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The Seven Keys
The spooky, action-packed and much-anticipated sequel to the award-winning The Turnkey. Flossie Birdwhistle is the Turnkey at London's Highgate Cemetery. Seven years have passed since Flossie saved her country from a ghostly invasion during World War II. Since then, things have been quiet. That is, until Flossie's nemesis, Hugo Howsham, reveals a secret the pair have been keeping - the keys of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries can be combined to make a Turnkey not only mortal, but immortal . When Hugo Howsham begins stealing keys, the other Turnkeys turn against Flossie, trusting her no longer. With family, friends and her cemetery in danger, can Flossie find the inner strength to protect everything she has ever cared about?
- GenresChildrens
228 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2021
2 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Allison Rushby
44 books291 followersAllison Rushby adores cities with long, winding histories; wild, overgrown cemeteries; redbrick Victorian museums; foxes; tea; and ivy. She lives in Queensland, Australia.
http://www.allisonrushby.com.
http://www.allisonrushby.com.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 28, 2019
Holy toleto BATMAN! THIS WAS AMAZING
No really I love this. I am almost at the stage of awe where I would love to meet Rusby and bow down at her feet.
How does she do this? The creepy element mixed with adventure and your heart hammers in your rib cage?!?! This is ultimate writing goals. I love it. I BOW DOWN TO YOU MIDDLE GRADE GODDESS OF BOOKS!
I might be a little obsessed, but within good reason. The Seven Keys is the sequel to The Turnkey and you revisit your favourite characters living out their dream dead lives in a cemetery with Flossie as the key keeper. All seems when and good until an old acquaintance of Flossie’s returns with the threat to change everything.
Okay. There is honestly nothing negative I could write about this book. The plot was brilliant. The writing stabs me in the heart with amazement. The characters are gorgeous. Overall the whole book was just breathtaking and I absolute love Rushby’s work and you need to read it!!!!
No really I love this. I am almost at the stage of awe where I would love to meet Rusby and bow down at her feet.
How does she do this? The creepy element mixed with adventure and your heart hammers in your rib cage?!?! This is ultimate writing goals. I love it. I BOW DOWN TO YOU MIDDLE GRADE GODDESS OF BOOKS!
I might be a little obsessed, but within good reason. The Seven Keys is the sequel to The Turnkey and you revisit your favourite characters living out their dream dead lives in a cemetery with Flossie as the key keeper. All seems when and good until an old acquaintance of Flossie’s returns with the threat to change everything.
Okay. There is honestly nothing negative I could write about this book. The plot was brilliant. The writing stabs me in the heart with amazement. The characters are gorgeous. Overall the whole book was just breathtaking and I absolute love Rushby’s work and you need to read it!!!!
August 31, 2020
I am hoping this is just number two in a series. One of my students gave this to me to read. Great story. Rollicking plot and interesting characters. A terrific middle primary novel.
March 10, 2020
I thought it was a wonderful book, full of mystery, excitement, friendship and intrigue. It was very hard to put down and every night I went to bed wishing I could have read for longer. You should totally READ THIS THIS BOOK!!!!!!!
January 21, 2020
4.5 stars
August 11, 2019
An entertaining sequel to one of my favourite middle grade reads!
Flossie is once again tasked with the impossible – save the interred of the Seven Cemeteries from the dastardly and dangerous ambitions of Hugo Howsham, Turnkey of Kensal Green! As she tries to keep one step ahead of this difficult man, Flossie is thrown into many different scenarios that leave her floundering and wondering if she is really the best choice for this job.
Rushby’s writing style is descriptive and fast-paced. There is an urgency to the writing that keeps you turning the pages and wanting more from Flossie and her friends!
Thank you @walkerbooksaus for gifting me a copy to review!
Flossie is once again tasked with the impossible – save the interred of the Seven Cemeteries from the dastardly and dangerous ambitions of Hugo Howsham, Turnkey of Kensal Green! As she tries to keep one step ahead of this difficult man, Flossie is thrown into many different scenarios that leave her floundering and wondering if she is really the best choice for this job.
Rushby’s writing style is descriptive and fast-paced. There is an urgency to the writing that keeps you turning the pages and wanting more from Flossie and her friends!
Thank you @walkerbooksaus for gifting me a copy to review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2023
Ok, say what you will about kids' books but let me just stop you right there. Kids' chapter books have come a long, long way from the stuff my - now fifteen-year-old - niece used to read. I don't mean to throw shade on those Rainbow Fairies, they're cute books and they have their place. They started my niece and probably millions of other girls on their reading journeys. I might be completely wrong in thinking they are even for similar age groups. Maybe this is closer to middle grade.
In any case, WOW WOW WOW!!
The Seven Keys by Allison Rushby is officially my first 5-STAR read of 2023, and the first in a long time. Let me go back and start at the beginning though, since I never reviewed the first book in this 'duology'.
I enjoyed The Turnkey, but it was a slow starter. A LOT heavier on the terrible and tragic history this generation thankfully did not have to live through. I loved it, but it only got 4-stars because of the pace. It took me a long time to get into, then I put it down for a few years and finally went back to it in January. It was just a bit slow for me.
The Seven Keys, however, picked up the pace. From the first page, I raced through, not even stopping to put post-its on the bits I loved the most. It brought back all the characters we loved most from the first book. Flossie, of course, our gorgeous little MC. Ada got a bit more 'screentime' and despite her being snide and kind of mean the whole book, we still love her. Violet was back (kind of)! Even grumpy old Mrs. Gough got a cameo! Characters we never really liked but grew to trust were back. Hugo! The Stone angel advisor! And it gave us new characters to absolutely love - Daisy! Ruby! Emmeline and Clara! The other Turnkeys! Flossie's mother and sarcastic but supportive aunt!
The Story - Hugo's being a bit - or a lot - naughty and stealing the other Turnkeys' keys, the things that make them the Turnkey of their respective cemeteries. And it's up to Flossie to stop him since Ada and the other Turnkeys just don't trust her after she kept the secret about holding more than one key. Along the way, Flossie reunites with her maid from life, Daisy, her older sister, and even her living mother's little doggo.
The writing, the pace, the plot. All of these add up to an incredible story that a slow reader like me actually finished in under three days. I highly recommend this gorgeous little series to anyone looking to read something a bit lighter in between heavier books. Allison manages to throw in some true historical facts without bogging the story down.
In any case, WOW WOW WOW!!
The Seven Keys by Allison Rushby is officially my first 5-STAR read of 2023, and the first in a long time. Let me go back and start at the beginning though, since I never reviewed the first book in this 'duology'.
I enjoyed The Turnkey, but it was a slow starter. A LOT heavier on the terrible and tragic history this generation thankfully did not have to live through. I loved it, but it only got 4-stars because of the pace. It took me a long time to get into, then I put it down for a few years and finally went back to it in January. It was just a bit slow for me.
The Seven Keys, however, picked up the pace. From the first page, I raced through, not even stopping to put post-its on the bits I loved the most. It brought back all the characters we loved most from the first book. Flossie, of course, our gorgeous little MC. Ada got a bit more 'screentime' and despite her being snide and kind of mean the whole book, we still love her. Violet was back (kind of)! Even grumpy old Mrs. Gough got a cameo! Characters we never really liked but grew to trust were back. Hugo! The Stone angel advisor! And it gave us new characters to absolutely love - Daisy! Ruby! Emmeline and Clara! The other Turnkeys! Flossie's mother and sarcastic but supportive aunt!
The Story - Hugo's being a bit - or a lot - naughty and stealing the other Turnkeys' keys, the things that make them the Turnkey of their respective cemeteries. And it's up to Flossie to stop him since Ada and the other Turnkeys just don't trust her after she kept the secret about holding more than one key. Along the way, Flossie reunites with her maid from life, Daisy, her older sister, and even her living mother's little doggo.
The writing, the pace, the plot. All of these add up to an incredible story that a slow reader like me actually finished in under three days. I highly recommend this gorgeous little series to anyone looking to read something a bit lighter in between heavier books. Allison manages to throw in some true historical facts without bogging the story down.
July 17, 2022
I loved this book! I was so happy to hear more about Flossy. This book is packed with action and moments that have you on the edge of your seat. It is set just after the second world war when Britain is still recovering, but little do the people still in the living world know there is an even bigger threat just around the corner. Can Flossy save them from this threat? I recommend this book, I loved it and I am sure you will too.
November 14, 2019
This actually seems like an interesting sequel. I would read it some time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2023
I like Flossie’s determination but this turnkey thing is more like keeping the the dead prisoners plus there are more cemeteries in the world then seven
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews