The stories they choose to tell are specific to who they are and the conundrum at the book’s heart – the question of how all these stories come together – is a mystery that will likely beguile the most attentive of readers. The tavern’s inhabitants are almost all adults and present a wide range of backgrounds.

While I agree that there are plenty of eight-year-olds who will dive deep into this book, and especially enjoy the various stories, which often include young protagonists, I think Clarion would be wise to consider this more of an all-ages read. The Raconteur’s Commonplace Book is marketed as middle grade with a prospective reader age range of eight to 12. By the time the final page is turned, it is clear that The Raconteur’s Commonplace Book is about nothing less than what it means to live with deep regret, and how far humans will go to assuage their own guilt. Layer by layer, Milford creates a compelling narrative that in the end takes the reader far afield from what initially seemed to be a trapped group whiling away the hours. As everyone takes a turn, they reveal more about themselves and just what might be at stake with the rising river. What follows includes tales of haunted houses, ghost ships, peddlers engaged in dangerous bargains and more than one deal with the devil.

To pass the time, and in particular capture the attention of the youngest traveler, Maisie, the group decides to exchange stories. The roads are flooded by the rising Skidwrack River and the rain shows no sign of letting up, making everyone increasingly nervous. Set in a 19th-century-esque time period, the new title focuses on the 15 people waiting out an endless rain in the Blue Vein Tavern. Kate Milford returns to the world of her Greenglass House novels with the beguiling puzzle that is The Raconteur’s Commonplace Book. The Raconteur’s Commonplace Book, Kate Milford ( Clarion Books 978-0-7, $17.99, hc, 384pp) February 2021.

The raconteur's commonplace book