This is a wonderful twisty and twisted saga about two melded families, full of secrets, lies, deceit and maybe some things even darker.

In 1969 Frank Churcher, aided by some artistic friends, comes up with a project that will make him very rich and very famous.  But that money and fame comes with a huge price for some.  

The picture book that Frank produces is inspired by an old English folk song and contains a treasure hunt that becomes a lifelong and sometimes dangerous obsession for some people.

Fifty years after the book is first published a film crew descends on Frank's home to make a documentary about the success and infamy of 'The Golden Bones'.  All Frank's family, blood and extended are gathered together, whether they like it or not, and chaos of the highest magnitude ensues.

I have read and enjoyed all of Erin Kelly's novels but this is by far my favourite.  Okay, the plot is perhaps a bit bonkers at times but it is so entertaining and the characters are so fantastic I loved every single page of it. 

Highly, highly recommended.

The Skeleton Key is a complex psychological thriller, set in several timelines, with numerous subplots and a myriad of characters. It starts very slow but the pace gradually accelerates towards the end, with several twists and turns on the way.

Gosh....only managed the first few chapters realising this is really not for me and have a heap of more suitable books to enjoy reading.
The characters and the story line are too far removed from my reality to relate to.
The stye of writing was ok but I wasn't hooked in.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity

I read the first 20 or so pages of this book with a sinking heart, as I thought it really wasn’t going anywhere - it felt somewhat derivative of Kit Williams’ 1979 ‘sensation, Masquerade’ where a jewelled hare was hidden somewhere in the UK and readers had to solve clues hidden in paintings in order to find it. But then The Skeleton Key took off and had this reader gripped until the very last word. This book is excellent in every way - story, characters, settings, relationships - The Skeleton Key has it all. Artist and writer Frank Churcher publishes a book based on an ancient rhyme, having scattered small golden bones around the country. This book spawns a group of fanatics who will stop at nothing to solve the clues and put the skeleton back together again. Sadly, Frank Churcher is not a pleasant character and has no qualms about using people, including his own family, to enhance his own reputation and wealth. The story gets somewhat convoluted in places, but always brings the reader back on board and eager to read until the final shocking denouement. If it were not for those first 20 or so pages, this would be a 5 star read but the opening drops it down to four.

This is a book that will stay with me for a long time. A very complex story that moves through different timelines to really add depth to the characters and their quirks. The storyline is clever, the kind of addictive story that would transfer brilliantly onto the TV.

Thank you NetGalley and Erin Kelly for a copy of the Skeleton Key in exchange for a review.

I have read most of Erin Kelly's books and was very excited to see a new one , but was particularly drawn to the story behind it. I really enjoyed how the story develops with snapshots from the past each completing the picture.

Would highly recommend the book!

I bought a copy of Masquerade (the inspiration for this book) the day it was published. I tried to solve the puzzles leading to the golden hare but found them impossible. I was intrigued to read The Skeleton Key and found the opening scenes riveting. But in the end I wasn't engrossed by this book,

Eleanor (Nell) is the daughter of Frank Churcher, an artist who creates a book which has a mystery to solve based on an old ballad about Elinore, a woman who was killed, her bones scattered and who came back to life when her bones were brought back together.. It is the 50th anniversary of the publication of The Golden Bones and there is to be a documentary about it. Nell is on her way home to join the celebrations. She is to say the least, ambivalent about this. She was attacked by a frenzied fan of the book when she was 14. The fan was trying to cut her pelvis out of her body, convinced that this was the missing piece of the puzzle. And now, many years later it seems that her life is in danger again.

I wasn't convinced by this story. Too many flashbacks, too many characters. I just didn't love it and found it confusing to follow. I also didn't warm to the characters. This is a very dysfunctional family with terrible secrets. Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC.

I loved the start of the skeleton key, it has many similarities to the hysteria surrounding the picture book Masquerade by Kit Williams from the late 70s/80s and it drew me in immediately but unfortunately it didn’t hold my attention which was a shame as normally I love Erin Kelly’s novels,

This book was original, quirky and different. It begins in the summer of 2021 when two families, the Churchers and Lallys play host to a television company who are there to film the 50th anniversary relaunch of the extremely successful book "The Golden Bones". The book, is based on an old folk song that tells of the bones of Elinore, murdered by her husband, being scattered across the countryside. Frank and Lal have manufactured a tiny skeleton and split it into seven pieces which they hide round the countryside — the clues in the book in text and pictures are designed to lead bone hunters to the hiding spots.
The original book is a huge success but build a fanatical and rabid bone hunting community which consumes to the life of many and leaves on hunter dead. The relaunch will incorporate digital technology and make use of apps to give clues to find a set of skeleton keys.
The beginning of the book is intriguing and really draws the reader in but the shifts in time from past to present and back slow the pace and for a while it lagged before some of the different threads joined up and it began to make sense. Then towards the end the pace quickens and there are several twists and turns that change the readers perspective and hook them until the final page.
It is story is one of trust on many different levels as everyone around Nell appears to let her down at some point and cheat on each other and even themselves. What on the surface appear to happy families readjust themselves as secrets are revealed and they become disfunctional.
Overall I very much enjoyed this book although it took a little while to settle down. It was very different to anything I've read recently which was refreshing and although I may not have liked all the characters I felt they were well drawn and all played their parts well.
With thanks to Hodder & Stoughton, Netgalley and the author for an arc copy in return for an honest review. I have not read anything by this author previously but will look out for her work in future.

I’ve fairly recently listened to a podcast about Masquerade, the literary treasure hunt on which The Golden Bones featured in Kelly’s novel is based, so I felt a bit like I knew what I was getting into, which was nice. Most of the characters in this novel, the Churcher-Lallys, are terrible people who grow more detestable the more you read, but I liked Eleanor who narrates the present day sections. I really like Kelly’s thrillers, and I did race through this as much as you can with such a long novel, but the sections set in the past and used to explain how the family and their art get to where they are do drag on a bit and pull The Skeleton Key more into family saga territory. I didn’t love the resolution, but the epilogue brought it back for me. An expansive and absorbing dive into a troubled and talented family.

I chose to read this book because, like the author, I too was fascinated by Kit William's 'Masquerade' book, although too young to do anything but marvel at the amazing pictures and read a nice but confusing story.
The Skeleton Key doesn't have any pictures, but it is certainly more than a nice story. From very early on, I felt drawn in to the lives of Nell and her family. I liked how the story evolved to reveal more of their characters and their motives. The narrative moves around on the timeline but unlike some stories, this wasn't confusing as the chapters were clearly titled with the date.. What was slightly confusing was the discussions concerning the Bonehunters and the significance of their forum posts, one has to pay very close attention to keep up with who said what and when!
This is a whodunnit mystery and a psychological thriller, mixed with a good dollop of social commentary about class prejudice and privilege. It is not always easy reading but it is totally engrossing and worth a few hours of anyone's time.

An overall good book. Thank you Net Galley and Hodder&Stoughton. You really need to pay attention to this book. I was hooked from the first time. Getting tese multiple time lines of events was done pretty well. I think I was more interested in the treasure hunt aspect but with the added complicated family relations, and a murder, I was very intrigued. There was so much happening, so many subplots that kept me hooked but it was also somewhat tiresome and dragged on at some parts. The characters were so complex and very much unlikable and I also found myself disagreeing with tbr protagonist at some points.

Fifty years ago, an artist Frank Churcher is fresh out of art school with his bestfriend. he draws inspiration from an old folksong, and wrote and drew a picture book, it was full of clues, riddles and drawings for treasure hunters to find the jewelled bones of Elinore. She was the murdered wife in the song he got the inspiration for the story from. Her skeleton needs to be put back together again for her to be brought back to life, in the song. The book, 'The Golden Bones', is wildly successful, making Frank & his now wife, Cora, she made the gold jewelled miniature bones, excessively Rich! Their neighbours, the Lally's are their best friends. Frank & Lal since art school, Cora & Bridget upon meeting!😍

The Bonehunters that search for the bones from the clues, are obsessive! Some are quite insane, one in particular, Ingrid, decides that to bring Elinore back to life, like the song says you must, Frank's daughter Eleanor, Nell, must have the pelvic bone inside of her. So she attacks her with a blade, when she's just a teen, to try to cut it out of her!😳😭 Nell grows up hating her name, the book, and everything that's come from it!😔

The whole family of the Churcher's and Lally's are now gathered for the 50th Anniversary Special Edition of the book. A tv show is being made. Her wonderful and clever brother, Dom, has written an app for new hunters to play and find skeleton keys, it's a bit like Pokemon Go with caches. The final golden jewelled bone is the grand prize!😲💥

(I don't know what the obsession is with jumping forward & backward in timelines? It doesn't make it easy for us to read or enjoy, it's initially very off putting, and I do wish Authors would stop using it as a plot device.🙏 It's horrible, so please stop it!🙈)

Thankfully, Once I got more settled into the storyline and the pace picked up, it turned into a good read. I found Nell's choice at the end a bit odd. I felt like he was a sick scum of a man, so she should've let bygones be bygones - a fresh start was needed for all!👍 It made her seem self righteous, childish, and judgemental, after all he'd done to everyone! That was my opinion of her anyway! I liked Billy, she humanized Nell for me, who I had felt was understandably, emotionally stunted.😔

I fear that if this was made into a film, the only people to come out of it being liked. would be the children!😂 I recommend this twisty read for lovers of thrillers,mysteries, puzzles, escape rooms, crosswords, etc Its a bit of a head scratcher until you get to the reveal.😉 Enjoy!🌟

I would like to thank the Publisher for getting this copy to me via Netgalley.

Debbie, 1970, UK

Well what a strange but fab story this is. The Churcher family are dysfunctional to say the least. They share their home (adjoined properties) with their friends, the Lalleys, from way back and live in harmony. Sir Frank Churcher relaunches the book “The Golden Bones” on the 50th anniversary of its first print. The story is based on the ancient old folk song. This song tells the story of Elinore who was married off but wanted to be with her lover Tam. The couple are seen by her husband together and her husband murders her and scatters her bones around the countryside. Sir Frank’s book is written as a treasure hunt. Sir Frank and his wife Cora have made 7 golden bones (with jewels) and scattered them throughout the country for hunters to find with the clues in the book Once all pieces are found they make a skeleton in the name of Elinore.
Over the years 6 pieces are found and the treasurer hunters are from all over the world and quite fanatic. There is drama over the years with this hunt and there are people who think that the 7th bone has been put into Sir Frank’s daughter, Nell, short for Eleanor. The piece still missing is the pelvis and one avid hunter even hurts Nell when she was a teenager to try and find the piece. Nell eventually goes her own way and although in touch with the family lives her own life. On the 50th anniversary Sir Frank decides to tell all letting the hunters know where the last piece is but things go from bad to worse and is exciting to read. The book itself is written in the past and present so you get to know the characters very well. Some characters you take to straightaway others not so Sir Frank being one although this feeling did not come until nearer the end of the book which readers will find out. I enjoyed Nell as a character as she was doing some good with her life even though from privilege. Definitely worth a read

Welcome to a world, where it appears nothing is sacred anymore. Misdemeanors are covered up by throwing cash at them, and families are prepared to go all in to keep reputations in place. Is this possible, the art world closing in and covering up to protect its own. Its all about the bones….

“… Flesh will spoil and blood will spill but true love never dies. Gather the lady’s bones with love to see the lady rise…”
Erin Kelly :- The Skeleton Key.

As a form of torture Chinese Water and Waterboarding can easily be described as being extremities of the same idea. However, you couldn’t think of anything more apt to describe just how the author holds you in this story. A drip feed that descends into a creshendo, that pulls you along and threatens to drown you. Such is the pace that it gathers.

The charcters, the way in which they merge, the simple believability. You feel like you know them, that they are almost family members of yours, such is the way that they portrayed and the depth that they have.

The plot, is of similar strength and leaves just enough to the imagination, to really find yourself fully immersed in the goings on of the two families. The twists and turns, and the suffering that they are going through.

Would I recommend? Hell YES!

Status: Complete

Rating: 5.0/5.0

I enjoyed this book. 50 years ago, Sir Frank Churcher published The Golden Bones, part picture book and part treasure hunt (inspired by the author's fascination with Masquerade by Kit Williams. The book made Frank's fortune but took it's toll on his family and friends, not least his daughter Nell. Now Frank is issuing a new edition of the book and is promising to reveal the whereabouts of the last bone. This is a story of secrets and betrayal with some very interesting characters. It is a long read but the plot will keep your interest to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

A multi-layered read about secrets kept across generations and the affect of the past on the present. This is like a kaleidoscope. With chapters the big picture shifts and nothing is as it seems. Compared to Erin kelly’s previous novels this one does have a huge cast of characters; not gonna lie, it was hard to keep track of who was who and the first half was a slow burn. It isn’t until actual bones are found and the police are involved that it becomes interesting. Another ambitious mystery novel, executed to almost perfection.

I went into this expecting a solid suspense read. Erin Kelly is one of my suspense authors. I’ve read all her books. She is top of her game. Sadly this one didn’t deliver 😪 But all great artists are allowed to make mistakes now and then. As long as we learn from them. I won’t go into recapping the events of the story, cause if you’re interested in knowing that you can read the book yourself and experience the events. I’m going to review my feelings of the book and general mood/vibe.
I loved the prologue for this and was ready to cancel everything and sit down for this. A binge-read. However it wasn’t soon my attention withered and I slowly started to lose focus. I think the problem with this is there’s too many subplots. The story is too diluted. It takes ages setting the story. I wasn’t interested in the flashback scenes and discovering how the book was written and published. It felt repetitive. This is something I didn’t like with Stone Mothers and Watch Her Fall, that Kelly keeps showing scenes from someone else’s POV. It overlaps and I can fill in the gaps. Also character’s backstories are NOT that interesting. Jelly has this flaw of losing control and doing too much showing and going into minute details. I skipped over it. I liked the way the Internet was woven in and how you get rabid fans which felt topical and exciting, but that wasn’t fleshed out enough. Then there’s the protagonist living on a boat. The boat doesn’t much to do with the plot, so I didn’t get the purpose of it. I feel like Kelly wants something unique in her books to make it stand but in this case it just serves no purpose. I had to force myself to finish the book. Not my favourite. But I will support Kelly, and I look forward to her next one. I just hope she stops with this overlapping narratives thing that she does.

A fresh and intriguing thriller/crime/mystery novel. I absolutely loved this and couldn't put it down. Highly recommend

Unfortunately this wasn’t as good as I was expecting it to be.
It’s quite muddled, flitting from one time frame to another and I found the family hard to work out who was with what family.
The story in parts was good though and made me want to get to the end but I did nearly give up a few times.