'Haunting, vivid and urgent' Stacey Halls
'Absorbing, beautifully written' Rosie Andrews
'An ingenious page turner'The Times
--------------
Inside lies a secret that won't stay hidden . . .
The Great War is ending, but it has taken Ivy's son. Ivy is consumed by discovering what happened to her boy out there in the trenches, while her husband only wants to forget.
Then a man comes back into Ivy's life who can help her find out. A man who once stole Ivy's heart. A man who also lost his son to a tragedy. A man whose name she hasn't spoken in thirty years.
As Ivy questions her part in the fire at Polneath House, she unlocks a secret that's been burning ever since. But will the truth destroy her - or set her free?
--------------
'It will recruit fans of Du Maurier and Waters' Patrick Gale
'A story of smouldering secrets, lingering guilt and hidden love'Daily Express
'The perfect gothic novel' Stuart Turton
'This is a novel of true elegance, deftly and satisfyingly plotted' Imogen Hermes Gowar
'Atmospheric and rich with evocative detail' Harriet Tyce
'An intriguing, elegantly constructed gothic mystery'Sunday Times
'A smouldering gothic mystery that slowly envelopes you' Joseph Knox
Genre: Historical Mystery
'Absorbing, beautifully written' Rosie Andrews
'An ingenious page turner'The Times
--------------
Inside lies a secret that won't stay hidden . . .
The Great War is ending, but it has taken Ivy's son. Ivy is consumed by discovering what happened to her boy out there in the trenches, while her husband only wants to forget.
Then a man comes back into Ivy's life who can help her find out. A man who once stole Ivy's heart. A man who also lost his son to a tragedy. A man whose name she hasn't spoken in thirty years.
As Ivy questions her part in the fire at Polneath House, she unlocks a secret that's been burning ever since. But will the truth destroy her - or set her free?
--------------
'It will recruit fans of Du Maurier and Waters' Patrick Gale
'A story of smouldering secrets, lingering guilt and hidden love'Daily Express
'The perfect gothic novel' Stuart Turton
'This is a novel of true elegance, deftly and satisfyingly plotted' Imogen Hermes Gowar
'Atmospheric and rich with evocative detail' Harriet Tyce
'An intriguing, elegantly constructed gothic mystery'Sunday Times
'A smouldering gothic mystery that slowly envelopes you' Joseph Knox
Genre: Historical Mystery
Praise for this book
"Absorbing, beautifully written . . . Everything I enjoy in a gothic mystery." - Rosie Andrews
"A beautifully dark, eerie tale of haunted hearts and brooding secrets. Expertly plotted and exquisitely written, The Key in the Lock is the perfect gothic novel." - Joanne Burn
"It's eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere is reminiscent of Du Maurier . . . there's a poignancy to the writing that's so beautiful." - Emma Carroll
"Atmospheric, dark and compelling: an exquisitely crafted mystery." - Tammy Cohen
"Deliciously intriguing from the very first sentence, with shades of Du Maurier and Dunmore. I was hooked by this exquisitely written tale of secrets and lies." - Sara Collins
"Reads as if a classic. Eerie, immersive and compelling. This is a book to savour." - Essie Fox
"A beautifully observed novel. Intriguing, beguiling and surprising until the very end - I was transfixed and moved by Underdown's storytelling." - Claire Fuller
"The Key in the Lock will enthral fans of The Witchfinder's Sister. A brooding Cornish tale of a grieving mother obsessively unpicking the lies around the death of the child of the man she secretly loves, it'll also recruit fans of Du Maurier & Waters." - Patrick Gale
"Engrossing . . . conveys emotion and excitement so elegantly." - Adèle Geras
"This is a novel of true elegance, deftly and satisfyingly plotted. I expect impeccable prose from Beth Underdown but The Key In The Lock is also wise, thoughtful, and profoundly moving." - Imogen Hermes Gowar
"A Cornish landscape evocative of Daphne du Maurier . . . brilliantly plotted." - Louise Hare
"I was captivated by the characters, the story and the sinuous, seamless plotting." - Sarah Hilary
"A smouldering gothic mystery that slowly envelopes you, The Key in the Lock is a novel of repressed desire and well-tended grief - getting to the very heart of the grudges we hold against ourselves." - Joseph Knox
"Brilliantly twisty, dripping with mystery and utterly heartbreaking." - Emily Koch
"Captivating and elegant and undoubtedly a future classic." - Lucie McKnight Hardy
"The Key in the Lock is an absolute triumph! Dark, clever and utterly enthralling, this is historical fiction - and storytelling - at its absolute best." - Elizabeth Macneal
"A dark and poignant Cornish tale of grief, love and the unpicking of long-buried secrets. Set in 1888 and 1918 with shades of Du Maurier and Sarah Waters." - Anna Mazzola
"Marvellous . . . gorgeously taut." - Wyl Menmuir
"A gifted storyteller." - Sarah Perry
"I was completely enthralled by this poetic, beautifully conceived and executed mystery full of secrets and subtlety." - Imogen Robertson
"Underdown's latest is a gothic mystery of the highest order. Chilling, sad, beautiful, and so elegantly conjured, it's a story that summons du Maurier but retains ghosts all its own. I raced through it, my heart in my mouth. Superb." - Emma Stonex
"The Key in the Lock is the perfect gothic novel. It has secrets, guilt, brilliant characters, and a grand old house built on a terrible past. An absolute corker." - Stuart Turton
"The perfect read for an autumnal weekend. Atmospheric and rich with evocative detail, I found myself in tears by the end." - Harriet Tyce
"Fans of gothic are going to love this. Cornwall, class-ridden secrets and beautiful writing." - Sarah Ward
"A beautifully dark, eerie tale of haunted hearts and brooding secrets. Expertly plotted and exquisitely written, The Key in the Lock is the perfect gothic novel." - Joanne Burn
"It's eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere is reminiscent of Du Maurier . . . there's a poignancy to the writing that's so beautiful." - Emma Carroll
"Atmospheric, dark and compelling: an exquisitely crafted mystery." - Tammy Cohen
"Deliciously intriguing from the very first sentence, with shades of Du Maurier and Dunmore. I was hooked by this exquisitely written tale of secrets and lies." - Sara Collins
"Reads as if a classic. Eerie, immersive and compelling. This is a book to savour." - Essie Fox
"A beautifully observed novel. Intriguing, beguiling and surprising until the very end - I was transfixed and moved by Underdown's storytelling." - Claire Fuller
"The Key in the Lock will enthral fans of The Witchfinder's Sister. A brooding Cornish tale of a grieving mother obsessively unpicking the lies around the death of the child of the man she secretly loves, it'll also recruit fans of Du Maurier & Waters." - Patrick Gale
"Engrossing . . . conveys emotion and excitement so elegantly." - Adèle Geras
"This is a novel of true elegance, deftly and satisfyingly plotted. I expect impeccable prose from Beth Underdown but The Key In The Lock is also wise, thoughtful, and profoundly moving." - Imogen Hermes Gowar
"A Cornish landscape evocative of Daphne du Maurier . . . brilliantly plotted." - Louise Hare
"I was captivated by the characters, the story and the sinuous, seamless plotting." - Sarah Hilary
"A smouldering gothic mystery that slowly envelopes you, The Key in the Lock is a novel of repressed desire and well-tended grief - getting to the very heart of the grudges we hold against ourselves." - Joseph Knox
"Brilliantly twisty, dripping with mystery and utterly heartbreaking." - Emily Koch
"Captivating and elegant and undoubtedly a future classic." - Lucie McKnight Hardy
"The Key in the Lock is an absolute triumph! Dark, clever and utterly enthralling, this is historical fiction - and storytelling - at its absolute best." - Elizabeth Macneal
"A dark and poignant Cornish tale of grief, love and the unpicking of long-buried secrets. Set in 1888 and 1918 with shades of Du Maurier and Sarah Waters." - Anna Mazzola
"Marvellous . . . gorgeously taut." - Wyl Menmuir
"A gifted storyteller." - Sarah Perry
"I was completely enthralled by this poetic, beautifully conceived and executed mystery full of secrets and subtlety." - Imogen Robertson
"Underdown's latest is a gothic mystery of the highest order. Chilling, sad, beautiful, and so elegantly conjured, it's a story that summons du Maurier but retains ghosts all its own. I raced through it, my heart in my mouth. Superb." - Emma Stonex
"The Key in the Lock is the perfect gothic novel. It has secrets, guilt, brilliant characters, and a grand old house built on a terrible past. An absolute corker." - Stuart Turton
"The perfect read for an autumnal weekend. Atmospheric and rich with evocative detail, I found myself in tears by the end." - Harriet Tyce
"Fans of gothic are going to love this. Cornwall, class-ridden secrets and beautiful writing." - Sarah Ward
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Used availability for Beth Underdown's The Key in the Lock