An absolutely exceptional book by author Erin Kelly.

Nell reluctantly returns to the family home to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her father's novel 'The Golden Bones', a beautifully illustrated treasure hunt that has captivated readers for the five decades since its publication. Her father's book is a story of passion and deceit, a backdrop to a life that has consisted of the same qualities for himself. But as she re-immerses herself in her chaotic and unconventional extended family, Nell begins to realise how far the effect of lies and love can really reach. Clues and truths echo from across the years and as lies are laid bare, its time to see how long the truth can stay hidden.

I absolutely loved this book! The narrative is cleverly unraveled with jumps backwards and forwards in chronology, with flashbacks to the publication of the book and to the present day for its 50th anniversary. The book is a maze of sub-plots and perspectives that build our knowledge piece by piece, changing our initial perceptions about events and characters as the story develops.

The main character Nell is a really likeable character and I enjoyed her resistance to her family and their values. Her fierce loyalty to Billie is heart-warming and, especially as events unfold, I can understand how the past has led to this admirable character trait.

The book has a reel of characters, which at first felt quite confusing. But the author is able to cleverly and successfully develop each character through the use of flashbacks and different perspectives so that, although there are many of them, the characters are each a fully-formed and integral role within the tangled timeline of their lives. The narrative is built on the themes of deception, rivalry, love and loyalty, and there are some genuine eye-brow-raising, gasp-out-loud moments as the plot unravels.

A firm five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highly recommend!

Thank you to Erin Kelly, Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication. I reviewed an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

The Skeleton Key begins in 2021 (with the odd reference to the Covid pandemic) with the relaunch of The Golden Bones (a treasure hunt book) for its 50 anniversary with an accompanying app to replace the physical hunt. Unfortunately, the televised launch doesn’t go to plan leaving Nell Churcher at risk again from the dedicated followers known as The Bonehunters.
I’m not usually a thriller lover, contrived events normally leave me frustrated however there were enough twists along the way to keep me intrigued!

I rarely give up on a book but found nothing to keep me reading this. The title describes the quest to try and find the final key to resolving where all the golden bones are buried. The book became a major sensation with disciples worldwide. The family are now reconvening to celebrate the original publication. The book did not grip me so I am unable ti recommend it.

A beautifully written book. Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read

Nell Churcher has spent her whole life associated with The Golden Bones, a book written and illustrated by her estranged father Frank Churcher which contains clues to a golden skeleton whose bones are hidden around the UK.
The fanatical followers of the book, Bonehunters, have many outlandish theories about the messages and clues illustrated, and have blighted Nell’s life, because she bears the same name, Eleanor, as the woman in the book.
It is the 50th anniversary of the publication, and the family have been brought together for a TV special filmed at their house in Hampstead.
By setting the main action over a short number of days, and then moving back in time to significant events the tension is ramped up, as truths and betrayals within the family are uncovered.
An excellent read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this book.

This book has got such an intriguing and unique premise! I was entranced by the idea of a treasure hunt with a book at its centre (now need to read Masquerade!) and all of the mystery and family secrets made it all the more enticing! I have to admit that I did start to lose track of the twists and turns about three-quarters of the way through when I found things getting a bit too convoluted, and I felt that some of it could have been cut, but I got back into it by the end and found it quite a satisfying read.

I abandoned the book at 8% because it did not feel like something I would enjoy. The synopsis was highly interesting, the writing style not so much.

This is the third Erin Kelly book I've read, I know to expect the unexpected.

An epic family saga mystery, spanning decades. Fifty years ago Frank Churcher created a bestselling treasure hunt picture book The Golden Bones. Bonehunters have been searching for the hidden treasures ever since.

It made Frank's family and friends into bohemian celebrities, and put lives at risk. When the location of the elusive last hidden treasure is revealed human bones are found in its place.

This is an epic, sprawling murder mystery, obsessional treasure hunt, family saga, rich in character.

Honestly, it's not really my kind of book, I was generally absorbed and interested, rather than gripped. I found it long and fairly slow.

I'm sure others will love it, I wish I could be more positive. I'm quite sure it will find its audience who will immerse themselves and cherish it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton

What an amazing book!
The book follows the joint sories of the Churcher and Lally families who have been life long friends.
Frank Churcher came up with the idea for a book that would make him a lot of money. This book was ''The Golden Bones''. A treasure hunt book, full of clues to find the locations of several golden bones that make up the skeleton of fictional character, Elinore. Frank and his wife Cora, even named their daughter after Elinore, although she prefers to distance herself from this by calling herself Nell. The book has drawn fans from across the globe, some more obsessed with finding the scattered bones than others, and Nell has found herself in danger on more than one occasion, but none so terrifying as when she was stabbed as a child buy a crazed 'bonehunter'.
The story covers several decades, and flits from one time period to another to give a full background to the twisted tale. The book marred the life of so many people, and twisted the minds of bonehunters and family alike. This culminates in a murder that has been covered up for years, until something happens to bring everything to light once more.
An excellent read, that I would recommend to anyone. Well deserving of stars!

This is a story of many things a treasure hunt with puzzles and hidden clues, a story of murder and mystery and a story of family and the deceptions and secrets that are divulged during the course of the read.
I’m sad to say I was a little disappointed at times by the book it took me a while to connect with the characters and I felt that at times that I was struggling for it to keep my attention but in saying that I still found myself drawn into finding out what would happen. The writing was as you would expect from Erin Kelly both beautiful and lyrical and for me that is what made me continue to read.
So all in all it was an enjoyable read just not quite what I was expecting.
My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is literally the best book I've read in my entire life.

The story is perfection. Absolute perfection. It's seamless, it's flawless, and it flows like mercury. It's the first time I've ever been totally drawn in by a book. I haven't even finished it and I'm reviewing it at about 90% because I'm just so eager to let others know just how good it is.

It's up, it's down, there's not a single boring "skimmable" part in this book. I found myself totally drawn in by Nell, she's such a likeable character. She's sat on the outside of a large, dysfunctional family, looking in and only has the best intentions, despite not being a model citizen.

Several of the "sub-stories" had me totally gripped too. I found myself quite emotionally involved in some of them, particularly just how much it annoyed me that people devote their lives to "bone hunting" I was worried for Nell and Billie with their own little story, I was upset for Dom, I felt so much pity for Cora.

This lady deserves to smash records for this book, and I really hope she does. I've gone straight out and ordered the rest of her back catalogue. My favourite author of the past few years by a LONG shot.

Summer 2021 and Nell (Eleanor Churcher) has been asked to return home from her travels to her family, due to the re-launch of a book her father wrote fifty year previously.
Why is Nell so reticent about this?
The army of fanatical “bone hunters”, the so called treasure hunters, can’t wait for the re-release.
The book is a worldwide phenomenon.
Will this all end in fear and tears?

The book in question called “The Golden Bones”, is an illustrated fairytale book, drawn by her artist father. It is based on an old folklore song, filled with rhymes, puzzles and mystery. With the artwork featuring scenes of that era. The book is at the heart of the novel, with the plot revolving around it.
Nell reluctantly comes home, filled with apprehension. Her whole life so far has been dominated by the story book, an instant hit worldwide, with an army of “bone hunters” trying to solve the clues and riddles, to try find the treasure of the seven hidden bones.
The bone hunters are determined, some can’t work out fact from fantasy.

The Skeleton Key explores the dynamics of the two dysfunctional families at it’s heart, allowing the reader to feel the natures of the characters.
The end has twists and turns, that maintain the excitement, with a few dark reveals, so be aware.
Its plotting and consequences kept the suspense.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an e-book copy. Opinions are my own.

The Skeleton Key is a rather long tale - part mystery, part family saga.
It’s based around the authors fascination for a treasure hunt/puzzle book from the 1980’s or so, called Masquerade. I was intrigued as I too remember this book as a child, but unfortunately this novel didn’t quite fulfil what I was hoping for. A promising start became a little monotonous and slow for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly. What a beautifully well written, interesting book. It had be hooked from the start. One of my favourite books so far this year!

Elinore (Nell) is named after a character in her parents’ famous book. In the book, a mythical girl called Elinore can be revived if only all of her bones are reunited. The book was a treasure hunt across the country and caused a sensation, Some people went too far and Nell’s life was pretty much ruined by their obsessions. Now the final bone is going to be revealed but instead a human bone is found. This leads to the truth about many family members. Owing to light and some sordid secrets that have been kept for decades. I felt the book took a bit too long to get to this part. I enjoyed the real life aspects more than the treasure hunt obsession. Most of the characters are deeply flawed and many thoroughly dislikeable which never helps me as a reader but I did enjoy the relationship between Nell and her foster child. I think some readers will absolutely love this book but it wasn’t quite for me, Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.

Definitely not what I was expecting! A dark very strange novel spanning a lifetime and a literary sensational at the middle of it. One of those books that will stay with you. Fully recommend

Unputdownable - if that's a word! A truly unique plot, featuring a decades old mystery, an unforgettable family and incredibly well drawn characters. Even the online players of the game have their own personalities. A gripping, wonderful read.

A completely different take on the usual murder stories I read. This novel was set around a treasure hunt and featured two close, dysfunctional families. The Churchers and the Lallys were the brains behind the book whose success spawned an army of Bonehunters looking for bejewelled skeleton pieces, had devastating effects for each family. A captivating and enthralling read.

The Skeleton Key incorporates the highly niche yet excessively obsessive world of armchair treasure hunting, into an intriguing mystery swathed in a dysfunctional family drama.

And boy does Erin Kelly do it well. The treasure hunt, although we don’t go into great depth as far as the actual clues are concerned, provides a brilliant thread that ties all the characters and their relationships together, across a 50 odd year timeline. As the mystery unravels, so the intricate relationships are explored, understood, and for the most part, shockingly divulged. There are characters you will love, some you will hate, and a whole bunch you will boomerang between the two emotions.

All in all, this a fun and engaging read.
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for a Review Copy.

Took me a bit of time to get into. I think somethings you need to let a book flow over you and not question the whys and where fors. Just let it roll. I loved it but you need to stick with it.