The Key

Absolutely loved this book. The story is told in two timelines. In the current day, we meet Sarah who is researching an old Asylum for a book. In the past we meet Amy who has had a traumatic life, and was admitted to the asylum by her father despite being more sad than mad.
Kathryn’s writing is so good that you feel the horror and frustration Amy must feel. A sane, if depressed, young lady in an asylum where she patently doesn’t belong. You have hope that this will be recognised by the authorities, but things don’t always work out in the way you think - as in real life.
Altogether a disturbing but brilliant read, and I highly recommend it. Solid 5 stars from me.

This book is totally and wonderfully beguiling. The tale of a lady who is detained in an asylum. The story from the past and in the present, the injustice and the sadness that in all to many cases were actually a reality. I was totally enthralled from beginning to end. The characters are full bodied and the story is happy, sad, unjust, wicked and totally wonderful. Set aside a weekend to read this book you won't be able to put it down.

My 4* review for The Key by Kathryn Hughes which i was sent a kindle copy of by NetGalley.

The story is split into 2 timelines between 1956 when on Ellen Crosby's first day as a student nurse at Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum she meets a young woman called Amy committed by her father, and a pioneering physician Dr. Lambourn who is keen to try out the various 'cures' for mental illness, together with the obligatory cruel, domineering and bullying Matron. Then we pick the story up in 2006 when Sarah a writer is drawn to the abandoned and derelict Ambergate Asylum which is ready for demolition near where she lives. Whilst exploring the old corridors, along with a homeless lad who is squatting there, she discovers a room full of suitcases belonging to patients who were admitted over 50 years before, and her interest is piqued by one particular suitcase which is locked. The shocking contents lead Sarah to unravel a forgotten story of tragedy, lost love and an old wrong that only she may have the power to put right.

It is obvious from the start that Kathryn Hughes, the Author, has done a lot of research into the subject of Lunatic Asylums and their methods in the 1950's as she does not shy away from including the horrors of E.C.T., padded cells, cruelty as well as mental, physical and sexual abuse which notoriously went on and was turned a blind eye to at the time. These subjects can make for a difficult read, but in my opinion it was essential for them to be included and necessary to the authenticity of the story if it was to be as shocking and heartbreaking as it was for me.

I did not like the resident psychiatrist Dr. Lambourn, but then maybe I was not supposed to, who takes a shine to Amy the instant he sees her and proceeds to use her for selfish reasons. However, the character of Amy was so well written that I was rooting for her straightaway. The fact that she was admitted to the asylum by her father despite being more traumatised and sad than mad and subjected to E.C.T. was diabolical, whereas in the 21st Century she would have been treated sympathetically for PTSD. The other patients in the ward have various reasons for being there and appear friendly, but Amy soon learns to trust no one and believes she is only there for a little while until she is better/cured. However, many others have been asking to go home for over 30 years with no success.

The story turns into a bit of an amateur detective tale when Sarah sets out to find out what happened to Amy and nurse Ellen and why her father is so dead set against her exploring either the lunatic asylum or some of the stories of the patients there. By half way through the book pieces start falling into place and your loyalties and interest swing from one character to the next. The only downside for me was that it was a bit too predictable and I had worked a few things out before they were revealed, but that certainly did not spoil the book for me.

I loved the conclusion to Amy's story and the way it all dovetailed together as I so wanted it too.
The poignant part of the ending for me was the comparisons between mental health treatment then and now, and the final surprise, which was an added bonus for me.

At the end of the kindle copy of the book is an old photograph of a North Wales Lunatic Asylum that the author visited whilst researching the book, and all due credit to her because having seen the photo it was exactly how she painted it in the book and how i envisioned it, so well done Kathryn.

For fans of Kathryn Hughes i suggest you buy, borrow or download this one as soon as it is released.

Ellen Crosby is a student nurse at the Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum in the 1950’s. Things are very different to how mental health is treated now. Doors are locked, ECT is standard and nursing methods are rather harsh to say the least. Ellen has a caring side to her nature and wants to do more for some of these patients who are stuck there being treated with archaic methods even then. Gertie has been there for 40 years and no one knows why, her records having been archived. Amy, a young woman, has been committed by her father who no longer wants to see her. Ellen is determined that she won’t become another Gertie. Meanwhile in the present day Sarah is researching a book about the asylum and despite the “do not trespass” notices goes and explores as she has done beforehand with her homeless friend Nathan. Behind a locked door she finds a pile of suitcases each labelled with a number and their contents untouched for decades. This is a very well written book that you take to in the first few pages. Ellen you can’t help but like and there is humour in some of the situations that she finds herself in. I am not usually into historical novels but this one has that bit more. Written with feeling and empathy, serious subject matter but still mostly lighthearted . A book to relax with and soak up times gone by and appreciate how much things have changed for the better (for example- a man being committed because quote“he is one of those” so needs treatment to “put him on the right path”). From how this is written there has been much research done and whilst yes there is artistic licence- it is a fiction book after all- there is truth in the treatments of the day and how such patients were handled and locked away. I looked up Enoch Powell's “water tower” speech. like Ellen he was ahead of his time. We perhaps remember him for other things but on this his ideas were sound in my humble opinion. (http://studymore.org.uk/xpowell.htm). A brave topic, a sensitive issue, a wonderful read.
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(rest of reviews on publication day)

Set in the parallel timelines of 2006 & 1956, this book centres around Ambergate Mental Hospital. In 2006 this building is derelict waiting to be bought up and demolished to make way for new housing. Sarah is researching its history and is keen to find out more about the inhabitants. In 1956 we follow Student Nurse Ellen Crosby on her first day. It is a world that she struggles to inhabit whilst not being comfortable with many of the practices.

I wasn't sure if this was a four or three star book but felt it had to be the former in recognition of the obvious research that the author has done into the life of mental institutions in the 1950s. Primarily the view is one of negativity though as we come to the end of the time in that thread of the book changes are being seen.

This is quite a lightweight book which doesn't present the gritty storyline that it could have. The storyline veers off into a romance rather than providing the depth which could have been there. There is only one point towards the very end of the book that two characters face up to the attitudes of the past. It could have been so much more.

I would have liked more depth of character for the supporting cast. The 2006 main character, Sarah, is very good and a woman that I could like. She faces up to the problems of her own past & the split from her husband which allows her to move on. The main character in 1956, Amy, has the makings of an interesting character but I do wish the author had progreed further with her. Unfortunately the supporting cast were quite weak with little in the way of definite & pronounced personalities.

I feel that this is a book that offered much but didn't quite live up to my expectations. I enjoyed reading it but the author could have done so much more creating a grittier & more challenging book. She chose not to.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley

Excellent book. Brilliant story and I loved the main characters. I would highly recommend this book.

Amy is sent to Ambergate as a young woman by her Father who claims she has mental health issues, there she tries to come to terms with the death of her mother and her fathers New wife. Amy falls in love with her psychiatrist and thinks she has found the key to her return to society, meanwhile Sarah is investingating Ambergate hoping to write a book about what happened there all those years ago when she stumbles upon a bunch of suitcases hidden away in the attic. As Amy and Sarah’s story intertwines a wonderful story is written.

Having read and loved Kathryn previous two books The Secret and The Secret, I literally couldn't wait to read this her latest book.

Given the subject matter and how the story revolves around it so much, it tells you just how much research the author must have done, all of which definitely paid off.

The author Kathryn has written a truly wonderful and heartfelt story, quite emotional in places. Right from the first page you are completely drawn in and then very much captivated throughout, wanting to discover the secrets and going ons at Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum.

The characters so very well written, and I really felt sad and heartbroken for some of them. I especially loved the characters of Ellen and Dougie and things ended for them.

I loved how the story was told, in that you start in the present, then go back to the past and the back to the present and then how everything ultimately falls into place come the end. It really was great storytelling.

I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the author's previous novels too, so I was really excited and grateful to get my hands on this! It has a unique setting and, like Hughes' other books, expertly links the past with current day. I love the way two stories each hold their own, but intertwine so wonderfully.

Recommend!

3.5 stars but rounded up.
This is another of those books that have two main timelines that meander along and eventually collide towards the end.
In the late 50s we follow Ellen, a student nurse, as she starts her first work placement at Ambergate Asylum. She is little prepared for the reality she finds there. As she starts her working life there, a new patient is admitted; committed by her own father. We follow the two of them as they find their new way in their respective new environments.
Back in the present, we follow Sarah who is investigating the old decrepit asylum in the days prior to it being torn down. Her wanderings take her to a room where she discovers a host of abandoned suitcases. The contents of one of them shock her and she makes it her mission to track down its owner and find out exactly what happened to her.
This was a mixed book for me. I really loved the past time line as I learned about the asylum, the staff, the patients, the way things were done and why. Often shocking and occasionally horrifying, some of the descriptions were quite hard to read.
The present was a bit different for me. I didn't really take to Sarah and didn't quite manage to believe in her enough for her, in my opinion weaker, storyline to work. Especially when things started to become more than coincidence and more personal and then I just found the rest of what I was reading to be a bit too contrived considering what had happened before. It was also a bit on the predictable side at times with things being a bit obvious prior to their actual reveal. I did like Nathan though and I think it was his inclusion that saved the present day arc for me.
I do have to give the author credit for some really great research. The way she painted the asylum parts of the book were so well done that I really got quite emotional whilst reading. The treatments and attitudes came across very well and the frustration at the system by some of the staff was also depicted well. The curve ball thrown in at the end was a really good touch and was the thing that mostly saved my overall enjoyment of the book.
All in all, although a bit of a book of two halves for me, this was overall a decent solid read. It just didn't quite leave me as satisfied at the end as I would have liked.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.