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Skeleton Key
The playwright and novelist Augustus Maltravers and his actress girlfriend Tess Davy have planned a relaxing week staying with friends in Bellringer Street, an historic thoroughfare near the grounds of Edenbridge House, stately home of the Earl of Pembury.
The only foreseeable disruption looks to be the imminent arrival of their hosts' baby - which is quite disruptive enough as far as Maltravers is concerned.
But greater dramas start to unfold when a skeleton is stolen from the cellars of the House.
At first it seems no more than a bizarre joke but, suddenly, Maltravers and Tess find themselves caught up in a terrifying cycle of vengeance and murder.
The heir to the estate, Simon, Lord Dunford, is found murdered.
Though he was a likable sort, he was thoroughly hated by his next-in-succession: his caddish cousin Oliver Hawkhurst and the estate's coldly efficient secretary, Mister York.
With everyone around them under suspicion, Maltravers and Tess find it increasingly difficult to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Who had the strongest motive for murder?
And will they strike again?
‘Skeleton Key’ is the second in this quintessentially English series of detective stories featuring playwright and amateur sleuth Augustus Maltravers. The first Maltravers mystery, "An Act of Evil", won the John Creasey Award for the best first crime novel.
Praise for Robert Richardson.
''With this, his first novel, Robert Richardson makes a most impressive debut as a writer of the classical English detective story… He knows how to create suspense and an atmosphere of incipient evil; he provides us with a genuine puzzle, his characters are believable people, and the motive of his murderer is psycho-logically credible.” P D James
“Skilful rerouting and the taste of real tears” The Sunday Times
“Eccentrics, suspects and witty writing abound” The Times
“Here is a book to be missed only at your own peril” Armchair Detective
“Elegantly written, beautifully characterised, suspenseful and oddly moving” Mystery Reader’s Journal
“Grand entertainment, deft handling and suave wit” Publishers Weekly
Robert Richardson is a journalist and editor who lives in England.
The only foreseeable disruption looks to be the imminent arrival of their hosts' baby - which is quite disruptive enough as far as Maltravers is concerned.
But greater dramas start to unfold when a skeleton is stolen from the cellars of the House.
At first it seems no more than a bizarre joke but, suddenly, Maltravers and Tess find themselves caught up in a terrifying cycle of vengeance and murder.
The heir to the estate, Simon, Lord Dunford, is found murdered.
Though he was a likable sort, he was thoroughly hated by his next-in-succession: his caddish cousin Oliver Hawkhurst and the estate's coldly efficient secretary, Mister York.
With everyone around them under suspicion, Maltravers and Tess find it increasingly difficult to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Who had the strongest motive for murder?
And will they strike again?
‘Skeleton Key’ is the second in this quintessentially English series of detective stories featuring playwright and amateur sleuth Augustus Maltravers. The first Maltravers mystery, "An Act of Evil", won the John Creasey Award for the best first crime novel.
Praise for Robert Richardson.
''With this, his first novel, Robert Richardson makes a most impressive debut as a writer of the classical English detective story… He knows how to create suspense and an atmosphere of incipient evil; he provides us with a genuine puzzle, his characters are believable people, and the motive of his murderer is psycho-logically credible.” P D James
“Skilful rerouting and the taste of real tears” The Sunday Times
“Eccentrics, suspects and witty writing abound” The Times
“Here is a book to be missed only at your own peril” Armchair Detective
“Elegantly written, beautifully characterised, suspenseful and oddly moving” Mystery Reader’s Journal
“Grand entertainment, deft handling and suave wit” Publishers Weekly
Robert Richardson is a journalist and editor who lives in England.
205 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1988
157 people are currently reading
651 people want to read
About the author
Robert Richardson
16 books2 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 12, 2016
Brief Outline
Novelist Augustus and his girlfriend Tess have planned a week’s holiday staying with friends in Bellringer. This stay is immediately disrupted when a skeleton is stolen from Edenbridge House, the stately home of the Earl of Pembury. The mystery of the missing skeleton surges through the village with rumours abound. So when the heir to the estate, Simon (Lord Dunford) is found murdered, most people find themselves as suspects.
Maltravers and Tess find themselves caught up in the mystery of vengeance and murder. Could it be Simon’s own cousin Oliver Hawkhurst or the estate's coldly efficient secretary, Mister York? Who had the strongest motive for murder? Maltravers and Tess increasingly want to know the truth and more importantly, want to stop the killer from killing again.
Writing Style
This book does start very slowly (particularly for a crime novel) and it does take a while to build up the suspense and the storyline. I think this is partly to do with a lot of characters in the book for the reader to get to know. However a few chapters in it gets going and the mystery starts to take shape. I would say this is more of an Agatha Christie or M.C. Beaton style of pace.
The storyline is quite interesting and the settings are very well described; a small village, cricket pitch, large estate house, etc. There are quite a lot of characters in this novel to get used to, each with their own agendas and interest in the murder, this was probably my slight criticism of the novel as it distracted me from the story a little trying to remind myself who was who and what they had said/done previously. However the main characters Maltravers, Tess and Simon were all very interesting and it was enjoyable to read their story unfold.
Summary
An enjoyable book, particularly for fans of MC Beaton, Agatha Christie style of the crime genre.
About the author
I came across this book as the author has won the John Creasey Annual Award given by the Crime Writers Association. This award is for the best crime novel by a first-time author of any nationality first published in the UK in English. I have adored the work of some of the previous winners including SJ Watson and it is always a helpful place to discover new talent.
Novelist Augustus and his girlfriend Tess have planned a week’s holiday staying with friends in Bellringer. This stay is immediately disrupted when a skeleton is stolen from Edenbridge House, the stately home of the Earl of Pembury. The mystery of the missing skeleton surges through the village with rumours abound. So when the heir to the estate, Simon (Lord Dunford) is found murdered, most people find themselves as suspects.
Maltravers and Tess find themselves caught up in the mystery of vengeance and murder. Could it be Simon’s own cousin Oliver Hawkhurst or the estate's coldly efficient secretary, Mister York? Who had the strongest motive for murder? Maltravers and Tess increasingly want to know the truth and more importantly, want to stop the killer from killing again.
Writing Style
This book does start very slowly (particularly for a crime novel) and it does take a while to build up the suspense and the storyline. I think this is partly to do with a lot of characters in the book for the reader to get to know. However a few chapters in it gets going and the mystery starts to take shape. I would say this is more of an Agatha Christie or M.C. Beaton style of pace.
The storyline is quite interesting and the settings are very well described; a small village, cricket pitch, large estate house, etc. There are quite a lot of characters in this novel to get used to, each with their own agendas and interest in the murder, this was probably my slight criticism of the novel as it distracted me from the story a little trying to remind myself who was who and what they had said/done previously. However the main characters Maltravers, Tess and Simon were all very interesting and it was enjoyable to read their story unfold.
Summary
An enjoyable book, particularly for fans of MC Beaton, Agatha Christie style of the crime genre.
About the author
I came across this book as the author has won the John Creasey Annual Award given by the Crime Writers Association. This award is for the best crime novel by a first-time author of any nationality first published in the UK in English. I have adored the work of some of the previous winners including SJ Watson and it is always a helpful place to discover new talent.
August 5, 2015
Sardonic Wit and Brilliant Inferences
English countryside manners, customs, and cricket matches put spice into this murder mystery ala Agatha Christie . Visitors from the metropolis put their own spin on events and have pertinent observations.
English countryside manners, customs, and cricket matches put spice into this murder mystery ala Agatha Christie . Visitors from the metropolis put their own spin on events and have pertinent observations.
September 23, 2015
The start of this is a little slow, but get through the first couple of chapters and this is a stonking good story. Lots of tiny details, fascinating and believable characters and real depth to the story.
November 25, 2025
Goodreads-Style ReviewGoodreads Style ReviewSkeleton Key is a polished and atmospheric English mystery that pays homage to the classical whodunit tradition while offering fresh narrative personality and wit. Robert Richardson presents an intriguing setup a stolen skeleton beneath a noble estate then skillfully escalates the stakes as suspicion deepens and murder disrupts the quiet world of Bellringer Street.Augustus Maltravers, with his thoughtful intelligence and understated charm, makes for a compelling amateur detective, supported by the grounded and relatable Tess Davy. What begins as an odd theft elegantly unfolds into a layered investigation of jealousy, inheritance, concealed wrongdoing, and emotional fracture among characters who feel authentic and fully dimensional.Richardson excels at crafting mood and environment from the stately grandeur of Edenbridge House to its simmering interpersonal tensions and provides a mystery that is genuinely puzzling without sacrificing logic or psychological credibility. The pacing is deliberate yet engaging, rewarding readers who appreciate careful deduction and strong narrative texture.Suspenseful, well structured, and character-forward, Skeleton Key is an enjoyable and well crafted entry in British detective fiction and a strong continuation of the Maltravers series.Text
July 27, 2017
I enjoyed the book, but it did start off very slowly. The mystery was good and I wasn't sure who the murderer was until the end. The sleuthing couple, writer Maltravers and actress Tess Davy are both amateurs at the murder game. They are very much a couple, but are not married and are independent with individual careers.
We got to see/hear the pov of all the major characters and this was confusing at times. I was a little disappointed with the ending, because I thought that some loose ends were not tied up. The book is very English and I used my Kindle dictionary several times to understand the references. This wasn't a problem for me, but some may not like it.
We got to see/hear the pov of all the major characters and this was confusing at times. I was a little disappointed with the ending, because I thought that some loose ends were not tied up. The book is very English and I used my Kindle dictionary several times to understand the references. This wasn't a problem for me, but some may not like it.
September 15, 2023
A Murder Mystery with a Twist
The heir to the Pembroke name is murdered and there are 2 or even 3 very strong suspects. Gus and Tess and trying to work that out when Tess finds another mystery concerning the secretary’s wife. That and the mystery of a missing skeleton are resolved by the end.
‘
The heir to the Pembroke name is murdered and there are 2 or even 3 very strong suspects. Gus and Tess and trying to work that out when Tess finds another mystery concerning the secretary’s wife. That and the mystery of a missing skeleton are resolved by the end.
‘
April 7, 2018
I didn't finish it.. wasn't what I expected.
May 23, 2024
It was okay.
August 30, 2015
the beginning was slow. The writing, which was supposed to evoke an English uppercrust tone,I think, came across as simply stilted (and sometimes poorly punctuated), and the description of the boring cricket game was simply, uh, boring (I skipped several pages.) I almost aborted, but I like this subgenre of mystery, so I stayed, and then it picked up at the party after the game. The characters were warm and sympathetic, but some of the denouement was just implausible (even for a person with a twisted mind), and stupid cricket kept intruding. To someone who does not KNOW cricket, this part was WORSE than boring; it was REALLY annoying. As I hovered between a 2 and a 3 I asked if I would read another by this author, and the answer was "No".
October 9, 2015
DNF.
But it's still only getting 1 star.
I got through 26% of this book, and that was too much. More than it deserves. Just when I thought I might make it through, Richardson describes a cricket match is excruciating detail.
And that's where he could have turned it around. If you can introduce something to a reader, and hold their interest, you've proven your worth. But to write it as such an in-group kind of thing that the reader unfamiliar with cricket has to go through SEVERAL pages to skip past it... that is the end for this reader.
But it's still only getting 1 star.
I got through 26% of this book, and that was too much. More than it deserves. Just when I thought I might make it through, Richardson describes a cricket match is excruciating detail.
And that's where he could have turned it around. If you can introduce something to a reader, and hold their interest, you've proven your worth. But to write it as such an in-group kind of thing that the reader unfamiliar with cricket has to go through SEVERAL pages to skip past it... that is the end for this reader.
October 19, 2015
Excellent classic English mystery
The skeleton of this story provided an interesting link between the ancient English aristocracy and the present Lords. A glimpse of the struggle for the old estates to survive and the power of pride of place and a mirror to the malignant pride and expressiveness of some, titled or not. So many contrasts; the old town to the new. Each of the characters commented in some way these, all the while leading us down the road to the mystery and its solution. Will definitely read another of the authors books.
The skeleton of this story provided an interesting link between the ancient English aristocracy and the present Lords. A glimpse of the struggle for the old estates to survive and the power of pride of place and a mirror to the malignant pride and expressiveness of some, titled or not. So many contrasts; the old town to the new. Each of the characters commented in some way these, all the while leading us down the road to the mystery and its solution. Will definitely read another of the authors books.
February 27, 2016
An absolutely enjoyable mystery story, and what a command of language!!! The way the author played and juggled with words was just brilliant, thus creating a humorous (ironical?) story with very well developped characters. The plot was very good and kept the reader guessing until the end.
The story and protagonists reminded me a bit of Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey and his wife Harriet.
I could say a lot more, but then there would be spoilers, so all I will say is: go and read this!!! I will definitely try and get the others in this series.
The story and protagonists reminded me a bit of Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey and his wife Harriet.
I could say a lot more, but then there would be spoilers, so all I will say is: go and read this!!! I will definitely try and get the others in this series.
July 13, 2016
Better ones are out there
This was at hard book to get into, the style of writing just didn't flow quite right. The whodunnit part tried to be engaging, but I figured out most of it easily. A "reveal" or two was obvious and no surprise. Plus there were too many sexual references for my tastes, straight, bi-, and homosexual ones. This could've been better all around. Read Christie or Sayers instead. I'm glad I didn't waste money on this.
PS - the title really has no bearing on the story.
This was at hard book to get into, the style of writing just didn't flow quite right. The whodunnit part tried to be engaging, but I figured out most of it easily. A "reveal" or two was obvious and no surprise. Plus there were too many sexual references for my tastes, straight, bi-, and homosexual ones. This could've been better all around. Read Christie or Sayers instead. I'm glad I didn't waste money on this.
PS - the title really has no bearing on the story.
August 15, 2015
This book was so difficult to get into, I was more than a quarter of the way in before I became interested. The rest of the book was an okay read, much better than the first part but not brilliant. I guessed who did what from early on so there was not much mystery, minus what happened to the skeleton - and after reading it I'm pretty sure I could have lived without that information. It wasn't a bad book, just not the best in my opinion.
January 3, 2016
This was such a fun mystery! I can't quite tell when it was set, seems to be right before the turn of this century, since no one in Capley seems to have mobile phones as yet, and they're using something called an Ansaphone as their answering machine.
Gus Maltravers and Tess Davy are really fun POV characters and the mystery unfolds in interesting and surprising ways. I'm also really pleased at the varying competencies of both characters. <3
Gus Maltravers and Tess Davy are really fun POV characters and the mystery unfolds in interesting and surprising ways. I'm also really pleased at the varying competencies of both characters. <3
October 21, 2015
Really wish I could give this 3.5 stars . Started off slow and it is a little hard to get into the writing style . Being a British mystery , it reads like a classic in some ways and we all know I have a hell of a time with the classics ! That being said , I am glad I chose to stick with this one . I enjoyed the characters , the setting and the story ;-)
October 28, 2015
Augustus Maltravers with girlfriend Tess Davy travel to visit friends have planned a relaxing week staying with friends in a village near Edenbridge House, the home of the Earl of Pembury.
The relaxed holiday disappears as a skeleton disappears and a body is found.
The relaxed holiday disappears as a skeleton disappears and a body is found.
July 9, 2023
British Aristocracy
So so mystery, didn't totally understand the conclusion. The story was based around high society British indecency, and at times was not all that interesting. I speed read portions of it. I doubt I will pursue any other books if this series.
So so mystery, didn't totally understand the conclusion. The story was based around high society British indecency, and at times was not all that interesting. I speed read portions of it. I doubt I will pursue any other books if this series.
November 8, 2014
Gets off to a slow start but develops into a decent enough short crime novel. Interesting characters and some clever plotting though the ending felt a little flat.
August 17, 2015
cricket mixed with skeletons abuse and licit relationships in the upper classes, who could ask for more!
August 9, 2015
It was OK. There was a fair mystery, but I didn't think the characters were real. All in all a pleasant read, but I'll forget the book tomorrow .
August 11, 2015
I would actually give this 3.5 stars. It started off slow and very wordy, but once I got the hang of Richardson's writing style it went much faster.
August 14, 2015
Complex
It had more than a murder mystery to solve in this book. Characters were charming . Very strange was some of the c
It had more than a murder mystery to solve in this book. Characters were charming . Very strange was some of the c
August 14, 2015
Ok story, but tries way too hard to be clever. Ends up pretentious.
September 30, 2015
Unusual murder mystery; the "detective" in the Skeleton Key is a writer, but he solves the murder, and the unusual lifestyle of the secretary of the victim.
August 26, 2015
i really enjoyed this book
September 15, 2015
I enjoyed the book in spite of reading other negative reviews.
September 9, 2015
The best word for this book is intriguing. Set in Britten, it has all the elements you would imagine: Castles, old money, new money, intellect and...murder.
September 16, 2015
Well written old English style mystery
October 6, 2015
I always enjoy a good British mystery. This one was in the PD James vein with great character development.
I look forward to more by this author.
I look forward to more by this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews