The Shadow Key cover art

The Shadow Key

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Shadow Key

By: Susan Stokes-Chapman
Narrated by: Richard Harrington
Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Meirionydd, 1783. Henry Talbot has been dismissed from his post at a prestigious London hospital. The only job he can find is as a physician in the backwaters of Wales where he can't speak the language, belief in myth and magic is rife, and the villagers treat him with bewildering suspicion. When Henry discovers his predecessor died under mysterious circumstances, he is determined to find answers.

Linette Tresilian, the unconventional mistress of Plas Helyg, lives a lonely life. Her father is long dead, her mother haunted by demons which keep her locked away in her room, and her cousin treats her with cool disdain - she has had no choice but to become fiercely self-reliant.

Linette has always suspected something is not quite right in the village, but it is only through Henry's investigations that the truth about those closest to her will come to light...a truth that will bind hers and Henry's destinies together in ways neither thought possible.

©2024 Susan Stokes-Chapman (P)2024 Penguin Audio Fantasy Gothic Historical Horror Mystery Supernatural Thriller & Suspense Village

Listeners also enjoyed...

 The Briar Book of the Dead cover art
The Crimson Road cover art
The Ravenswood Witch cover art
The House of the Witch cover art
The Witchfinder’s Assistant cover art
The Ward Witch cover art
That Bonesetter Woman cover art
The Story Collector cover art
People of Abandoned Character cover art
The Lost Ones cover art
The Fates cover art
The Witch's Tree cover art
The Raven Spell cover art
The Smallest Man cover art

Critic reviews

'A gripping narrative in which secrets from the past are slowly and ingeniously revealed' Sunday Times, Historical Fiction Book of the Month

'An immersive, evocative story full of romance and intrigue' Red

'Romantic, suspenseful and beautifully written...a glorious treat' Daily Mail
All stars
Most relevant  
The narrators voice and tone were beautiful in this story set in Wales. A great mystery. I loved this.

Great story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I really enjoyed this book - the story was different to anything I’ve read or heard before, the characters were interesting, and the story pulled me in from the beginning.
The narrator, Richard Harrington, was absolutely brilliant. He has a pleasant voice, his Welsh accent is perfect for this story, and he has made me want to check whether he’s narrated anything else.

Fantastic narration of a good story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The story had good pace and content, the characters were believable and well realised and the backdrop of the Welsh landscape and language added another layer of interest. I found myself turning back to listen to this story at every opportunity

Beautifully read, the Welsh accent made the prose sound like poetry

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Decent author but dragged on with little plot. Could’ve been cut down by a hundred pages. One twist was very obvious. Fantastic narration.

No plot and an obvious twist

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This was a good listening book. I enjoyed it a bit slow at times though like the Ending.

Good listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Absolutely gripping gothic, beautifully read and written. If you like this genre, or even if you don't, I would highly recommend as it is a great story.

Gripping Gothic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I found this book thoroughly enjoyable. The narrator was first class & so well matched to the story & atmosphere. The plot is very cleverly laid & characters brought to life by their descriptions. It’s a book you don’t want to get to the end of as it will be hard to match!

Intriguing story with excellent narrator

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Having sat through more than my share of terrible accents in my audiobook time I was hoping they'd have picked a Welsh narrator - and he's brilliant. He really brought the text to life and honestly I could listen to him read IKEA instructions, such a beautiful voice. Really enjoyed the book, it did get a bit predictable towards the end but all in all a really fabulous read. Highly recommend!

Fantastic narrator!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Plenty of atmosphere. Great sense of menace especially early on. Well read throughout. Very enjoyable.

Great gothic novel

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A good story with lyrical prose and some likeable characters, enhanced by the beautiful voice of the narrator, I didn’t want it to end .

Loved this book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews