Unlocking

by Amy LeBlanc

In Snowton, Alberta, secrets flourish like the crocuses in spring. When Louise Till lets herself into a neighbor’s home using a surreptitiously copied key, she discovers more than she ever wanted to know about her small town and herself.

Louise Till, mother of two, has inherited her father’s hardware store after her parents’ unexpected deaths. She begins to cut copies of her customers’ keys for herself, each one a talisman against grief and the terrible guilt she feels at not having realized that her parents were desperately unhappy.

Louise could use the keys, but she doesn’t. Not until her life is overturned, again, when her marriage falls apart. Lou gives in to temptation, letting herself into Euphemia Rosenbaum’s home. What follows is a tale of blackmail, break-ins, an unsolved mystery, and more secrets than Lou ever wanted to know.

Lou must confront not only the lives of her neighbors, but the unspoken truths of her family and the doors within herself for which there are no keys. Told over the course of one long winter, Unlocking is a poignant and penetrating exploration of grief, community, family, and the secrets we keep, even from ourselves.

Genres: Novella, Canada

124 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2021

About the author

Amy LeBlanc is a PhD candidate in English and creative writing at the University of Calgary. Amy's debut poetry collection, I know something you don’t know, was published with Gordon Hill Press in March 2020 and was long listed for the ReLit Award and selected as a finalist for the Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry. Her novella, Unlocking, was published by the University of Calgary Press in June 2021 and was a finalist for the Trade Fiction Book of the Year through the Book Publishers Association of Alberta. Amy’s first short story collection Homebodies was published in spring 2023 with Great Plains Publications in their Enfield & Wizenty imprint, and her second full-length poetry collection, I used to live here, is forthcoming with Gordon Hill Press in spring 2025. Amy’s work has appeared or is forthcoming in Room, Arc, Canadian Literature, and the Literary Review of Canada among others. She is the author of three chapbooks of poetry—most recently, Undead Juliet at the Museum, which was published with ZED Press in August 2021. Amy is a recipient of the 2020 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award and a CGS-D Award for her doctoral research into fictional representations of chronic illness and gothic spaces. She is a 2022 Killam Laureate.

Reviews

[Amy LeBlanc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this book— five stars for me!

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting novella that can be read in one sitting. Though I think this would have been excellent as a much longer story. The characters were so quirky, it would have been great to get to know them even better.

Set in a small town in Alberta, Lou, a recently separated mother of two has inherited the family hardware store after her parents unexpected deaths. Lou has found diversion in making copies of her customers keys unbeknownst to them. Keys she has no intention of using. That is, until she's blackmailed ...

Side note, I love Hobnobs! Hehehehe!!

Thanks to ZG Stories for my gifted copy!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

How far would you go to keep a secret? This is the question that LeBlanc explores in this amazing novella. The story follows Lou at a point when her life has been turned upside down, little does she know that someone will discover her secret and force her to look into the other residents of Snowton’s secrets. Accurately describing an Albertan winter and filled with facts about keys and poisonous plants, this is a winner. Written in a way that makes you care as well as smile, this novella is a gem that must be read. Filled with real and eccentric characters, and believable secrets they each keep, causes you to devour every page for more. Such a fantastic read, I highly recommend!

For the full review, check out my blog (link in bio).

[Melody Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful mystery novella with themes of grief, secrets and belonging. The humorous and immersive tone will grip you from beginning to end.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Unlocking” is a fantastic read! I’ve only recently gotten into mystery books and none of them have had the homey and oddly safe feel as this one did. Even while a (potential) murder is being investigated, blackmail is ever present, and tensions are high, there was a very cozy small town feel that made me miss living in a small town. You never true it know your neighbours, or their deepest darkest secrets, and “Unlocking” explored that wonderfully. I cannot wait to see what Amy LeBlanc produces next!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written

[Mira George-Greely · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her debut novella, LeBlanc queries her readers just as much as her characters: how far would you go to keep a secret? Set in small town Alberta, this short and sweet murder mystery does a great job at feeling unsettling and safe at the same time. The small-town, trusting yet gossip-y feel shines through in a nuanced, masterfully crafted manner that adds a twinge of unease to the feelings this novel invokes—exactly how well do you know your neighbours, family, and friends after all, and could they be harbouring dangerous secrets from (and even about) you?
LeBlanc utilizes deep, fleshed out characters to explore themes of loss, grief, uncertainty, and even guilt while interspersing the heavier tones of the novel with humour, particularly in the character of Euphemia. This functions to simultaneously put the reader at ease in stressful scenes but also makes the reader question how trustworthy the characters—and, perhaps, the people around us in real life—actually are. Following Lou’s story, LeBlanc explores the process of grief and healing and acknowledges the moments of discomfort within it with a character that feels exceptionally real and authentic.
Part of what makes “Unlocking” such a captivating read is Leblanc’s prose work. She weaves motifs of nature and the natural into her story, meshing perfectly with the wintery Snowton setting, and creating a slightly spooky yet simultaneously cozy feeling rapt with Gothic-esque charm. In this way, she exposes the ordinary and the unordinary sides in us all while showing us the path down the road to belonging, healing, and coming into ones’ self.
If you’re looking for a sweet read you can do in a day (if you want) chalk-full of secrets, eccentricity, and characters you’ll care about wrapped up in a beautifully Gothic prose piece that will speak to all the nooks and crannies in your heart, both dark and light alike—look no further!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlocking had me charmed by the writing style by the first page.
Thank you to ZG Stories for my gifted copy for review!
Lou Till has experienced loss - of her marriage, and the tragic and unexplained deaths of her parents.
She takes over running the family hardware store in the fictional small town of Snowton, Alberta, and she has a secret. When she cuts keys for customers, she cuts extras for herself and keeps them.
Even Lou isn't sure why, or what she plans to do with them. Until the day she uses a key to enter a neighbour's house to find her collapsed, then gets pulled into the investigation of a mysterious previous death.
Unlocking is quirky, emotionally layered and unexpected, with writing from author Amy LeBlanc that draws you right in. My only complaint is I wish we could spend more time in Snowton than this novella offers.
I certainly look forward to what we will see next from this talented author - recommended!
Released on June 15.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlocking is a novella about Louise (Lou)Till, a woman who has inherited a hardware store from her father after a tragic accident. Lou enjoys copying keys in her store and keeps copies for herself unbeknownst to others. When Lou decides to use one of the keys to enter a neighbour’s home to retrieve an unreturned item it doesn’t go as planned. Soon Lou finds herself the victim of blackmail. What Lou doesn’t feel, is the anxiety one would expect when using a key that isn’t yours.

Unlocking takes place in a small town just outside of Calgary, Alberta. Lou is separated from her husband Edward and has twin teens.

This story is primarily plot driven. I liked the mystery within the story but felt like the execution left some to be desired. I would have enjoyed this more if it had been about learning your neighbours secrets by entering their homes and how their public lives differ rather than having an older woman who already knows the secrets.

The role of grief in the story worked for me and the always wondering if what you believe to be true is and seeking out the truth. The character of Euphemia made me chuckle often.

Thanks to @zgstories for my ARC in exchange for my honest reviews. Unlocking is out now.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I have learned that the part of the key that enters the lock is called the blade."
.
Thoughts~
Unlocking is a lovely little mystery what with small town vibes, secrets, and blackmail. I was pulled into all of it right from the beginning!

Told over a winter in Alberta, Lou has suddenly lost her parents and inherited her fathers hardware store. She begins secretly cutting keys to the homes of her customer's, never intending to use them. Then her marriage falls apart and her mounting grief and temptation overcome her. She lets herself into a neighbor's home to retrieve something but finds herself mixed up in more than she was looking for.

I was so immersed in this novella that I read it in one sitting! I so wished this had been longer, really my only complaint. Though mostly plot driven, Leblanc did such an amazing job with these characters, especially Euphemia, but they were all so fleshed out. And the cozy, wintery small town made the perfect setting for an unsolved mystery and the exploration of the notion that everyone knows everything about their neighbours. The symbolism of keys has been something I
have always enjoyed, and I particularly loved it in this story. Written with humor and engrossing prose Leblanc has me excited for whatever she writes next.

Thank you to @zgstories for sending this one my way opinions are my own. For more of my book content check out https://www.instagram.com/bookalong

[Sarah S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novella about a woman who inherits her parent's hardware store and her secret obsession with collecting the keys to neighbour's houses. Everyone has secrets and there's a murder to be solved. Her normally anxiety ridden demeanor steadies as she slips the first key in to someone else's lock and steps inside.

This story gripped me from the get-go with the relatable feeling of guilty pleasures. Pacing was excellent and kept me engaged. While the overall story was well told, I'm always on the lookout for more diverse characters and unexpected endings, especially in novella form. Although the ending was strong, I wanted it to be unexpected and not so tidy. Overall, I loved this novella and would recommend it to anyone.

TW for suicide, break and enter, parent death, hospitals - all mild.

*I received this advanced review copy from ZG Stories in exchange for an honest review.*

[Robin van Eck · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is so much to love about this book. The characters are quirky and interesting, the small town life was weaved in flawlessly. The writing is great. There was so much introspection at the beginning from Lou and I really liked her.

I do agree with some of the other reviews that this would have been better as a longer work of fiction. The payoff wasn’t really there for me and I found that the story was unresolved and wrapped up too quickly. I wanted more about the town secrets, I wanted more about how the main character, Lou, overcame her grief. I never really felt that anything was truly at stake thereby some of the tension was lost.

All in all, an enjoyable read.

[Julie Platten · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Unlocking” was such a fantastic read! Amy manages to create such a warm, familiar and wholly unexpected world in these just over 100 pages. Her characters are so rich and well developed, I want more of this cozy town! Bonus, I now know what the “shoulders” of a key are and that I should definitely try a Hobnob as, after having to google what they are, they sound delicious. Anyone looking for a sweet, surprising and simply enjoyable reading experience should pick this one up!

[Dustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My ONLY complaint is that this is a novella and not a multi-hundred page story. The characters and town are well-fleshed out and I found the story so interesting- I could have kept reading, and wanted to. Like many great stories, there was a sense of sadness as the final pages came to a close, but so grateful for the journey into Lou’s life and the people of Snowton. Here’s to hoping for more stories from the town!!

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooh really enjoyed this book - set in a small town, following her parents death and her separation from her husband, Lou finds herself in a situation where she is searching for something by breaking in to others houses (she owns the hardware store and has been collecting copies of keys). It had a little suspense, a little who dunnit, and a little glimpse in to everyone's secrets. Quick read, but had lots of detail and the length fit!

[Destiny R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning! I couldn’t put this book down until I finished it, keen to hold onto the cozy nostalgia of winter in small town Alberta, enraptured by the suspense of the plot, and fascinated by the characters who are all both caricatures of themselves, and yet extremely real. Lou and Euphemia will be on mind for a long time.

[Leanne Kaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this gentle, mysterious little book in one sitting on a chilly grey morning with a cup of coffee, and was thoroughy engrossed. Amy Leblanc uses nature imagery and recurring motifs to weave themes of grief and belonging into a small-town mystery. I loved the humourous Canadiana references, and I could read a whole novel about Euphemia.

[Leah VanDyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 'Unlocking', LeBlanc weaves together the everyday and the odd: presenting an eclectic yet heartwarming tale of love, grief, compulsion, and finding self. A quick and deeply enjoyable read, once you start you won't be able to put it down!


Classification: Canadian fiction, general fiction.

[Ebb]

I liked the structure of this. And the setting. It captures something about Alberta - which in an industry full up with eastern Canada books, is refreshing. I can see that care was taken putting this together.

[Marlies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once the story got going, I couldn't put the book down.

[Jennifer Eagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply loved the premise of this quirky, very readable book. Highly recommend to put on your must read list. A fantastic Albertan and Canadian read, too.

[Christine Sung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the rhythmic prose that LeBlanc writes this novella with and the twist and turns kept me on edge the whole time. Highly recommend!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy created a world in small town Alberta that instantly hooked me. I feel like I know her characters. This is a great read and I am so excited to read more.

[Dessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is a fun frickin romp — one part lonely woman figuring out self and life, one part wicked smart old woman with a gleam in her eye, a little bit of good-natured blackmail to get them on the same team, and the result is one hundred per cent a mystery and mystery-solving team I could imagine happening in my tiny home town.