I received an ARC of this book via netgalley. I think the book blurb promised more than it gave. A small cast of characters in a small welsh settlement and, at least for me, an equally small amount of narrative pull or interest. It was obvious who was manipulating events although why was a bit of a surprise. I am not sure that the book will encourage me to read more from this author.

The Shadow Key by Susan Stokes-Chapman
Release date : 18th April 2024

After reading and loving Pandora by @sstokeschapman a couple of years ago, I've been eagerly awaiting her next book. Thank you to @vintagebooks and @netgalley for providing me a digital advance copy.

Set in 1783, Henry accepts a post in rural Wales after being dismissed from his job in London. Soon after his arrival Henry suspects that all may not be as it seems including the death of his predessor.

I really enjoyed this atmospheric story that is full of folklore and magic. I loved the slow burn as the characters and setting are explored and brought to life. Also the amount of research the author undertook is to be commended. The inclusion of Welsh language, superstitions and occult references made this a tangible story.

Towards the end the tension ramps up and events happen very quickly. I enjoyed the plots twists, some I guessed but others I didn't see coming. My only tiny negative was the ending seemed a little rushed after the slow build up and the monologues by the villains was a little too much like an info dump for me.

Susan Stokes-Chapman is one of my favourite authors in this genre and I will definitely be first in line to read her next novel.

This was such a great book. I've loved this author's first novel so was eager to give this a go. In this story, the author again weaves a thin line between the logical and the supernatural, with Welsh history and folklore beautifully shining through. It was my kinda book.

This had such an interesting and brilliantly crafted plot. The characters were unique and relatable and the writing was spectacular. I especially loved the gothic and creepy atmosphere and added to the experience of reading. Overall, I loved this, and I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

A gloriously Gothic tale of a London doctor taking up a position in an isolated village in Wales in the latter part of the 18th century. Henry Talbot knows he's out of his depth - he doesn't speak Welsh and he is dismissive of the folklore of his new patients. They, in turn, are dismissive of him because he's one of the hated English and a city man who knows nothing of country ways. Their deep-seated dislike of his fellow countrymen is based on past outrages committed by incoming landowners who took advantage of the land, the miners, and the women.

Henry discovers, however, that there are goings-on even the people of Penhelyg know little about and he is determined to get to the bottom of the mysterious happenings. With the help of Linette, owner of the Plas Helyg estate, and Rowena, a herbalist with whom he is falling in love, Henry uncovers a mystery that strikes at the heart of his very being.

A very readable novel full of atmosphere and wonderful description..

A very enjoyable read. Henry is asked to become the local doctor in a small mining village in Wales. Being English, he meets lots of hostility from the locals. Even the manor owner, Linette is wary of him despite also being attracted to him. Henry starts to investigate the death of the previous doctor and realises all is not as it seems. The author successfully weaves a historic tale of murder, treachery, family and satanism.

Henry Talbot has been invited to be the new physician in Penhelyg, North Wales and to stay at Plas Helyg. Immediately it is clear that this young Englishman is not welcome. His predecessor has recently died in suspicious circumstances and Henry is determined to find out what happened to him. Henry is curious to resolve another mystery. Gwen Tresilian, the mother of mistress of the house, appears to be haunted by demons. There is more to her story than meets the eye. Her daughter, Linette, is more than happy to help Henry in his quest. Will they solve the mysteries surrounding this house and village? How is the death of the previous physician, the arrival of Henry and Gwen's illness connected? What evils forces are at play here in Penhelyg?
This was an enjoyable gothic-style historical mystery with interesting twists and turns throughout. Religion, folklore, superstition, herbalism and occultism were are intertwined in a modern-post modernist approach to religion and spirituality. Gender ideology and same sex attraction were hinted at but not developed further. Attitudes to sex expressed by Henry sounded very twentieth- twenty first century to me. These aspects made it more like a historical fiction with contemporary characters which made it less authentic. These aspects aside, it was a very well written book, with a gripping plot that kept you reading until the end.

A beautifully atmospheric tale of Welsh miners and Welsh culture in 18th century times. There is mystery and twists and good characters and descriptions, a hint of magic and a dose of realism. A good read.

I found this book a little bit slow to begin with, but it didn't take long for me to get fully immersed in the story. Just the right combination of supernatural, gothic and historical information to create a very well written novel. The story centres around Henry, a doctor, who comes to a rural practice in Wales. From the very start there is huge resentment about who and what he is. Nothing is quite right or as it seems and soon enough, things start to unravel. Plenty of twists along the way, which kept me guessing. Thoroughly recommended.

**Contains Thematic Spoilers**

4.5 - 5 stars

The opening chapter was so chilling and gothic, and I am here for it!

At 464 pages, it was borderline too long for me (I've said before that I dislike overly long books), and so I was apprehensive to begin with, but it just flew by. The same with the chapters. They're quite long chapters, which generally for me is a downside, but once you're into the story, their length sort of melted away and I no longer cared how long they were.

I find Usan uses a lot of description in her books, from the buildings to the setting to the weather. With an untrained hand, that could be too much, bogging the book down in unnecessary detail and making it too slow. But Susan is not an untrained hand. Somehow, her writing makes it necessary. Her descriptive passages are one of the big plusses about her work and they really help tell the story. They're beautiful and I think to not have the m would be a travesty to the story. She writes descriptive passages like only a handful of others I've read it really helps you get to know the characters and the setting and get more absorbed into the story.

You don't get many books set in Wales, and rarely do you get books that contain the Welsh language. I have been trying to learn it for a few years now, and so it was lovely to see it used in this book. Although Wales in the 1700s is vastly different to the Wales now.

There's a number of characters, but the main players I would say are:

Dr Henry Talbot: The London doctor who is sent to Wales. He is instantly wary. His Englishness makes him conspicuous and a bit untrustworthy. But he's passionate and just wants to help people but he faces brick wall after brick wall. He was a kind man in my eyes and I really liked him.

Then we have Linette: The Lady of the house. When we first meet her, she is deemed mad, as she dresses in men's clothing and isn't backwards in coming forwards. In a time where women were meant to be subservient. She's loud and brash and unladylike, and I absolutely loved her. She felt very ahead of her time. We also have Linette's Mother Gwen. Henry is hired to help her "madness", but is there more to her than meets the eye?

Then there's Rowena, a young herbalist from the village. A bit timid in some ways but strong in others. It was nice to read the companionship of her and Henry - I won't spoil it by saying if it's platonic friendship, romance, or merely acquaintance, but I found her journey interesting.

And the other main player is Julian, Linette's cousin. I felt he was hiding something right frrom the start, he feels suspicious and dodge. Felt a bit slimy! I was wary of him right from the off.

There are many other characters, such as maid Mrs Evans, her late brother and doctor Mr Evans, Mr Lambeth, Lord Pennant - both very unsavoury characters - the Vicar Mr Dee, and miners Rhodri and his son Cai. There's too many to name fully here, but Susan has created a fascinating cast, each playing their part, for better or worse, in Henry's story.

There seems to be this rivalry in the book: between old ways and new, natural or herbal medicine, country and city medicine, Welsh and English, outsiders and insiders.

I really liked the use of illustrations. There's no many, the odd one here and there, but I've always said more adult books should contain illustrations, and they were a nice surprise.

It contains a number of different genres, it's full of adventure and action, thriller, romance, historical, fantasy, supernatural - it's got everything.

It was full of twists and turns and surprises, which is always what you want from a thriller. I was a little confused how the opening chapter linked to the rest of the book whilst reading it, but once I'd finished, I re-read the opening chapter and it became glaringly obvious.

Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Susan is a fantastic author and it's a fantastic book. My only little tiny widdle criticism? It doesn't quite live up to the gothic-ness I was expecting from the opening chapter. I was expecting a bit more of that, which I didn't get. But it's no less fabulous. As a piece of historical fiction it is exceptional.

I would say this is marginally better than Pandora (although that is completely my opinion, but let's not forget that Pandora was a really great book), which bodes well for her next book if she keeps on getting better and better. She's definitely an author I keep my eye out for.

Exceptional and extraordinary! A story to get completely engrossed in. Susan has written a very atmospheric, Gothic novel- full of mystery involving remarkable characters.

Another compulsive read from an author who seems to do no wrong. I absolutely devoured this one… You will want to clear your afternoon to read this one straight through, so riveting!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

I’m not usually a fan of historical fiction, but I loved this book. I liked being transported back to 18th(?) century wales because this book didn’t focus on the historical elements too much. It felt like this story could’ve been told in any time period and been just as good.

I disagree with other reviewers who claim this book should’ve been scarier. I was on the edge of my seat for the last 25% with anticipation and I felt being scared would’ve ruined this. Everything tied up really nicely, and didn’t feel rushed.

Atmospheric and enjoyable gothic mystery set in a remote part of Wales. I genuinely didn’t see where the story was going, which is always enjoyable -plenty of red herrings to distract despite a relatively small set of central characters. I particularly enjoyed the hellfire club, which was rather fun in its over the top threat!

I absolutely loved it! Original, eerie and atmospheric with a true sense of being-right-there. Couldn’t put it down!

"The Shadow Key" plunges readers into the eerie and atmospheric world of 18th-century Wales, where secrets lurk in the shadows and myths hold sway over the villagers' lives. Dr. Henry Talbot's journey from prestigious London hospitals to the remote Welsh countryside sets the stage for a gripping tale of mystery and intrigue. As he delves into the mysterious death of his predecessor, Henry's determination to uncover the truth leads him down a dangerous path intertwined with the enigmatic Linette Tresilian's fate. The juxtaposition of the lush Welsh landscape with the sinister undertones of folklore and magic creates a mesmerizing backdrop for this spellbinding narrative.

Susan Stokes-Chapman's masterful storytelling weaves together a tapestry of suspense and Gothic mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The dynamic characters of Henry and Linette captivate with their resilience and complexity, drawing readers into their quest for truth and redemption. Against the backdrop of family secrets and hidden agendas, their unlikely partnership unfolds against a backdrop of betrayal and danger. Stokes-Chapman's vivid prose brings the Welsh countryside to life, evoking a sense of foreboding and unease that permeates every page.

With its ingenious plot twists and evocative setting, "The Shadow Key" delivers a riveting reading experience that will leave readers breathless. From its atmospheric depiction of rural Wales to its captivating characters and enthralling mystery, this novel is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and Gothic literature alike. Stokes-Chapman's skilful blend of history, suspense, and magic ensures that "The Shadow Key" is a standout addition to the genre, offering readers a tantalizing glimpse into a world where secrets lurk behind every corner and nothing is as it seems.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC.

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑤 𝐾𝑒𝑦 | 𝑆𝑢𝑠𝑎𝑛 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑠-𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑚𝑎𝑛 | 𝟒*

𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑠
Henry is invited to the small welsh village of Penhelyg to become their village physician, mainly serving the lady of Plas Helyg. When he arrives from London, he’s surprised by the hostility that welcomes him, and the coldness to which his host, Linette, treats him with. Henry may be unable to speak the language, but it’s clear that he’s not wanted there, and he’s determined to find out why that is, and why he was invited there in the first place.

𝑇𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑇𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑠
❥ historical mystery
❥ set in georgian wales
❥ exploration of welsh myth and religion

𝐿𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑑
The Shadow Key is a sinister historical mystery that has a masterminded plot that builds nicely throughout the story. This book is incredibly atmospheric, and because it’s set in Wales I automatically love it. But SSC really does the historic culture of Wales justice, from the interwoven language, to the rich (and let’s be honest, wildly bizarre) mythology.

This is my second SSC novel and once again, she has created a story with elements of ambiguous magical realism are woven in that are provocative and set a tone of mystique as the reader is left wondering what is real.

The research that went into this novel is certifiably insane. I know more now of my home country than I ever did and love that fact. SSC captures the animosity between the Welsh and the English with clarity, and whilst contemporary hostility between Wales and England is usually reserved for rugby days, this book highlights the importance of historic welsh culture, its roots in religion and myth, and the dissemination that we endured due to England. Using the welsh language as a plot point in the story was a stroke of creative and cultural genius.

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑑
The main thing I disliked was the evil monologues at the end. They were almost cartoonish, with the only thing missing was someone twirling the end of a mustache whilst booming laughter. I like how the plot ended but the monologues were quintessential evil villain, when I prefer more nuance.

I also wish I knew the main characters more in depth. They felt so untethered and prickly, and their passions seemingly defining them (medicine, estate management).

𝐹𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑄𝑢𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑠
“𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥. 𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 –  𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘴, 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘴. 𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘢.”

This was a historical mystery with a Gothic flavour, set in Wales. I thought the author brought the story and the setting beautifully to life, and I wanted to be part of Henry's journey. From the beginning, I had a feeling that all was not as it seemed, and that some secrets would be revealed. Admittedly, I did find this too long to read in one sitting, I think it's the type of book to be enjoyed a little at a time, but it's definitely worth escaping into.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

First, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital advance copy of The Shadow Key.

I have to say, that this is one of the best books I’ve read in the past couple of years. The opening really sets the tone to the story, and you get the feeling that the supernatural is going to feature heavily. I really liked the mythological elements that ran alongside a murder mystery storyline, giving it a feeling akin to a ghost story. You could really picture the landscape and the characters clearly as it was so well written and so descriptive. There’s mention of a meal with roasted chicken that was described so well it made me hungry. I found myself rooting for the main characters, Linette and Henry, and massively suspicious of everyone else and their actions. That said, I wasn’t expecting the story to go the way it did, which was a pleasant surprise.

An easy, if a little predictable, read. Enjoyed the historical aspect of what is obviously a well researched book. Expected a little more horror / supernatural elements and found the end a little rushed.

Dark deeds and derring do in a twisty 18th century mystery 3.5 raised

I did enjoy this Georgian, Age of Enlightenment set novel, which also flirts with more established ideas from a less rational, more superstitious time. There’s many a tussle between the rational, radical, at-the-forefront-of-science young doctor, central character Henry Talbot, and the Welsh mining society he is rather mysteriously hired to serve. There is also a lot of interesting social history here. Then, as still, land has been bought (like second homes!) by wealthy Englishmen. Here, the landowner is absolutely hiss-the-villain Julian Tresilian, who is only interested in wealth and power. He is, we know from the off a very nasty piece of work indeed, and there is also something not quite conventionally nasty about him and his fellow associates, who are members of some kind of strange club.

At this time, there were many such decadent clubs in London, named the ‘Hellfire Clubs’, not so much because there was occultism involved, more that the members were probably bound for hell because of their debauchery, drunkenness and wild sexual shenanigans.

Julian’s ‘club’ might be rather more than just the eighteenth century equivalent of drink, drugs and rock and roll, however.

The central character in this book though, other than Henry, is the real owner of Plas Helyg, its house and lands, Linette, Julian’s niece. Linette’s father, Hugh, died when she was young, and her mother, Gwen, is an invalid, with mental health issues.

Linette is remarkably unconventional for the times, wearing men’s clothes, very much a free spirit. The somewhat challenging, needing suspension of disbelief factors I found with this – which I also found in Stokes Chapman’s first novel, Pandora, is that her central female characters tend to feel a little modern – as Linette and the beautiful and learned young herbalist Rowena, whom Henry is attracted to, are in this book.

There are some genuine surprises in store, and for the most part I was really drawn in to the mystery which Henry and Linette must solve, and especially, the incremental way Henry tries to win the trust of the mining community he wants to serve.

The action-packed-twisty-ending seemed a little too contrived, a little too comic book, with one of those somewhat unfortunate murder mystery type reveals where villains explain the whole of the plot and exactly how they got there to our book heroes who are in mortal danger at this point. Hence my 4, rather than 5, star.