Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly

33 reviews

kbio's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Stalking

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Blood, Abortion, and Abandonment

playfulplatypus's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This was an ambitiously complex story with many characters, but it was written so artfully that I rarely felt lost in the complexity. The exposition of the twists was literally jaw dropping. So much so that I found myself circling back to earlier parts of the story to try to find the clues I must have missed. This was a work of art to read and I’d highly recommend it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide and Stalking

imogenlj's review

dark mysterious tense

3.75

A deftly plotted and complex multi-generational mystery. It feels modern and realistic in post-covid London. I wouldn’t reread but a good holiday thriller.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Infidelity, Stalking, and Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug use, Suicide, Blood, Abortion, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

helena01's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

asourceoffiction's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This absolutely drew me in straight away. My lovely in-laws had the Masquerade book that influenced The Skeleton Key, and I love the concept that a treasure hunt book could cause an entire generation of damage, obsession and trauma.

The Golden Bones is a creepy concept for a picture book, with its basis in folk songs from the early 20th century. The folksy side of things and the almost commune feel to the Churcher-Lally houses gave me The Family Upstairs vibes. Both books have huge mysteries surrounding these houses, with random clues all over the place.

As I got nearer the end I was even more reluctant to put the book down. It's tense and mysterious, but more than that it gets so twisty that I was desperate to keep unraveling. And in that the story definitely doesn't disappoint; there are so many reveals at various points that it was impossible to guess how things would end up. The dual timeline is great for fleshing out the story, and gradually adding connections throughout.

By the end I can't say that any of the characters were painted in the best light, but I understood their motivations; for most, protecting their families was at the heart of everything. There's one character with absolutely no redeeming qualities, but the rest are so complicated and morally grey, it's a lot to get your teeth into.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

Moderate: Mental illness and Murder

Minor: Child abuse and Suicide

fairymoo83's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

greta_mal's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

the start of the book was slow and boring, but once it got going it was so good 👌

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Rape

Minor: Abortion

noxtem's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

dia_ls's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Abandonment, and Classism

rayne_fall's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail