This was well written and evocative, but I found the two timelines frustrating, with constant references, and spoilers as to what happened in the past. I felt sorry for Richard who turned out to be a decent chap, and thought Ivy should have been more grateful.

I've always loved a good gothic tale with plenty of twists and turns, and this is certainly one of them. A strange and unexplained fire at Polneathe leaves a family broken. Ivy, a doctor's daughter, is drawn into the family's world of dark secrets. Set in 1818 and 1888, Ivy must discover what happened on the night of the fire if she is ever to have peace. She must also fight her own demons and resist the love that she has felt for so long. I loved reading every scene with her and Edward, and seeing how she navigated her emotions and conscience. The Key in the Lock is eerie and tense, and will keep you guessing right until the end.

There are two time lines in this story and two boys deaths, one a mystery. Ivy is the mother of one of the boys and the main character in the book. The story is told through her.
This was a slow burner, too slow for me. Even though we are told what timeline we are reading, I still found it confusing at times. Ivy didn't appeal to me at all. She's the local doctor's daughter and thinks quite a lot of herself. Edward is the son of the big house and Ivy is secretly in love with him. He's a weak person and I didn't like him either.
The mystery was very drawn out and took place over the two timelines. There is certainly a twist there and I didn't see it coming. In fact there are quite a few twists and turns.
This of course is my own opinion. I can see from other reviews it is popular. If we all liked the same books it would make book club discussions very boring.
It's just not for me.

'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 years immediately after the First World War, and centres on a woman who has lost her beloved son in the conflict. Ivy is haunted not only by this death but also by the death of another boy, years before, and the terrible secrets surrounding the fire that claimed his life. Underdown's prose is beautiful and lyrical and I found the mystery at the heart of her novel to be utterly enthralling.

I adored Underdown's previous novel 'The Witchfinder's Sister', and was looking forward to this one. 'The Key in the Lock' surpassed all my expectations, and I can't wait to read whatever Underdown pens next...

This book reads like a classic Gothic tale, full of morally grey characters, human tragedy and the very modern notion that we are responsable for our own happiness through our choices and actions. The author obviously did a lot of research into the time era, and it comes alive with all its restrictions and grim realities. I liked that the main character, Ivy, is meant to reflect on her past, but that the story keeps going for her and she is very much a protagonist in her 50s.
I love classic Gothic novels, so I did wonder about the need for classic style Gothic today. I can only say this one is very good, I did figure it all out a little too early on, but I didn’t read it for the mystery, but the take on it. I think the author managed to add a modern eye on the genre and on the time period.

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 newly mourning the loss of her only son in the war. As she struggles to come to terms with her loss, she takes us back to the mysterious events of a tragic night in 1888: a fire, a death, a secret love, accusations. Beautifully and intricately, the mystery unravels, alongside an exploration of grief and a love story that has spanned the years. The evocative descriptions of Polneath, the mystery and intrigue, and the lyrical prose had me not wanting to put my kindle down. As others have said, I definitely felt tingling echoes of Rebecca and Daphne Du Maurier. I can’t wait to recommend this to my book group.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking for this e-arc in exchange for a review.

If you are looking for an atmospheric gothic mystery, then look no further! I found this to be one of those stories that keeps you guessing, and gets you emotionally involved with the characters as secrets begin to reveal a shocking past!

Told over 2 time periods - 1918 and 1888 - we are following the story of Ivy who is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her son Tim 10 months earlier. She's going through the motions and trying to make sense of it all and hearing stories back from the war makes her want to know more of what exactly led to his death.

But it also triggers memories of 30 years ago when another boy died in traumatic circumstances, and she's been left haunted by his death ever since. The story flits between the 2 timelines seamlessly and both are full of mystery, deception and tragedy.

As both storylines play out, the mysteries hanging over the deaths start to reveal themselves and I loved the way it's all revealed and the emotions of the main characters are explored. There's mysteries for Ivy to uncover, all while trying to balance her emotions and find comfort or distraction in her quest to uncover the truth. A really absorbing story.

Although this is a well-written book unfortunately it didn't maintain my attention. The ever-changing narratives in terms of time, and slow pacing, made it tricky for me to keep engaged. This is my personal opinion though and it's clear others have loved this novel.

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 ,secrets and lies .The characters are very real ,I especially liked Ivy who came across as very strong woman especially for that era .There are a few surprises and a good ending ,a very enjoyable read .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my free copy in return for an honest review .

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 rather than trying to make connections with other books. I did enjoy it and enjoyed the two different stories and how Ivy uncovered the truth of what happened 30 years ago.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my arc.

The Key In the Lock follows the story of Ivy Boscawen. We're treated to two different versions. The first where she's a young woman, infatuated with the charismatic Edward Trelaine and her comfort of him during his grief over his son, his young life snuffed after the events of a house fire.

The second version of Ivy is of her as an older woman, now married, and battling her own grief over the loss of her son and his death while serving his country. She finds herself thinking back to the night at Polneath and of Edward's son. A thought which ultimately brings them back together and reveals secrets that Ivy herself never knew of.

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 just lost her son at war. It reminds her of the death of another boy when she was younger and how that event shaped her life. I really enjoyed how this one was put together.

I expected it to be a mystery but it ended up being something much more emotional. It was deeply atmospheric and drew you right into the web of questionable events happening at Polneath. A 'read it in an afternoon' kind of book in the best way. Thanks to Penguin UK for letting me read the ARC!

Enjoyably twisty gothic novel, with events from the late 1880s being looked back on by a grieving mother at the end of the First World War. Ivy’s memories - and contemporary assumptions - are beautifully explored as secrets are uncovered, new connections made and fresh tragedies may yet come to pass.

I did worry at the half way mark that the novel was a little derivative, but as I got wrong footed a couple of times after that I can only say I was grumpy and wrong! Atmospheric and satisfying tale.

Fantastic historical thriller with gothic feels. I really enjoyed this one and found myself completely absorbed in the MC’s narrative. Highly recommend.

One great thriller, why did young William die whilst hiding under a servants bed, the fire is the killer by what is the story? It's an excellent read full of twists

Ivy is our heroine daughter of the local Doctor and his assistant the story goes from 1888 when William died and 1918 when the the Great War was ending, Ivy wants the truth to what happened to her son fighting for his Country.

So what did I like,? The characters trying to workout the story behind their story, Agnes was a delight but I will let you discover her for yourself. Edward and his Dad they could have a thriller of their own, mind so could Agnes. Making the 2 eras 1888 and 1918 30 years apart and 2 very different England's in how they changed ( not as big a gap as now but big enough to notice). Ivy being sent into the big house to spy and care was a great part of the plot. The thriller felt really believable yet still an escape from life always an important part of reading for me.

I hope you enjoy this as I did, it had edge of sat moments and that's important or it couldn't be considered a thriller obviously. So I'd say if you like whodunit in your reads and Thrillers then you will probably enjoy this one.

It’s 1919 and Ivy Boscawen is mourning the death of her son Tim, killed in the Great War, in the midst of her grief she declares to her husband that it is punishment for something that happened thirty years ago. In 1889 Ivy was the local doctors teenage daughter and when there is a fire at the big house, Polneath, a little boy dies as and the local coroner investigates things become murkier and murkier. But what part did Ivy play? As the past comes back to visit her in 1919 the events of thirty years ago begin to unravel and the course of Ivy’s life is changed.
This was ok a bit gothicy but not quite gothicy enough, the plot was fairly predictable. Ivy wasn’t particularly likeable either as an adult or a teenager but her grief for her son and her relationship with her husband were well written.

Beth Underdown writes an atmospheric, dark, gothic, slow burn of a historical psychological drama, set amidst the Cornish landscape, with echoes of Daphne Du Maurier's classic, Rebecca. It is is 1918 and mother Ivy Boscawen is drowning in grief with the death of her only son, Tim, in the Great War. This makes her wonder if she deserves this, if this is fate's way of balancing the scales, as the doors to the past open up. She reflects with a sense of guilt on another boy's death, long ago, the tragedy of young Walter Tremain who died in a fire, his death no accident, it was arson. In a story that goes back and forth in time, Ivy instinctively knows there was more to that tragedy, the repercussions of which have never left her, leaving her haunted, a woman with her own secrets, and there are hints that there is more to Tim's death too.

With a husband afflicted with serious health issues, Ivy feels the only way she will find peace and face the future is if she gets to the truth of what happened long ago when as Ivy Cardew, the daughter of a struggling doctor, she was helping him with nursing duties. This mystery of what happened at the country manor house of the Tremains is slowly revealed and the terrible repercussions that followed in the wake of the fire, including the inquest. The family that includes Edward Tremain, the heir to Polneath, the father of William, is a man Ivy fell in love with. In a narrative loaded with twists and turns aplenty, with its wide range of characters, little is as it appears, we learn that in this small community, everyone had secrets, both upstairs, with the Tremain family, and downstairs, with the servants.

This is a beautifully written novel with a great sense of location in Cornwall, with a sadness and heartbreak that lingers in the pages of the book. The characterisation is wonderful, the flawed Ivy who goes on to marry the coroner, making questionable decisions, in this story of love, loss, tragedy and family in this particular historical period. It is an emotionally gripping read, utterly engaging, with a strong streak of ambiguity, and with compelling characters, that I think will appeal to a variety of readers, including those who love their historical fiction. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Was a little to dark and gothic for my liking so couldn’t get into it and wouldn’t let myself I think. Thankyou for giving me the chance to read though

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 mourning the death of her son, Tim, who has been killed in the Great War. Not only is she mourning, she is also feeling guilt that perhaps her son's death is in retribution for her actions twenty years earlier when another child died.

In 1888, Ivy and her father, the doctor, are called to the residence of the Tremaine's after a fatal fire. Within the house, all seem to have secrets and Ivy tries to find the truth behind the death while guarding her own secrets. We also discover that these characters are also very capable of deception, masters and servants alike. When we meet everyone again in 1918 and we find that the passing of twenty years has created even more secrets which now gradually come out into the day light.

The two timelines meld together perfectly and I loved the gothic element that was in the earlier timeline, the darkness. As for the characters, with all of the secrets, I found it difficult to know who to like - which is not a negative comment. The fact that I was not really rooting for any character made me more closely aware of them; I was watching them that little bit more closely. I also loved the portrayal of grief which was delicately and sensitively written.

I really enjoyed this novel - more than I thought I would and thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read it.

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 mysterious but that's where my enjoyment ended.

I found the pacing so jarring - unbearably slow and lingering on threads for too long and then unraveling other plotlines too quickly to really enjoy.

The characters were one dimensional and superficial. I found the narrative from Ivy frustrating for her easily led naivety and her coldness and unmoving lack of emotion. The other characters were merely constructed to get us from point a to point b in the plot and had no obvious motivation for their actions or behaviour.

There was too much going on in this novel with little fleshed out to really appreciate and enjoy. Left me feeling it was weak and beyond reach to truly engage.