This is the second book I have read by Susan Stokes-Chapman, and while not my normal genre of reading, I found this one very enjoyable.

After his dismal as a top surgeon at Guys in London Dr Henry Talbot accepts a role as family physician and doctor to the families of Plas Helyg in Wales. With a dictionary to assist him in speaking Welsh he attempts to make peace with the villagers - not an easy task based on their resentment of the English.

Lady Gwen and her daughter live in the big house, Lady Gwen is mentally unwell according to her late husband cousin due to the death of her husband.

The story takes a lot of twist and turns, with some unexpected consequences.

A good read.

Full review on Goodreads 3 stars only because not my usual read !

Great take of acceptance starting somewhere new & love .

Is all that it seems in Plas Helyg …. Is linnets suffering the same madness as her mother is Henry two or her saviour ?

Unfortunately, I was unable to read this book on my mobile.
What a pity!!!
I wish you lots of luck with the book.

Henry Talbot is relieved to take up the position of Doctor on the Penhelyg estate in Wales after suffering a blow to his career in London. The hostility of the local people seems to be his biggest problem until he realises that the former incumbent may not have died of natural causes. Is he jumping to conclusions or is something else afoot at Penhelyg?

The Shadow Key is a really good slow burn. The first half of the book is very slow but what you realise is that no word or event is wasted in setting up the twists and turns of the story in the second half. The story takes a turn that I did not expect and I really enjoyed being wrong footed.

Susan Stokes-Chapman writes strong conflicted passionate women but also creates really strong relationships between her characters. The owner of Penhelyg, Linette Tresilian, is a great character and you are with her every step of the way as she struggles with the enormity of what takes place and what she needs to come to terms with. Her friendship with Henry is, for me, the central pillar of the story. Their connection is immediate but how it evolves is really interesting. Their relationship twists and turns with the narrative which I really liked.

Susan Stokes-Chapman's love of Wales, its landscape, language and people shines through the story. In the final chapter, the last character in the novel almost merges with the author herself. I felt like I was looking at the author feeling at peace in her favourite place.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. All the views in this review is entirely my own

A solid gothic mystery set in 18th century Wales. As a lover of historical fiction I always enjoy getting a glimpse into a time or place I don't know much about and found the setting particularly interesting from a historical perspective. The story itself is well paced and kept me guessing, even if there were times where it felt a bit over the top. Overall a very enjoyable read.

A gothic mystery set in 18th century Wales, involving Henry Talbot, a disgraced Doctor from London taking up a post at a decaying Manor House run by heiress Linette, a feisty heroine of independent mind and spirit. It’s a fairly compelling portrayal of the decadent aristocracy of its time and its interest in the supernatural but the plot was fairly predictable and the ending rather flat. The use of the Welsh language and references to Welsh folklore were well researched and the only thing that did not quite ring true for me was the idea that opening a stately home to the public for money would have been a thing in the 18th century, especially given its remote position and poor access.

With thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

I have not read historical fiction for quite a while but decided to try this one and I really enjoyed it. The premise of the story is that Henry, a foundling, a surgeon in London loses his career after a misdiagnosis (or is it) and finds himself in rural Wales as a doctor in a Manor House looking after the mistress and the village full of miners. The miners do not take too kindly to Henry being an Englishman. Linette runs the household and her Uncle Julian comes and goes and causes upset when at the House. The story starts when Henry arrives and he butts head straightaway with Linette. He does his best to befriend the miners but that takes time and a terrible pit collapse helps that situation as they need his surgical expertise. Henry feels there is a secret in the House and it comes to light that the doctor before him died suddenly and Henry feels in strange circumstances. He also feels unsafe having been shot at in the woods. Eventually he decides that he needs to know the story of the household especially as he is intrigued as to why Linette’s mother is in bed all the time and struggles to function. The story continues at a good and interesting pace. Henry and Linette partner up to find out what secrets Uncle Julian is keeping to weird results. I enjoyed the characters especially the main ones but did not take to Julian which you will understand when you read the book. A good read indeed

A disgraced London doctor, called into the Welsh backwater by a mysterious lord, a grand house with sullen servants and two women considered mad…yup I’d say that’s a very promising start to a Gothic mystery!
This is a straightforward, narrator-led story without the usual multiple POVs, skipping timelines and other gimmicks. Although the character of Henry remains a bit blurry, other personae take up the slack easily.
Stokes-Chapman has done a thorough research into the historical background of the plot, into aspects of medicine, folklore and magic. The imaging of the Welsh landscape is beautifully and compellingly accomplished.

A good, solid 3.5 (I only give a 4 if I will re-read, but I rarely do this with mysteries, cos I know the outcome).
This was an excellent example of the modern gothic - maybe not too scary, but it harked back to Otranto quite well for me.
The author's world-building is excellent, from her use of language (not her first one) to the historical detail, and most particularly in her observation and description of the natural world. Quite possibly purists might point to some slightness in the characterisation of the two main characters (and the evil protagonists too), but this is balanced by the wonderful portrayal of the more minor characters, the villagers and the servants. The gothic style isn't meant to offer modern, realistic portrayals of character anyway, so I, for one, was not upset, particularly as the story was really quite good. There might be some minor quibbles with the storyline too - as an extrapolation from the Hellfire Club, it maybe stretched credulity a tiny bit, but again, this is par for the course with gothic stories.
On the whole, the story itself was very tightly plotted, with a decent mystery well introduced by the poor outsider doctor, and the pace of the narrative, and the spacing of "discoveries" was well done.
The use of what had seemed to be just filler backstory as pivotal points in the plot was fun and the final denouement, whilst a tad dramatic, was also well plotted and well polished.
All in all, a really quite decent mystery and homage to the early gothic novels, and absolutely excellent when you consider that it's the authors debut novel.
My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Readable light Gothic mystery set in Wales in the 1700s.
Henry has been dismissed from his position as a physician and lecturer in London and is sought by Lord Julian Tresilian for a position as Doctor to the family and local people in a small mining community in rural Wales. He meets fiercely independent, and unconventional for the time, Linette. Upon finding the previous Doctor died under what seems to be suspicious circumstances, the home where he was to have lived ransacked and a gunshot fired directly at him, he is drawn into a web of intrigue. Why are the locals so hostile to him, what are the secrets of the leading family and why have all the previous events occurred?

The author has clearly done solid research into the time, setting, folklore and fables. I liked the inclusion of Welsh language in some dialogue, and was glad for the Kindle translate function.

The weakness in the intriguing plot was in the resolution, as others have written it was fantastical, almost a screenplay for an action film such as Indiana Jones. How could so many have been drawn into events?

By the end I felt that I wanted to know more of Linette as there are little hints about her free spirit and sexuality but she was not fully developed, a shame as she is an interesting character.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

30/1/24

The Shadow Key is a captivating tale that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, romance and Gothic ambiance all in the enchanting rural landscapes of Wales,
Set in the 1700's the story starts with the arrival of Henry Talbot, the new doctor tasked with filling the shoes of his predecessor in a remote Welsh village and Manor. The stage is set in a locale rich with Gothic undertones, where a diverse cast of characters, both virtuous and malevolent, takes centre stage. The grand house is home to Julian Tresillian, his cousin Linette, and her mother Gwen, each harbouring secrets that add layers of intrigue to the plot.

With language being a barrier and the deep mistrust of the English, Henry finds himself facing the scepticism and hostility from the villagers.as he tries to do his job as a doctor whilst also trying to uncover the mysteries concealed within the folds of the rural Welsh landscape.

The budding romance, potential crimes, and the palpable tension between the characters create a gripping atmosphere that makes "The Shadow Key" a hard-to-put-down read.

Dismissed from his post in London after a patient dies, doctor Henry Talbot takes up a new position in a rural Welsh mining town.

His employer – Lord Julian Tresilian – needs a doctor on site to take care of his incapacitated cousin Lady Gwen and to keep an eye on her unconventional daughter, Linette. Whilst Julian owns the mines, Linette owns Plas Helyg and is mistress of the estates.

The neglected villagers are reluctant to accept Henry’s help, especially as an Englishman, trusting more deeply in traditional cures and superstitions. Teaming up with Linette and traditional healer, Rowena, Henry works to earn their trust.

However, something deadly is afoot. The previous doctor died in mysterious circumstances, and Gwen’s illness is not as it seems. Julian’s library of occult tomes points to something more sinister, as does the gold ring which some of his elite acquaintances wear.

Fighting against a shadowy network and an ancient force, Henry and Linette must solve the mystery of Plas Helyg before it’s too late.

An eighteenth century tale of monsters and myths.

A gothic horror that's surrounded with mystery, set in 18th century Wales.

The story follows young physician, Henry Talbot, and the mistress of Plas Helyg, Linette. After a fall from grace in London, Linette's cousin, Julian Tresilian, offers Henry a position in this small village to act as the local physician.

Right from the start, everybody in the village, including Plas Helyg's servants, are hostile toward him, but Henry is determined to figure out the mysteries that have revealed themselves, posing lots of unanswered questions.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
I do love a mystery, especially a gothic one. I must admit, it was definitely a slow burner and took me some time to get into it, but once it picked up I was so excited to see how the story unfolded.

I loved the links to Welsh folklore, alongside the Welsh language used throughout - and of course, the beautiful descriptions of the Welsh countryside.

The twists, the mystery, the writing and the atmosphere were all captivating, and this was a joy to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this copy. This review is voluntary.

Whilst I enjoyed this novel and felt compelled to keep reading until the end I did however feel that is was lacking in some respects. The storyline was intriguing and was certainly based on some historical truth I.e the formation of the notorious ‘hellfire ‘ clubs of the period Unfortunately the author took too long to get to this point and a lot of time was wasted. When the book finally reached its climax I felt it was all a bit forced and unsatisfying.

This is one of those books that has gothic horror screaming all over it, and it does not disappoint.

The story follows Doctor Henry Talbot, a London doctor and surgeon who is practically banished to Wales after a mishap in his work. He arrives in a small provincial port to discover the locals despise him and the Lord of the Manor is more than a little vague. Linette Tresilian is the estate's heir and the estate manager, who runs herself ragged to make it both profitable and fair to the welsh miners who are her tenants. Everyone is grieving the loss of the local doctor, though Henry seems unconvinced that the man's death was an accident. And as Henry and Linette form a friendship, things start to take a strange turn around them.

This was a lovely, detailed well-written story, full of twists and turns that leave you guessing at every juncture. A five-star read.

Henry Talbot, though young, is a much revered doctor, surgeon and teacher. That is until he isn’t. After performing an operation that had a tragic outcome, he is no longer the go to surgeon, and his work both at Guy’s Hospital and helping out with the Bow Street cases is cut off. Without work and unable to find another hospital to take him on, Henry accepts an offer to become the local doctor in a remote area of North Wales. He will be doctor of Plas Helyg and its village Penhelyg. Unfortunately Henry’s welcome to the village is not as he expected and he soon realises that being an English man in this particular village is more of a hindrance than a help, regardless of how good his skills are. With help from Linette Tresilian, the lady of the manor, Henry makes every endeavour to learn the language and the ways of the locals, but it takes a tragedy for him to make any headway. As the secrets and lies unfurl, Henry and Linette discover that Henry’s arrival may not be as happen chance as first thought, and that Sir Julian, a Tresilian cousin, is not the man Henry thought he knew.

This is not my usual go to genre, but I did enjoy it. The writing is skilful and descriptive, with well developed, if somewhat stereotypical, characters, and the subject matter extremely well researched.

A bit of a slow burn that gathered pace in the second half of the book.

This is probably the ideal book for historical book lovers. I personally would have preferred more dark goth and less romance, but happy with my first read from this author. I was heading towards a 4* review, but the ending was too predictable and neat.

3.5*

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK.

Oooh this is a goody! The Shadow Key is a great read, full of characters both good and bad. A touch of Gothic in the setting, budding romance, possible crimes- what's not to love.
Set in rural Wales the focus is the arrival of Henry Talbot to this remote backwater to replace the previous doctor in the village and Manor. The residents of the big house consist of Julian Tresillian, his cousin Linette and her mother Gwen. The villagers are highly suspicious of Henry and give him a hard time, there are discontented miners, a slightly mad mother and other excellent peripheral characters to get to know. I read this over just a few days, it is hard to put down. This is the first book I have read from this author and I will definitely watch for more, she has a descriptive style which instantly evokes a rural Wales redolent of Hardy. Really recommend The Shadow Key.

This book had me hooked! From the start I just wanted to know what was going on, and there were so many plot twists! The characters were all really well written, and I loved the sinister tone the book had.

This was a fun read and was headed for 4 stars until a disappointing ending.

The author sets the scene nicely in this gothic period novel set in a remote village in Wales. Henry Talbot, an English doctor moves to the area and is met with suspicion and resentment by the villagers. There's hints of cultish goings-on and the local gentry are a very odd bunch too.

Stokes-Chapman introduces and paints her characters well, including Wales itself, which clearly holds a dear place in her heart. And there's a nice. pervasive air of spookiness.

The story bubbles along nicely, even if I saw a couple of the twists coming (I often don't), but the denouement slipped into the unintentionally comical for me. Baddies reveal themselves with a flourish...and extensive backstory infodumps that are very silly. ("I'm holding this knife to your throat and I'm going to kill you now...but first let me tell you my life story and all the reasons why I turned out to be the baddie! You might want to make a tea, I'll be a while...").

A quick note on editing: I think all writers have little tics, or phrases they tend use too often. If not picked up by an editor, this will grate on whingers like me. Surely if I've noticed the phrase "A beat." has been used 20 times, an editor could spot the same thing and suggest alternatives? Similarly, "beau monde", although I didn't know what that meant, so at least I learned something when I looked it up!

Anyway, despite the let-down at the end, I did enjoy this book and I'm sure others will too. It has a nice mix of mystery, (possibly supernatural) gothic goings-on, romance and interesting characters.

In the 18th century, Henry Talbot goes to Waled to be the doctor for the local community but also to care for his employer's sick relative.

What I liked about this book: The Welsh setting was very evocative and I liked the use of the Welsh language and how the author didn't patronise us by translating it word for word, The descriptions of the house and surrounding countryside are beautiful and the book is very well written.. The twist at the end was good and I didn't see it coming. The cover is gorgeous.

What I didn't like or was unsure about: Although I liked the references to the Hellfire clubs of that period I didn't particularly like the supernatural element and probably wouldn't have chosen to read the book if I'd realised how much of that there was.. Overall although the novel was well written I didn't warm to it and this is because of the subject matter.

I would recommend this to fans of historical fiction and would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.