I’m so glad I read this brilliant book. It started out in my mind as one thing, but ended up being so much more.A deliciously convoluted murder mystery. Wow I’m in awe of Erin Kelly’s ability to turn the plot screw; you think you’ve got it then on the next page she gives you a totally different insight. Thank you to Hodder Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

The Lallys and the Churchers, two families who live next door to each other and live quite a bohemian life. Sir Frank Churcher and his wife Cora appear to be the better off, but is that only a monetary thing? Lal and his wife Bridget are a little more grounded, but do live under the shadow of the Churchers. With numerous off-spring and grandchildren, this does seem to be a cast of thousands!

As a rule I love a dysfunctional family saga, with all their secrets, mysteries and foibles, but this book had me stumped. It was a real struggle to read and halfway through I couldn’t wait to get it done. The pace was extremely slow and with so many characters it was hard to relate. The idea for the plot was good, but too many sub plots and inconsequential characters added nothing to the story. A real shame as I know this could have been so much better.

Thank you NetGalley.

A long complex book exploring the impact of a long lasting world wide obsession with a treasure hunt. The impact on the family of the author is the main theme with a family member the narrator of her contributions.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book but it certainly wasn’t what I expected from the write up.
This is a modern treasure hunt, involving the use of modern opportunities to research but it mostly focuses on the family impact. As the story unravels it is clear that this impact is worse than even any of the family have realised. The final chapters reveal historical crime and cover ups!
A clever and complex story. Recommended

Having read the reviews for this book I was looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately I could not get into it at all. It seemed too disjointed and did not get my attention. Not for me I am afraid.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance copy of this book.

This is first book I have read by Erin Kelly, it won’t be my last.

I was instantly hooked by the beautiful cover when I saw this on NetGalley I was further drawn in reading the synopsis :

FROM THE COVER📖📖📖📖📖

Summer, 2021. Nell has come home at her family's insistence to celebrate an anniversary. Fifty years ago, her father wrote The Golden Bones. Part picture book, part treasure hunt, Sir Frank Churcher created a fairy story about Elinore, a murdered woman whose skeleton was scattered all over England. Clues and puzzles in the pages of The Golden Bones led readers to seven sites where jewels were buried - gold and precious stones, each a different part of a skeleton. One by one, the tiny golden bones were dug up until only Elinore's pelvis remained hidden. 

The book was a sensation. A community of treasure hunters called the Bonehunters formed, in frenzied competition, obsessed to a dangerous degree. People sold their homes to travel to England and search for Elinore. Marriages broke down as the quest consumed people. A man died. The book made Frank a rich man. Stalked by fans who could not tell fantasy from reality, his daughter, Nell, became a recluse.

But now the Churchers must be reunited. The book is being reissued along with a new treasure hunt and a documentary crew are charting everything that follows. Nell is appalled, and terrified. During the filming, Frank finally reveals the whereabouts of the missing golden bone. And then all hell breaks loose.

So I was delighted to receive a ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers Hodder and Stoughton.

REVIEW🗝🗝🗝🗝🗝

The novel is structured in way that slips into the past from the present day, where we hear from Nell in the first POV in the present, while in the past we have snippets told in the first POV from other key characters. This structure works well it creates a feel of slow burning eerie tension, almost like a sense of pending doom. The flashbacks were the best parts from me as they really opened up and developed the cast of characters from a completely different stance from what we hear from Nell’s reflections of the past.
That being said the characters are equally if not more monstrous when hearing directly from them. Kelly has created a lot characters in this novel, at the beginning I felt perhaps too many characters but as the novel processes each one plays a key role in expanding and tidying up the plot nicely.

The main protagonist is Nell, I’ll be honest I wasn’t overly keen on Nell she was a bit whiney and moral for my taste I found myself furiously disagreeing with Nell’s moral standpoint throughout, however as a character Kelly has created someone who illustrates the madness and up roar the “ The Golden Bones” has caused and in that sense she is the perfect narrator.

At first glance I thought the book was going to be, a sort fiction come puzzle book with the family story playing second fiddle to the treasure hunt, I thought we might even get to see the “the golden bones “ illustrations to play “ bonehunters”. Kelly opens with a authors note telling the background of the concept of “the golden bones” which has been loosely based on the 70’s real life treasure hunt picture book Masquarade which sparked the beginning of arm chair treasure hunters. This was something I had never heard off and it really intrigued me. I was looking forward to a classic family sage with some mystery intertwined with clues etc to solve “the golden bones”. This however is nothing like my first thoughts it wasn’t what I was expecting at all. The treasure hunt merely acts as a gateway to what is a often a macabre family saga full of disturbing secrets . It is the story of two families destroyed by success, power, jealously and pettiness. With deeply disturbing twists and turns the treasure takes a back seat and instead you are drawn into a twisted toxic family dynamic where deep issues are explored with true insight and brilliant imagination by Kelly. The book explores so many topical issues in a unique way. Very much not what I was expecting at all.

The pacing of the novel was fairly slow in the first two parts I found it moved very slowly and at times I was bored, the flashbacks with the eerie sense of something about to kick kept me reading in these lags, that being said the book may start with a quiet pace yet before I knew it I was hooked. By part three where it is all set in the past I was gripped. This a book that is rare in the fact it starts of slow and still had me reading, when it really takes off the pace is slow but increases in thrilling tension that is creepy, eerie, moving and compelling: well plotted and gorgeously-written, it is full of detail, invention and imagination. And that's even before the smashing finale and unsettling epilogue. The truth is most certainly outed in a speculator fashion with a deeply disturbing twist. I loved it

A truly unique fresh take on a classic format…fabulous story telling

Summer, 2021. Nell has come home at her family's insistence to celebrate an anniversary. Fifty years ago, her father wrote The Golden Bones. Part picture book, part treasure hunt, Sir Frank Churcher created a fairy story about Elinore, a murdered woman whose skeleton was scattered all over England. Clues and puzzles in the pages of The Golden Bones led readers to seven sites where jewels were buried - gold and precious stones, each a different part of a skeleton. One by one, the tiny golden bones were dug up until only Elinore's pelvis remained hidden. 

The book was a sensation. A community of treasure hunters called the Bonehunters formed, in frenzied competition, obsessed to a dangerous degree. People sold their homes to travel to England and search for Elinore. Marriages broke down as the quest consumed people. A man died. The book made Frank a rich man. Stalked by fans who could not tell fantasy from reality, his daughter, Nell, became a recluse.

But now the Churchers must be reunited. The book is being reissued along with a new treasure hunt and a documentary crew are charting everything that follows. Nell is appalled, and terrified. During the filming, Frank finally reveals the whereabouts of the missing golden bone. And then all hell breaks loose.

“The Skeleton Key” by Erin Kelly is delicious. The premise of the plot was so promising and the book delivered. Part mystery, part dysfunctional family, the tension written in the pages of this books was astounding. I literally flew through the book because I just had to know what happened. Well written, with believable characters, it made reading the unfolding story flow beautifully. This is the first book I’ve read from this author but she’s now firmly on my radar and I’ll be checking out her future novels. I would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys reading thrillers, mysteries and anyone who loves a grand yarn.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

I just couldn't get into this one, By chapter 19 I thought there's really nothing to grip me here enough to it follow to the end.

A book with an associated treasure hunt was published based upon a compilation of English folk myths, you know the sort - young girl married off to rich old man, falls for young, handsome, poor lad, runs away/gets into trouble, old man seeks revenge, she dies, her bones scattered wide and far and young man seeks to bring her back to life. So far so good. The besotted treasure hunters find all but the pelvis. Fifty years on the author and now disparate family members (am I surprised?) are reunited for a reissue of the book with TV crew filming alongside. There is a lot of back story about the family and close friends - they are without a doubt all appalling and I had no sympathy with any except, perhaps, the daughter who has spent her life being seen as the young girl of the story, even down to the attempt by some of the derange treasure hunters to remove her pelvis! No wonder she is as she is. I did finish, it was a struggle and I feel no better for it I'm afraid. Pity because the author has written some other very good books. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Skeleton Key is a remarkable novel. It is the story of a treasure hunt that has become more real than real life for its dedicated players. It is not long before it ceases to be a game.

The story is driven by a book, The Golden Bones, published in 1971, and the inspiration for generations of bone hunters, seeking Elinore’s bones to resurrect her skeleton. It is essentially a book of riddles and puzzles where the answers reveal the locations of the missing bones.

The Skeleton Key is beautifully plotted. It flits between different time periods from the late 60s to the present day. Two families live next door to each other, tied by both the present and the past. Post pandemic references quickly orient the novel in the present day. Yet references to the Bonehunters create an otherworldly feeling alongside the reality of twenty first century London. Readers are cleverly drawn into this parallel world by a writer at the height of her powers.

In many ways, it is a story about stories: the fairytales and myths that somehow become tangled with real life. And also about family: how we are doomed to live the lives on the landscape prepared by those who came before us.

Erin Kelly weaves a tapestry that will draw in lovers of games, puzzles and orienteering as well as those who just want a great story. This is her best novel yet.

Eleanor Churcher lives a life of a recluse, off the grid, far away from her famous family. But there are people, who are fascinated by her and would give everything to meet her. Or cut her into bits. This is a setting of a newest book by Erin Kelly, “The Skeleton Key”. The book goes back between present and the past, where we find out about the unusual book, “The Golden Bones”, written by Eleanor’s father, Frank. The book is a story of a murdered fair maiden, Elinore, but is also full of clues that sent readers, called Bonehunters, on a mad chase after seven sites, containing seven parts of her skeleton. In the present storyline the Churchers are preparing for a big 50th anniversary of the book, but of course something goes wrong.
This was one of the most gripping books I have read in some time – I was on tenterhooks most of the time, there were so many twisty and turny parts in the story that I squealed frequently and did not manage to predict any of them. But this is not just a thriller, the book reads almost like a fairy tale, about an ugly duckling that shies away from its close-knitted family. It is also a story about art, about being an artist, about family legacy, and about who owns the rights to the main character – the fans, the author or maybe someone else?
The characters are not always likeable, secrets, love, lust and betrayals are many, and the atmosphere feels like a dark thriller and a creepy Grimm tale. A homage to a famous “Masqyarade” by Kit Williams, “The Skeleton Key” is a creepy tale of an obsession that leads us to the darkest corners of our souls.

After reading a few of Erin Kelly's previous books this new title has been on my To-Be-Read list since I had seen it's announcement. To be given an advanced readers copy via Netgalley meant this got moved up the list that bit quicker!

Nell has come home to see her parents and the rest of her family to celebrate a special anniversary, 50 years since her father wrote the famous 'The Golden Bones', a book that turned into a worldwide real life treasure hunt as hunters want to unearth the bones and jewels of Elinore and the fairy tale behind her. The book has been a sensation for 50 years, making the Churcher family very rich, but is it finally time for the mystery to be solved? However, is there more than one mystery hidden amongst this family? Success doesn't always bring happiness after all...

This book has definitely given me a lot to think about, for one I don't think I have ever read a book like it before! The premise of the book being written about the success of another book that has had worldwide dominance with interactive treasure hunts was definitely interesting and, at first, I did wonder what the importance of this element was. As the story progresses it does become evident that this is less the main focus and the true underlying secrets are uncovered amongst the family, this is when the book properly came into itself. It was a little bit slow to begin with but I would say to definitely persevere as it is a clever book with many avenues uncovered and explored, leading to a rapid conclusion proving that not everything is always as it seems. Another intriguing title from Erin Kelly!

A great thriller, surprising, exciting, twisty and very very cleaver.
I also have to mention that the cover is beautiful and I would definitely pick it up at a bookshop.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Ideal for readers who enjoy a twisty mystery across different timelines. Anyone who remembers the phenomenon of Masquerade by Kit Williams will completely understand why and how it inspired Erin Kelly to create this clever story.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

This was a gothic, haunting and atmospheric story that I couldn’t put down. It was gripping and engaging the whole way through with a level of suspense and unpredictability that added an extra layer to the storytelling. It was a chilling read that has stayed with me since I read it. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Erin and reading a fair few of her books . She is a beautiful way of creating worlds with her writing.

Intriguing ,mysterious and packed with tension.

Evocative and compelling this is a story of family,love, greed and history .

Written In alternate narratives and timelines makes it fast paced and rich in detail.

Published 1st September.

Another excellent mystery from Erin Kelly! This author never disappoints and I really enjoyed the way the Skeleton Key combines the heady atmosphere of a rich family's decadent lifestyle with the magic of an obsessive treasure hunt. I found the plot really satisfying and thought-provoking too. Bravo!

I was delighted to receive this ARC, a dark twisty thriller - kept me engrossed from the moment I started. Erin Kelly is a genius to come up with such a plot!

An interesting premise and packed to the brim with mystery. I loved the numerous twists that kept the book exciting, but it might have benefitted from a slightly fast paced beginning to draw you in sooner. I liked the flashbacks, however sometimes found it a little tricky to stay oriented. Overall a compelling gothic thriller that slowly draws you in, with a cast of unnerving characters.

Thank you to Net Galley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

A really good read - twisty, clever plot filled with a host of compelling characters. I'd really recommend this.

Really enjoyed the. Intriguing surprising characters and a complex slightly mystifying plot with at least three strands of who-dunn-what going on.
It was frustrating that all the flashback sequences aren’t told in chronological order - making it pretty impossible to keep a clear narrative thread in your head. And it was also frustrating that the whole story revolves around a book of cryptic clues that the main narrator never understood, so we - the reader - aren’t given any opportunity to understand of engage in it ourselves.
Ultimately, the sun of the parts didn’t add up to the whole BUT it didn’t matter as the cast of flawed but charismatic characters and twists let me gripped throughout