Nell, an introverted women comes back to visit her family home to celebrate the 50 year anniversary the Golden Bones. This book was written by her father, Sir Frank Churcher. The book is part picture book and part treasure hunt, and the public are obsessed. Some too obsessed. In the past, the hunt for the treasure pieces has put Nells’ life at risk. There is only one treasure piece remaining which has yet to be discovered.

For the 50 year anniversary, the book is republished along with a new treasure hunt a new app. Frank finally reveals the whereabouts of the missing golden bone as part of the anniversary celebrations, and all hell breaks loose.

This is the second Erin Kelly book I’ve read this year and it was another excellent book! The flitting between different time lines is very obvious and easy to follow. The book is actually inspired by Treasure Hunt book sensation Masquerade released in 1979. I wish a book like this or the Golden Bones was popular right now. I think this would make an excellent film as I can’t think of anything that exists which is similar.

We are fed snippets of information of Nells’ past. I would love to see a spin off prequel which focuses on Nell over the past few years before the 50 year anniversary.

This was slow to get into for me and was sometimes hard to keep up with what was going on with the different perspectives in different timelines.
I did enjoy the puzzle/treasure aspect of it and thought this was quite original.
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

This book was a little different tot the ususal genre I read and I did find this a little difficult to get into at first, as the storyline was quite heavy going, but once I got into the story and things became clearer I enjoyed it more.
Thank you to the author, Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Starting a new Erin Kelly book is setting out on a joyful journey. You do not know where the path will take you or how dark it will get but you know that the journey will be worth your time. This is a delightfully gothic tale but is much more than that. A twisty story within a story.

A really interesting and engaging read. There is a lot packed into this book, it sometimes felt like too much as the many story lines made it seem slow in places, however once things began to fit into place more it picked up pace again.
This would be a great book club read as I think different people would enjoy different parts and find new meanings in it, leading to lively debates!

I was initially drawn to this book as the plot was intriguing and truly unique, not just another spin on a tired trope.

However, it was a bit of a marmite book for me. I struggled to enjoy the first third. One because of the vast amount of scene setting but, as the story developed, I realised how integral the character development and background was to the story. The second reason was I struggled to believe the scenario of The Golden Bones would happen in real life. But, when I think back to how people reacted to Pokémon Go, it is entirely plausible that people would get obsessed with solving the mystery.

The great news was I started to get really invested in the characters, particular Frank, who's narcissistic artistic ways caused damage wherever his paintbrush stroked.

I don't want to spoil any of the plot but the dynamic between the churcher and lally families kept me hooked. Is there such a thing as being too close for comfort? It certainly felt like it.

There were some really good twists and turns too, one which I saw coming and one which I definitely did not!

As the book started mentioning a jewel and not just a golden bone I did get confused - I'm not sure when this was introduced but I have been stressed with work lately and it's perfectly possible it's just me not keeping up with the storyline!

The protagonist Nell I initially really empathised with, particularly over the Billie situation. However the way she acts towards the end of the book didn't seem fitting with the character to me, which is one of the reasons why I marked it down a star. Perhaps this was just my perception of Nell though.

Overall a really thought provoking read giving unique insight into the artistic mind and claustrophobia of two families living their lives too intertwined.

This book truly blew me away, the use of a treasure hunt as a plot for a crime thriller novel is a genius idea! Such a unique book in a genre where it’s so hard to be different. I could picture every single character and place throughout! I particularly liked how your perceptions of the characters constantly changed and the side plots of the character’s lives made them feel three dimensional. I’ll be recommending this book to lots of people for sure.

The author openly admits that the inspiration for this came from the Treasure Hunt book sensation Masquerade released in 1979. I remember this well, it made the national news a number of times. However that’s where the similarity ends. This book is much more complex, it’s a book about a book, and the families and followers who were affected by the success of the book. I did find it quite slow going at the beginning and at one stage even considered not going any further, I’m so glad I persevered.

Briefly, 50 years ago Frank Churcher wrote a book called The Golden Bones. It became an overnight sensation with people obsessed with solving the clues and finding the missing ‘bones’ but success didn’t come alone. The family were stalked and his daughter Nell attacked by one obsessive, later becoming all but estranged from the family, choosing to live on a barge when she reached adulthood. But now, the summer of 2021, the family are reuniting to commemorate the anniversary with a reissue of the book and new clues about the final bone, the pelvis, which was never found. The whole thing is being filmed for a documentary and there is a frenzy building amongst the Bonehunters.

A cleverly conceived book with a complex web of events all leading to a shocking climax as the threads come together seamlessly. Told in the present, mainly from Nell’s POV, and in the past by a number of different characters, as the lies and deceit are peeled away to reveal the startling reality. This is a multifaceted story full of shocking and dark family secrets, almost gothic in it’s telling. A mix of family drama, psychological thriller and fable it’s like an adult version of a Grimm fairy tale. A long book but one I ultimately couldn’t put down until the terrible truths were revealed. Brilliant. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Sometimes you just read a book that makes you go WOW. This was that book to me. It started off slowly setting the scene then Bam. Your into it. I found once it got really started uncovered secrets were constantly revealed. I had to break the book down into sittings just so I could absorb the story.
What I really loved was the ending began at about 3/4 of the way through. Like an onion peeling away the layers.
Everything so beautifully described. This must. be a perfect book to be made into a film.
I loved the character Nell. They way she stood by Billie and new used the family money to get ahead in life.
I will certainly be reading more books by this author.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an ARC

I've really liked Erin Kelly's previous books and I thought the concept of The Skeleton Key sounded really unique so was looking forward to reading it. I was pleased that we got the full build-up of the creation and subsequent popularity of The Golden Bones over the years and this was done really well, helping me to understand and appreciate how big an effect the book had on both the families and the public.

I was able to quickly familiarise myself with the characters as the majority were well fleshed out. I liked Nell for the most part although towards the end her moral standpoint felt a bit at odds to her general opinion which we are fed throughout the book and was quite frustrating.

While I did enjoy the book overall, it was too long in my opinion and had quite a few sub-plots that I'm not sure were necessary.

Firstly, thank you to Erin Kelly, the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I read this book in a matter of days, and was hooked by the storyline. I did feel a bit confused about the relationships and who was connected to who, but that was probably more me than the actual book.

The storyline was great - I loved the concept of the treasure hunt and the drama that ensues, as well as the dysfunctional family and how they all live alongside each other.

It moved easily between present and past and didn't lose anything in either time. I loved learning the backstory of the parents and where the present day drama originated.

Great novel, and will be reading more of Erin's books!

The Skeleton Key piled mystery upon mystery, and slowly revealed the decades of truth, lies, and deception, with an excellent last second surprise.

Eleanor (Nell) has been haunted by her father’s picture-book-turned-treasure-hunt, The Golden Bones, her whole life. Her past has been scarred by the Bone Hunters - treasure hunters determined to solve the clues hidden in The Golden Bones and find the pieces of the skeleton from the story - and now, on the 50th anniversary of the book, the life she has built for herself is coming under threat once again.

I loved Eleanor as a main character, and the multiple timelines and points of view really helped to slowly reveal the history and mysteries of the cast of characters. By flitting between past and present, we see the events which have led to the present day, and discover along with Nell the depths that The Golden Bones have led people to, and the truth of her family’s relationships with her and one another.

The Skeleton Key was dark, twisting, and sad. It explores the lengths that people will go to protect themselves, those they love, and their reputation. As well as the secrets they’ll keep for those same aims, and the families they build in an attempt to distance themselves from the past.

The story hinges on a family gathering to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sir Frank Churcher’s book The Golden Bones, a tale in which the main character Elinore has her bones buried throughout England. Unfortunately there are dedicated fans- known as the Bonehunters who believe that Frank’s daughter Nell is the embodiment of Elinore with attempts to retrieve the remaining treasure, a pelvis… The celebration of Frank’s picture book throws the extended family together under the scrutiny of documentary makers and the crazed Bonehunters. This tale mixes two worlds with reality blurring with fantasy through its complex and intriguing characters and Kelly explores the dysfunctional family with layers of atmosphere and claustrophobia and an unexpected ending.

Erin Kelly is one of my ‘go to’ authors when I am looking for compelling, intelligent story telling that leaves a lasting impression. The Skeleton Key does all of that and more. It is rich, full of character, intricately layered and absolutely excels in the richness of dysfunctional family dynamics and toxic relationships.

I’ve said before that I admire good plotting, enjoy dark mysteries and love a good thriller, but nothing puts me more in awe of an author than the ability to make characters live and breathe on the page. Erin Kelly has that ability in spades and it is what draws me back to her books every time. She is an understated writer, but her books are full of nuance, layered and complex with characters whose lives you feel you understand because they are so well drawn. She especially does bohemian characters really well and that always makes me smile.

The Skeleton Key is the story of two close dysfunctional families, the lies they tell, the casual neglect of their children and the monstrous ego of at least one of their number.

This story belongs to Eleanor, the daughter of Frank and Cora Churcher. Frank is a famous artist, his fame having come from sales of a best-selling book, The Golden Bones, a richly illustrated treasure hunt based on an old folk song, which offers clues to a golden, jewel encrusted treasure in the form of a skeleton, parts of which are buried across the British Isles. Kit Harrington’s Masquerade was such a book, but the mystery of The Golden Bones has endured now for 50 years and become almost mythological.

Over the years many pieces have been found, but one piece, the pelvis, has remained elusive. A cult has built up over the years, drawing fanatics and sometimes dangerous and violent obsessives to its core, alongside genuine treasure hunters, passionate about finding all the pieces and ensuring the skeleton can be put back together again.

It is a quest which has put Eleanor (Nell) in danger more than once and which led both to her estrangement from her family and to Nell living life as much off the grid as she is able.

Now the 50th anniversary of the publication of The Golden Bones draws near and Nell has come back to finally see the pieces reunited and the treasure hunt brought to a close. No-one is more relieved than Nell.

But the path to Nell’s peace of mind is of course not straightforward and as events unfold in the lead up to this ‘Golden Anniversary’ many disturbing secrets will come to light and two close families will be riven apart. In a dual timeline story which moves effortlessly between past and present, Kelly brings every character to life so brilliantly.

Verdict: Erin Kelly has delivered another massively compelling, beautifully imagined, page-turner full of richly drawn characters, secrets upon secrets in a book which is both fabulously original and so layered it falls into the millefeuille category. Beautifully written, full of seriously flawed characters and lots of toxicity, this book is both riveting and unmissable. The Skeleton Key is undoubtedly a top ten book of 2022.

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this startling book

the golden bones a book that hints at treasure and riches galore with many a person out looking for the buried bones that lead to their wildest dreams....

its the 50th anniversary of the book and its being released and as interest gains again the family all reunited for the disclosure of the missing final golden bone....

this is a very long and complex book but its well worth reading as it gives an insight into all the emotions that families go through and the secrets they hold....along with betrayals

We meet Nell as she reunites with her extended family to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her father Frank’s book, "The Golden Bones" – a book that has forever shadowed Nell’s existence. It contains clues by which treasure hunters could track down pieces of a jewelled golden skeleton of “Elinore”, but led to some fanatical hunters hurting Nell in an effort to obtain the last piece. As Nell joins Frank, her mother, Cora, and brother, Dom, to celebrate the new digital app that is being released to accompany the anniversary, a chain of events is set in motion that will make Nell question everything she thinks she knows about her family, their close family friends, the Lalleys (who are now also in-laws), and "The Golden Bones".

Fearing herself in danger once again, Nell must try to outwit the “bonehunters” to find the last piece of the skeleton while caring for her ex-boyfriend’s daughter and maintaining her relationship with her family. The action is fast-paced throughout and there are lots of twists and turns along the way. The supporting cast of characters are well-rounded and intriguing, and scenes veer from being wryly humorous to downright heart-breaking throughout. I liked the back and forth timelines approach, and the social media aspects rang very true… all in all, a very good mystery with some great reveals.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

In true Erin Kelly style this book starts off quiet and slow-burning - a detailed exploration of the characters, the setting and the mystery. But then out of nowhere you are sucked in, find yourself thoroughly invested in twists and turns of this gripping story. ps Obsessed with Eleanor and Billie!

I really enjoyed this book, twisting between the current travails of two conjoined families whose history is impacting on their lives in a myriad of ways. Nell has spent her whole life in the shadow of the treasure hunt devised by her parents. Over the years the hunt has at times put her life in danger and now, as the hunt reaches an anniversary, it may be time to start protecting herself and her family again.

It’s 2021 and the 50th anniversary of the publication of ‘Of the Golden Bones’ – a book both legendary and notorious. The Churcher family, including the very reluctant daughter, Eleanor or Nell for short, have all assembled to take part in a TV documentary on the phenomenon. Sir Frank Churcher wrote and illustrated the book which was based on an old folk story. This was the tale of Elinore, her lover Tam and her husband who murders her and then scatters her bones throughout the countryside so that she can never rise again.
‘The Golden Bones’ was a combination of picture book and treasure hunt with clues and puzzles for readers to solve and identify the locations of seven jewelled bones which are all part of Elinore’s ‘skeleton’. 6 were found but the 7th, the pelvis, eluded the determined, and almost too dedicated Bonehunters. Some of whom cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality and so believe that Elinore and Nell are one and the same with dangerous consequences. Now in her 40’s and a virtual recluse, living on the peripheries, with her foster daughter, Billie, she has never quite forgiven her father for completely destroying her life.
But she’s here at the relaunch and so are a couple of the Bonehunters who are being kept in check. However, ‘The Golden Bones’ has moved with the times as it’s now a digital challenge with an app. This contains clues to skeleton keys. At the event’s climax, Frank will reveal the final golden bone’s location. However, it’s not a golden bone that falls from a tree. It’s definitely not gold and it will destroy the lives of the Churchers, their lifelong friends the Lalleys and all their extended families and friends. All their own skeletons are finally leaping out of their closets, grinning, and now there is no escaping the truth.
The first half of the book meandered, I felt, as it moved between the past and the present day. There were a lot of characters to take on board and there was a definite feel of ‘The Skeleton Key’, being a family saga or at least having the elements of one which wasn’t what I was expecting. There were also several minor characters and subplots. Nell was an interesting character as we see her chapters through her eyes. I sensed her paranoia and rage at how the original Golden Bones book affected her life and one in which she had no say. She’s not entirely likeable but honest. After all, how often do you end up being stalked by complete strangers for most of your life who are convinced that you’re the living embodiment of a fictional character, someone who never actually existed? Also, when people such as a boyfriend, get close to her in order to exploit her.
But the book really came to life when the murder mystery element is introduced. Suddenly this renowned, eminent, apparently respectable family is shown to be a seething mass of resentments, bullying, amorality and envy
The author portrays well how the victim ended up being drawn into the world of the Churchers, however briefly, and then vanished without anyone noticing that she’s gone. The Churchers and the Lalleys, to a lesser extent, were one of the most dysfunctional families that I’ve ever read about. The claustrophobic relationship with them living next door to each other and a son from one family marrying a daughter from the other. This didn’t disguise the rivalry and envy that existed under the surface between Frank and Lal.
The truly obsessive nature of the Bonehunters is brought vividly to life and some of their social media exchanges are quoted within the narrative and are downright creepy and convincing.
The author was inspired by the celebrated 1979 book ‘Masquerade’ by Kit Williams which I remember vividly. This was a book that contained clues for a treasure hunt with a prize which was an 18 carat golden hare. It was an absolute sensation at the time and the hare was eventually found.
The murder mystery element was almost like another treasure hunt with the police looking for clues and piecing them together and the reader doing the same. Once the book really got going, it really drew me in, and I wanted to find out the identity of the murderer. It was unputdownable after that.
This is the first Erin Kelly book that I’ve read and I’m already looking forward to reading another.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

A twisted tale of treasure hunts, family, deception, and crime. Erin Kelly never disappoints - I didn’t know how she’d be able to follow Watch Her Fall but she’s done it, 5 stars from me!

Nell is pulled back into her family life after living off grid with her sort-of step-daughter, Billie. Her dad rose to fame through The Golden Bone, a treasure hunt to find the ‘bones’ of a mysterious folklore figure, Elinore, scattered across the country. Of course, a bunch of people take it too far and one tries to kill Nell when she’s a teenager. But she has to return when her dad is releasing an anniversary edition. What they don’t bank on is an actual human pelvis to be found and all hell to break loose…

Spanning 50 years, this really is an absolutely gifted telling of a twisted tale. I really didn’t see a lot of it coming, as I never do with Kelly’s books! The characters are mostly awful, in that brilliant way of a thriller. Snobby, rich, selfish, self-entitled. All apart from Billie, who I absolutely loved. The incident with the glass just made me love her more!

I don’t want to give much away and spoil this, but there are a few trigger warnings you might want to check on before reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.