A hidden note. A lost love. A second chance…‘A wonderful, enthralling story; one that I didn’t want to end’ Lesley Pearse on The Key ‘A heartbreakingly powerful read’ The Sun on The KeyFrom the #1 bestselling author of The Letter, Kathryn Hughes, comes The Key, an unforgettable story of a heartbreaking secret that will stay with you for ever.1956 It’s Ellen Crosby’s first day as a student nurse … secret that will stay with you for ever.
1956
It’s Ellen Crosby’s first day as a student nurse at Ambergate Hospital. When she meets a young woman admitted by her father, little does Ellen know that a choice she will make is to change both their lives for ever…
2006
Sarah is drawn to the now abandoned Ambergate. Whilst exploring the old corridors she discovers a suitcase belonging to a female patient who entered Ambergate fifty years earlier. The shocking contents, untouched for half a century, will lead Sarah to unravel a forgotten story of tragedy and lost love, and the chance to make an old wrong right . . .
‘Oh wow! This story broke my heart then filled it with joy then broke it all over again! I adored The Letter and The Secret but this I have to say was my favourite. Heartfelt and poignant an absolute joy’ A reader on The Key
It’s time to discover what a million readers already know. No one grips your heart like Kathryn Hughes . . .
‘You will find it hard to put down. I cried buckets of tears reading it’
‘A beautifully told, tragic tale . . . restoring your faith in the kindness of strangers and the strength of the human spirit’
‘From start to finish, a lovely, sometimes heartbreaking read’
‘A sheer joy to read . . . Wonderfully romantic with beautiful characters’
‘I have finished this book with tears in my eyes but a smile on my face’
‘I couldn’t put it down. So beautifully written. I feel like I’m a better person for reading it’
‘I cried with this book – it tugged at the heart all the way through’
‘This must be one of the best books I have ever read’
‘You will be thinking of this book long after you’ve finished it’
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This was a very heart wrenching book! Very thought provoking and moving. I loved it!!
Who is Kathryn Hughes, what is all the buzz about and why the 4.32 stars on GR? This intrigued my interested prior to reading The Key and now, I get it. I am a fan, a big fan! What a compelling writer. I was absolutely captivated by each and every chapter. This story consumed me from the individually unique characters that stay with you long after, to the fascinatingly illustrated life within the walls of an (mental illness) Asylum. There was never a dull moment, always engaging, I didn’t want the story to end. I was so absorbed, transported in the story that I quickly downloaded her two other novels, The Letter and The Secret, so I can experience this exceptional writing again and again. The reader’s only dilemma … You want to immerse yourself into the story, savoring every chapter yet compelled to devour one more chapter, one more chapter, one more chapter, long into the night, way past your bedtime!
A somewhat distasteful story because of the subject matter covered, but overall a gripping read.
This book was a pick for my local book club. As the central character is a nurse working within a mental health institution, this book would never have even been given a second glance had I had the option. That being said, I am glad I read it. Although I found a lot of the scenes disturbing and upsetting, I was impressed by the detailed research that the author had undertaken in order to make the story authentic and to bring it alive. I thought the story had pace, was well plotted and well written.
Well written and terrific storytelling!
This book is beautifully written, it flows smoothly. The characters are lovely and tragic. I’m so glad I went out of my normal reading material for this book. It is set in the past when mental health issuses wasn’t treated well and the out come of those mistakes and the future of trying to fix those mistakes. I already picked up another book by this author.
I would read all of her books from now on This story was outstanding and unforgettable.
I absolutely loved this book. Kathryn Hughes is my new favorite author. Very similar read to Kate Morton!
I could not put this book down. I just had to know what happens next.
the book kept my attention and just never knew what would happen next.
Everything it keep your attention you couldn’t put the book down waiting to see what happened next
another fantastic read by Mr. Hughes
keep em coming
This book had me entralled from the beginning. Love reading about situations I have never considered!!
I don’t give 5stars very often for a novel but this book was really well researched and I could not put the book down until I had finished it.
The characters were so realistic .
The story gave an insight how horrendous an asylum could be.
Based on a real life suitcase that was found after the asylum had been closed.
Brilliant
Her best book yet
This book reminded me of the Ellen Marie Weissman novel on the same general subject, the incarceration and treatment of the mentally ill in years past. In many cases, the patients were not ill at all, but spirited & an inconvenience. The treatment of these poor souls was often brutal & inhuman.
I would heartily recommendation these books. Both novels were page turners, difficult to put down!
Best new find of authors!!! Alreadybreading another!
Could not put this book down. The characters pop off the page and come to life and I found myself routing for them all threw their turbulent lives.