The Key
The most gripping, heartbreaking book of the year
by Kathryn Hughes
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Pub Date 6 Sep 2018 | Archive Date 20 Sep 2018
Headline | Headline Review
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Description
A hidden note. A lost love. A second chance...
'A wonderful, enthralling story; one that I didn't want to end' Lesley Pearse on The Key
'A heartbreakingly powerful read' The Sun on The Key
From the #1 bestselling author of The Letter, Kathryn Hughes, comes The Key, an unforgettable story of a heartbreaking secret that will stay with you for ever.
1956
It's Ellen Crosby's first day as a student nurse at Ambergate Hospital. When she meets a young woman admitted by her father, little does Ellen know that a choice she will make is to change both their lives for ever...
2006
Sarah is drawn to the now abandoned Ambergate. Whilst exploring the old corridors she discovers a suitcase belonging to a female patient who entered Ambergate fifty years earlier. The shocking contents, untouched for half a century, will lead Sarah to unravel a forgotten story of tragedy and lost love, and the chance to make an old wrong right . . .
'Oh wow! This story broke my heart then filled it with joy then broke it all over again! I adored The Letter and The Secret but this I have to say was my favourite. Heartfelt and poignant an absolute joy' A reader on The Key
It's time to discover what a million readers already know. No one grips your heart like Kathryn Hughes . . .
'You will find it hard to put down. I cried buckets of tears reading it'
'A beautifully told, tragic tale . . . restoring your faith in the kindness of strangers and the strength of the human spirit'
'From start to finish, a lovely, sometimes heartbreaking read'
'A sheer joy to read . . . Wonderfully romantic with beautiful characters'
'I have finished this book with tears in my eyes but a smile on my face'
'I couldn't put it down. So beautifully written. I feel like I'm a better person for reading it'
'I cried with this book - it tugged at the heart all the way through'
'This must be one of the best books I have ever read'
'You will be thinking of this book long after you've finished it'
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781472248848 |
| PRICE | £7.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 448 |
Featured Reviews
Christina C, Reviewer
This story is about 38 year old librarian Sarah. She has recently split with her husband and is temporarily living with her recently widowed Father. She has decided to write a book about now derelict Ambergate Lunatic Asylum. We learn early on that her Father has a connection to the asylum and knows a lot of what happened within those walls but for some reason he is not interested in helping her. Sarah finds some suitcases belonging to former residents of the asylum. Through these belongings we follow the story of one of its residents.
I have previously read The Letter by Kathryn Hughes and really enjoyed it, so I was fairly certain I would enjoy this one too. It was heartbreaking reading what the residents went through whilst in the asylum for no good reason. Although this story is fiction I believe it is based on a real asylum. This story particularly hit home for me as my great grandmother was sent to an asylum after suffering from what we know now as post natal depression. I would definitely read more books written by this author.
Stephanie C, Reviewer
Excellent story. Wonderful characters and plot line. I really enjoyed it. I would recommend this book.
Book Trade Professional 496589
An absolute page turner. A derelict hospital, hidden suitcases full of patients’ personal belongings and a quest to find a patient from decades earlier. Yes please. I was hooked immediately. My first read from this author and I’m about to download her others.
Anne M, Reviewer
A duel timeline story set in 1956 and 2006.
Sarah is writing a book about the now derelict Ambergate Hospital which was once described as a lunatic asylum. She manages to gain entry to the building and as she explores the rooms Sarah finds a door to a large cupboard full of suitcases. With the help of a friend she documents the contents of each suitcase. This makes her even more determined to write their story.
We then return to 1956 when nurse Ellen Crosby starts her first day working in the asylum. Through her eyes we find out the stories of the patients and follow one in particular.
Sarah's father is connected to the asylum and he could give her the answers to her questions but he refuses to speak about how he is connected or about anyone who belongs to the suitcases that his daughter found.
Kathryn Hughes has did it again,she has made me cry. I love the way this author writes she draws you right into a story and makes you not want to leave.
This book is heartbreaking and more so because the cruelty of these asylums as well as the silly reasons that young women were admitted is well documented, and we know this story could belong to anyone of the people admitted or forced into these places.
I read this book about a month ago and I still think about it. I found this to be a real page turner and didn't want to it it down, neither will you.
Sally A, Reviewer
Really enjoyed this book. It was a difficult and often heartbreaking read given the experiences of patients in the asylum but it was extremely well written and drew me in from the start.
Julie H, Reviewer
I have read and reviewed this book before for Netgalley. My review is below.
Beautiful story. The past and the present are brought together so cleverly. The description of the asylum and how patients were treated was so sad. Some of the staff were so cruel in their treatment of the patients. Some of the patients should never have been there at all. There is also a lot of love and compassion in this story. I would definitely recommend this book and I look forward to reading the next book by this author.
Erika S, Reviewer
This is my first book by this author.
Sarah has split from her husband and is temporarily living with her recently widowed father.
She decides to write a book about a now derelict lunatic asylum... her father has a connection to the asylum, but won't speak of it... she decides to investigate with the help of a friend, she visits the asylum and finds a cupboard full of patients suitcases... documenting the contents from each suitcase she's even more determined to write their story.
I love the way this author writes she draws you right into a story and makes you not want to leave.
The book is heart-breaking and more so because the cruelty of these asylums as well as the silly reasons that young women were admitted is well documented, and we know this story could belong to anyone of the people admitted or forced into these places.
A real page-turner... I didn't want to put it down.
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