Publication Date: September 10, 2024
On an isolated estate in late-eighteenth-century rural Wales, a young English doctor uncovers dangerous secrets that may threaten his own life in this spellbinding Gothic tale from the bestselling author of Pandora.
Dismissed from his post at a prestigious London hospital, Dr. Henry Talbot has little choice but to accept a mysterious offer of employment as a private physician from an inscrutable lord in rural Wales, Lord Julian. Arriving at Plas Helyg, the isolated estate, Henry can’t speak the language and finds himself treated with hostile suspicion by superstitious villagers, whose beliefs in myths and magic he’s inclined to dismiss. But when he discovers that his predecessor died under peculiar, inexplicable circumstances, his determination to uncover the truth leads him down a path fraught with danger—made all the more perilous by his headstrong, reluctant ally Linette, Lord Julian’s cousin.
Linette has lived a lonely life as Plas Helyg’s unconventional mistress: Julian treats her with disdain, her father is long dead, and her mother, long plagued by strange spells and believed by everyone around her to be deeply unwell, spends most of her time locked away in her rooms. Fiercely self-reliant, Linette refuses to wear women’s clothes, has no interest in marriage, and takes an interest in the welfare of the men working in Lord Julian’s mines, against his wishes.
Linette has always suspected something is not quite right in the village, but it is only through Henry’s dogged investigations that the dark truth about those closest to her will come to light—a truth that will bind hers and Henry’s destinies together forever in ways neither thought possible.
Henry Talbot is ready for the quiet life of a country doctor after moving to Wales. But after finding suspicious evidence, Henry is convinced a murderer is on the loose. Working with the stubborn and unusual lady of the house, Linette Tresilian, Henry must find out the truth. But digging in reveals dangerous information that leads Henry and Linette deep into the heart of danger in The Shadow Key by Susan Stokes-Chapman.
Henry Talbot was proud of his work in London as a well-respected surgeon. But when a high-profile patient dies in his care, his life is turned upside down. Desperate for work, Henry receives a letter from one Lord Julian Tresilian. Lord Julian’s small Welsh village is in need of a new physician, and Henry is the perfect fit.
Upon his arrival, Henry learns he is not only helping those in the village, but also Lady Gwen, a woman lost in madness. Lord Julian is also worried about his niece, Linette, believing her to possibly be inheriting her mother’s condition. Henry’s welcome is less than warm. The gatehouse he is supposed to take residence in has been destroyed, and most in the village treat him with disdain and distrust.
Upon investigating the destroyed gatehouse, Henry notices a bottle of mysterious liquid hidden in the room. Trusting his gut, Henry believes his predecessor did not pass away from natural causes but rather murder. Investigating with Linette, Henry must get to the bottom of the passing. But doing so puts him and Linette on a path of danger, and every answer develops more questions. Working to solve the mystery of the doctor’s death and find the real cause of Lady Gwen’s distress, Henry and Linette are on the clock, with their own lives on the line.
I know we are constantly told not to judge a book by its cover, but truthfully, that was the first reason I picked up this book. And I was so glad the inside was just as impressive as the beautifully designed cover. Stokes-Chapman is an excellent writer who can take you back in time and transport you to an almost mythical place. I appreciated her own connection to Wales and how that put so much heart into the story. The setting was truly used as a character of its own, and it elevated the story.
I was pleasantly surprised, as one of the twists in the story, I did not see coming. But it still felt natural. It wasn’t forced or convoluted but rather a natural conclusion based on small bits of hints. I could not put this book down. While the book may seem thick, it reads very easily. The pacing is not fast but rather methodical and perfectly done. This is an excellent story, and I know that if there is any other book by Stokes-Chapman, I will not hesitate to pick it up.
The Shadow Key is a gothic mystery that transports the reader and leaves you guessing with every page. A true page-turner that you will not be able to put down!
Susan Stokes-Chapman is a writer based in North Wales. She grew up in the Georgian city of Lichfield, before spending four years in the town of Aberystwyth and graduating with a BA in Education and English Literature and an MA in Creative Writing. Her debut novel Pandora was an instant #1 bestseller in the UK, was shortlisted for the 2020 Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize, and longlisted for the Bath Novel Award.
