Nell's life has been lived in the shadow of the famous book her father wrote with his best friend before she was even born. 'The Golden Bones' (loosely based on Kit Williams' famous Masquerade), told the folktale of Elinor, a wealthy lady who was murdered by her husband for falling in love with a farmhand, Tam. After Elinor's husband scattered her bones across the country, Tam was told that, if he could collect them together again, Elinor would rise from her grave and come back to life. 'The Golden Bones' challenged its readers to a similar treasure hunt, seeding clues across its pages that would lead them to tiny jewelled gold models of Elinor's bones. But this hunt became an obsession for a small but dedicated minority of readers, nicknamed 'Bonehunters'. When The Skeleton Key opens, Nell's family are once more gathered to return to 'The Golden Bones' with an app developed for a new generation of treasure hunters. However, a shocking discovery at the launch of this app threatens to unravel generations of family secrets.

It took me some time to get into this novel. The first third felt a bit scattergun, switching between different plot lines, and at first I wasn't sure how all of this was going to coalesce together. However, after that point, it all clicked, and I fell in love with this complicated, intricate story. Erin Kelly is known for her sophisticated thrillers, but this felt like a step beyond even what she's done before, with such psychological realism as she explores the network of relationships within Nell's family. One outstanding thread was the relationship between Nell and adopted daughter Billie, which was portrayed with such warmth that I truly cared about what happened to them. However, Kelly's writing is also on brilliant form throughout this novel as she explores the consequences of doing something terrible and how a murderer 'lives in a place inhabited only by those who have taken another human life. It is a superterranean Hades that is superimposed on the world where the innocent live, a club so secret even its members do not know each other... plagued by elaborate fantasies that one day a vengeful - or maybe just bored - god will decide to expose them all. [Spoiler] and the other murderers will look up to see a swirling storm cloud above their heads. Nobody can explain the phenomenon, and the murderers aren't letting on. Sometimes they allow a brief moment of recognition in the street and the expression is always the same. You? Really? I'd never have guessed.'

The Skeleton Key is both a thriller and a family drama, but it's also something more than both of those genres; it has such heart and such originality. Forgive it the wonky start, and keep on with the hunt.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for approving me for an ARC of this book. I’d also like to thank Tandem Collective UK for inviting me to take part in my first listen along. This is the first book of Erin Kelly’s that I have read and I was excited to dive in.

The story centres around Nell (Elinore) and the upcoming 50th anniversary of her parents popular children’s book, The Golden Bones. The story flicks back and forth between current day events and moments from the past, spanning many decades. It’s through this story telling that we learn just how much Nell’s life has been affected by her parent’s book.

I loved Nell as a main character and admired her need to create distance between herself and her family. The legacy her parents set her up for was something no child should have to bear and I often found myself angry and Frank and Cora’s lack of parenting. The saving grace in Nell’s family was Billie and I loved watching their bond grow from strength to strength.

The obsession with the book, The Golden Bones, is very dangerous and shows just how quickly people can form groups and become obsessed with the latest trend. The ‘Bone Hunter’s’ were willing to sacrifice anything to find the missing pieces of Elinore and some even paid with their lives. The much anticipated celebration of the book only brings one question. Where is the last missing piece?

This a a slow burn, highly addictive, psychological thriller that is seeped in history and family drama’s. There are plenty of twists and turns, quite a few of which took me completely by surprise. It will leave you trusting no one and guessing up until the last turn of the page.

I enjoyed the audio so much that I went and got myself a copy because the book itself is just too pretty to leave behind. It was so much fun to participate in the listen-along and chat to other readers as we went, I hope this will be the first of many. I’m now off to read the rest of Erin Kelly’s collection!

Thanks so much to Erin Kelly and Hodder & Staughton for my chance to read ‘The Skeleton Key’. As a child I was obsessed with the idea of Kit Williams’ book ‘Masquerade’ (now I feel old) and the fact that a real life gold treasure could be found if you cracked the clues in a book. Having read ‘The Skeleton Key’, Im not the only one who was obsessed with it- Erin Kelly’s devilishly cunning book pays fantastic homage to this book but is so much more than that.
Timewise, ‘The Skeleton Key’ starts in the 1960s where Frank Churcher writes a new folkstory about Elinore, whose bones have been scattered across England in mythical locations. The story is illustrated with beautiful pictures full of hidden clues to the real-life whereabouts of some of the bones, cryptic clues and the like. Frank and his best friend Lal find a tiny model skeleton, decorate the bones and bury each bone in one of the locations. The book is an overnight success, and all the bones are found by the Bonehunters – all except the pelvis. The Bonehunters are obsessed with finding the missing bone, believing that if they can uncover all the bones, Elinore will rise again.

Frank, Lal and their families become rich through the success of the book but it comes at a cost, as the Bonehunters become obsessive about Frank’s daughter Eleanor at great personal cost.

We move on to the 50th anniversary of the book; the Bonehunters are still searching for the pelvis, scouring anything they can find to seek clues. Eleanor has kept a low profile ever since her childhood, convinced that any publicity will be bad for her personally. Frank and Lal are working with a TV crew to produce a documentary about Frank’s life and his artistic profile since the book was published; as part of the book, he has planned to reveal the final secret about Elinore’s missing bone, but all is not as it seems.

The storyline flits back and forth from the 60s to now, revealing elements of the story from the perspective of various characters; the more I learnt, the more I kept changing my mind about the characters and who I trusted, their motivations and the driving force behind their actions. It’s a bigger character list than previous Erin Kelly books, and there were moments when I was a bit confused by who was who but it all became clearer as I read on. I think the original Masquerade book was very ‘of its time’ if that makes sense; if it was written now, clues would be solved by computers quicker than they were written. ‘The Skeleton Key’ captures that perfectly, the 1960s/ 70s sense of artistic freedom but without everything being automatically recorded and captured. It cleverly moves the story forward too as Frank and his son develop an app to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the book, allowing a new generation of armchair detectives to get involved.

I would highly recommend ‘The Skeleton Key’ to any readers who like a gothic-feel, head-twisting, family-based crime drama.

Wow what a thrilling adventure. The Skeleton Key is the story about a book within a book, one that evokes a passionate search for bones - those of the legendary Elinore and and causes a group of fanatics to pursue every skeleton bone until one remains: the pelvis. However, the hunt becomes obessessive and destructive and is forced to end when someone dies. The book created a fortune for Frank and Cora Churcher and added to their vanity and shallowness , however for their daughter Nell, it brought much more menacing and sinister attention, as the infamous Bone Collectors failed to separate fantasy and reality, linking Nell with the Elinore of the story. Her life takes a much darker turn triggered by the Elinore Saga and she remains a recluse. However, family are planning a TV show to launch alongside the 50th anniversary golden edition of the book that will see fans seek the final golden bone. What starts off as a gothic tale of a legendary Skeleton twists forebodingly into unearthing some dark skeletons, secrets and lies that have repercussions for all. The non linear structure means that we piece fragments slowly to start but the end is a pacy and thrilling race that unveils some jawdropping surprises. A story of lust, obsession, death, secrets and lies. With thanks to @Netgalley for the ebook . The cover image of the book is simply stunning and perfectly matches the contents. This is a perfect read for Autumn and Halloween. #theskeletonkey #erinkelly #netgalley #hodderbooks

The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly is an absorbing story of Treasure Hunts and picture books, and the celebration of fifty years of the book which was published and called The Golden Ones.Sir Frank Churcher created the fairy story about Elsinore, a murdered woman whose bones were scattered far and wide.
This is a taut, mesmerising novel about a daughter who is haunted by her fathers legacy and the events that unfold on the fifty anniversary of the book.
An interesting storyline about families and how the events of the past catch up and impinge on the present and future.
Highly recommended

I found myself wholly wrapped up in the family dysfunction and The Golden Bones quest at the heart of The Skeleton Key. It served as the perfect distraction taking me away to a world where crazed bone hunters not only hunt for clues in the real world, but also share their obsession in chat rooms online, ever seeking the one final missing bone to complete Eleanor's skeleton. Two families, the Churchers and the Lallys, merged as one when this children's mystery quest/picture book created in the 70s bound them together through thick and thin. A global fascination has dogged the steps of Frank Churcher, its creator, since the publication of The Golden Bones, overshadowing his more serious artistic endeavours, leaving him bitter.

I loved the story as a whole and the characters that people this gripping read. Initially it felt like quite a vast cast but they fall into place soon enough making the family tree clear. Nell's story and life on a canal boat sparked my imagination. Ever hiding and avoiding anything to do with the Golden Bones, as it proved dangerous to her in her youth, she loves her family deeply but is happy to keep a distance from anything to do with The Golden Bones. The family dynamic and the way they are with each other says to me our ingenious author must have come from a big family. It feels so real; full of flaws, tantrums, lifelong understandings and the untruths one might grow up believing to be real. Through it all shines love, in whatever form that might take. It's so well written with the bouncing back and forth in time shedding bits of light on events from the past that have a consequence in the present day of 2021. I relished this novel and am reminded what a vast talent Erin Kelly possesses. Enjoying The Skeleton Key as much as I did, I must revisit her previous works and read those I may have missed.

The Skeleton Key is a mystery to be solved with great tension, twists, sarcasm and chocked full of angst and heart. It covers lots of ground but will leave the reader satisfied with the outcome and the path it took to get there. I hope you agree.

I had high hopes for this book after reading the reviews. Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. I found it confusing and the characters were weird. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Ok, wow! This book! I was hooked from the very start.. I love the back and forth timelines as the backstory is incredibly important to the current plot.

Set around a treasure hunt (which a similar did take place in the recent past) and the family involved in its creation, this novel weaves secrets with emotions, and there are some proper twisty chapters! Great characters too.

This really is a superb book, I’ll definitely be recommending it.

This was certainly an interesting read. Whilst it held my attention well enough for me to finish it, it left a rather sour taste. Full of dislikable, egotistical characters. The swapping of timelines and flashbacks gave the story a little bit of a disjointed feeling too, especially as they were told via different characters.

Can’t say I enjoyed this I’m afraid

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

A creepily fantastic page turner perfect for an Autumn read. A book within a book, family secrets, treasure hunt, conspiracy theories and a mystery that was full of twists and turns, this is Kelly's best book yet.

One drunken night, penniless artist Frank Churcher jots down the idea for a treasure map within a book and”The Golden Bones” legacy starts. By its 50th anniversary, the book has amassed a cult following of treasure hunters aka The Bone Hunters who have found all but on of the bones hidden. Some will stop at nothing to get their hands on the last bone…

The Skeleton Key is a creepy, atmospheric read full of slimy characters. I hooked me straight away with the short, snappy chapters. The pace dropped quite a bit in the middle of the book but was back on track soon enough with an ending that made me feel like I couldn’t read fast enough. It’s cleverly and intricately plotted but I was so irritated by the characters that I felt glad to have finished it.

This book would be great for readers and book groups who enjoy a good thriller.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Erin Kelly brings something different to all her books. Nell was negatively affected by the global success of her fathers book The Golden Bones which was a puzzle based murder tale. People followed clues to find skeleton pieces but one eluded them . Fact and fiction became entangled. The book is about to be reissued and a film crew will chart the treasure hunt.

A book based on myths and legends involving a search for the hidden bones of the heroine becomes an overnight success for the author and commences a feeding frenzy of followers seeking her remains by solving numerous anagrams, mysteries and puzzles. The author and his best friend live in adjoining houses, both heads of artistic families with wives and children encumbered by the tragic legacy of struggling under the constant scrutiny and threat from a worldwide army of bone hunters who will stop at nothing to solve the mystery encapsulated in the book.. Moving between timelines we learn of a near fatal attack on one of the children. The lifelong passions and jealousies of two dysfunctional families that succeeds in damaging and risking the lives of those they profess to love. Lies and deceit over several decades that are slowly uncovered to reveal a storyline brilliant in its execution and shocking in the depth of travesty that individuals sink too, in striving for public recognition of artistic achievements. Level after level of corruption, disloyalty and deceit leads towards a conclusion that symbolises two families stripped to the bones of decency and honesty in an effort to. validate every devious action and decision of the past. Many thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC of a five star compulsive read that was impossible to put down.

Firstly, look at this cover, absolutely stunning! This was definitely a case of judging the book by its cover, thankfully this worked in my favour and didn't disappoint,

The synopsis of this book really drew me in as a book written 50 years ago is still having major repercussions on a family which send them on a treasure hunt for a key. However, there is a lot of drama amongst this dysfunctional family.

This story is gripping and very much a rollercoaster of a ride when discoveries are uncovered and the impact this has on Nell (the main character).

The less you know about this book the better, but if you're a fan of family secrets, thrillers and mysteries this is the book for you

EXCERPT: Ingrid has gone limp in the cyclist's arms. She is making ugly, meaningless noises.

'I'm thirsty,' I tell Bridget.

Her training kicks in. 'That's a sign of shock. Here.' Her cape reveals itself to be the throw from my mother's sofa. She wraps it around me as she examines the wound. Mother of God, she's got the femoral artery. Rose, keep that pressure up. '

'Did we do the right thing?' asks Dom. He takes my hand. 'Bridget, she's freezing.'

'You both did brilliantly,' says Bridget. She puts one hand to my forehead and the other to my wrist.

I hear a siren sing in the distance.

'Have we saved her life, Mum?' asks Rose.

Bridget, who always says it's better to remain silent than tell a lie, doesn't reply.

'You've killed my sister,' cries Dominic to Ingrid. 'You should've been locked up years ago.'

The siren closes in.

'No.' Ingrid shakes her head. 'I was trying to save a life. All I've ever wanted was to bring Elinore back.'

The siren dies. Strobing blue light turns everyone into aliens. The ambulance door slams and I see the black boots and the green overalls of the paramedics at a sideways angle. My last thought as I close my eyes and slide backwards out of this world is how vain is the cause that I am about to die for.

For the woman that Ingrid is trying to save has never existed outside the pages of a book.

ABOUT 'THE SKELETON KEY': THIS REUNION WILL TEAR A FAMILY APART...

Summer, 2021. Nell has come home at her family's insistence to celebrate an anniversary. Fifty years ago, her father wrote The Golden Bones. Part picture book, part treasure hunt, Sir Frank Churcher created a fairy story about Elinore, a murdered woman whose skeleton was scattered all over England. Clues and puzzles in the pages of The Golden Bones led readers to seven sites where jewels were buried – gold and precious stones, each a different part of a skeleton. One by one, the tiny golden bones were dug up until only Elinore's pelvis remained hidden.

The book was a sensation. A community of treasure hunters called the Bonehunters formed, in frenzied competition, obsessed to a dangerous degree. People sold their homes to travel to England and search for Elinore. Marriages broke down as the quest consumed people. A man died. The book made Frank a rich man. Stalked by fans who could not tell fantasy from reality, his daughter, Nell, became a recluse.

But now the Churchers must be reunited. The book is being reissued along with a new treasure hunt and a documentary crew are charting everything that follows. Nell is appalled, and terrified. During the filming, Frank finally reveals the whereabouts of the missing golden bone. And then all hell breaks loose.

MY THOUGHTS: I became fully immersed in the story of the Churcher and Lally families to the detriment of everything else I was currently reading. The extended family dynamics enthralled me. I became obsessed by their machinations, and their relationships, which are almost incestuous.

They are complicated families, their past and current lives closely entwined. Just how closely entwined becomes apparent during the course of the book. They support one another, play off against one another. Their children marry one another. It's all just one big happy family. Or is it?

The characters are superbly portrayed. Who could not love and admire Nell for abandoning the claustrophobic craziness and striking out on her own? Or Dom for becoming the quintessential 'city boy' in retaliation to his parents loose and louche lifestyle?

But when Nell's life, and by extension young Billie's life, is threatened by Frank's desperate need to always be in the spotlight, the centre of attention, the Churcher and Lally clans circle the wagons in an attempt to control the frenzy Frank has unleashed upon them, with unforeseen consequences.

While the mystery is great, it's the characters that make this book. Actions that start out with good intentions become derailed and disastrous making it an unpredictable and rewarding read. The story inside is every bit as stunning, intricate and enticing as the cover art.

I loved every word of this, my first book by Erin Kelly, and I will definitely be reading more from this author.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#TheSkeletonKey #NetGalley

I: @erinjelly @hodderbooks

T: @mserinkelly @HodderFiction

#contemporaryfiction #familysaga #mystery

THE AUTHOR: Erin Kelly was born in London in 1976 and grew up in Essex. She read English at Warwick University and has been working as a journalist since 1998.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Skeleton Key via Netgalley for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon,Instagram and my webpage

I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this book other than it was a thriller which I like and it was by Erin Kelly who I like, then I was taken on a completely unexpected journey far from the template of a normal thriller, an absolute page turner which I blitzed in two days as I couldn’t tell where the story was headed until the plot twists happened. Very well written and thoroughly enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a uniquely different type of read. Overall it's premise is as the author admits based by her childhood reading in 1979 of Kit William's 'Masquerade'.
Nell in 2021 is faced with the recurring fame of her father Sir Frank Churchman who wrote the book 'The Golden Bones' in which bones of a skeleton were left in places to be sought by Bonehunters. This is a bit like a treasure hunt or those that go geo hunting following maps to search out clues.
I am afraid I couldn't get into the plot although found Nell's character good. She goes from her reclusive state due to all the fame of her father's book but now a film and those involved sets her right into the middle of the publicity machine that is gathering over the new concept challenge.

O am sure there will be many keen to immerse themselves into this novel and I know the author has a well established reputation for the tense and thrilling plots of her past novels. Good in its particular genre but not for me.

I wasn't sure about this book at first as the story flitted between past and present and it felt ever so slightly disjointed but once we got to Part Two I was hooked.
Such an original storyline mixed with characters that came to life on the page with their own personal issues in their lives. I defy anyone to predict the way this book progressed, wonderfully written, it just flowed and amazed at the same time. There was a real jaw dropping moment that I hadn't expected and that doesn't happen very often these days.

Loved this! Such a different book from the other Erin Kelly books I have read. This is full of secrets, discoveries and treasure hunts! I was sucked straight into the world of the bonehunters and am actually sad that it’s not real!
If you want to be dragged into a mystery then this is the book for you!

Any book by Erin Kelly goes on the top of my reading pile! This book did not disappoint with its weird characters and multiple plots running along side by side. An interesting read.