never disappointed by her writing. she always seems to push the complexity of the mystery further and further each time. this was a little darker than usual for her books, and the characters felt a little more remote and detached from life. unusual tale of a twisted family

This book is billed as a mystery and a thriller. OK, I've said this many times so let me be swift – thrillers need to be fast-paced or they don't thrill. At 512 pages, this is the opposite of fast-paced, so let's drop the pretence of it being a thriller.

But where is the mystery? I often pause at 20% of a book to kind of consolidate in my mind what I've read so far and, frankly, to decide whether it has grabbed me enough to make me want to read the other 80%. At 20% of this mystery thriller, there is no mystery. Well, one, perhaps – namely, what is the plot? It's a long, rambling, admittedly well written, description of two dysfunctional families loosely tied together by a book one of them published long ago, that became a sensation that attracted a bunch of nutters, stalkers and weirdos. This is the book's 50th anniversary, so one assumes these aforesaid nutters, stalkers and weirdos are now doing their nuttery, stalkery and weirdery with the assistance of walking sticks, zimmer frames and reading glasses. (Ageist? I'm not far off their age, and I assure you I lost any desire to run about stalking people over fantasy novels many decades ago, round about the same time as we stopped singing songs about the Age of Aquarius...)

But there's no plot, no mystery. And still 400 pages to go. Nope. Abandoned.

Perhaps it's the victim of misleading blurb syndrome. Perhaps if it had been marketed as contemporary fiction focusing on dysfunctional families the lack of a plot or a mystery wouldn't have mattered, (and I wouldn’t have chosen it). But if a book is sold as a mystery thriller, then it should have the former and be the latter.

I did enjoy this book but it’s not my favourite book by this author.

I liked the concept of the book about the family being brought together and then being slowly torn apart. I also enjoyed Nelly character. The book was very strange in parts but it was still enjoyable.

What a great read! I love the uniqueness of the story, the characters and the way the story comes together. All the relationships are pretty complicated but toxic but ultimately they’re all still family. This is my first read of an Erin Kelly but I am in love with her writing so will definitely be reading more,

Unfortunately this was not for me. I was initially drawn in by the gorgeous cover and the author. Erin Kelly is a master storyteller, and there is no doubt that her writing is rich and lyrical. The premise of portraying two dysfunctional families, fell a little flat for me and failed to hold my interest.

Although this one didn't work for me, I love the authors previous work and will definitely be reading what she comes out with next.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced reading copy.

I tried several times to read this times as the opening of the books drags a bit. However once you get through that bit WOW!!! It is gripping intense and exciting. Another gem of a book from the wonderful Erin Kelly!

Fabulous thriller set around a treasure hunt/picture book published 50 years previously by Nell's father. The story is packed with obsession, mystery and tension, with fixated fans and an author, family patriarch Frank Churcher, who fans the flames by revealing the whereabouts of the final bone to be found. Engrossing and gothic.

I really wanted to love this book but I just found it hard to get into. I was initially drawn to the book by the storyline and thought the concept was so unique and interesting. I think it was a really slow starter and I had to take a few breaks from the book as it just didn’t have enough excitement to fully grasp my attention.

I loved He Said/She Said but struggled to maintain any interest in this story of two families whose lives are changed dramatically after the publication of The Golden Bones (a puzzle book based loosely on Masquerade).

Despite its dramatic prologue, the pacing is glacial and it is difficult to maintain interest in a story with such unsympathetic characters.

Just not for me.

Colby Mills once felt destined for a musical career, but tragedy grounded his dreams. Now the dust has settled, he spontaneously takes a gig playing at a bar in Florida, seeking a rare break from his duties at home.

Intriguing thriller exploring the effects of the misdeeds of parents on their children. Great set-up about a best-selling treasure-hunt book in the style of Kit Williams' 'Masquerade' and its obsessive 'Bonehunter' fans. Several plot strans deftly handled and well-drawn, fascinating characters.

I was sent a copy of The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly to read and review by NetGalley. This is an interesting and engaging novel concerning the fervour of a ‘treasure hunt’ book written 50 years previously. ‘The Golden Bones’ was an illustrated book full of obscure clues as to where physical jewels representing parts of the skeleton of Elinore, the woman at the heart of the story, were buried. The novel moves back and forth between the years as The Golden Bones gets a new lease of life with an anniversary re-print and an accompanying television programme being made alongside. The story highlights the changes in our society from a time before the internet and social media to the immediate access that every one of us has at our fingertips today. The only reason that I gave this novel 4 stars instead of the maximum 5 was because I found that the ‘reveal’ towards the end of the book became a bit laborious for me and it lost some of the spark that the rest of the novel seemed to have. That said, it is still a very readable and enjoyable book with plenty to keep you interested.

This book had me hooked. Twisty turner thriller which I couldn't put down, it was exactly the story I was in the mood for and I will definitely look for more work by this author

The Skeleton Key is a twisty, mystery thriller that had me hooked from the get go.

A tale of treasure hunts, family secrets and puzzles that keeps the reader gripped right till the end. Written from the points of view of each of the two family's members and a weaving timeline, it's a mesmerising read,, and a bit of a rollercoaster so get yourself strapped in and give yourself plenty of time as you won't want to put this book down.

I didn't see half of the twists that came which meant it really was as much a surprise for me as it was the other characters in the book. I even felt myself flicking back to see if I had missed some clues along the way,

Would definitely recommend this to other thriller readers, and would pick up another Erin Kelly book in the future.

A delicious read, I poured over it and hated having to put it down before finishing. Such a well told story, blending then (the 1960s) and now so compellingly, this is a total must-read.

Really loved this book.

It’s a long intertwining story flitting between the past and the present. Telling the story of two very dysfunctional families whose lives have been more or less dictated by “The Golden Bones” a fictional illustrated book written by the parents, and which has become an obsession for many.

I felt very involved in this book, it drew me in entirely and I felt every twist and turn. It’s an easy five star from me.

My honest review is based on a copy that I received from the publisher.

As someone who remembers the fascination of “Masquerade”, the superbly illustrated riddle that led to a buried treasure sometime in the 1980’s, this is a fictional account of a similar treasure hunt, dreamt up by an artist and which has secured him fame and fortune. The price of this fame, however, has a devastating impact on his friends and family, due to the obsessiveness of the treasure hunters and the quest for the elusive final piece. This is more than a story about a quest for hidden treasure, however, as it also explores complex family relationships and secrets. Complex and compelling.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Whilst I didn't always like the characters (by design, I am sure), the plot kept me interested with its tension and twists.

A twisting and , for me slightly overlong plot. Weaving between past and present the novel tells the story of two families through their relationships with each other and with the book written decades earlier. Much like Masquerade this book gives clues for treasure seekers to follow. The obsessive nature of some of them has helped create mayhem for Eleanor the main character.
I had to concentrate hard to follow the storyline but did enjoy several twists at the end.

Not a book for me I could not get into the storyline. However well written and likely to be popular with many readers.