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plattenjules's review
5.0
“Unlocking” was such a fantastic read! Amy manages to create such a warm, familiar and wholly unexpected world in these just over 100 pages. Her characters are so rich and well developed, I want more of this cozy town! Bonus, I now know what the “shoulders” of a key are and that I should definitely try a Hobnob as, after having to google what they are, they sound delicious. Anyone looking for a sweet, surprising and simply enjoyable reading experience should pick this one up!
djthatch's review
5.0
My ONLY complaint is that this is a novella and not a multi-hundred page story. The characters and town are well-fleshed out and I found the story so interesting- I could have kept reading, and wanted to. Like many great stories, there was a sense of sadness as the final pages came to a close, but so grateful for the journey into Lou’s life and the people of Snowton. Here’s to hoping for more stories from the town!!
alkruger_readinglibrary96's review
5.0
“Unlocking” is a fantastic read! I’ve only recently gotten into mystery books and none of them have had the homey and oddly safe feel as this one did. Even while a (potential) murder is being investigated, blackmail is ever present, and tensions are high, there was a very cozy small town feel that made me miss living in a small town. You never true it know your neighbours, or their deepest darkest secrets, and “Unlocking” explored that wonderfully. I cannot wait to see what Amy LeBlanc produces next!
destinyr's review
5.0
Absolutely stunning! I couldn’t put this book down until I finished it, keen to hold onto the cozy nostalgia of winter in small town Alberta, enraptured by the suspense of the plot, and fascinated by the characters who are all both caricatures of themselves, and yet extremely real. Lou and Euphemia will be on mind for a long time.
dessa's review
4.0
This novella is a fun frickin romp — one part lonely woman figuring out self and life, one part wicked smart old woman with a gleam in her eye, a little bit of good-natured blackmail to get them on the same team, and the result is one hundred per cent a mystery and mystery-solving team I could imagine happening in my tiny home town.
bookalong's review
5.0
"I have learned that the part of the key that enters the lock is called the blade."
.
Thoughts~
Unlocking is a lovely little mystery what with small town vibes, secrets, and blackmail. I was pulled into all of it right from the beginning!
Told over a winter in Alberta, Lou has suddenly lost her parents and inherited her fathers hardware store. She begins secretly cutting keys to the homes of her customer's, never intending to use them. Then her marriage falls apart and her mounting grief and temptation overcome her. She lets herself into a neighbor's home to retrieve something but finds herself mixed up in more than she was looking for.
I was so immersed in this novella that I read it in one sitting! I so wished this had been longer, really my only complaint. Though mostly plot driven, Leblanc did such an amazing job with these characters, especially Euphemia, but they were all so fleshed out. And the cozy, wintery small town made the perfect setting for an unsolved mystery and the exploration of the notion that everyone knows everything about their neighbours. The symbolism of keys has been something I
have always enjoyed, and I particularly loved it in this story. Written with humor and engrossing prose Leblanc has me excited for whatever she writes next.
Thank you to @zgstories for sending this one my way opinions are my own. For more of my book content check out https://www.instagram.com/bookalong
.
Thoughts~
Unlocking is a lovely little mystery what with small town vibes, secrets, and blackmail. I was pulled into all of it right from the beginning!
Told over a winter in Alberta, Lou has suddenly lost her parents and inherited her fathers hardware store. She begins secretly cutting keys to the homes of her customer's, never intending to use them. Then her marriage falls apart and her mounting grief and temptation overcome her. She lets herself into a neighbor's home to retrieve something but finds herself mixed up in more than she was looking for.
I was so immersed in this novella that I read it in one sitting! I so wished this had been longer, really my only complaint. Though mostly plot driven, Leblanc did such an amazing job with these characters, especially Euphemia, but they were all so fleshed out. And the cozy, wintery small town made the perfect setting for an unsolved mystery and the exploration of the notion that everyone knows everything about their neighbours. The symbolism of keys has been something I
have always enjoyed, and I particularly loved it in this story. Written with humor and engrossing prose Leblanc has me excited for whatever she writes next.
Thank you to @zgstories for sending this one my way opinions are my own. For more of my book content check out https://www.instagram.com/bookalong
melojdowd's review
5.0
A wonderful mystery novella with themes of grief, secrets and belonging. The humorous and immersive tone will grip you from beginning to end.
soobooksalot's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Unlocking had me charmed by the writing style by the first page.
Thank you to ZG Stories for my gifted copy for review!
Lou Till has experienced loss - of her marriage, and the tragic and unexplained deaths of her parents.
She takes over running the family hardware store in the fictional small town of Snowton, Alberta, and she has a secret. When she cuts keys for customers, she cuts extras for herself and keeps them. Even Lou isn't sure why, or what she plans to do with them. Until the day she uses a key to enter a neighbour's house to find her collapsed, then gets pulled into the investigation of a mysterious previous death.
Unlocking is quirky, emotionally layered and unexpected, with writing from author Amy LeBlanc that draws you right in. My only complaint is I wish we could spend more time in Snowton than this novella offers. I certainly look forward to what we will see next from this talented author - recommended!
Released on June 15.
Thank you to ZG Stories for my gifted copy for review!
Lou Till has experienced loss - of her marriage, and the tragic and unexplained deaths of her parents.
She takes over running the family hardware store in the fictional small town of Snowton, Alberta, and she has a secret. When she cuts keys for customers, she cuts extras for herself and keeps them. Even Lou isn't sure why, or what she plans to do with them. Until the day she uses a key to enter a neighbour's house to find her collapsed, then gets pulled into the investigation of a mysterious previous death.
Unlocking is quirky, emotionally layered and unexpected, with writing from author Amy LeBlanc that draws you right in. My only complaint is I wish we could spend more time in Snowton than this novella offers. I certainly look forward to what we will see next from this talented author - recommended!
Released on June 15.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Suicide
xenvirtue's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0