Description

‘Echoes of Daphne Du Maurier . . . an intriguing, elegantly constructed gothic mystery’ Sunday Times
‘The Key in the Lock demands to be devoured whole’ Stacey Halls, author of Mrs England

A captivating story of burning secrets and buried shame, and of the loyalty and love that rises from the ashes.
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‘I still dream, every night, of Polneath on fire…’

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.

A SUNDAY TIMES HISTORICAL FICTION PICK

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‘Intriguing, beguiling and surprising until the very end – I was transfixed’ Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled Ground

‘Absorbing, beautifully written . . . Everything I enjoy in a gothic mystery’ Rosie Andrews, author of The Leviathan

‘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, author of The Doll Factory and Circus of Wonders

‘A beautifully observed novel. Intriguing, beguiling and surprising until the very end – I was transfixed and moved by Underdown’s storytelling’ Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled Ground

‘Brilliantly twisty, dripping with mystery and utterly heartbreaking’ Emily Koch, author of Keep Him Close

‘A gothic mystery of the highest order. Chilling, sad, beautiful, and so elegantly conjured’ Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters

‘The perfect gothic novel’ Stuart Turton

‘Deliciously intriguing from the very first sentence’ Sara Collins, author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton

‘Captivating and elegant and undoubtedly a future classic’ Lucie McKnight Hardy, author of Water Shall Refuse Them

‘A masterclass in atmosphere… haunting, vivid and urgent. The Key in the Lock demands to be devoured whole’ Stacey Halls, author of Mrs England

‘Atmospheric and rich with evocative detail, I found myself in tears by the end’ Harriet Tyce, author of Blood Orange

‘A Cornish landscape evocative of Daphne du Maurier . . . brilliantly plotted’ Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City

‘I was captivated by the characters, the story and the sinuous, seamless plotting’ Sarah Hilary, author of Fragile

‘This is a novel of true elegance, deftly and satisfyingly plotted’ Imogen Hermes Gowar, author of The Mermaid and Mr Hancock

‘An ingenious page-turner’ The Times

‘A compelling gothic mystery’ – Good Housekeeping

‘An evocative, emotional and compelling gothic read’ – CultureFly, Books to Look Forward to Reading in 2022

‘With echoes of Daphne du Maurier from its very first, Underdown’s second novel is an intriguing, elegantly constructed gothic mystery’ Sunday Times

‘A captivating and atmospheric read’ My Weekly

‘Packed full of secrets, eerily atmospheric, this is a darkly gothic tale’ Daily Mail

‘The gloriously Gothic second novel from Beth Underdown tells a story of smouldering secrets, lingering guilt and hidden love’ Daily Express

‘A clever, chilling and emotionally charged journey makes The Key In The Lock the perfect novel for a winter’s night’ Buzz Magazine

Publisher Review

The Key in the Lock is an absolute triumph! Dark, clever and utterly enthralling, this is historical fiction - and storytelling - at its absolute best. I can't wait to read whatever Beth Underdown writes next -- Elizabeth Macneal, author of THE DOLL FACTORY and CIRCUS OF WONDERS 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, author of THE LAMPLIGHTERS 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, author of THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE A beautifully observed novel. Intriguing, beguiling and surprising until the very end - I was transfixed and moved by Underdown's storytelling -- Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled Ground Absorbing, beautifully written . . . Everything I enjoy in a gothic mystery -- Rosie Andrews, author of THE LEVIATHAN 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, author of THE MERMAID AND MR HANCOCK 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, author of NOTES FROM AN EXHIBITION The perfect read for an autumnal weekend. Atmospheric and rich with evocative detail, I found myself in tears by the end -- Harriet Tyce, author of Blood Orange 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, author of THE CONFESSIONS OF FRANNIE LANGTON 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, author of TRUE CRIME STORY Brilliantly twisty, dripping with mystery and utterly heartbreaking -- Emily Koch, author of IF I DIE BEFORE I WAKE and KEEP HIM CLOSE I was completely enthralled by this poetic, beautifully conceived and executed mystery full of secrets and subtlety -- Imogen Robertson, author of KING OF KINGS Reads as if a classic. Eerie, immersive and compelling. This is a book to savour -- Essie Fox, author of THE LAST DAYS OF LEDA GREY A Cornish landscape evocative of Daphne du Maurier . . . brilliantly plotted -- Louise Hare, author of THIS LOVELY CITY The perfect read for an autumnal weekend. Atmospheric and rich with evocative detail, I found myself in tears by the end -- Harriet Tyce Engrossing . . . conveys emotion and excitement so elegantly -- Adele Geras 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, author of The Hemlock Cure Captivating and elegant and undoubtedly a future classic -- Lucie McKnight Hardy, author of WATER SHALL REFUSE THEM I was captivated by the characters, the story and the sinuous, seamless plotting -- Sarah Hilary, author of FRAGILE and the D.I. Marnie Rome series It's eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere is reminiscent of Du Maurier . . . there's a poignancy to the writing that's so beautiful -- Emma Carroll, author of LETTERS FROM THE LIGHTHOUSE Atmospheric, dark and compelling: an exquisitely crafted mystery' -- Tammy Cohen, author of THE WEDDING PARTY Marvellous . . . gorgeously taut -- Will Menmuir, author of THE MANY 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, author of THE CLOCKWORK GIRL Fans of gothic are going to love this. Cornwall, class-ridden secrets and beautiful writing -- Sarah Ward, author of the DC Childs mysteries Beth Underdown has created a brilliantly plotted mystery, a compelling gothic tale that kept me guessing to the end -- Louise Hare, author of THIS LOVELY CITY