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The Boy at the Keyhole: A Novel
"You'll talk about this book with everyone you meet. It's that exciting."--Josh Malerman, author of Bird Box For fans of Shirley Jackson, Sarah Waters and Daphne du Maurier, an electrifying debut about a boy left alone in his family's English estate with a housekeeper he suspects has murdered his mother Nine-year-old Samuel lives alone in a once-great estate in Surrey with the family's housekeeper, Ruth. His father is dead and his mother has been abroad for months, purportedly tending to her late husband's faltering business. She left in a hurry one night while Samuel was sleeping and did not say goodbye.Beyond her sporadic postcards, Samuel hears nothing from his mother. He misses her dearly and maps her journey in an atlas he finds in her study. Samuel's life is otherwise regulated by Ruth, who runs the house with an iron fist. Only she and Samuel know how brutally she enforces order.As rumors in town begin to swirl, Samuel wonders whether something more sinister is afoot. Perhaps his mother did not leave but was murdered--by Ruth.Artful, haunting and hurtling toward a psychological showdown, The Boy at the Keyhole is an incandescent debut about the precarious dance between truth and perception, and the shocking acts that occur behind closed doors.
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 392 reviews
May 25, 2018
Push pins on an atlas are the only way nine year old Samuel Clay can track his mother's trip to America. That, and eight postcards sent from various locales. Mrs. Clay was seeking a large investment to jump start the sagging business she runs since the death of her husband. Samuel aches for his mother but also resents her. Why has she been gone one hundred thirteen days? Why did she abruptly leave in the middle of the night without saying goodbye? After school, Samuel races home hoping to find his mom back from her trip.
The family estate in Cornwall is crumbling. Many household items and heirlooms have been sold to pay bills incurred by Mr. Clay. Samuel is being cared for by trusted housekeeper, Ruth Tupper. Always having been treated as family, she has a bedroom down the hall from Samuel. Ruth runs the household with an iron fist. She appears stiff and bothered, constantly critical of Samuel. If he could choose, he would opt for freedom like his pet rabbit, Robin Hood and do as he pleased.
Samuel's best friend, Joseph floats a scenario about Mrs. Clay's departure. Samuel's thoughts run wild especially since Ruth informs him that he cannot write or phone his mother. Why has Ruth locked all of the upstairs rooms?
"The Boy at the Keyhole: A Novel" by Stephen Giles is a slow-burning psychological thriller. The tension builds and builds. A taut, unputdownable read!
Thank you Harlequin, Hanover Square Press and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Boy at the Keyhole".
The family estate in Cornwall is crumbling. Many household items and heirlooms have been sold to pay bills incurred by Mr. Clay. Samuel is being cared for by trusted housekeeper, Ruth Tupper. Always having been treated as family, she has a bedroom down the hall from Samuel. Ruth runs the household with an iron fist. She appears stiff and bothered, constantly critical of Samuel. If he could choose, he would opt for freedom like his pet rabbit, Robin Hood and do as he pleased.
Samuel's best friend, Joseph floats a scenario about Mrs. Clay's departure. Samuel's thoughts run wild especially since Ruth informs him that he cannot write or phone his mother. Why has Ruth locked all of the upstairs rooms?
"The Boy at the Keyhole: A Novel" by Stephen Giles is a slow-burning psychological thriller. The tension builds and builds. A taut, unputdownable read!
Thank you Harlequin, Hanover Square Press and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Boy at the Keyhole".
May 19, 2018
A perfectly serviceable suspense novel that takes place within the confines of a manor house. A housekeeper is charged with the care of a nine year old boy during the absence of his mother. Needless to say things between them become rather tense and play out psychologically and otherwise until both reach their breaking point. The comparisons to Du Maurier and Shirley Jackson seem about right but I would add a whisper of Thomas Tryon.
July 16, 2018
Nine year old Samuel Clay lives with his housekeeper Ruth on an English estate. Samuel's father has died and his mother abruptly left in the middle of the night to America to help with their failing family business.
It has been over 5 months since Samuel has spoken to his mother and he desperately is missing her. Samuel receives random postcards from his mother that he keeps in an atlas to map his mother's locations across America. Samuel is hoping and praying that his mother will return from America to be with him again.
As we all know as a child your imagination can run wild. Samuel's best friend Joseph starts to creep into Samuel's mind with probing questions of the circumstances to his mother's whereabouts. Why would she leave in the middle of the night?
Soon, Samuel's imagination sends him searching locked doors, spying in the housekeeper's room, trying to get into the cellar, and anywhere he can get his hands on. Ruth starts to become more furious as each day passes with Samuel's behavior.
The show down between Ruth and Samuel is a very SLOW burn. There wasn't much happening unfortunately throughout the entire novel... leading up to the reveal between Samuel and Ruth.
This unfortunately was not cup of tea AT ALL. There was hardly any action and the final reveal to the plot was just SO disappointing. I can see how some readers may enjoy the dance between what is true and not true.
And.. honestly that ending was AWFUL!!! I remember reading the last sentence/paragraph of the story and thinking what the heck was that?! And.. not to mention too many loose ends that didn't make sense to me?
1.75 stars rounded down on this one for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin/Hanover Square Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Publication date: 9/4/18
Published to GR: 7/15/18
It has been over 5 months since Samuel has spoken to his mother and he desperately is missing her. Samuel receives random postcards from his mother that he keeps in an atlas to map his mother's locations across America. Samuel is hoping and praying that his mother will return from America to be with him again.
As we all know as a child your imagination can run wild. Samuel's best friend Joseph starts to creep into Samuel's mind with probing questions of the circumstances to his mother's whereabouts. Why would she leave in the middle of the night?
Soon, Samuel's imagination sends him searching locked doors, spying in the housekeeper's room, trying to get into the cellar, and anywhere he can get his hands on. Ruth starts to become more furious as each day passes with Samuel's behavior.
The show down between Ruth and Samuel is a very SLOW burn. There wasn't much happening unfortunately throughout the entire novel... leading up to the reveal between Samuel and Ruth.
This unfortunately was not cup of tea AT ALL. There was hardly any action and the final reveal to the plot was just SO disappointing. I can see how some readers may enjoy the dance between what is true and not true.
And.. honestly that ending was AWFUL!!! I remember reading the last sentence/paragraph of the story and thinking what the heck was that?! And.. not to mention too many loose ends that didn't make sense to me?
1.75 stars rounded down on this one for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin/Hanover Square Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Publication date: 9/4/18
Published to GR: 7/15/18
October 17, 2021
4.5 stars!
A boy, his housekeeper and his absent mother.
This book surprised me - I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. I truly adored it!
Nine-year-old Samuel is under the care of his family’s housekeeper, Ruth. Samuel’s mother was abruptly called away on business in the middle of the night several months prior and Samuel longs for her return. Samuel focuses on his mother’s postcards to get him through the lonely days in his family’s large countryside estate.
Samuel was an outstanding character that I will never forget! He is definitely one of my most favourite book characters I’ve met this year! My heart belonged to Samuel for the entire duration of this novel - I had an immediate connection with him. His character was so endearing, innocent, real and heartfelt.
This novel has a very basic plot but there is so much involved within this seemingly straightforward story. This book won’t be for everyone. The author packs some heavy themes and emotions within this simple storyline. A child’s love for their mother and their longing for their mother’s love in return is largely indescribable but this author portrayed it so vividly. I truly felt what Samuel felt. My heart broke over and over for him and his situation.
Audiobook rating: 5 stars! The narrator was excellent! He added the perfect amount of emotion to this delicate storyline. I was hanging on every word. I feel that the narrator immensely increased my enjoyment of this novel. I love when that happens!
Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy! Thank you to my lovely local library for the audio loan!
A boy, his housekeeper and his absent mother.
This book surprised me - I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. I truly adored it!
Nine-year-old Samuel is under the care of his family’s housekeeper, Ruth. Samuel’s mother was abruptly called away on business in the middle of the night several months prior and Samuel longs for her return. Samuel focuses on his mother’s postcards to get him through the lonely days in his family’s large countryside estate.
Samuel was an outstanding character that I will never forget! He is definitely one of my most favourite book characters I’ve met this year! My heart belonged to Samuel for the entire duration of this novel - I had an immediate connection with him. His character was so endearing, innocent, real and heartfelt.
This novel has a very basic plot but there is so much involved within this seemingly straightforward story. This book won’t be for everyone. The author packs some heavy themes and emotions within this simple storyline. A child’s love for their mother and their longing for their mother’s love in return is largely indescribable but this author portrayed it so vividly. I truly felt what Samuel felt. My heart broke over and over for him and his situation.
Audiobook rating: 5 stars! The narrator was excellent! He added the perfect amount of emotion to this delicate storyline. I was hanging on every word. I feel that the narrator immensely increased my enjoyment of this novel. I love when that happens!
Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy! Thank you to my lovely local library for the audio loan!
February 16, 2022
Three stars for the gorgeous cover, the frightening premise and the eerie atmosphere, The Boy at the Keyhole had me hooked from the start. There is something about children in peril that really electrifies me and the author does a great job of making you care about Samuel. The nine year old has been left on his own in his family's crumbling estate with only Ruth to care for him.
Ruth, the housekeeper, is psychologically and physically cruel, all-seeing, and disturbed. I will say only that I was with the author right up to the improbable ending which was very disappointing to me.
Ruth, the housekeeper, is psychologically and physically cruel, all-seeing, and disturbed. I will say only that I was with the author right up to the improbable ending which was very disappointing to me.
October 16, 2018
Favorite Quotes:
Ruth could do that. Make a decree, like a queen or something, that certain topics had reached their end and that would be that.
Now that he stood on the precipice of this wrongdoing, he felt the fluttering in his chest that made every breath sound as if he were sitting on a rattling train.
The same wine his mother said made his father prone to unsettling fits of national pride and falling asleep midsentence.
Part of the reason Samuel was sent to the local school and not somewhere more distinguished, like his father and uncle had, was because his mother didn’t want him turning out like his uncle Felix, who she said was a pompous buffoon wrapped in tweed, dipped in gin and rolled in horsehair.
Samuel saw the lies easily enough; they practically leached from her skin like poisonous gas. She twisted everything, turning the truth in on itself until it looked like something else.
My Review:
I am in quite a pique over the ending, or lack thereof, so rating this skillfully crafted book puts me in a quandary. The story didn’t seem anywhere near a stopping point, yet it ended. Gah – I am infuriated as I was riveted to my Kindle while reading and hissed in complaint at any interruption. Needless to say, adulting did not happen today, as evidenced by my profane and childish reaction to hitting the last page. Yet, I cannot deny that Stephen Giles is a master storyteller who is extremely gifted with the word voodoo. His writing was mesmerizing and laced with observant details and massive insightfulness into the mind of a child. His characters were compelling and deftly written, I was eager to learn every little nuance I could wring from the narrative. His storylines were tautly written and adroitly textured, I was on edge and keenly interested throughout. I couldn’t settle on a theory and developed and cast off several while reading. The housekeeper was vile and monstrous, harsh on a good day; the mother was absent, irresponsible, and self-absorbed; and the child – oh, he squeezed my heart, I ached for him. But that ending - he really left me hanging, would it have killed him to have kept going just a few more pages? It rankles, but I have to give him his due. Sigh, 5-Stars. This would make an excellent movie.
Ruth could do that. Make a decree, like a queen or something, that certain topics had reached their end and that would be that.
Now that he stood on the precipice of this wrongdoing, he felt the fluttering in his chest that made every breath sound as if he were sitting on a rattling train.
The same wine his mother said made his father prone to unsettling fits of national pride and falling asleep midsentence.
Part of the reason Samuel was sent to the local school and not somewhere more distinguished, like his father and uncle had, was because his mother didn’t want him turning out like his uncle Felix, who she said was a pompous buffoon wrapped in tweed, dipped in gin and rolled in horsehair.
Samuel saw the lies easily enough; they practically leached from her skin like poisonous gas. She twisted everything, turning the truth in on itself until it looked like something else.
My Review:
I am in quite a pique over the ending, or lack thereof, so rating this skillfully crafted book puts me in a quandary. The story didn’t seem anywhere near a stopping point, yet it ended. Gah – I am infuriated as I was riveted to my Kindle while reading and hissed in complaint at any interruption. Needless to say, adulting did not happen today, as evidenced by my profane and childish reaction to hitting the last page. Yet, I cannot deny that Stephen Giles is a master storyteller who is extremely gifted with the word voodoo. His writing was mesmerizing and laced with observant details and massive insightfulness into the mind of a child. His characters were compelling and deftly written, I was eager to learn every little nuance I could wring from the narrative. His storylines were tautly written and adroitly textured, I was on edge and keenly interested throughout. I couldn’t settle on a theory and developed and cast off several while reading. The housekeeper was vile and monstrous, harsh on a good day; the mother was absent, irresponsible, and self-absorbed; and the child – oh, he squeezed my heart, I ached for him. But that ending - he really left me hanging, would it have killed him to have kept going just a few more pages? It rankles, but I have to give him his due. Sigh, 5-Stars. This would make an excellent movie.
July 26, 2018
While,
The Boy at the Keyhole
promises a psychological horror showdown, it falls flat on its delivery. It's the early 1960s, and nine year old Samuel lives in this beautiful spacious estate in England, where he is being taken care of by his housekeeper Ruth. Samuel's father had passed away, leaving the family in financial disarray. Samuel's mother has ventured to America in pursuit of work so the family can get stable again—before the family loses their house. In the mean time, Ruth is Samuel's primary caregiver, while also the house guardian. Samuel's mother has been gone for months now, only providing sporadic postcards to update the duo on her adventures in the United States.
Samuel is desperate for his mother's return—Ruth runs the house with an iron fist, and he really doesn't want her authoritative behavior instilled on him any longer. After speaking with his best friend Joseph, he begins to believe that his mother is never coming home. Samuel even begins to believe that Ruth had something in his mother's disappearance. He begins covering his tracks, while trying to find out more clues about his mother, Ruth, and their relationship. As Samuel's investigation progresses, he and Ruth begin a game of cat-and-mouse. Ruth's frustration with Samuel deepens, as she tries to prevent Samuel from continuing his investigation. It's a battle of minds, and even though Samuel is young—he is not going to let this person destroy what he has left.
The Boy at the Keyhole just didn't work for me, but I think it'll polarize readers in general. It's definitely one of those books that you'll either really enjoy, or possibly dislike. I do think you should pick this book up if you're interested in a horror/mystery, and can handle a slow burn. Samuel and Ruth's battle begins early on, but the story really doesn't move fast enough for me. Each chapter afterwards just felt repetitive and drawn out. The Boy at the Keyhole isn't even 300 pages, but could've been even shorter. While the writing was strong (writing from the perspective of a nine year old isn't easy), I just didn't connect to the story at all.
Thank you Handover Press for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The Boy at the Keyhole will be released September 4, 2018.
Samuel is desperate for his mother's return—Ruth runs the house with an iron fist, and he really doesn't want her authoritative behavior instilled on him any longer. After speaking with his best friend Joseph, he begins to believe that his mother is never coming home. Samuel even begins to believe that Ruth had something in his mother's disappearance. He begins covering his tracks, while trying to find out more clues about his mother, Ruth, and their relationship. As Samuel's investigation progresses, he and Ruth begin a game of cat-and-mouse. Ruth's frustration with Samuel deepens, as she tries to prevent Samuel from continuing his investigation. It's a battle of minds, and even though Samuel is young—he is not going to let this person destroy what he has left.
The Boy at the Keyhole just didn't work for me, but I think it'll polarize readers in general. It's definitely one of those books that you'll either really enjoy, or possibly dislike. I do think you should pick this book up if you're interested in a horror/mystery, and can handle a slow burn. Samuel and Ruth's battle begins early on, but the story really doesn't move fast enough for me. Each chapter afterwards just felt repetitive and drawn out. The Boy at the Keyhole isn't even 300 pages, but could've been even shorter. While the writing was strong (writing from the perspective of a nine year old isn't easy), I just didn't connect to the story at all.
Thank you Handover Press for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The Boy at the Keyhole will be released September 4, 2018.
October 17, 2018
A suspenseful psychological thriller involving Samuel, a 9 year old boy and his, and the estate homes’ caretaker, Ruth. Honestly, I could not put this book down!
Ruth is a questionable person at the get go. No one really knows of her personal or professional background. She is brusque, she is a perfectionist, very strict and runs the home with an iron will and fist. She also runs 9 year old Samuel, her charge, with that same controlling manner. This woman, while she cooks and cleans impeccably and complains about everything she has to do as if it’s a heavy burden on her, takes on the responsibility of taking care of Samuel in much the same way.
This poor, poor boy. He has endured her wrath by constant, continual verbal barrage and he has felt the pain of her physical abuse. She is not to be reckoned with. She constantly hovers and checks on Samuel all the time. This poor kid cannot go anywhere in the house with her yelling or looking for him, “Samuel, where are you?” “Samuel, this and Samuel that” Good grief, the kid does not even have a moment away in peace or time to think! She is constantly on his case. He can’t even breathe or sleep properly. His only time away from her is when he goes to school, and it is there that his best friend, Joseph, plants a seed of doubt about Ruth and about Samuel’s mother.
There are rumors that when Samuel’s father died, the family was in a negative financial situation. Samuel’s mother, who was better at finances than her husband, takes off for the States to talk to banks and try to straighten things out. Already a portion of this Surrey estate has had to be sold off. Some of the staff has had to be let go or have not been paid their wages. As time goes on, running the house with less to no money becomes a responsibility and a burden to Ruth. She improvises in various ways, you will see.
Back to Samuel’s mother - How she leaves is quite questionable to the reader and also to Samuel. Samuel loves and adores his mother so very much. He can’t wait for her to come back home. He keeps calling up memories of her. He sneaks into her bedroom to touch a dress she used to wear; to smell some fading perfume she used. He asks about his mother constantly, much to Ruth’s chagrin. Samuel does get short postcards from his Mum from the U.S. and they bring him joy and hope that she is on her way back to being with him.
But...
We find that her feelings for her child, Samuel, are not the same or motherly, and we all know this happens. That she suffered from a long stint of post partum depression and/or a nervous breakdown of sorts. Samuel’s father was the primary parent as she couldn’t, just couldn’t, didn’t want to be by him, take him away please, Ruth; it was very sad and heartbreaking but it explains the situation he is in right now and also Ruth. I cannot even imagine. This poor, poor boy who adores and looks up to his mother and waits for her to walk in the front door; to come home to be with him.
In retrospect, there are ways in which Ruth acts as a mother figure in the absence of Samuel’s birth mother. She looks out for him, feeds and clothes him, takes care of the house to live comfortably in, tries to make sure he stays out of trouble, urges him to do his homework and quit wasting time snooping around or silly-dallying home from school. She eats meals with him and engages in conversations with him. Gets him up for school and to bed on time. Yet...she is not his mother, but his caretaker and the estates’ housekeeper in his mother’s absence. I think the lines get blurred somewhere along the way.
In the meantime, Samuel and Ruth are literally in each other’s faces at the house every day. Ruth is not very forthcoming to Samuel’s constant barrage of questions about his mother. So Samuel starts to do some super sleuthing of his own. He’s pretty good at it. I give this kid credit for a 9 year old mind! He gets caught many times; either he gets away with it or there’s a price to pay by Ruth. I mean, through this whole book, I didn’t know who to believe. I didn’t know who this poor child could turn to. I didn’t know how long he could survive in an environment, being taken care by someone other than family. I had questions about Ruth and her mental state. Was Ruth impersonating someone else? I had questions about a 9 year old boy who might be making up stories. I didn’t know if Ruth was right in saying that Samuel was touched in the head by all this commotion about his mother and if he went to the doctor, he might be institutionalized. The gardener was creepy and of absolutely no help. I didn’t know if Samuel’s mother was dead or alive or if she ran away to the States never to return! I didn’t know who took or what happened to the missing jewelry. The rabbit, Robin Hood, which was wild, but still a pet of Samuel’s, is missing and shows up in a stew pot at dinner, because as Ruth says, there’s no money and we do have to eat, so eat, Samuel, eat! GAH!!!! 🙀
I’m stopping right here, right now, because the rest of the story lays ahead only for you to read on your own and whew, it’s a really good twisted, mind boggling tale.
Ruth is a questionable person at the get go. No one really knows of her personal or professional background. She is brusque, she is a perfectionist, very strict and runs the home with an iron will and fist. She also runs 9 year old Samuel, her charge, with that same controlling manner. This woman, while she cooks and cleans impeccably and complains about everything she has to do as if it’s a heavy burden on her, takes on the responsibility of taking care of Samuel in much the same way.
This poor, poor boy. He has endured her wrath by constant, continual verbal barrage and he has felt the pain of her physical abuse. She is not to be reckoned with. She constantly hovers and checks on Samuel all the time. This poor kid cannot go anywhere in the house with her yelling or looking for him, “Samuel, where are you?” “Samuel, this and Samuel that” Good grief, the kid does not even have a moment away in peace or time to think! She is constantly on his case. He can’t even breathe or sleep properly. His only time away from her is when he goes to school, and it is there that his best friend, Joseph, plants a seed of doubt about Ruth and about Samuel’s mother.
There are rumors that when Samuel’s father died, the family was in a negative financial situation. Samuel’s mother, who was better at finances than her husband, takes off for the States to talk to banks and try to straighten things out. Already a portion of this Surrey estate has had to be sold off. Some of the staff has had to be let go or have not been paid their wages. As time goes on, running the house with less to no money becomes a responsibility and a burden to Ruth. She improvises in various ways, you will see.
Back to Samuel’s mother - How she leaves is quite questionable to the reader and also to Samuel. Samuel loves and adores his mother so very much. He can’t wait for her to come back home. He keeps calling up memories of her. He sneaks into her bedroom to touch a dress she used to wear; to smell some fading perfume she used. He asks about his mother constantly, much to Ruth’s chagrin. Samuel does get short postcards from his Mum from the U.S. and they bring him joy and hope that she is on her way back to being with him.
But...
We find that her feelings for her child, Samuel, are not the same or motherly, and we all know this happens. That she suffered from a long stint of post partum depression and/or a nervous breakdown of sorts. Samuel’s father was the primary parent as she couldn’t, just couldn’t, didn’t want to be by him, take him away please, Ruth; it was very sad and heartbreaking but it explains the situation he is in right now and also Ruth. I cannot even imagine. This poor, poor boy who adores and looks up to his mother and waits for her to walk in the front door; to come home to be with him.
In retrospect, there are ways in which Ruth acts as a mother figure in the absence of Samuel’s birth mother. She looks out for him, feeds and clothes him, takes care of the house to live comfortably in, tries to make sure he stays out of trouble, urges him to do his homework and quit wasting time snooping around or silly-dallying home from school. She eats meals with him and engages in conversations with him. Gets him up for school and to bed on time. Yet...she is not his mother, but his caretaker and the estates’ housekeeper in his mother’s absence. I think the lines get blurred somewhere along the way.
In the meantime, Samuel and Ruth are literally in each other’s faces at the house every day. Ruth is not very forthcoming to Samuel’s constant barrage of questions about his mother. So Samuel starts to do some super sleuthing of his own. He’s pretty good at it. I give this kid credit for a 9 year old mind! He gets caught many times; either he gets away with it or there’s a price to pay by Ruth. I mean, through this whole book, I didn’t know who to believe. I didn’t know who this poor child could turn to. I didn’t know how long he could survive in an environment, being taken care by someone other than family. I had questions about Ruth and her mental state. Was Ruth impersonating someone else? I had questions about a 9 year old boy who might be making up stories. I didn’t know if Ruth was right in saying that Samuel was touched in the head by all this commotion about his mother and if he went to the doctor, he might be institutionalized. The gardener was creepy and of absolutely no help. I didn’t know if Samuel’s mother was dead or alive or if she ran away to the States never to return! I didn’t know who took or what happened to the missing jewelry. The rabbit, Robin Hood, which was wild, but still a pet of Samuel’s, is missing and shows up in a stew pot at dinner, because as Ruth says, there’s no money and we do have to eat, so eat, Samuel, eat! GAH!!!! 🙀
I’m stopping right here, right now, because the rest of the story lays ahead only for you to read on your own and whew, it’s a really good twisted, mind boggling tale.
June 21, 2024
For Every Question
There is an Answer...
THE BOY AT THE KEYHOLE
by Stephen Giles
No spoilers. 4 1/2 stars. Samuel Clay, the boy of the story, lives in a decaying family estate in Surrey. His father is dead and his mother has gone to America to raise funds to save the ancestral home...
Samuel counts the days, literally, that she's been gone. He receives occasional postcards from her with pictures of her travels...
Ruth, the Clay's housekeeper and cook, takes care of the house and 9 year old Samuel. She scrimps and bakes pastries to sell in the village to make ends meet and keeps the estate afloat...
Ruth and Samuel have an uneasy understanding; she is the boss, and he will obey her.
Samuel is lonely.
He has a pet rabbit called Robin Hood. Robin is really a wild rabbit that comes to the hedges around Ruth's garden looking for the bits of vegetables that Samuel feeds him...
His best friend, a boy called Joseph, tells Samuel that some people in the village suspect that Samuel's mother isn't really abroad but has been murdered and her body hidden by Ruth...
Samuel is doggedly trying to find evidence proving whether this is true or not. Samuel does a lot of sneaking around the house for clues...
He finds a 5-page letter from his mother written to his father before he died. The letter hints at why she has gone away. something to do with Samuel, but page 4, which would answer some of his pressing questions, is missing.
Sleuthing isn't easy for Samuel...
Ruth is everywhere, and she won't let him out of her sight. Even going into the bathroom is regulated by her watchful eye...
The two are heading for a showdown. The truth about many unanswered questions is at hand...
I rated this top-notch English mystery 4 1/2 stars. I couldn't quite go 5 stars because there were still some mysteries that were not satisfactorily explained, but this was a page-turner to the end.
There is an Answer...
THE BOY AT THE KEYHOLE
by Stephen Giles
No spoilers. 4 1/2 stars. Samuel Clay, the boy of the story, lives in a decaying family estate in Surrey. His father is dead and his mother has gone to America to raise funds to save the ancestral home...
Samuel counts the days, literally, that she's been gone. He receives occasional postcards from her with pictures of her travels...
Ruth, the Clay's housekeeper and cook, takes care of the house and 9 year old Samuel. She scrimps and bakes pastries to sell in the village to make ends meet and keeps the estate afloat...
Ruth and Samuel have an uneasy understanding; she is the boss, and he will obey her.
Samuel is lonely.
He has a pet rabbit called Robin Hood. Robin is really a wild rabbit that comes to the hedges around Ruth's garden looking for the bits of vegetables that Samuel feeds him...
His best friend, a boy called Joseph, tells Samuel that some people in the village suspect that Samuel's mother isn't really abroad but has been murdered and her body hidden by Ruth...
Samuel is doggedly trying to find evidence proving whether this is true or not. Samuel does a lot of sneaking around the house for clues...
He finds a 5-page letter from his mother written to his father before he died. The letter hints at why she has gone away. something to do with Samuel, but page 4, which would answer some of his pressing questions, is missing.
Sleuthing isn't easy for Samuel...
Ruth is everywhere, and she won't let him out of her sight. Even going into the bathroom is regulated by her watchful eye...
The two are heading for a showdown. The truth about many unanswered questions is at hand...
I rated this top-notch English mystery 4 1/2 stars. I couldn't quite go 5 stars because there were still some mysteries that were not satisfactorily explained, but this was a page-turner to the end.
September 25, 2018
The Boy in the Keyhole has all the elements of a great thriller - a decaying estate in England, an abusive housekeeper, and a curious boy trying to figure out what happened to his mother. I could not put this book down, but the big, pivotal moment I was waiting for never materialized. I was extremely confused about the ending. It definitely kept my interest, but left me unsatisfied at the end.
June 7, 2018
This sinister psychological thriller focuses around an age-old conundrum: if two people have conflicting versions of what is true, who is the unreliable narrator?
Young Samuel lives with his housekeeper Ruth in the crumbling family estate in Cornwall. His father is dead and his mother is an America trying to resurrect her husband’s mordant business. But is she really? Or has the housekeeper had a hand in her disappearance?
Ruth is responsible but harsh and her explanations seem to add up. And Samuel is a sensitive child with a vivid imagination and a longing to be reunited with his mother. Is he intuiting the truth? Or is he a sort of “bad seed” who has it in for the housekeeper? And what’s with the pet rabbit, Robin Hood, anyway?
With a hint of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, this neo-Gothic tale keeps the reader guessing until the very end. It’s a quick summer read that may not linger long, but it sure held my attention while I was reading it.
Young Samuel lives with his housekeeper Ruth in the crumbling family estate in Cornwall. His father is dead and his mother is an America trying to resurrect her husband’s mordant business. But is she really? Or has the housekeeper had a hand in her disappearance?
Ruth is responsible but harsh and her explanations seem to add up. And Samuel is a sensitive child with a vivid imagination and a longing to be reunited with his mother. Is he intuiting the truth? Or is he a sort of “bad seed” who has it in for the housekeeper? And what’s with the pet rabbit, Robin Hood, anyway?
With a hint of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, this neo-Gothic tale keeps the reader guessing until the very end. It’s a quick summer read that may not linger long, but it sure held my attention while I was reading it.
February 6, 2019
A staggeringly good psychological thriller.
Stephen Giles' THE BOY AT THE KEYHOLE is being marketed as his "first work for adults". This is one hell of a debut.....
Coming from a background of children's fiction, Giles perfectly captures the voice and mindset of his main character, nine-year-old Samuel Clay, a lonely child who comes to believe that his housekeeper has murdered his mother. The novel is told completely from Samuel's point of view, and his story is both compelling and heartbreaking. With his father dead and the family business failing, Samuel's beloved mother leaves their English country home in the dead of night, sailing to America to try to raise funds to save their steel mill and estate. Samuel is left in the care of their emotionally distant housekeeper, Ruth, and as the months go by, with only the occasional postcard from his mother in America, he begins to suspect that perhaps there is something more sinister afoot: His mother would never willingly leave him, so what if she was murdered? What if Ruth is the murderer?
Giles' story unfolds like a taut one-set play. The majority of the book takes place in the Clay home, with Samuel and Ruth center stage. A handful of other characters pop in and out, but the bulk of the story focuses on the emotionally fraught relationship between the child and his caregiver, as Samuel dwells on perceived oddities with Ruth's behavior and small clues that he picks up on, and Ruth grows less and less tolerant of Samuel's acting out. By focusing solely on Samuel's POV, Giles ramps up the tension, and offers a heartbreaking quandary for readers: Whether or not Ruth murdered Mrs. Clay, what can Samuel, who depends completely on Ruth, do about it? My heart broke for this poor child, scared and alone, obsessed with the possibility of a loss of unimaginable magnitude.
There is some magnificent work being done here by Giles, and the story plays out like a claustrophobic stage play or a forgotten 1960's mystery movie. I can usually see the end coming a mile away, and Giles not only managed to deliver a few unexpected moments in the finale, but he also gave me a lot to chew over after I closed the book. I've seen other reviewers complaining about being confused by the ending, or else that the ending was a letdown, or too confusing.....without getting into spoilers, everything is there for careful, patient readers to find. I've gone over the ending two or three times since I finished the book, because it is so impeccably done. This is the kind of book that I'll be urging friends and family to read. Highly, highly recommended.
Hanover Square Press provided a review copy.
Stephen Giles' THE BOY AT THE KEYHOLE is being marketed as his "first work for adults". This is one hell of a debut.....
Coming from a background of children's fiction, Giles perfectly captures the voice and mindset of his main character, nine-year-old Samuel Clay, a lonely child who comes to believe that his housekeeper has murdered his mother. The novel is told completely from Samuel's point of view, and his story is both compelling and heartbreaking. With his father dead and the family business failing, Samuel's beloved mother leaves their English country home in the dead of night, sailing to America to try to raise funds to save their steel mill and estate. Samuel is left in the care of their emotionally distant housekeeper, Ruth, and as the months go by, with only the occasional postcard from his mother in America, he begins to suspect that perhaps there is something more sinister afoot: His mother would never willingly leave him, so what if she was murdered? What if Ruth is the murderer?
Giles' story unfolds like a taut one-set play. The majority of the book takes place in the Clay home, with Samuel and Ruth center stage. A handful of other characters pop in and out, but the bulk of the story focuses on the emotionally fraught relationship between the child and his caregiver, as Samuel dwells on perceived oddities with Ruth's behavior and small clues that he picks up on, and Ruth grows less and less tolerant of Samuel's acting out. By focusing solely on Samuel's POV, Giles ramps up the tension, and offers a heartbreaking quandary for readers: Whether or not Ruth murdered Mrs. Clay, what can Samuel, who depends completely on Ruth, do about it? My heart broke for this poor child, scared and alone, obsessed with the possibility of a loss of unimaginable magnitude.
There is some magnificent work being done here by Giles, and the story plays out like a claustrophobic stage play or a forgotten 1960's mystery movie. I can usually see the end coming a mile away, and Giles not only managed to deliver a few unexpected moments in the finale, but he also gave me a lot to chew over after I closed the book. I've seen other reviewers complaining about being confused by the ending, or else that the ending was a letdown, or too confusing.....without getting into spoilers, everything is there for careful, patient readers to find. I've gone over the ending two or three times since I finished the book, because it is so impeccably done. This is the kind of book that I'll be urging friends and family to read. Highly, highly recommended.
Hanover Square Press provided a review copy.
September 21, 2018
Thank you to Harlequin - Hanover Square Press and Stephen Giles for an advanced copy of The Boy at the Keyhole. This was a psychological brain teaser to say the least! There was much to be enjoyed with this book but also a little slow in places. If you are a big fan of slow burns that tease through plausible outcomes until the final reveal, this is a book that may appeal to you.
The plot is about a 9-year-old boy living in England. His family home is bankrupt with most of the servants having already been let go due to lack of money. Samuel’s mother has left in the middle of the night (without saying goodbye to Samuel) 4 months ago to travel around America with hopes of drumming up money to save their flailing family business. Samuel’s father died the year before so the one remaining housekeeper Ruth has been left in charge to care for the boy. Samuel misses his mother desperately and can’t understand why she left and has been gone so long. He pesters Ruth daily asking when will his mother be home? With only a handful of postcards that have been sent by his mom during her travels, Samuel is having a hard time comprehending how his mother could stand to be away from him for so long with hardly any contact. Then one day, after talking with his best friend Joseph, Samuel begins to contemplate if his mom really did go to America or did Ruth kill her? At the heart of this story is a little boy’s need to be with his mom and what can happen over time when this pain is left to fester.
The author cleverly writes from a child’s perspective so we see simple deductions being made from a 9 year old’s mind. This adds a layer of suspense and uncertainty to the plot. I had no idea what the truth was until the very end. The descriptive prose is also well done although at times overwhelmed the plot for me. It was an intriguing mystery with robust character development and a fascinating psychological aspect exploring child obsession. An easy read that will keep you guessing.
The plot is about a 9-year-old boy living in England. His family home is bankrupt with most of the servants having already been let go due to lack of money. Samuel’s mother has left in the middle of the night (without saying goodbye to Samuel) 4 months ago to travel around America with hopes of drumming up money to save their flailing family business. Samuel’s father died the year before so the one remaining housekeeper Ruth has been left in charge to care for the boy. Samuel misses his mother desperately and can’t understand why she left and has been gone so long. He pesters Ruth daily asking when will his mother be home? With only a handful of postcards that have been sent by his mom during her travels, Samuel is having a hard time comprehending how his mother could stand to be away from him for so long with hardly any contact. Then one day, after talking with his best friend Joseph, Samuel begins to contemplate if his mom really did go to America or did Ruth kill her? At the heart of this story is a little boy’s need to be with his mom and what can happen over time when this pain is left to fester.
The author cleverly writes from a child’s perspective so we see simple deductions being made from a 9 year old’s mind. This adds a layer of suspense and uncertainty to the plot. I had no idea what the truth was until the very end. The descriptive prose is also well done although at times overwhelmed the plot for me. It was an intriguing mystery with robust character development and a fascinating psychological aspect exploring child obsession. An easy read that will keep you guessing.
August 26, 2018
Nine-year-old Samuel has been left in the care of the housekeeper, Ruth, for over 100 days while his mother went to America to try to raise money to save the family steel business. The story takes place mostly in the mind of Samuel - suspense that builds very slowly until both Samuel and Ruth are at each other's throats. The story doesn't come out and say what actually happened, but you get a pretty good idea. Not what I expected and really not the book for me, but it was interesting enough to finish and I think the author certainly has talent - I just like a different type of story.
Thanks to Stephen Giles and Harlequin/Hanover Square Press through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Stephen Giles and Harlequin/Hanover Square Press through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2018
Nine-year-old Samuel misses his mother. She’s left him alone with the housekeeper Ruth. Ruth as told Samuel that his mother had to go to America to try to save the family business. She didn’t even say goodbye and left in the middle of the night while he was sleeping. But she’s been gone months and he begins to suspect that something has happened to her. He begins to believe that Ruth has murdered his mother.
The comparisons of this book to the work of Shirley Jackson and Daphne Du Maurier convinced me that it was a must read. I believe the book is closer to the work of Jackson than Du Maurier. The author has created a very tense, suspenseful atmosphere. At points in the book, you think you know where it’s headed but then the author turns it around, again and again, until you’re really not sure what to expect. My heart was touched by the anguished plight of young Samuel. It’s quite a sad story, either way the author decided to go. I had a hard time putting it down and found it to be a very satisfying read.
Recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
The comparisons of this book to the work of Shirley Jackson and Daphne Du Maurier convinced me that it was a must read. I believe the book is closer to the work of Jackson than Du Maurier. The author has created a very tense, suspenseful atmosphere. At points in the book, you think you know where it’s headed but then the author turns it around, again and again, until you’re really not sure what to expect. My heart was touched by the anguished plight of young Samuel. It’s quite a sad story, either way the author decided to go. I had a hard time putting it down and found it to be a very satisfying read.
Recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
January 19, 2019
What has become of nine-year-old Samuel’s mother? She has been missing for months after a trip abroad. Has she come to harm? Or does she simply not care to come home? I had to finish this book in one setting, staying up half the night to do so. Told from the nine-year-old boy’s point of view, I often felt his character as written was a little too clever and bold in his sleuthing and detective ability for his young age. However, it added to and made the story more compelling. Precocious though he is, Samuel is appropriately and touchingly vulnerable in his longing for and need for his mother’s love. His one show of naïveté is his innocent belief that all mothers surely love their children. The psychological drama between Samuel and his gruff, mysterious, malicious housekeeper, Ruth, starts out disturbing, but builds to a harrowing showdown. An abrupt, ambiguous ending leaves much to our imaginations, which the author has apparently intended.
I didn’t have the ebook, so I listened to this one on audiobook, which was an excellent experience.
I didn’t have the ebook, so I listened to this one on audiobook, which was an excellent experience.
October 30, 2018
This is a very good read. Could not put this book down. Nine year old Samuel has always starved for the attention of his mother, who really did not enjoy being a mother and did not show any affection toward him. The family busines is going down after Samuel's dad dies. His mother leaves to go around the world looking for investors to save their steelmill without telling Samuel good bye. Ruth the house keeper has always taken care of Samuel more like his mother instead of a housekeeper. He receives postcards from his mother from different places in her handwriting saying she misses him and will be home soon. She is gone for a long time and Samuel starts to have crazy thoughts that maybe Ruth the housekeeper killed his mother and is trying to take over their estate. Haunting and hurtling Samuel is headeded toward a breakdown. Samuel discovers all sorts of secrets from letters he found written by his mother while his dad was still alive and his mother was in a Bath treatment center close to having a nervous breakdown. The ending is a real surprise. A must read. You will love it. A shocker.
August 19, 2018
I read an ARC of this book.
This was a slow burn that turned into a dud. That ending... What a letdown.
This was a slow burn that turned into a dud. That ending... What a letdown.
September 19, 2018
This slow burn of a psychological mystery will leave you guessing what is true and what is not.
What else is a nine-year-old boy supposed to do when his mother leaves to go to another country in the middle of the night without even saying goodbye? Of course he's going to try and figure out why she would do such a thing. Enter his friend who starts putting ideas of murder in his head and watch the wheels start to turn!
Ruth, the housekeeper and now his guardian is not the nicest. She's strict, almost abusive, and definitely has secrets of her own. Suspect number one and the easiest to question. But how does he prove that she killed his mother... if she even did?
We get the full on gothic feel with the house that probably carries ghosts, having a scary attic and basement, and the slow build as we watch Samuel's mind work overtime. However, is he imaging these clues or is it all so real? We all know how imaginative children's minds can be. What Giles does wonderfully is to put us in the mind of Samuel.
Do not go into this expecting a fast paced thriller that's nicely tied up. Walk into this with trepidation and get into Samuel's head. This slow burn will really bring you straight in. I will say that it did drag in certain parts and I think may have worked better as a novella. However, I was intrigued to see what was going to happen and where the author would take me.
Thank you to the publisher for this copy.
What else is a nine-year-old boy supposed to do when his mother leaves to go to another country in the middle of the night without even saying goodbye? Of course he's going to try and figure out why she would do such a thing. Enter his friend who starts putting ideas of murder in his head and watch the wheels start to turn!
Ruth, the housekeeper and now his guardian is not the nicest. She's strict, almost abusive, and definitely has secrets of her own. Suspect number one and the easiest to question. But how does he prove that she killed his mother... if she even did?
We get the full on gothic feel with the house that probably carries ghosts, having a scary attic and basement, and the slow build as we watch Samuel's mind work overtime. However, is he imaging these clues or is it all so real? We all know how imaginative children's minds can be. What Giles does wonderfully is to put us in the mind of Samuel.
Do not go into this expecting a fast paced thriller that's nicely tied up. Walk into this with trepidation and get into Samuel's head. This slow burn will really bring you straight in. I will say that it did drag in certain parts and I think may have worked better as a novella. However, I was intrigued to see what was going to happen and where the author would take me.
Thank you to the publisher for this copy.
July 23, 2019
Nine-year-old Samuel provides a great and unusual point of view in this claustrophobic historical story. Poor Samuel is pining for his long absent mother, who is supposed to be on a fundraising trip to save the family's steel mills. Meanwhile housekeeper Ruth is strict, and often physically abusive, and she constantly polices and restricts Samuel's access to areas of the house, and to his contact with others. Samuel is desperate for his mother to return, and eventually gets it into his head that Ruth has killed his mother. Samuel begins sleuthing, doing surprisingly well for a nine-year-old, though Ruth keeps thwarting his efforts.
The tension keeps ratcheting up, though there isn't much action in this story as in a standard thriller. Samuel's and Ruth's arguments, as well as her heavy and increasingly dangerous presence lends this story its darkness, as well as the secrets, with their consequent sadness, that Samuel slowly unearths about his mother.
The ending was abrupt, and ambiguous, and though I appreciate what the author was doing, I wish he had provided his readers with a wee bit more closure.
The tension keeps ratcheting up, though there isn't much action in this story as in a standard thriller. Samuel's and Ruth's arguments, as well as her heavy and increasingly dangerous presence lends this story its darkness, as well as the secrets, with their consequent sadness, that Samuel slowly unearths about his mother.
The ending was abrupt, and ambiguous, and though I appreciate what the author was doing, I wish he had provided his readers with a wee bit more closure.
September 2, 2018
"This house won't hold your secrets--it will betray them...This house tells its tales with anyone with sense enough to listen."
I enjoyed The Boy at the Keyhole more than I expected to. This is a slow-burning psychological gothic novel with tones of Shirley Jackson. Don't expect major twists and turns or anything crazy, but it's a good story about secrets and a crumbling house.
At some points, it feels a little drawn out. I think this could have worked better as a short story, but I still really liked it. Stephen Giles effortlessly handles a child POV in a way that isn't annoying, but just leads you to view the story in a different light than you normally would.
If you enjoyed books like The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware & The Beloveds by Maureen Lindley earlier this year, you should definitely pick up The Boy at the Keyhole by Stephen Giles.
I enjoyed The Boy at the Keyhole more than I expected to. This is a slow-burning psychological gothic novel with tones of Shirley Jackson. Don't expect major twists and turns or anything crazy, but it's a good story about secrets and a crumbling house.
At some points, it feels a little drawn out. I think this could have worked better as a short story, but I still really liked it. Stephen Giles effortlessly handles a child POV in a way that isn't annoying, but just leads you to view the story in a different light than you normally would.
If you enjoyed books like The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware & The Beloveds by Maureen Lindley earlier this year, you should definitely pick up The Boy at the Keyhole by Stephen Giles.
November 16, 2018
In 1961, 9 year old Samuel is being cared for by the family housekeeper Ruth. His mother was suddenly called away to America on business and has been gone for months. Samuel begins to suspect that Ruth has killed his mother, and he tries to prove it.
I don’t know who is the intended audience for this book. It is told from the point of view of a child and its blandness and lack of suspense makes it feel like a middle school version of psychological suspense. However, the ending would be confusing and disturbing for a child. For me, the whole book was just obvious, repetitive and boring, and the ending did nothing to redeem that. Do not believe comparisons to the works of Shirley Jackson or Daphne Du Maurier. That might have been the author’s goal, but he didn’t reach it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I don’t know who is the intended audience for this book. It is told from the point of view of a child and its blandness and lack of suspense makes it feel like a middle school version of psychological suspense. However, the ending would be confusing and disturbing for a child. For me, the whole book was just obvious, repetitive and boring, and the ending did nothing to redeem that. Do not believe comparisons to the works of Shirley Jackson or Daphne Du Maurier. That might have been the author’s goal, but he didn’t reach it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
December 17, 2018
This book was sadly a letdown.
When I saw who the author was, I was thrilled to give it a read. I absolutely adored Ivy Pocket (she is sassy!!) so I was ready for an adult book.
Very very disappointed. The book was more or less plotless - you get the whole plot from the inner flap - and I for one thought Ruth was going to be more abusive than she actually was.
Basically here was the book:
Samuel (who btw I did not have one ounce of sympathy for): I want my mommy!
Ruth: She's in America
Samuel: But I want her to come home!
Ruth: Wait for a postcard
Samuel: You murdered her!
Ruth: No I didn't
And then it ended. It really seemed like the author didn't know where to go after all the build up. When we got to the end, I was left thinking "???" I actually WAS very interested in the end (what happened???) but the the book was OVER and it wasn't even a semi-decent cliffhanger where you think, "Oooh this whole time we thought [blank] but now it could be [blank]!!" The ending could've saved the book. But it was terrible.
If anyone DOES have a clue at the ending, hit me up. I wanna know someone's theories.
Definitely would read another of Giles' because he has a lot of potential and I know he can do better.
When I saw who the author was, I was thrilled to give it a read. I absolutely adored Ivy Pocket (she is sassy!!) so I was ready for an adult book.
Very very disappointed. The book was more or less plotless - you get the whole plot from the inner flap - and I for one thought Ruth was going to be more abusive than she actually was.
Basically here was the book:
Samuel (who btw I did not have one ounce of sympathy for): I want my mommy!
Ruth: She's in America
Samuel: But I want her to come home!
Ruth: Wait for a postcard
Samuel: You murdered her!
Ruth: No I didn't
And then it ended. It really seemed like the author didn't know where to go after all the build up. When we got to the end, I was left thinking "???" I actually WAS very interested in the end (what happened???) but the the book was OVER and it wasn't even a semi-decent cliffhanger where you think, "Oooh this whole time we thought [blank] but now it could be [blank]!!" The ending could've saved the book. But it was terrible.
If anyone DOES have a clue at the ending, hit me up. I wanna know someone's theories.
Definitely would read another of Giles' because he has a lot of potential and I know he can do better.
January 31, 2022
Suspenseful. Haunting. Creepy. Claustrophobic. Disturbing. Good story!
December 14, 2024
This is a physiological drama told from the point of view of a nine-year old boy. It’s a unique perspective to see young Samuel Clay’s view of his world, one where his mother Margot has been away for more than 100 days.
He receives no phone calls, no telegrams or packages. The only thing he waits for are the few postcards his mother sends from her travels across the United States and of course, his hope of her return. Samuel lives alone in a large estate in Surrey England with only the housekeeper, Ruth, to attend to his needs.
Samuel tracks his mother’s travels using an atlas and pins when he receives a postcard. Being a person who loves maps, it’s particularly enjoyable to read about the atlas and Samuel putting colored pins in Boston, San Francisco, London, Bath and Penzance.
Samuel’s father died a few years ago and the dire financial state of affairs prompted Margot Clay to go “fund raising” across the country and the USA to raise money. She left in the middle of the night without saying goodbye to her son. Ruth takes care of Samuel by cooking and cleaning. You suspect Ruth in the beginning of withholding information from the boy.
As you read the story from a nine-year old’s point of view, the adult reader can see and understand some of the reality of the situation. An example of that is when Samuel sneaks into his mother’s room and steals letters his mother had written to her husband.
You get the idea that Margo Clay had been in an institution or some home. Samuel remembered that from a remark by his father about Margot being away in Bath where there would be peace and quiet. She evidently wasn’t suited to domestic life. In a letter from Margot to Samuel’s father she implores him not to bring he boy next time he visits as his arms around her make her feel as if she is sinking in the water. Not everyone is suited to be parent. When Ruth catches the boy in his mother’s room she berates him and tells him he should be ashamed snooping around.
“Ruth didn’t understand that he was only trying to be near his mother, she was a creature in orbit and the one way he could feel close to her was to linger in the traces she left behind.”
Ruth is really a piece of work – alternately making his favorite meals, asking about homework then berating him and being mentally abusive. The ending wasn’t what I thought might happen, quite a surprise actually. Can’t say I didn’t have questions about that and since they will be spoilers, I won’t talk about it here. Goodreads has a spoiler feature so I will add my thoughts about that there.
I always notice the foodie parts in a book. Here are the offerings:
Shortbread, cake, freshly baked bread, roast beef and potatoes with peas, mince pie, eggs and sausages, roasted chicken and potatoes, roasted lamb, roast rabbit and chestnut stuffing, tea cakes and lemon tarts.
As I love making bread, the baguettes seemed a good option. (photos on my blog)
My thoughts about the end of the book/resolution below. Warning, spoilers:
He receives no phone calls, no telegrams or packages. The only thing he waits for are the few postcards his mother sends from her travels across the United States and of course, his hope of her return. Samuel lives alone in a large estate in Surrey England with only the housekeeper, Ruth, to attend to his needs.
Samuel tracks his mother’s travels using an atlas and pins when he receives a postcard. Being a person who loves maps, it’s particularly enjoyable to read about the atlas and Samuel putting colored pins in Boston, San Francisco, London, Bath and Penzance.
Samuel’s father died a few years ago and the dire financial state of affairs prompted Margot Clay to go “fund raising” across the country and the USA to raise money. She left in the middle of the night without saying goodbye to her son. Ruth takes care of Samuel by cooking and cleaning. You suspect Ruth in the beginning of withholding information from the boy.
As you read the story from a nine-year old’s point of view, the adult reader can see and understand some of the reality of the situation. An example of that is when Samuel sneaks into his mother’s room and steals letters his mother had written to her husband.
You get the idea that Margo Clay had been in an institution or some home. Samuel remembered that from a remark by his father about Margot being away in Bath where there would be peace and quiet. She evidently wasn’t suited to domestic life. In a letter from Margot to Samuel’s father she implores him not to bring he boy next time he visits as his arms around her make her feel as if she is sinking in the water. Not everyone is suited to be parent. When Ruth catches the boy in his mother’s room she berates him and tells him he should be ashamed snooping around.
“Ruth didn’t understand that he was only trying to be near his mother, she was a creature in orbit and the one way he could feel close to her was to linger in the traces she left behind.”
Ruth is really a piece of work – alternately making his favorite meals, asking about homework then berating him and being mentally abusive. The ending wasn’t what I thought might happen, quite a surprise actually. Can’t say I didn’t have questions about that and since they will be spoilers, I won’t talk about it here. Goodreads has a spoiler feature so I will add my thoughts about that there.
I always notice the foodie parts in a book. Here are the offerings:
Shortbread, cake, freshly baked bread, roast beef and potatoes with peas, mince pie, eggs and sausages, roasted chicken and potatoes, roasted lamb, roast rabbit and chestnut stuffing, tea cakes and lemon tarts.
As I love making bread, the baguettes seemed a good option. (photos on my blog)
My thoughts about the end of the book/resolution below. Warning, spoilers:
May 31, 2018
Nine-year-old Samuel Clay lives with the family's housekeeper, Ruth, on a deteriorating English estate. His father has died and his mother has traveled to America to secure capital for their failing business.
It's been over five months since Samuel has spoken to his mother; he receives random postcards from her and marks her locations in an atlas in the study. He misses her terribly and is upset she left in the middle of the night without saying goodbye.
Samuel's imagination runs wild and all it takes is a few comments from his best friend to make him question if his mother really left the country at all. Samuel begins to think Ruth had something to do with his mother's disappearance, why else would she be gone for so long?
Ruth takes care of the home and Samuel with the little money available but she is cold detached and refuses to put up with any nonsense. Normal daily routines soon fill with the unease of a domestic thriller as readers wonder if Ruth is hiding something.
Samuel's investigation sends him searching the cellar and spying in to locked rooms while Ruth grows more furious by the day at all the questions and sneaking around. The psychological show down between Samuel and Ruth is a slow burn, and I can definitely see the comparisons to Shirley Jackson and Daphne Du Maurier as a simple story of a boy yearning for his mother and dealing with the loss of his father turns in to an unsettling tale of possible murder.
I loved that a nine-year-old's imagination allows the reader to find the jump from "mother abroad for business" to "murdered by the housekeeper" completely plausible. A child can turn anything into a mystery and put everyone under suspicion. There were moments when I felt Ruth was a total villain and others where I saw an adult making hard choices for a family in the mother's absence.
While I know some readers will feel this story falls flat because it lacks action, many will enjoy the psychological dance between truth and perception. I'm not honestly sure what ending I expected or even wanted, but it is chilling!
Thanks to Hanover Square Press and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for my honest review. The Boy at the Keyhole is scheduled for release on September 4, 2018.
For more full reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
It's been over five months since Samuel has spoken to his mother; he receives random postcards from her and marks her locations in an atlas in the study. He misses her terribly and is upset she left in the middle of the night without saying goodbye.
Samuel's imagination runs wild and all it takes is a few comments from his best friend to make him question if his mother really left the country at all. Samuel begins to think Ruth had something to do with his mother's disappearance, why else would she be gone for so long?
Ruth takes care of the home and Samuel with the little money available but she is cold detached and refuses to put up with any nonsense. Normal daily routines soon fill with the unease of a domestic thriller as readers wonder if Ruth is hiding something.
Samuel's investigation sends him searching the cellar and spying in to locked rooms while Ruth grows more furious by the day at all the questions and sneaking around. The psychological show down between Samuel and Ruth is a slow burn, and I can definitely see the comparisons to Shirley Jackson and Daphne Du Maurier as a simple story of a boy yearning for his mother and dealing with the loss of his father turns in to an unsettling tale of possible murder.
I loved that a nine-year-old's imagination allows the reader to find the jump from "mother abroad for business" to "murdered by the housekeeper" completely plausible. A child can turn anything into a mystery and put everyone under suspicion. There were moments when I felt Ruth was a total villain and others where I saw an adult making hard choices for a family in the mother's absence.
While I know some readers will feel this story falls flat because it lacks action, many will enjoy the psychological dance between truth and perception. I'm not honestly sure what ending I expected or even wanted, but it is chilling!
Thanks to Hanover Square Press and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for my honest review. The Boy at the Keyhole is scheduled for release on September 4, 2018.
For more full reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
October 17, 2018
I enjoyed Giles' writing and the voice he gave to Samuel - the way he mimicked / repeated the words of his parents / Ruth - but I agree with other reviews... we went around in circles a lot before the final scenes and I didn't find Samuel particularly engaging or Ruth very consistent.
Given 4mths had passed since Samuel's mother had left it seemed a little strange that he was now suddenly becoming agitated.
As for the final scenes... they were a tad confusing and frustrating after such a slow build-up of potential climaxes.
Given 4mths had passed since Samuel's mother had left it seemed a little strange that he was now suddenly becoming agitated.
As for the final scenes... they were a tad confusing and frustrating after such a slow build-up of potential climaxes.
September 4, 2018
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin/Hanover Press for the advance copy of this tension filled novel of psychological suspense. I found myself riveted to each page from its beginning to the startling conclusion. I would have liked a short aftermath, but found it more compelling than other mysteries I have read lately. There is a small cast of characters in a deteriorating manor with little physical action but lots of mental stress and strain.
Samuel is a nine year old boy living in an impoverished mansion in England. He is under the care of Ruth who is assigned to look after Samuel and the home. His father has recently died. His adored mother has left for America to find financing to settle the late father’s debts on the estate and business. She has been gone for more than four months. The upset, lonely Samuel counts each day of her absence, marking her journey on his father’s atlas. Ruth is a strict, harsh and cold caregiver.
Samuel begins to worry that his mother never left the country despite eight postcards he has received from various cities in the USA and Canada. He starts to believe that Ruth has murdered his beloved mother in order to take over the home. He even feels his life is in danger.
Ruth keeps various rooms locked, items of value have slowly gone missing and he has observed Ruth trying on one of his mother’s most beautiful dresses. Ruth insists she has no information on how to contact his mother or when she will return home. Samuel is determined to find out why his mother would leave him for such a long period of time. He searches the cellar and outbuildings for her body. As he sneaks into forbidden rooms in search of clues, Ruth becomes increasingly stressed and angry at the boy’s speculations.
Comparison with early 1950’s writers like D. du Maurier and S. Jackson I felt to be valid. The readers’ beliefs keep switching back and forth from Samuel’s fear that his mother was murdered by a cruel caretaker to wondering if this belief is a runaway fantasy of a damaged child separated from a parent for too long. A compulsive read. Recommended for those who enjoy a psychological mystery over an action packed one.
Samuel is a nine year old boy living in an impoverished mansion in England. He is under the care of Ruth who is assigned to look after Samuel and the home. His father has recently died. His adored mother has left for America to find financing to settle the late father’s debts on the estate and business. She has been gone for more than four months. The upset, lonely Samuel counts each day of her absence, marking her journey on his father’s atlas. Ruth is a strict, harsh and cold caregiver.
Samuel begins to worry that his mother never left the country despite eight postcards he has received from various cities in the USA and Canada. He starts to believe that Ruth has murdered his beloved mother in order to take over the home. He even feels his life is in danger.
Ruth keeps various rooms locked, items of value have slowly gone missing and he has observed Ruth trying on one of his mother’s most beautiful dresses. Ruth insists she has no information on how to contact his mother or when she will return home. Samuel is determined to find out why his mother would leave him for such a long period of time. He searches the cellar and outbuildings for her body. As he sneaks into forbidden rooms in search of clues, Ruth becomes increasingly stressed and angry at the boy’s speculations.
Comparison with early 1950’s writers like D. du Maurier and S. Jackson I felt to be valid. The readers’ beliefs keep switching back and forth from Samuel’s fear that his mother was murdered by a cruel caretaker to wondering if this belief is a runaway fantasy of a damaged child separated from a parent for too long. A compulsive read. Recommended for those who enjoy a psychological mystery over an action packed one.
August 31, 2018
Boy at the Keyhole is a suspenseful psychological thriller by a debut author.
In 1961, nine-year-old Samuel is at home in England with his housekeeper, Ruth. His father is dead and his mother is searching for business investors in America. Samuel is concerned because his mother has been gone four months. Her only contact are bi-monthly postcards from America. Ruth tries to cut expenses as much as possible but the home’s artwork is being sold to pay the bills. Where is Samuel’s mother and why isn’t she sending money home? Why does Samuel suspect foul play and especially that Ruth is the killer?
Boy at the Keyhole slowly builds suspense and dread about what happened to Samuel’s mother. The atmosphere is really the star here. A paranoid nine-year-old is an unexpected choice as an unreliable narrator. Are the clues he sees as facts really just his childish imagination? The penultimate twist is a true surprise. However, I hated the inconclusive finale. 3 stars but I am looking forward to the next book by this debut author.
Thanks to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for an advance copy.
In 1961, nine-year-old Samuel is at home in England with his housekeeper, Ruth. His father is dead and his mother is searching for business investors in America. Samuel is concerned because his mother has been gone four months. Her only contact are bi-monthly postcards from America. Ruth tries to cut expenses as much as possible but the home’s artwork is being sold to pay the bills. Where is Samuel’s mother and why isn’t she sending money home? Why does Samuel suspect foul play and especially that Ruth is the killer?
Boy at the Keyhole slowly builds suspense and dread about what happened to Samuel’s mother. The atmosphere is really the star here. A paranoid nine-year-old is an unexpected choice as an unreliable narrator. Are the clues he sees as facts really just his childish imagination? The penultimate twist is a true surprise. However, I hated the inconclusive finale. 3 stars but I am looking forward to the next book by this debut author.
Thanks to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for an advance copy.
September 10, 2018
A young boy's mother goes away in the night without saying a word, leaving him under the care of a stern housekeeper. But so much time passes that Samuel begins to think she didn't leave him at all, but rather something more nefarious happened—and someone is covering it up.
I love the idea of this book, but it didn't work for me. The good news is that it is a very quick, one-sitting type read that doesn't ask to be drawn out.
The comparisons to Shirley Jackson and Daphne du Maurier lean solely on the fact that this is a gothic novel in a spooky old house. There is none of Jackson's deft character work and precise observations or du Maurier's florid and overwhelmingly beautiful prose. Don't go into this book expecting an interesting, classic, or stylistic tale like those authors offer.
The story stumbles repetitively along to a conclusion that is ultimately disappointing, not to mention confusing. The whole point of the book is to put the reader in Samuel's shoes and have us wondering along with him whether his mother is dead, who is involved, or whether everything is just as the housekeeper says. But Samuel is a child and is not a quick at putting together clues as any reader will be. This takes a lot of the tension out of the plot, and as any good reader knows, the person who seems the most likely suspect usually didn't do it.
My thanks to Hanover Square Press for sending me an advance copy of this book to read and review.
I love the idea of this book, but it didn't work for me. The good news is that it is a very quick, one-sitting type read that doesn't ask to be drawn out.
The comparisons to Shirley Jackson and Daphne du Maurier lean solely on the fact that this is a gothic novel in a spooky old house. There is none of Jackson's deft character work and precise observations or du Maurier's florid and overwhelmingly beautiful prose. Don't go into this book expecting an interesting, classic, or stylistic tale like those authors offer.
The story stumbles repetitively along to a conclusion that is ultimately disappointing, not to mention confusing. The whole point of the book is to put the reader in Samuel's shoes and have us wondering along with him whether his mother is dead, who is involved, or whether everything is just as the housekeeper says. But Samuel is a child and is not a quick at putting together clues as any reader will be. This takes a lot of the tension out of the plot, and as any good reader knows, the person who seems the most likely suspect usually didn't do it.
My thanks to Hanover Square Press for sending me an advance copy of this book to read and review.
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