Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly

23 reviews

liv_smiithh's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

a very very slow starting book and it definitely takes a while to get into. however as soon as it’s sunk its claws into you and the plot really gets going you find yourself sunk into the mystery of the plot of who did it? what is this book? who is this person? and it starts to flow. 4 stars at a push but the plot twists that are throughout allow for this book to be rated so highly as you truly do not predict the majority of this book and how it plays out in the end. so glad i picked this up

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Stalking

Minor: Eating disorder, Suicide, Violence, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

perfectcupoftea's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicide, Abortion, and Pandemic/Epidemic

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

---

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

bonestheartist'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? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I really loved how the mystery took you down different theories, as if you were with the main character Nell trying to uncover the secrets held close within her two families. Absolutely loved this!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic

rebeccasian274's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Really enjoyed this, despite crime/thrillers not being my usual read. Kelly has a nice easy prose and I did like Nell, despite flaws.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Vomit, and Abandonment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse

imogenlj's review against another edition

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.

---

Content Warnings

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

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

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.

---

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

---

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

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

---

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

capacitorofflux's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This book was one whip-lash after the other (in a good way). Did not see half of the ending twists coming. Draws together each thread brilliantly.

Random brief mentions of Covid could have been removed. Did nothing for the story and stopped being mentioned around halfway through. Felt like they were just thrown in for no good reason.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Abortion

Minor: Suicide and Pandemic/Epidemic