The Skeleton Key

By: Erin Kelly

Narrated by: Helen Keeley

Length: 13 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's 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. 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.

©2022 Erin Kelly (P)2024 Tantor

One of the best audiobook I’ve listened this year

Definitely not a run-off-the-mill kind of book.

I had to re-listen the first quarter of the audiobook a few times before I could really get into it; but, afterwards, once the writer finishes setting up the scene/introducing all the characters, the story is really gripping.

How the puzzles work

I loved the whole book. It kept me interested and I loved how it was about to a woman trying to be brought back to life with clues.

Dark mystery that kept me wanting more

This is a well written mystery that had enough red herrings to keep me engaged but not too many to make it ridiculous. The audible narrator was excellent, and brought a lot of life to the text.

Beautifully written and exceptionally narrated!

I have mixed emotions about this book, but overall, I cannot deny that it was a beautiful read. Erin Kelly has told a deeply intricate story, and while there were times when I wanted to give up, I’m glad I stuck it out because it is beautifully written. The words often felt lyrical. Hats off to the narrator! Helen Keeley did an amazing job of keeping the story engaging.

Well written & interesting!

It was very interesting & well written. The characters were brought to life in an easy & very good way. The story itself was interesting & had some great turns and twists. I think it left me walking away from it not only as reading a good mystery, but a good portrayal of complex relationships & well done glimpses of how complicated life can be. I definitely recommend it.

Original and Engrossing

Loved the concept, characters and fast moving pace. I think it might be better read as some if the time switching was confusing at points.

The crafting of the story line.

Loved this story. A little slow at the beginning, but I’m so very happy I kept going. I couldn’t stop. Really enjoyed all the twists and turns and coming together and I didn’t figure out the ending!

A dark but engaging mystery

Good character development. Good story with unseen twists. Enjoyed this book thoroughly. Will check out authors other books as well.

Characters - none to grow attached to

Sexual undertones rampant throughout book - flashbacks continue to disarm the reader - complex narrative - not a carefree beach read

Hard to get through

I think I was expecting something different based on the summary I read prior to purchasing. The story was ok up until the last 3/4 or so of the book and then the main character was unbearable. I had to speed up the narration because I was on the verge of not finishing. I would not recommend.