Exceptional and extraordinary! A story to get completely engrossed in. Susan has written a very atmospheric, Gothic novel- full of mystery involving remarkable characters.

Another compulsive read from an author who seems to do no wrong. I absolutely devoured this one… You will want to clear your afternoon to read this one straight through, so riveting!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

I’m not usually a fan of historical fiction, but I loved this book. I liked being transported back to 18th(?) century wales because this book didn’t focus on the historical elements too much. It felt like this story could’ve been told in any time period and been just as good.

I disagree with other reviewers who claim this book should’ve been scarier. I was on the edge of my seat for the last 25% with anticipation and I felt being scared would’ve ruined this. Everything tied up really nicely, and didn’t feel rushed.

Atmospheric and enjoyable gothic mystery set in a remote part of Wales. I genuinely didn’t see where the story was going, which is always enjoyable -plenty of red herrings to distract despite a relatively small set of central characters. I particularly enjoyed the hellfire club, which was rather fun in its over the top threat!

I absolutely loved it! Original, eerie and atmospheric with a true sense of being-right-there. Couldn’t put it down!

"The Shadow Key" plunges readers into the eerie and atmospheric world of 18th-century Wales, where secrets lurk in the shadows and myths hold sway over the villagers' lives. Dr. Henry Talbot's journey from prestigious London hospitals to the remote Welsh countryside sets the stage for a gripping tale of mystery and intrigue. As he delves into the mysterious death of his predecessor, Henry's determination to uncover the truth leads him down a dangerous path intertwined with the enigmatic Linette Tresilian's fate. The juxtaposition of the lush Welsh landscape with the sinister undertones of folklore and magic creates a mesmerizing backdrop for this spellbinding narrative.

Susan Stokes-Chapman's masterful storytelling weaves together a tapestry of suspense and Gothic mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The dynamic characters of Henry and Linette captivate with their resilience and complexity, drawing readers into their quest for truth and redemption. Against the backdrop of family secrets and hidden agendas, their unlikely partnership unfolds against a backdrop of betrayal and danger. Stokes-Chapman's vivid prose brings the Welsh countryside to life, evoking a sense of foreboding and unease that permeates every page.

With its ingenious plot twists and evocative setting, "The Shadow Key" delivers a riveting reading experience that will leave readers breathless. From its atmospheric depiction of rural Wales to its captivating characters and enthralling mystery, this novel is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and Gothic literature alike. Stokes-Chapman's skilful blend of history, suspense, and magic ensures that "The Shadow Key" is a standout addition to the genre, offering readers a tantalizing glimpse into a world where secrets lurk behind every corner and nothing is as it seems.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC.

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑤 𝐾𝑒𝑦 | 𝑆𝑢𝑠𝑎𝑛 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑠-𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑚𝑎𝑛 | 𝟒*

𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑠
Henry is invited to the small welsh village of Penhelyg to become their village physician, mainly serving the lady of Plas Helyg. When he arrives from London, he’s surprised by the hostility that welcomes him, and the coldness to which his host, Linette, treats him with. Henry may be unable to speak the language, but it’s clear that he’s not wanted there, and he’s determined to find out why that is, and why he was invited there in the first place.

𝑇𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑇𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑠
❥ historical mystery
❥ set in georgian wales
❥ exploration of welsh myth and religion

𝐿𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑑
The Shadow Key is a sinister historical mystery that has a masterminded plot that builds nicely throughout the story. This book is incredibly atmospheric, and because it’s set in Wales I automatically love it. But SSC really does the historic culture of Wales justice, from the interwoven language, to the rich (and let’s be honest, wildly bizarre) mythology.

This is my second SSC novel and once again, she has created a story with elements of ambiguous magical realism are woven in that are provocative and set a tone of mystique as the reader is left wondering what is real.

The research that went into this novel is certifiably insane. I know more now of my home country than I ever did and love that fact. SSC captures the animosity between the Welsh and the English with clarity, and whilst contemporary hostility between Wales and England is usually reserved for rugby days, this book highlights the importance of historic welsh culture, its roots in religion and myth, and the dissemination that we endured due to England. Using the welsh language as a plot point in the story was a stroke of creative and cultural genius.

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑑
The main thing I disliked was the evil monologues at the end. They were almost cartoonish, with the only thing missing was someone twirling the end of a mustache whilst booming laughter. I like how the plot ended but the monologues were quintessential evil villain, when I prefer more nuance.

I also wish I knew the main characters more in depth. They felt so untethered and prickly, and their passions seemingly defining them (medicine, estate management).

𝐹𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑄𝑢𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑠
“𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥. 𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 –  𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘴, 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘴. 𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘢.”

This was a historical mystery with a Gothic flavour, set in Wales. I thought the author brought the story and the setting beautifully to life, and I wanted to be part of Henry's journey. From the beginning, I had a feeling that all was not as it seemed, and that some secrets would be revealed. Admittedly, I did find this too long to read in one sitting, I think it's the type of book to be enjoyed a little at a time, but it's definitely worth escaping into.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

First, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital advance copy of The Shadow Key.

I have to say, that this is one of the best books I’ve read in the past couple of years. The opening really sets the tone to the story, and you get the feeling that the supernatural is going to feature heavily. I really liked the mythological elements that ran alongside a murder mystery storyline, giving it a feeling akin to a ghost story. You could really picture the landscape and the characters clearly as it was so well written and so descriptive. There’s mention of a meal with roasted chicken that was described so well it made me hungry. I found myself rooting for the main characters, Linette and Henry, and massively suspicious of everyone else and their actions. That said, I wasn’t expecting the story to go the way it did, which was a pleasant surprise.

An easy, if a little predictable, read. Enjoyed the historical aspect of what is obviously a well researched book. Expected a little more horror / supernatural elements and found the end a little rushed.

Dark deeds and derring do in a twisty 18th century mystery 3.5 raised

I did enjoy this Georgian, Age of Enlightenment set novel, which also flirts with more established ideas from a less rational, more superstitious time. There’s many a tussle between the rational, radical, at-the-forefront-of-science young doctor, central character Henry Talbot, and the Welsh mining society he is rather mysteriously hired to serve. There is also a lot of interesting social history here. Then, as still, land has been bought (like second homes!) by wealthy Englishmen. Here, the landowner is absolutely hiss-the-villain Julian Tresilian, who is only interested in wealth and power. He is, we know from the off a very nasty piece of work indeed, and there is also something not quite conventionally nasty about him and his fellow associates, who are members of some kind of strange club.

At this time, there were many such decadent clubs in London, named the ‘Hellfire Clubs’, not so much because there was occultism involved, more that the members were probably bound for hell because of their debauchery, drunkenness and wild sexual shenanigans.

Julian’s ‘club’ might be rather more than just the eighteenth century equivalent of drink, drugs and rock and roll, however.

The central character in this book though, other than Henry, is the real owner of Plas Helyg, its house and lands, Linette, Julian’s niece. Linette’s father, Hugh, died when she was young, and her mother, Gwen, is an invalid, with mental health issues.

Linette is remarkably unconventional for the times, wearing men’s clothes, very much a free spirit. The somewhat challenging, needing suspension of disbelief factors I found with this – which I also found in Stokes Chapman’s first novel, Pandora, is that her central female characters tend to feel a little modern – as Linette and the beautiful and learned young herbalist Rowena, whom Henry is attracted to, are in this book.

There are some genuine surprises in store, and for the most part I was really drawn in to the mystery which Henry and Linette must solve, and especially, the incremental way Henry tries to win the trust of the mining community he wants to serve.

The action-packed-twisty-ending seemed a little too contrived, a little too comic book, with one of those somewhat unfortunate murder mystery type reveals where villains explain the whole of the plot and exactly how they got there to our book heroes who are in mortal danger at this point. Hence my 4, rather than 5, star.

I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
It might have been me but I was expecting a little bit more of the supernatural with Shadow Key but this was more a historical fiction with gothic undertones- it had the feel of The Hound of The Baskervilles.
I really enjoyed reading about Wales and its society, its relationship with England and the how the Welsh culture was slowly being stamped out. The author has added rich historical detail which I found fascinating along with snippets of Welsh throughout the book.
There are a few unexpected twists and few I saw coming. Henry and Linette are the main point of view characters and Henry’s slow acceptance of the Welsh village was heart-warming. Unfortunately, if you are a gothic fan and have a read widely, the answers Henry and Linette seek are obvious- however it I would still recommend the book as it was enjoyable read.

Seemed a bit slow the first couple of chapters, but after a while I couldn't put this book down. The supernatural elements made it more thrilling and exciting. The story was a great read loved it.
Looking forward to reading more by Susan Stokes-Chapman.

I really enjoyed this, a well-written, well-plotted gothic mystery. Full of intrigue, malice and madness with some memorable characters and a haunting setting. Highly recommended.

A solid 5 star read
Dripping in atmosphere and creepy folklore
Surrounded by shadows and darkness
A doctor arrives in a welsh village and there is trouble afoot
A woman who lives there has an old manor house and there's something afoot there too
When the two come together...

Read in the daylight!

Meirionydd, 1783. Henry Talbot has been dismissed from his post at a prestigious London hospital. The only job he can find is as a physician in the backwaters of Wales where he can't speak the language, belief in myth and magic is rife, and the villagers treat him with bewildering suspicion. When Henry discovers his predecessor died under mysterious circumstances, he is determined to find answers.

Linette Tresilian, the unconventional mistress of Plas Helyg, lives a lonely life. Her father is long dead, her mother haunted by demons which keep her locked away in her room, and her cousin treats her with cool disdain - she has had no choice but to become fiercely self-reliant.

Linette has always suspected something is not quite right in the village, but it is only through Henry's investigations that the truth about those closest to her will come to light...a truth that will bind hers and Henry's destinies together in ways neither thought possible.

The plot was enough to draw me in, being a proud Welsh woman was another. Stokes-Chapman takes Welsh Myth and Folklore and harnesses it to keep you on your toes and guessing throughout the novel. The eeriness of the Welsh countryside setting is extremely daunting and made me feel as though I was there with the characters as they navigated the mysteries of what was happening around them.

Although Henry Talbot, the London doctor brought to rural Wales, is set to be our main protagonist, Linette, the feisty heroine of the story with whom I was most connected. Not Welsh by birth, but raised among the traditions, she becomes ingrained in the society and respects. She admires her tenants and workers whilst maintaining a personality true to her tomboy self. She is strong and takes no prisoners, which drew me to her immediately.

The treatment of the tales and myth is done wonderfully and it was so refreshing to see the Welsh language used alongside the translations. The use of Welsh names and places also filled my heart with a warmth I rarely get from a 'fantasy' or 'supernatural' novel but I did from here. The myths or their counterparts were so familiar to me, I could really invest myself in the plot and what was about to happen, which in places took me by surprise with the clever twists and turns thrown at you by the author right until the very end.

In conclusion, this is a solid five-star read and I would recommend it to anyone interested in myth and folklore with a hint of murder mystery and thriller thrown in. I cannot wait to see what the author does next.

Thank you to Random House UK for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

When Dr Henry Talbot is dismissed from his job as a physician he is desperate to find another job. He reluctantly accepts a post in Meirionydd, Within hours of arriving, his new home is destroyed, he is shot at and threatened and finds that his predecessor died in very mysterious circumstances. The villagers do not trust him and are resentful of his presence. Henry is not deterred and with the help of the lady of the house,, tries to establish himself in the village. As he does so, his scientific beliefs are questioned by local events and all is not as it seemed.
Underpinned by Welsh myths and folklore, I found this novel intriguing and difficult to put down. A great historical thriller!

A Gothic tale, told in the traditional way. Scary stuff.

After a short and disturbing introduction, "The Shadow Key" opens with Dr Henry Talbot making his long weary way to Meirionydd, in Wales. It's 1783 and for reasons we don't yet know, he has been dismissed from his post at a prestigious London hospital. He has been invited by a Lord Julian Tresilian to take up the post of physician to care for his incapacitated cousin Lady Gwen and their village of Plas Helyg. Before he even arrives, he senses suspicion and hostility from the villagers, and unable to speak Welsh, and taking the place of a beloved predecessor, he worries about having made the wrong decision.

Things take a turn for the worse when he meets his new employer, already sensing something is not right, and then discovers that his new home has been vandalised. Who is responsible and was the old Doctor's death entirely natural?

Soon Talbot finds himself at the centre of a mystery, and surrounded by people who treat him with suspicion and fear. He meets Linette Tresilian, the unconventional mistress of Plas Helyg, and her mother, haunted by demons. The aloof housekeeper and the surly butler, a wise-woman, and villagers who plainly distrust him, all go to make up a cast worth of Du Maurier. As the mystery deepens, Talbot has to work hard to earn their trust and try to solve the mystery.

This is a fine Gothic tale, told in a traditional way. It is populated with gorgeously complex characters, their motives and emotions hidden and suspect. The setting is pure folk-horror, and the village, with its long-held beliefs and superstitions, is lovingly rendered. One thing about Susan Stokes-Chapman is she does her research and her love for Wales here is clear to see.

Unfortunately I found the story a bit uneven, and there's a number of plot elements which needed to be resolved and weren't. Certain characters, especially Talbot and Linette, deserved further development. The ending felt a little rushed and contrived, but was ultimately satisfying. But overall, this is a fine Gothic tale, and fans of CJ Cooke, Sarah Perry and Laura Purcell will be delighted.

Definitely worth checking out.

From the beginning, the cover of this book appealed to me - it suggested similarities to the Essex Serpent (gothic, regional, bit dark) and I wasn't disappointed. It starts with an introduction to Henry Talbot who is a skilled London surgeon but has left Guys Hospital under a cloud. Something has caused his dismissal but it's not clear what (this is revealed later). The only job that Henry can get is as a country doctor in a Welsh village, a position that is paid for by the owner of the local mine, Julian Tresilian. In Wales, as an Englishman, he is treated with suspicion by the locals who will only speak to him in Welsh and but he gradually becomes friends with Julian's cousin, Linette Tresilian, who has inherited the big house and estate from her father and lives with her ailing mother. As he spends more time in the village, he begins to find out more about the reasons behind the villagers resentment of him.

Once I grasped who was who and their relationship to each other, I really enjoyed this book. I loved the use of Welsh language and the descriptions of life at that time for the villagers and the rich, decadent landowners. It's difficult to give a full description of the book without creating spoilers but suffice to say that the plot kept me gripped and there were some twists that I really did not expect. If you enjoy British gothic (is that a genre?) as much as me, then you'll enjoy this.

Henry Talbot travels from London to Wales to become the resident doctor for a troubled estate. He does not receive a warm welcome from the local villagers, the English Lord asks him to assess the sanity of his cousin Linette as her mother Lady Gwen appears quite mad. It is a strange and menacing household and Henry's suspicions are roused when he finds a mysterious vial in the rooms of his predecessor - was the last doctor murdered?

This is a really enjoyable tale weaving Welsh folklore, tradition and history with a supernatural mystery.

An 18th century Gothic tale set in Wales was always going to appeal to me, and the book started off really well.
Disgraced surgeon Henry Talbot is forced to accept a job in an old Welsh Manor house. His predecessor's death seems suspicious, and his arrival is met with open dislike and distrust from the Welsh villagers.
As Henry learns more about the residents of Plas Helyg, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems. The atmosphere builds well, and Linette and Julian are both strongly developed characters.
Unfortunately, after this strong start, the story started to lose its way. The pace slowed down, the initial creepiness faded, and the horror became rather clichéd. I was hoping that this would be a story of Welsh folklore, but instead, we have a Hellfire club peopled by one-dimensional caricatures. In the author's note at the end of the book, she says that she had to cut a lot of Welsh folklore out, which seems a real misstep and weakens the potential originality of the story.
The finale is rushed, with the villain delivering a great info dump of plotline in a very improbable way. Everything is far too neatly tied up in a happy ending.
And there are so many interesting threads that go no further - the lights Henry sees in the cave, Linette's interesting sexuality, Henry's detective work in London, and his Bow Street connections.
An interesting idea with some promising characters and a great setting, let down by a muddled ending that started to drift into Hammer horror territory.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, for the ARC.