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The Key In The Lock

The Key In The Lock

Paperback Published on: 02/02/2023
£8.99
80 reviews
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Bookseller Reviews

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The Key In The Lock
Will you uncover the truth?
1918: By day, Ivy Boscawen mourns the loss of her son Tim, a loving and kind young man who Ivy loved with all of her heart, before the Great War took him a... READ MORE
Dan - Clifton, Bristol.
The Key In The Lock
Thrums with tension and intrigue
This is a gripping book that thrums with tension and intrigue, which draw you in and hold you tight as the narrative gradually reveals its secrets. With a... READ MORE
Emma B-W
The Key In The Lock
Atmospheric and Haunting read
Beth Underdown draws you down into Ivy Boscawen’s atmospheric Polneath. You will be unable to escape until the final page is read. Keep your wits about you... READ MORE
Mokesse Imeme
The Key In The Lock
hangs over you like a freezing mist long after you have closed the pages...
A compelling historical thriller that thrums with the spirit of classics of the genre - familiar and yet entirely new. I especially loved the dual timeline... READ MORE
Meg from Waterstones Swindon
The Key In The Lock
Convincing and compelling
This is such a cleverly, and carefully, written book, truly evoking Victorian literature. As a mystery, it traverses close to the realms of true crime — th... READ MORE
Phill - Waterstones Bookseller
The Key In The Lock
Addictive historical fiction
I really enjoyed the way this book was written, with the dual timelines making it difficult to put down as pieces of the mystery were gradually revealed. T... READ MORE
Gaby
The Key In The Lock
Excellent gothic novel
If you love historical fiction this is one not to be missed. So many twists and turns I was quite dizzy, in a good way.Told in two timelines1888 and 1919 i... READ MORE
Sally Boocock
The Key In The Lock
Hauntingly good
If you love historical fiction this is one not to be missed. So many twists and turns I was quite dizzy but a fabulous story with great characters. Told in... READ MORE
Sally Boocock

Synopsis

I still dream, every night, of Polneath on fire. Smoke unfurling out of an upper window and a hectic orange light cascading across the terrace.

By day, Ivy Boscawen mourns the loss of her son Tim in the Great War. But by night she mourns another boy - one whose death decades ago haunts her still.

For Ivy is sure that there is more to what happened all those years ago: the fire at the Great House, and the terrible events that came after. A truth she must uncover, if she is ever to be free.

Publisher information

  • Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
  • ISBN: 9780241991732
  • Number of pages: 288
  • Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 17 mm
  • Weight: 202g
  • Languages: English

Customer Reviews

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The Key In The Lock
Page turning Gothic novel
*I received a free copy of this novel to review from Net Galley* This atmospheric Gothic novel is set in Cornwall and flits between December 1888 and 1919... READ MORE
Amy C
The Key In The Lock
An atmospheric historical mystery
Thanks so much to Penguin for letting me read The Key in the Lock by Beth Underdown! I have no idea why I requested this, given I find a lot of recently pu... READ MORE
Rachel Walker
The Key In The Lock
Excellent, pefect gothic storytelling!
I absolutely loved this book! Just pefect gothic storytelling with a huge, rambling manor house, mystery, tragedy and a wonderful dual timeline. The centra... READ MORE
Nicky Worthington
The Key In The Lock
A big house, ghosts and a secret!
This is a beautifully written gothic mystery. Ivy Boscawen is haunted not only by the death of her son during the Great War but also the death of another b... READ MORE
Rosielaine
The Key In The Lock
ARC
Set over two timelines of 1888 and 1918, The Key in the Lock is a story of grief, deceit and secrets. Beginning in 1918 following the death of Ivy Boscawen... READ MORE
The Secret Book Review
The Key In The Lock
Gothic mystery
A heartbreaking story of two dead sons, thirty years apart, the tragic circumstances that lead to both deaths and the consequences thereafter. This was a ... READ MORE
Rob O'Driscoll
The Key In The Lock
Victorian Gothic
Victorian Gothic story told with a light touch and all the ingredients for a novel of this genre. Ivy looks back on her life and the mistakes she made an... READ MORE
J Porter
The Key In The Lock
Beautifully written and deftly plotted
I feel bereft that this book is over. It’s one of those rare combinations of beautiful prose and deft plotting, and there are no wasted characters or momen... READ MORE
Jennie Godfrey
The Key In The Lock
Great read.
The Key in the Lock by Beth Underdown First time reading a book by this author. Set over two timelines , we follow Ivy Boscawen and her memories and loss ... READ MORE
Angela Thompson
The Key In The Lock
Really enjoyed
Found myself totally absorbed in this one. A historical thriller pulling on gothic themes, it tells two stories in parallel. In the present day, Ivy has ju... READ MORE
Rebecca Treacy
The Key In The Lock
A perfect winter’s read
This is a wonderful book to read on a dark night.It has two parallel storylines which merge and blend together to come to a satisfying and unexpected concl... READ MORE
Rachel
The Key In The Lock
Gripping historical fiction thriller
The description of this book really gripped me. However, as I read it, I realised how much I underestimated the plot and how clever the narrative turned o... READ MORE
Laura
The Key In The Lock
Mist on the estuary and decaying grandeur
I enjoyed Beth Underdown’s previous novel The Witchfinder’s Sister. Like that, The Key in the Lock is creepy but due more to the people than the subtle hin... READ MORE
Anne O'Connell
The Key In The Lock
A Great Thriller
One great thriller, why did young William die whilst hiding under a servants bed, the fire is the killer but what is the story? It's an excellent read full... READ MORE
Dave Wheeler
The Key In The Lock
A historical page turner
The Key in the Lock is set across two time periods: 1888 and 1918 after the First World War. The two periods both contain the loss of children to one of t... READ MORE
Daren Kearl
The Key In The Lock
Gripping & intriguing!
“I still dream, every night, of Polneath on fire. Smoke unfurling out of an upper window and a hectic orange light cascading across the terrace...” In ... READ MORE
Emma Mortimer
The Key In The Lock
A gothic delight
A fabulous gothic novel set in a Cornish industrial village with time shifting between the late nineteenth century and the First World War. Centring on the... READ MORE
T Edwards
The Key In The Lock
A stunning piece of gothic fiction
The beautifully written historical gothic mystery, The Key in the Lock is written over two time periods, in 1888 and 1918 both from Ivy’s point of view. It... READ MORE
Claire Jones
The Key In The Lock
an historical novel about finding the truth
I got The Key in The Lock by Beth Underdown, for free from NetGalley for free, for a fair and honest review. The Key in the lock tells the story of Ivy Bo... READ MORE
mark Taylor
The Key In The Lock
A great read.
A story based in two periods of time about the deaths of two boys. One boy belonged to Ivy, a mother mourning the loss of her son in the Great War. The oth... READ MORE
Peter Evans
The Key In The Lock
A very intense story
"What a tangled web we weave" There was certainly a lot of deception in this story. I found it a bit confusing at times but all became clear by the end.. V... READ MORE
Patricia Moren
The Key In The Lock
Great Read
A mother mourns the death of her son in the Great War, but at night she dreams about another boy, long dead in a fire at Polneath. With her husband in a si... READ MORE
Dabarai
The Key In The Lock
Tragic
This story takes place on two-time lines, 1888 and 1918. Ivy Boscawen’s only son died in the Great War, but she needs to know how and why. Her husband is a... READ MORE
Susan Hampson
The Key In The Lock
Elegantly written
Elegantly written. This novel is so without fault, the writing is engaging whilst stating the facts in a calculated way. There is no bad language, only a s... READ MORE
Margaret Moore
The Key In The Lock
A haunting tale
Ivy dreams constantly of Polneath. She is haunted by it, by the loss in 1888 of seven year old William Tremain who dies in a fire at the Big House in myste... READ MORE
Celia Short
The Key In The Lock
The Key in the Lock
After having thoroughly enjoyed The Witchfinder's Sister which I actually listened to (great narration, really got the atmosphere down pat by the way) I wa... READ MORE
Ashrae
The Key In The Lock
Emotional, gripping and very well written
This story is emotional, gripping and incredibly well written. I'm sorry to say though that at times I found my thoughts wandering. It didn't take long to ... READ MORE
Wynnie Ahrens
The Key In The Lock
A historical fiction that has that gothic feel
Thank you too Ellie Hudson from Penguin Random House / Viking books for my gifted copy of this gorgeous book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! A histor... READ MORE
Lauren S
The Key In The Lock
Historical fiction beautifullyi written; full of secrets and lies
A fascinating, historical, beautifully written tale. This story tells the tale of Ivy Boscawen whose son Tim was 'killed' in the Great War in 1918 - his de... READ MORE
Dana Farren
The Key In The Lock
An atmospheric historical Gothic novel
“I still dream, every night, of Polneath on fire. Smoke unfurling out of an upper window and a hectic orange light cascading across the lawn.” My thanks t... READ MORE
Vivienne O'Regan
The Key In The Lock
Not a gothic mystery, but a decent historical novel
Thank you to the author, publisher Penguin, and online book club The Pigeonhole for the chance to read this. This is an honest and voluntary review. Ivy ... READ MORE
Lisey P
The Key In The Lock
Wonderful
I thoroughly enjoyed Beth Underdown's debut novel, The Witchfinder's Sister, so I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to review the follow-up novel, T... READ MORE
Verity Halliday
The Key In The Lock
Great read
This is quite a sad story full of grief and reflection but it isn’t until you finish the story and look back on it as a whole that you truly appreciate how... READ MORE
Lynne Packer
The Key In The Lock
A disappointing Gothic novel
Personally, I found this book too slow, though many others have clearly enjoyed it. I also found it hard to connect with any of the characters, though you ... READ MORE
Jenny Hill
The Key In The Lock
Haunting Gothic feel, very enjoyable!
Having read Beth Underdown’s ‘The Witchfinders Sister’, I was excited to read her latest offering. Cornwall 1918, and Ivy Boscawen is mourning the death o... READ MORE
Maureen Ellis
The Key In The Lock
Secrets and lies over three decades revealed in historical mystery
A story told in two time frames: late 19 century when the class system reigned supreme, everyone knew their place and servants were an accepted part of pr... READ MORE
George Young
The Key In The Lock
Such an enjoyable novel and one I definitely recommend.
'The Witchfinder's Sister' is one of my favourite historical novels of recent years. And so, I was excited to have the opportunity to read the next offerin... READ MORE
Maria's Book Musings
The Key In The Lock
A gothic historical read that's full of mystery!
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Penguin UK for approving me for an ARC of this book. I buddy read this with one of my book club friends. As historical fic... READ MORE
Lucy Pidgeon
The Key In The Lock
A twisty gothic mystery
Historical fiction is not one of my favoured genres so I entered this world with some trepidation. But I needn't have worried. Ivy Boscawen in 1918 is mou... READ MORE
Liz
The Key In The Lock
Did not finish
Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres. Unfortunately, thia book didn't grab my attention how I expected as the timelines were quite confusing an... READ MORE
june.reads
The Key In The Lock
Better than it appears
1919 and Ivy is mourning the loss of her son in the Great War. Into her life comes again Edward Tremain. 1888 and doctor's daughter Ivy is caught up in t... READ MORE
Jo-anne Atkinson
The Key In The Lock
Keep reading this one for an ending of skill and excellent timing.
Mixed feelings about this book - the story itself is engaging and well thought out, but the dual timeline delivery did cause some confusion. I also found t... READ MORE
Kaye Fraser
The Key In The Lock
A fine Gothic tale of family, secrets and betrayal.
It's Cornwall, 1918 and Ivy Boscawen is still mourning the death of her son Tim in the Great War. She also cares for her sick, bed-ridden husband. But sh... READ MORE
Martin Paul
The Key In The Lock
Intriguing and atmospheric
Different to a regular country house mystery, this book follows the same characters as they navigate two different timelines- the death of a child in a hou... READ MORE
Gemsiek
The Key In The Lock
Loved it!
I was sent a copy of The Key in the Lock by Beth Underdown to read and review by NetGalley. I loved this novel, it had oodles of atmosphere and a great se... READ MORE
lesleys
The Key In The Lock
Echoes of Du Maurier
There have been a few reviews that comment on it's likeness to "Rebecca" by Daphne Du Maurier. I can see nods but maybe I was more caught up in the story ... READ MORE
Mel Pretorius
The Key In The Lock
A melancholy gothic mystery
A melancholy gothic novel set in two time periods, following the life of one woman. Ivy remembers a tragic fire that happened in the local Manor House and ... READ MORE
BooksIHaveNeverRead
The Key In The Lock
Captivating gothic style novel
A captivating, gothic style novel, I was totally engrossed from the very beginning. Leading up to Christmas 1918, the novel is narrated by Ivy, who is newl... READ MORE
Mrs G Librarian
The Key In The Lock
A beautifully written gothic mystery
I've had my eyes peeled for her next novel since reading Beth Underdown's stunning debut, The Witchfinder's Sister, so I was delighted to be given an advan... READ MORE
Michelle Ryles
The Key In The Lock
Terrific read
In 1918, Ivy Boscawen was struggling with the loss of her son Tim in the Great War. It turned out a few weeks after his death that ‘KILLED’ got her thinkin... READ MORE
Karolyn Warrent
The Key In The Lock
Gothic fun but fell short
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. The plot of this book was satisfyingly gothic and myster... READ MORE
Melanie
The Key In The Lock
I ploughed through it
The Key in the Lock by Beth Underdown is a gothic mystery ideal for fans of Jane Eyre and Rebecca. Having said this, Beth Underdown has a style of writing ... READ MORE
Bookerworm Book Reviews
The Key In The Lock
An Enjoyable Read
The Key in the Lock is a great atmospheric historical drama .Set in two timelines 1888 and 1918 a slow burner but a great mystery story of treachery ,secr... READ MORE
Chrissie Mortimer
The Key In The Lock
'The Key in the Lock'
'The Key in the Lock' by Beth Underdown is the perfect gothic novel. Dark, brooding and steeped in mystery, the story alternates between the 1880s and the ... READ MORE
Louise Morrish
The Key In The Lock
Dark, Gothic tale
I was totally gripped by this dark and gothic tale of, secrets kept, keys turned, abuse, fire and danger. The tone is kept perfectly as a straight account... READ MORE
Heather Nazmdeh
The Key In The Lock
Dark and gothic
I very much enjoyed this story. It is a slowly revealed mystery using a dual timeline to discover how young Willian Tremain died, and in doing that we are ... READ MORE
Alyson Hilbourne
The Key In The Lock
A good read
Set in Cornwall and told in two time lines, 1888 and 1918, Ivy Boscowan is seen as a naive 19 year old and then as a 50 year old woman. She has lost her so... READ MORE
Gee Wood
The Key In The Lock
Perpetually unsurprised by the 'twists' in this plot
Gah, wrote a review and my iPad lost it. In 1888 Ivy is a young woman in a small town in Cornwall. In 1919 as a mother she reflects on the tragic events o... READ MORE
Alison Robinson
The Key In The Lock
Tense historical drama.
A beautifully atmospheric historical drama from Beth Underdown, with some wonderfully engaging characters and a low lying tension that keeps you turning th... READ MORE
Elizabeth Wilkins
The Key In The Lock
Gothic fiction at its finest.
“I still dream, every night, of Ponleath on fire…” This is gothic fiction at its finest. Hauntingly beautiful, darkly atmospheric and beguiling, I was cap... READ MORE
Emma Alvey
The Key In The Lock
I was hooked
In 1918, Ivy Boscawen is mourning the death of her son Tim, in the war. But she’s also thinking about William Tremain, a little boy who was killed in a fir... READ MORE
Ella - The Story Collector
The Key In The Lock
Beautifully written
Really enjoyed this beautifully written, slow paced unfolding story. In my opinion not a ghost story nor a gothic novel but told through the voice of Ivy, ... READ MORE
Rachel Dixon
The Key In The Lock
An excellent historical novel with Gothic undertones
The Key In The Lock is a wonderful book, well researched and beautifully written. In 1918 Ivy Boscawen mourns the death in the war of her only son, Tim. Th... READ MORE
Lucille Grant
The Key In The Lock
Atmospheric and haunting
A beautifully and powerfully written story exploring a woman's grief following the death of her son during WW1. In 1918 Ivy receives a telegram notifying h... READ MORE
pooka
The Key In The Lock
Gripping Read
Set amidst the dark and haunting Cornish landscape, "The Key in the Lock" is a book set in dual timelines. In the present, Ivy Boscawen is drowning in her... READ MORE
Danielle Cox
The Key In The Lock
Chilling and Evocative
I love a good gothic historical mystery so I was really excited to read this one – and it didn’t disappoint in the slightest! The story follows Ivy, who in... READ MORE
Christine Wallace
The Key In The Lock
The Key in the Lock by Beth Underdown
The Key in the Lock by Beth Underdown is a historical novel set in Cornwall in 1918. Ivy mourns the loss of her son Tim in the Great War but is also haunte... READ MORE
Christine Rennie
The Key In The Lock
This book will be studied for years to come.
Thanks to Penguin for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review. Is there any book lover who hasn’t heard of “The Key in the Lock”?... READ MORE
Victoria Bucknell
The Key In The Lock
Eerie and beautifully written
A dual timeframe gothic mystery set in Cornwall. In 1888 seven year old William is found dead under a bed at Polneath as the result of a fire. In 1918 Iv... READ MORE
Vanessa C Wild
The Key In The Lock
not so much a gothic novel, but a story about secrets and misunderstandings
I have to admit that I found the middle section of this book very slow moving and almost gave up on it. I was glad that I persevered because the ending res... READ MORE
Philippa Watkinson
The Key In The Lock
A superbly written gothic mystery…..
“THE KEY IN THE LOCK” is a hauntingly gothic style, historical mystery set in Cornwall and written by Beth Underwood, an author whose readers have been wai... READ MORE
A Mother’s Musings
The Key In The Lock
Superb
The Key in the Lock by Beth Underdown in a gothic mystery ideal for fans of Jane Eyre and Rebecca. Having said this, Beth Underdown has a style of writing ... READ MORE
Bookerworm Book Reviews

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