious stranger seems to guide him into a new venture that brings him even more wealth but not happiness. Who is the mysterious Mr. Black who seems to arrive when his loved ones die?
The storyteller is a good one. Someone that has followed and studied Bellman. The story of Bellman is shared very carefully and thoroughly. Which makes the book read a bit slow. Completely atmospheric and immersive, but slow.  Finding out who the storyteller is and why he is telling Bellman's story, is when I remembered just how great a storyteller Setterfield is. 
This was an interesting read. I wasn't really sure if I was enjoying it but I couldn't stop reading it. The Thirteenth Tale is one of my favorite books and, I guess, I was expecting something similar. This has been such a different reading experience. It still has the great writing that immerses you into the world that Setterfield creates, but it took me a lot longer to really understand it.   Happy Reading! _________________________________________
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