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  • The Skeleton Key

  • By: Erin Kelly
  • Narrated by: Helen Keeley
  • Length: 13 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (218 ratings)
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The Skeleton Key cover art

The Skeleton Key

By: Erin Kelly
Narrated by: Helen Keeley
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Summary

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. 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.

From the best-selling author of He Said/She Said and Watch Her Fall, this is a taut, mesmerising novel about a daughter haunted by her father's legacy....

©2022 Erin Kelly trading as ES Moylan Limited (P)2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Critic reviews

"An intricately plotted thriller, full of detail and invention, with impeccably realised settings and characters as monstrous as they are believable. Above all, it is a completely addictive story of two families destroyed by success. Erin Kelly is a genius." (Jane Casey) 

"Moody, propulsive and one of the most intriguing set ups I've read in years. Erin Kelly doesn't put a foot wrong in this atmospheric, original thriller." (Gillian McAllister) 

"A feat of real ambition and imagination—original, suspenseful and with complex characters that spring irresistibly to life on the page, this is Erin Kelly at her finest." (Louise Candlish) 

What listeners say about The Skeleton Key

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great premise, so much potential but failed to ...

launch.

Loved "Watch her fall", "The Poison Tree" was so nearly fabulous and could not get into "He Said/She Said" - so I was not sure how this one would go and I did manage to finish it, though at times it was hard work as so many unlikeable characters and general dreariness in what could have been a sparkling thriller.

Narration was OK though a quick trip to Youtube would have allowed the narrator/producer to realise that Oisin is pronounced Ushh- eeean not O-sheen - Saoirse Ronan has a great clip where she pronounces all those tricky Irish names for anyone interested.

The idea was fabulous but while I am well used to the "Then/Now" format this time I found myself zoning out and getting a bit lost as really an editor should have gone about cutting out a lot of the deadwood and weaving it into a tighter, faster flowing more compulsive read/listen as at times it was meandering and just a bit dull.

I did not like any of the characters and found it hard to picture Nell and ended up seeing her a bit new-age travellerish which probably was way of the mark. Previously I thought living on a narrow boat sounded romantic but after reading this it just sounds grim.

Good story though and a shame as it could have been tightened up and tweaked into a fabulous thriller but as it stands, just a bit meh!

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great 5* listen

What a great listen and first five star listen of 2023. Erin Kelly’s best novel by far.

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2 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Awful

Terrible narration the pitch the time the constant breathlessness and terror really off putting
Characters all unlikable and unsympathetic
Story very boring and drawn out
Would not recommend

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2 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

I found it really boring…….

So boring that I quickly began to resent the whole thing. I’ve parked it, having listened for an hour or so. I’m very much afraid that this is one of those books I’m destined never to listen to.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointed

I have always enjoyed Erin Kelly’s books but was hugely disappointed as the story dragged and was simply boring. Gave up after half way.















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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding

Fantastic, intricate story - beautifully written and read superbly. Cannot
recommend this book highly enough. Sublime.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible!

Absolutely brilliant! Can’t recommend enough. I was hooked from the first chapter and told everyone who’d listen to download it. Such a clever story and read so beautifully.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting characters

Best book I have listened to in a long time, I really enjoyed it and got through it in a day!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Sensational

Really enjoyed it! Definitely a must listen. A very enjoyable listen. Would definitely recommend

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic

I really enjoyed this book, really well written and a great plot, loved the unexpected turns too

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