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The Keys to the Kingdom
A man whose girlfriend was killed by a stray bullet becomes obsessed with watching a surveillance video of her death after an unknown party posts the footage online. As he watches and re-watches her final moments, he discovers a hidden clue that may provide him with a means to alter these events and save her...or may indicate that he is losing his already-tenuous hold on sanity.
The Keys to the Kingdom is a haunting story of grief, lost love, and the fine line which separates faith from madness.
The Keys to the Kingdom is a haunting story of grief, lost love, and the fine line which separates faith from madness.
- GenresMystery
35 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2017
9 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 24, 2017
*Thank you to the author for providing a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review!*
Actual Rating: 5
First, let me just say that I absolutely love the cover for this. It's artistic, mysterious, and vague - perfect for this short story.
The Keys to the Kingdom takes place after a woman is hit by a stray bullet and killed. When a video of her death mysterious appears online, her boyfriend cannot stop re-watching. Then he notices something not quite right. Clues seem to suggest that he has the power to save Angela, to change the past. But is it true? Or is he just losing his mind?
The first thing that I noticed about this book was the stylistic writing; it gave the book a very mysterious and mystical tone which really helped contributed to the atmosphere provided by the story.
The plot was extremely engaging throughout and I couldn't put the book down. There was definitely an element of surrealism to the story, and we see how development occurs not only physically, but also mentally in the mind of our main character. The blurb states, "Keys to the Kingdom is haunting story of grief, lost love, and the fine line which separates faith from madness," and I don't think I could've described it in better words.
I loved the main character; he was multifaceted and how he dealt with grief in the aftermath of his girlfriend's death was realistic and subtly heartbreaking. There's usually not much time to get to know a character in a short story, but while reading this, I felt like I could truly relate to the main character's grief, curiosity, and hope.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this - it's a quick, thought-provoking read, and I guarantee it will captivate you from start to finish.
Actual Rating: 5
First, let me just say that I absolutely love the cover for this. It's artistic, mysterious, and vague - perfect for this short story.
The Keys to the Kingdom takes place after a woman is hit by a stray bullet and killed. When a video of her death mysterious appears online, her boyfriend cannot stop re-watching. Then he notices something not quite right. Clues seem to suggest that he has the power to save Angela, to change the past. But is it true? Or is he just losing his mind?
The first thing that I noticed about this book was the stylistic writing; it gave the book a very mysterious and mystical tone which really helped contributed to the atmosphere provided by the story.
The plot was extremely engaging throughout and I couldn't put the book down. There was definitely an element of surrealism to the story, and we see how development occurs not only physically, but also mentally in the mind of our main character. The blurb states, "Keys to the Kingdom is haunting story of grief, lost love, and the fine line which separates faith from madness," and I don't think I could've described it in better words.
I loved the main character; he was multifaceted and how he dealt with grief in the aftermath of his girlfriend's death was realistic and subtly heartbreaking. There's usually not much time to get to know a character in a short story, but while reading this, I felt like I could truly relate to the main character's grief, curiosity, and hope.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this - it's a quick, thought-provoking read, and I guarantee it will captivate you from start to finish.
March 25, 2017
A truly delightful short story, beautifully-written. I received this story as a gift from a friend and immediately I finished it I went straight to Amazon to download the rest. There aren’t any others! Dear Mr Downing, please publish more.
April 3, 2017
As an aspiring author, one of my favorite things to do is read the work of other writers. Not just widely known, frequently published books... but those of my fellows. Still in the trenches, but working themselves out one day at a time. Mr. Downing may be new on the scene, but he won't be for long. After finishing this short story, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I had just read the work of a master in the making. It may be his first published piece (that I know of, at least) but it will absolutely NOT be his last.
Reading is a form of research for writers. I learn from every written word that I read. Sometimes, I simply learn what to avoid - what doesn't work, what feels awkward, what makes me cringe. Other times, I find myself pouring over the material, praying that the brilliance of the author may somehow osmose into my brain so that I may someday find a similar level of beauty in my own writing.
With this story, it was definitely the latter of the two that I experienced. I was immensely impressed by Mr. Downing's ability to craft a story unlike any other in such a way that it did not feel forced and I did not, even once, roll my eyes and think, "Yeah, okay, sure." Despite the nature of the story, I was fully invested the entire time.
Now, to get down to the goods. Don't read on unless you've ALREADY READ THIS STORY. I'm guilty of clicking "view spoilers" even when I haven't read a book from time to time. This time, I beg of you, don't fall victim to that urge. This is a story you truly want to go into blind. Trust me on this!
In the end, I highly recommend this story to anyone looking for something unique that will almost certainly leave their gears turning!
Reading is a form of research for writers. I learn from every written word that I read. Sometimes, I simply learn what to avoid - what doesn't work, what feels awkward, what makes me cringe. Other times, I find myself pouring over the material, praying that the brilliance of the author may somehow osmose into my brain so that I may someday find a similar level of beauty in my own writing.
With this story, it was definitely the latter of the two that I experienced. I was immensely impressed by Mr. Downing's ability to craft a story unlike any other in such a way that it did not feel forced and I did not, even once, roll my eyes and think, "Yeah, okay, sure." Despite the nature of the story, I was fully invested the entire time.
Now, to get down to the goods. Don't read on unless you've ALREADY READ THIS STORY. I'm guilty of clicking "view spoilers" even when I haven't read a book from time to time. This time, I beg of you, don't fall victim to that urge. This is a story you truly want to go into blind. Trust me on this!
In the end, I highly recommend this story to anyone looking for something unique that will almost certainly leave their gears turning!
October 18, 2017
Easily one of my favorite things I've read this year (2017). It's in my top ten of favorite things I've read and I don't see it getting beat by anything longer. It's a tiny little e-book that I recommend for just 99c. The writing is excellent and beautiful. I was so lucky to find this. Less than a hundred pages it packs in so much. A boyfriend obsessed with the loss of his girlfriend goes over and over the security tape showing her die. I know exactly what this kind of obsession feels like and have gone to similar lengths for so much less. I can't say enough how much I loved this one little story. If you buy and read anything this year, let it be this.
March 17, 2017
"The Keys to the Kingdom" is one of the best stories I've ever read. Seriously. And I've read many, many stories.
Fantasy? Science fiction? Neither of these? I can't answer these questions, and I believe that's exactly what the author would want and expect. I won't bother to recap any of the plot here; the description above tells you all you'd need to know. It's a story about love and grief, about possibilities. It involves a real technology I don't understand, and while my lack of understanding and its undercurrent of frustration actually contribute to my appreciation of the story -- I suspect that's what the author intended -- I also suspect that a more tech-savvy reader would find a suspension of disbelief not only possible but easy. It's that well done.
In fact, the whole story is that well done. There's a depth of thought and theme here that's rare in genre fiction and especially rare in a piece this short. The plotting and pace are perfect. The characterization is amazing. The writing itself is not only flawless, it's stylistically -- well, perfect. And the ending, quite unexpected, is also absolutely right. Please don't let my raving about it put you off; I can't help it. Read it yourself and you'll see why.
Fantasy? Science fiction? Neither of these? I can't answer these questions, and I believe that's exactly what the author would want and expect. I won't bother to recap any of the plot here; the description above tells you all you'd need to know. It's a story about love and grief, about possibilities. It involves a real technology I don't understand, and while my lack of understanding and its undercurrent of frustration actually contribute to my appreciation of the story -- I suspect that's what the author intended -- I also suspect that a more tech-savvy reader would find a suspension of disbelief not only possible but easy. It's that well done.
In fact, the whole story is that well done. There's a depth of thought and theme here that's rare in genre fiction and especially rare in a piece this short. The plotting and pace are perfect. The characterization is amazing. The writing itself is not only flawless, it's stylistically -- well, perfect. And the ending, quite unexpected, is also absolutely right. Please don't let my raving about it put you off; I can't help it. Read it yourself and you'll see why.
October 31, 2018
Surprising and fantastic story
I'm glad I took a chance on this. I genuinely enjoyed this novella.
I don't read a lot of indie books, very few in fact, but the LookInside was promising the premise fascinated me.
First person present tense always gets a thumbs up from me. If you are one of those readers who are dubious about FPPT, give this a try; it might change your mind. The structure of the narrative is perfectly suited to the tense, and they showcase each other very well.
Part of what prompted me to pick up the story was a cautious curiosity. My concern was that a narrative focusing on a man obsessing over video footage (literally watching the same thing over and over) would swiftly descend into repetitive monotony.
I was pleased to be mistaken in this instance; Downing side steps that trap effortlessly, wringing fresh detail from the various viewings--much as the character himself does, while painstakingly examining said footage for hidden truth.
One of the best techniques (my apologies, I think of everything in terms of craft these days) that the story benefitted from was Downing's choice of emphasis. He sticks to the emotional, to the contents of the footage, to the increasingly narrow confines that encircle the narrator's life. That all works very well, imo. Other stuff, eg *how* the editing programme could exist is never addressed, nor is it needed to; attempting to do that would derail the tight focus and take the story in a different direction. These kinds of mysteries in stories are usually best left explained.
For example, I have always maintained that the worst thing Dan Simmons ever did (writing-wise!) was produce a sequel for his astonishing novel Hyperion, because the sequel explained everything and rendered the original mysteries mundane/unsatisfying. A good writer, like a good magician, is wise not to reveal every secret.
Anyways... give it a try!
I'm glad I took a chance on this. I genuinely enjoyed this novella.
I don't read a lot of indie books, very few in fact, but the LookInside was promising the premise fascinated me.
First person present tense always gets a thumbs up from me. If you are one of those readers who are dubious about FPPT, give this a try; it might change your mind. The structure of the narrative is perfectly suited to the tense, and they showcase each other very well.
Part of what prompted me to pick up the story was a cautious curiosity. My concern was that a narrative focusing on a man obsessing over video footage (literally watching the same thing over and over) would swiftly descend into repetitive monotony.
I was pleased to be mistaken in this instance; Downing side steps that trap effortlessly, wringing fresh detail from the various viewings--much as the character himself does, while painstakingly examining said footage for hidden truth.
One of the best techniques (my apologies, I think of everything in terms of craft these days) that the story benefitted from was Downing's choice of emphasis. He sticks to the emotional, to the contents of the footage, to the increasingly narrow confines that encircle the narrator's life. That all works very well, imo. Other stuff, eg *how* the editing programme could exist is never addressed, nor is it needed to; attempting to do that would derail the tight focus and take the story in a different direction. These kinds of mysteries in stories are usually best left explained.
For example, I have always maintained that the worst thing Dan Simmons ever did (writing-wise!) was produce a sequel for his astonishing novel Hyperion, because the sequel explained everything and rendered the original mysteries mundane/unsatisfying. A good writer, like a good magician, is wise not to reveal every secret.
Anyways... give it a try!
July 14, 2018
I loved this book. Downing does a brilliant job of capturing the insanity of grief. The way that normal life and activities wither when you're grieving. How the grieving can become caught in details, obsessed with learning more about how a loved one died.
My father died of an aneurysm at a young age. As I cleaned his house, I found myself walking back and forth along the route he took while he was dying. Studying every detail, every scuff that marked his passage. Trying to understand what had happened. I did this endlessly until my husband literally shook me out of it.
The Keys to the Kingdom captures that feeling perfectly. The hero, obsessed with his girlfriend's death, watches a tape of her murder endlessly. Trying to make sense out of the senseless. Downing draws the reader into that growing obsession. Makes it seem sensible, understandable, sane... even when it leads to "insane" places.
The book is short but I can't recommend it enough.
My father died of an aneurysm at a young age. As I cleaned his house, I found myself walking back and forth along the route he took while he was dying. Studying every detail, every scuff that marked his passage. Trying to understand what had happened. I did this endlessly until my husband literally shook me out of it.
The Keys to the Kingdom captures that feeling perfectly. The hero, obsessed with his girlfriend's death, watches a tape of her murder endlessly. Trying to make sense out of the senseless. Downing draws the reader into that growing obsession. Makes it seem sensible, understandable, sane... even when it leads to "insane" places.
The book is short but I can't recommend it enough.
June 27, 2018
Hopeful obsession
This is a short story about obsession and loss. A man's girlfriend is murdered; he obsessively watches the 24 second clip of her final moments that's been anonymously posted to YouTube, until latching onto one obsessive detail.
There's a certain symmetry to the story. Angela is taken from him twice - by a bullet and then by her mother, and somehow those few pages bring an even deeper, more personal pain. His only way of having a connection with her is through technology.
I loved the ending. Reminds me somewhat of the monkey's paw... What kind of resolution can hope and love and determination and faith bring about?
Awesome stuff. I hope he's working on a full length novel because of really want more!
This is a short story about obsession and loss. A man's girlfriend is murdered; he obsessively watches the 24 second clip of her final moments that's been anonymously posted to YouTube, until latching onto one obsessive detail.
There's a certain symmetry to the story. Angela is taken from him twice - by a bullet and then by her mother, and somehow those few pages bring an even deeper, more personal pain. His only way of having a connection with her is through technology.
I loved the ending. Reminds me somewhat of the monkey's paw... What kind of resolution can hope and love and determination and faith bring about?
Awesome stuff. I hope he's working on a full length novel because of really want more!
November 8, 2018
I absolutely loved this book! The setting, the characters, the mood - this was an incredible read. Probably the best I've read all year. I finished it wanting to know more. I became very invested in the characters. I can't wait to read more of Downing's work because I'm absolutely floored by how well done this is! A lot about the book resonated strongly with me.
I felt like the pace was great. Just a terrifically told story and I absolutely can't sing enough praises for this.
I read the ebook version but I bought the physical copy as well. It's gorgeous in person! I love holding books in my hands the old way, so it was a treat to be able to see this in both formats. This is the book I've been waiting to read.
I felt like the pace was great. Just a terrifically told story and I absolutely can't sing enough praises for this.
I read the ebook version but I bought the physical copy as well. It's gorgeous in person! I love holding books in my hands the old way, so it was a treat to be able to see this in both formats. This is the book I've been waiting to read.
November 1, 2018
This book was the most heart-wrenching and amazing thing I have read in some time. I was hooked from the first page - Elliott's writing style flows beautifully, and he really knows how to create tension and invoke emotion in his readers. I actually teared up at points while reading this. In the end, I DID find myself frustrated that it was over...but that's just a sign of a book that really spoke to you! I'm very much looking forward to purchasing and reading more of his work soon.
February 10, 2019
Fascinating read
I was fascinated by the details in this story, and how vividly I could imagine the video from the author’s description. And I felt the emotions he described so poignantly as he moved through the days and weeks after the shooting. I read it straight through from start to finish.
I was fascinated by the details in this story, and how vividly I could imagine the video from the author’s description. And I felt the emotions he described so poignantly as he moved through the days and weeks after the shooting. I read it straight through from start to finish.
February 11, 2018
Love, love, loved it. Quick, easy read;only a few hours, but a few hours that held me captivated. Got a doctor appointment? Pass the time reading this book and the wait will be more than bearable. Seriously. Stop wasting time and start reading. Now!
March 1, 2018
Compelling
Short, tight narrative that's great as a late evening read. Tense and moody with a strong dose of paranoia--my kind of book.
Short, tight narrative that's great as a late evening read. Tense and moody with a strong dose of paranoia--my kind of book.
December 11, 2018
A unique and unusual story. Totally immersive. Could not put it down.
January 1, 2019
A compelling short fiction--or meditation--on the subject of the public exploitation of grief and the protagonist's obsessive journey to rekindle hope after loss.
March 10, 2019
Riveting!
Elliott Downing has a way of putting you inside his main character's head, seeing through his eyes. Damn, I just want to turn around and look...
Elliott Downing has a way of putting you inside his main character's head, seeing through his eyes. Damn, I just want to turn around and look...
March 18, 2019
Beautiful reading, so fluid, interesting history, I like very much the character, perfect ending.
March 27, 2019
I genuinely enjoyed this story (short story). It's a beautiful one for sure.
June 7, 2019
Could not put this down
This was the perfect length for a single sitting. From the opening scene to the last I couldnt put it down.
This was the perfect length for a single sitting. From the opening scene to the last I couldnt put it down.
September 12, 2021
I read this book way back in 2019 and totally forgot that Goodreads existed. I loved this book!!! I'm going to re-read it and leave a more detailed review soon. ♥
January 10, 2020
What an interesting concept! I loved the whole idea and the ending is absolutely perfect; anything else would have been somehow disappointing.
The writing style draws you in quickly as you watch the story unfold in first person. First person storytelling isn't usually my cup of tea, but the pacing and style of this made it work for me. This is a quick and easy read that'll leave you thinking, wondering, and wishing that magic was real.
The writing style draws you in quickly as you watch the story unfold in first person. First person storytelling isn't usually my cup of tea, but the pacing and style of this made it work for me. This is a quick and easy read that'll leave you thinking, wondering, and wishing that magic was real.
April 5, 2017
I enjoyed this story and recommend it highly. An fellow author gave me a copy because she liked it so much and thought I would to. She was right. I'm not mentioning the plot because I don't want to spoil anything. The Keys to the Kingdom packs a real punch. I look forward to seeing more by Elliott Downing.
April 10, 2018
I loved this story. It is a hauntingly beautiful story of longing for a love that has been lost. A senseless tragedy propels the narrator in a quest for the truth about how and why his girl friend has been taken from him.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews