The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly

I bought The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly in Sainsbury’s a few months ago because I’d enjoyed two of her previous books – He Said/ She Said and Watch Her Fall. It took me a while to get round to reading it and, even when I started reading it, it took me a while to get going properly as life was getting in the way too much. But it was worth the wait!

He Said/ She Said and Watch Her Fall are both good reads. The Skeleton Key is much better than them.

It is is the story of a book written by Frank Churcher in the 1970s. The Golden Bones is a picture book and a puzzle. There are real life golden bones to find. The book is a phenomenon and makes Frank a rich man, but it nearly destroys his family in the process. The main victim of The Golden Bones‘ success is Frank’s daughter, Eleanor (or Nell), who is the main protagonist of The Skeleton Key.

In 2021, Frank and his son Dom have a special announcement about the 50th anniversary of The Golden Bones. A film crew is at the house to capture the moment. Book obsessives (‘Bonehunters’) are outside, hoping to be the first to get the news. But things don’t go quite to plan… Fifty years on, the book is still causing trouble for the Churcher family.

The book is set in 2021 and at different points in the past. There is always a date at the top of the chapter, so you know where you are. The Churcher family is both simple and very complex. Frank’s best friend, Lal, is a huge part of his life. They have been friends and rivals all of their lives and live next door to each other. Their wives are best friends too. Dom is married to Lal’s daughter, Rose, and they have four children. The families’ shared history is full of secrets, lies and cover-ups.

I can’t say much more without giving away The Skeleton Key‘s many secrets, but this is a brilliant, dark page turner. If that sounds like your cup of tea, I highly recommend it!