Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly

28 reviews

olympiaharvey's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Bullying

sandysmith's review

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I enjoyed this book, so I loved that it had a book within it, a book crafted with puzzles and clues to find bones scattered about the country. Added to this, it's a story of dysfunctional families, the Lallys, and the Churchers. Nell is the main character, but it does switch between characters and timelines. At times Nell is likeable, at others she is very annoying but a product if her own upbringing when followers of the book took clues to far and tried to cut her pelvis out believing thats where the final bone is hidden. There are lots of  twists and different themes, so I am sure different readers will get different things from the book. It's  part mystery, part psychological thriller, it is long book, but engaging so I found myself finding time for it throughout the day. Good stuff

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, and Suicide

nialiversuch's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Murder

Minor: Abortion

benmilo's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book started quite slow. I knew the story would be about a crime, but the first like 150 pages were establishing the families and the history and stuff. I didn't mind tho, I enjoyed Kelley's writing style. And I'm glad I sticked with the book, because when the whole crime and mystery began to unravel, I was absolutely hooked. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Drug use, Infidelity, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Suicide

Minor: Abortion, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic

vbigv's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I didn’t really know what to expect from this book and I was pleasantly surprised. The pacing was very well done, and the character studies and relationships were original and interesting. It also had a couple twists I did not see coming, which adds to the plus.
Should however definitely come with trigger warnings however. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault

laurajordensharris's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Infidelity, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Stalking, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Pandemic/Epidemic, Abandonment, Grief, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Death of parent, Drug use, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

duggireads's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Abandonment, Addiction, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Classism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, and Forced institutionalization

thereadingmum's review

4.75

This was placed strategically on the "new in" shelf of my library and there was no way I was not bringing it home. I am supremely glad I did and also annoyed that I had not discovered Erin Kelly before this.

The writing is excellent for a modern setting where dialogue particularly has a tendency to become too life-like. The premise is so intriguing and the whole story has a gothic feel while being only partially gothic.  

The characters are varied and well-drawn. There was a point where I was a bit fed up with Eleanor's sanctimoniousness, but that blew over fairly quickly. There's drugs, art, levelled up treasure hunts, maniac fanatics, a house boat, alcohol, murder, covering up of murder, dysfunctional and slightly incestuous families that are very loyal and so likeable for that. What's not to love? 

It's also set in London, my favourite city in the world. Read it, you won't regret it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Drug use

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Abortion

tamara_joy's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, and Stalking

Moderate: Infidelity, Grief, Sexual content, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Suicide, Abortion, Drug use, Body shaming, Death, Abandonment, Rape, Addiction, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy

alittlebitofjessica's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Initially I found this novel quite slow, however it did give a good background on the characters which was definitely needed for later on in the book. 

Once we got fully into the story I was hooked. I loved the characters and the parts they played, and loved the twists and turns. Morally there were so many predicaments and I loved seeing each character grow. 

Can’t say much more without giving away any spoilers, but I would recommend giving this book a read and I’ll be adding more of Erin Kelly’s books to be TBR pile!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism

Moderate: Drug use, Murder, and Adult/minor relationship