This book was deeply touching. I loved all the characters, the plot and the absolutely beautiful prose. I wasn't prepared for the emotional impact it would have on me, and I know I'll remember it for a long time.

5*

Secrets, lies and deception abound in this gothic thriller. Ivy Boscawen is mourning the death of her son in the Great War. She’s still haunted by memories of another death 30 years before – a young boy in a fire. She believes he was murdered and now she needs to find out the truth.

With thanks to the author, publishers Penguin General UK, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

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 haunting, atmospheric gothic mystery, beautifully conceived and written by the author. The language used conjured up both time periods (1888 and 1918) of the dual timeline really well, capturing the periods and changing attitudes in society between the two.

The characters are well developed although there were none, maybe apart from Ivy herself, that I felt any great compassion for, and even Ivy herself has her own faults revealed in the end.

The story itself was well-crafted and kept moving forward by the shifting back and forth between the two timelines, both of which have ultimately sad endings. I enjoyed the plot twists, which kept me guessing until practically the end.

Highly recommended!

My thoughts:

The Key in the Lock is Beth Underdown’s second book. I read her first book The Witchfinder’s Sister (my review) and enjoyed it immensely, so I had high expectations that I’d enjoy this book too – and it fully met my expectations. It is historical fiction set between two periods 1888 and 1918 in Cornwall.

It captures both time periods, reflecting the society both before and after the First World War showing the changes that the war had made. I loved the slow pace of this book as the secrets surrounding the death of William, the seven year old son of Edward Tremain in 1888 in a fire at Polneath, and that of Ivy’s son, Tim, on the battlefields of France are gradually revealed.

Both stories are shrouded in mystery as the circumstances of how William and Tim died are by no means clear. Ivy is devastated by Tim’s death and is determined to discover what actually happened to him, the letter informing them of his death was not phrased in the normal form of words. She wondered why.

It brought back painful memories of little William’s death. The fire at Polneath had started at night when everyone had gone to bed. William had been in the maid’s room, not his own bedroom when he had died. The postmortem revealed that he had died from asphyxiation by inhaling the smoke. Found under the bed, with paint from the door under William’s fingernails and bruised hands, it appeared that he must have been locked in and yet when he was found the door was standing open. The conclusion was that at some point the door had been locked – and later unlocked by a person or persons unknown.

The events surrounding each death are gradually revealed and there are plenty of secrets that come to light. It is described as a ‘gothic’ novel, but apart from the setting in an old isolated house, that had once been an ancient manor house, I didn’t find it gothic at all. It is a complicated story and at times I had to go back to make sure I’d got the facts right. I really liked Ivy and I liked the way her character is shown to develop with the passage of time. I loved the details about the attitudes to the First World War and the change from the earlier period. This is a novel full of grief and the circumstances surrounding both deaths provide an element of mystery. I loved the way the two time periods were interlocked as the novel progressed. I was fully engaged in it and I’ll be looking out for Beth Underdown’s next book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

This is a long, twisty, gothic, historical drama set around the main character, Ivy. The plot explores two boys deaths over two different time periods. Tim in the Great War and William in a manor fire.

For me it was just to long, and I found Ivy dull and uninteresting, and I guessed the twist at the end.

For me this there was less "Thriller" element, and more gothic historical drama.

I ended up DNFing at 39%.
I just struggled from the very beginning.
The writing just didn't work for me. I can't put my finger on why. I just felt lost and zoned out. Trying to figure out what was going on.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me so have given up reading it.

I like books I can get drawn too within the first free chapters but it didn’t happen with this book.

In saying this other have enjoyed this book so will leave it up to you to decide.

Two unrelated deaths, thirty years apart, set in motion a chain of cause and effect. Decades later, so many answers remain unspoken. ‘The Key in the Lock’ by Beth Underdown is an unusual multiple timeline historical mystery set in Cornwall, rather like Mary Stewart mysteries but darker.
Ivy Boscowen has known two deaths in her life. In 1918 she is mourning the death in the Great War of her son, Tim. The exact circumstances of his death cannot be confirmed and this haunts her, she becomes afraid that her reluctance for him to enlist actually forced him to go and so feels responsible for his death. At night she dreams of Tim when he was a child, hiding beneath a bed. This dream morphs into the memory of another young death; when Ivy was nineteen, young William Tremain died in a house fire at the nearby Polneath. He was found asphyxiated beneath a bed. The two deaths are unconnected in terms of circumstances and cause, but are forever connected in Ivy’s mind because of decisions taken.
When she was a teenager, Ivy was sweet on Edward Tremain, son of ‘Old’ Tremain, owner of Polneath and the gunpowder works. Appropriately, at the heart of this novel are two fires plus explosive secrets hidden for decades. Ivy is a rambling, unreliable narrator who makes inconsistent statements, assumptions and rash decisions, and I found it difficult to warm to her.
The echo in the opening sentence of Daphne du Maurier’s first sentence of ‘Rebecca’ felt unnecessary and heavy-handed. Yes, this novel is also set in Cornwall, but tone and style are different. This is more a character piece than a mystery and I didn’t find it particularly gothic. Some events are mentioned in advance so there is no mystery when they happen, others are simply disorientating rather than curious. The timeline switches between the two main timelines – 1888 and 1918 – plus flashbacks to Tim’s childhood and 1919, and it’s not always clear when things are happening.
I finished the book in two minds. I prefer the 1888 storyline but can’t help thinking there is a clearer, stronger story buried within, hidden by unnecessary plot complications and red herrings.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/

A beautifully constructed and lyrical evocation of the impact of a tragic event on lives touched by it, the novel centres on Ivy, daughter of the local doctor in a small Cornish community. A story of familial love, loyalty and passion, shifting between the 1880s and the aftermath of the First World War, the unlocking of buried family secrets and a spell-binding depiction of a mother's grief combine to create a powerful and absorbing novel. A very rewarding read.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A very enjoyable historical mystery, atmospheric and suspenseful. A great read.

Set in part at the time of World War 1 and dipping back to events 30 years earlier, this book tells of the tragic death of a young boy, William, who died in a fire. Ivy always suspected she could have done more and lived with the guilt of this.
More than anything this book is about the secrets everyone holds. Those from the master of the great house to his own family, that of the servants, as well as local characters such as the doctor and his daughter. The whodunnit is a meandering tale of reveal and character development throughout. Not that many of the characters are likeable, so you find yourself aware that they may have ulterior motives and are viewed with a wary untrustworthiness as a result.
Ivy has to deal with the loss of her own son, Tim during the war. She feels guilty for bringing him up as a sensitive child, unlikely to have been able to withstand the pressures of such a brutal war. The thoughts, insights into life at that time and dialogue is evocative and authentic. The first part of the book has a good cadence and was enjoyable, but became slower and lost its rhythm for a good third of the book, before picking up a bit more at the end.
It did reflect the struggles of women at that time, financially dominated and limited in decision-making. The adoration of Edward by Ivy was foolish, and this was rather irritating, given some of the freedom Ivy had. Whilst there was some wonderful prose and atmospheric parts to the story, I felt I waned between 3 and 4 stars. I think something was missing in Ivy’s character- she was just a bit drab and as a result failed to engaged in a way that made her and ultimately the story more enthralling, especially when the pace stuttered. However the layering and prose are impressive.

This book follows a dual timeline of events which unfold in 1918 and 1888. In 1918, Ivy is married to Richard, and the couple are grieving the loss of their son, Tim, who enlisted to fight in WWI. As the telegram read that Tim was ‘killed’ and not ‘killed in action’, Ivy is determined to find out what happened to her son. She also dreams of Polneath’s fire and thinks it’s comeuppance for her actions. What really happened 30 years ago?

In 1888, Ivy is a nineteen year old woman living with her father, Dr Cardew. One night, they are told of the news that Polneath House is on fire. Ivy, her father, and Mr Boscawen, a coroner, rush to the scene to find one of the residents dead.

Polneath is occupied by the Tremain family: old Tremain, who is harsh and penny pinching; Edward Tremain, son of old Tremain, the opposite of his father, and young William Tremain, Edward’s son. Edward is a widower and the reader soon discovers that Ivy has a crush on him.

Soon, it also becomes apparent that all of the characters, including Ivy, are harbouring secrets. What really happened on the night of the fire?

You’ll have to read this book for yourselves to find out.

I really enjoyed the dual timeline, especially the events of 1888 as I really wanted to get to the truth. There are some twists and turns in this book with some spooky and gothic elements. Halfway through the book I was able to guess the truth behind it, however, that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story.

As I was reading and uncovering more of Ivy’s story, I was feeling sorry for her husband, who truly loved her, while she was still pining for her old flame, Edward. By the time she was able to piece the puzzle together, it was too late.

Overall, it is a great story and I recommend it to all fans of historical fiction.

Thank you to Viking Books for approving my NetGalley request to read and review this book.

Despite feelign very excited about the premise of the story and getting drawn into the story initially, I soon found myself floundering with the timelines and the characters. After a few attempts at finishing it, I concede that the book just isn't a good fit for me at this time.

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 slight sexual digression, it relates the time very well.
An unusual setting of a gunpowder works and some interesting details of the production.
A formerly well to do family running out of money, a son who is widowed twice and the woman who loves him.
Characters are well written especially the factory owner who is disliked by most people, but staff remain loyal to him, despite his drunken rages. Ivy who helps her G.P. Father in his work and generally looks after him. Richard the coroner who seeks the truth about the death of a child. Agnes an orphan taken in as a maid, is she scheming or innocent?
Delightful if sad book, not much happiness for anyone involved.
Thank you Beth and NetGalley.

This book is rather long and convoluted but quite an interesting story with constant tension and surprising twists.

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 sickly man, unable to seek the truth himself, but nothing will stop Ivy. She had experienced tragedy before, with the death of a child in a fire. The truth had not come out then either, and it had always haunted her. She felt like she was been punished for not doing more than she had for the little boy.


It is quite a deep and dark read. It is intense yet a slow burn at the same time. The story is set not that long ago when women had few rights at work and at home. They were expected to do anything without questioning it or objecting because they could be easily replaced. But, at the same time, women were thought of as fragile and unable to cope with life’s tragedies. Ivy was determined to seek the truth out in the past and present, but could she bear the truth?


The story captures both periods perfectly. Although the outcome of both stories is heartbreaking. You know who dies but will people from the past and present be strong enough for the truth? This is the author’s second novel, and it will rip you open. What a talent this lady is. Highly recommended.

I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book that I have reviewed honestly.

I enjoyed the plot of this book but found it difficult to follow at times as it went back to different years. Started from the beginning again and got it second time round. Well written with a few twists. Kept me intrigued. Well worth a read

The Key in the Lock is a gripping novel that deals with themes of loss and the impact of the past on the present. Unlike some readers, I found that the author dealt with the switch between time periods very efficiently but I do agree that the central character, Ivy, was hard to warm to. Thank you to the author, the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to review an arc.

I love a good atmospheric gothic mystery, and the southwest of England is one of my two favourite settings for the genre (the other being Yorkshire). While the Victorian era is particularly well-suited as a backdrop, the First World War is a great period for ghost stories and unexplained deaths. So this book set alternately in 1888 and 1918 has all the elements we could possibly need, especially when you throw in a fatal fire at a crumbling country house. Our narrator is Ivy, the daughter of the local doctor in 1888, and it’s clear from the outset that she’s hiding something. However, she will also come to realise that her memories of events are coloured by the lies of at least one of the other people involved.

We first meet Ivy in 1918, as she prepares for her first Christmas following the death of her son in the War and the incapacity of her husband due to a stroke. The events of the past year serve to remind Ivy once again of the death thirty years earlier of a much younger boy – the grandson of the local mill owner – and a visit from a friend of Ivy’s son leads her to believe that she is being held responsible by fate for the second death, as a result of the part she played in concealing the truth of the first. Ivy decides to commit her memories to paper and also starts to investigate the circumstances behind her son’s death. Was it suicide as his friend implied or was there another reason for him to place himself in the line of fire, seemingly needlessly?

As Ivy begins her investigations, she comes into contact once again with the father of the boy killed in 1888, with whom she had once planned to elope. As a girl, Ivy had believed him to be a victim of circumstances, who would have kept his promises to her, were it not for a second fatal fire on his father’s property, following which Ivy again obscured some of the evidence, thinking she was helping preserve the good reputations of all involved. As Ivy continues to dig through her memories, and those of other people, she begins to wonder whether any of what she did was for the best, especially in terms of the one secret she is reluctant to dig into too deeply at first: regular payments by her husband to a ‘Mrs Smith’ and a bequest in his will to the same woman’s son.

When the true identity of Mrs Smith is revealed, Ivy unwittingly places all of them in danger, and it is only her quick thinking and meticulous planning that once again turn events in her favour.

I really enjoyed this book, and while I was caught out by some of the big reveals, it was obvious after the fact that the clues had been there all along. I definitely want to read more from this author.

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 sickbed, restless Ivy reminisces the secrets of the great house, love and loss. This atmospheric story moves slowly between two timelines, one in which young, naïve Ivy becomes involved in a tragic events in a nearby estate, and another one, thirty years later, when she tries to understand what happened. But the true heart of the story lies in the authors depictions of love, grief and guilt. Ivy is a beautifully written character who seeks forgiveness and understanding – for her lost love, compromises she made and – as a final blow – the death of her son she feels responsible for. There are powerful emotions in this book, and as the story unravels itself, there are some surprises and unexpected turns that made me appreciate it even more. It is the perfect book to read by the fire, evocative of winter chill and frozen life, waiting to be awakened again. A great read.