dessa's review against another edition
4.0
This novella is a fun frickin romp — one part lonely woman figuring out self and life, one part wicked smart old woman with a gleam in her eye, a little bit of good-natured blackmail to get them on the same team, and the result is one hundred per cent a mystery and mystery-solving team I could imagine happening in my tiny home town.
bookalong's review against another edition
5.0
"I have learned that the part of the key that enters the lock is called the blade."
.
Thoughts~
Unlocking is a lovely little mystery what with small town vibes, secrets, and blackmail. I was pulled into all of it right from the beginning!
Told over a winter in Alberta, Lou has suddenly lost her parents and inherited her fathers hardware store. She begins secretly cutting keys to the homes of her customer's, never intending to use them. Then her marriage falls apart and her mounting grief and temptation overcome her. She lets herself into a neighbor's home to retrieve something but finds herself mixed up in more than she was looking for.
I was so immersed in this novella that I read it in one sitting! I so wished this had been longer, really my only complaint. Though mostly plot driven, Leblanc did such an amazing job with these characters, especially Euphemia, but they were all so fleshed out. And the cozy, wintery small town made the perfect setting for an unsolved mystery and the exploration of the notion that everyone knows everything about their neighbours. The symbolism of keys has been something I
have always enjoyed, and I particularly loved it in this story. Written with humor and engrossing prose Leblanc has me excited for whatever she writes next.
Thank you to @zgstories for sending this one my way opinions are my own. For more of my book content check out https://www.instagram.com/bookalong
.
Thoughts~
Unlocking is a lovely little mystery what with small town vibes, secrets, and blackmail. I was pulled into all of it right from the beginning!
Told over a winter in Alberta, Lou has suddenly lost her parents and inherited her fathers hardware store. She begins secretly cutting keys to the homes of her customer's, never intending to use them. Then her marriage falls apart and her mounting grief and temptation overcome her. She lets herself into a neighbor's home to retrieve something but finds herself mixed up in more than she was looking for.
I was so immersed in this novella that I read it in one sitting! I so wished this had been longer, really my only complaint. Though mostly plot driven, Leblanc did such an amazing job with these characters, especially Euphemia, but they were all so fleshed out. And the cozy, wintery small town made the perfect setting for an unsolved mystery and the exploration of the notion that everyone knows everything about their neighbours. The symbolism of keys has been something I
have always enjoyed, and I particularly loved it in this story. Written with humor and engrossing prose Leblanc has me excited for whatever she writes next.
Thank you to @zgstories for sending this one my way opinions are my own. For more of my book content check out https://www.instagram.com/bookalong
melojdowd's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful mystery novella with themes of grief, secrets and belonging. The humorous and immersive tone will grip you from beginning to end.
soobooksalot's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Unlocking had me charmed by the writing style by the first page.
Thank you to ZG Stories for my gifted copy for review!
Lou Till has experienced loss - of her marriage, and the tragic and unexplained deaths of her parents.
She takes over running the family hardware store in the fictional small town of Snowton, Alberta, and she has a secret. When she cuts keys for customers, she cuts extras for herself and keeps them. Even Lou isn't sure why, or what she plans to do with them. Until the day she uses a key to enter a neighbour's house to find her collapsed, then gets pulled into the investigation of a mysterious previous death.
Unlocking is quirky, emotionally layered and unexpected, with writing from author Amy LeBlanc that draws you right in. My only complaint is I wish we could spend more time in Snowton than this novella offers. I certainly look forward to what we will see next from this talented author - recommended!
Released on June 15.
Thank you to ZG Stories for my gifted copy for review!
Lou Till has experienced loss - of her marriage, and the tragic and unexplained deaths of her parents.
She takes over running the family hardware store in the fictional small town of Snowton, Alberta, and she has a secret. When she cuts keys for customers, she cuts extras for herself and keeps them. Even Lou isn't sure why, or what she plans to do with them. Until the day she uses a key to enter a neighbour's house to find her collapsed, then gets pulled into the investigation of a mysterious previous death.
Unlocking is quirky, emotionally layered and unexpected, with writing from author Amy LeBlanc that draws you right in. My only complaint is I wish we could spend more time in Snowton than this novella offers. I certainly look forward to what we will see next from this talented author - recommended!
Released on June 15.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Suicide
xenvirtue's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
leekaufman's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A cozy, mysterious little novella. A very solid debut from a talented Canadian writer. I wish this had been developed into a full length novel, because I liked the characters, and there was enough there to dig deeper--the overall effect was a bit shallow and left me wanting more.
pomoevareads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
3.0
Unlocking is a novella about Louise (Lou)Till, a woman who has inherited a hardware store from her father after a tragic accident. Lou enjoys copying keys in her store and keeps copies for herself unbeknownst to others. When Lou decides to use one of the keys to enter a neighbour’s home to retrieve an unreturned item it doesn’t go as planned. Soon Lou finds herself the victim of blackmail. What Lou doesn’t feel, is the anxiety one would expect when using a key that isn’t yours.
Unlocking takes place in a small town just outside of Calgary, Alberta. Lou is separated from her husband Edward and has twin teens.
This story is primarily plot driven. I liked the mystery within the story but felt like the execution left some to be desired. I would have enjoyed this more if it had been about learning your neighbours secrets by entering their homes and how their public lives differ rather than having an older woman who already knows the secrets.
The role of grief in the story worked for me and the always wondering if what you believe to be true is and seeking out the truth. The character of Euphemia made me chuckle often.
Thanks to @zgstories for my ARC in exchange for my honest reviews. Unlocking is out now.
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