It’s 1901 and Queen Victoria has shoved off this moral coil. With her death follows a resurgence of mediums, psychics, and those who wish to explore the unknown. Sam Montcrieff is young, strange, and mourning his love who died. Helena Walton-Cisneros hides her detective abilities behind he mantle of a gifted psychic; her psychology skills allow her to read past carefully created facades. For a two decades, the mystery of Lady Matthews missing stepdaughters has haunted local gossip. The question remains; was it fae or human who took the girls and how does Mr. Moncrieff tie in?
For readers who love the Victorian era, or are looking for a story that feels like a weird Downtown Abbey side universe, The Golden Key is a quick read and has just enough weirdness to draw the reader from the start to the very last page. Helena Walton-Cisneros is relatable, especially for a modern reader. There’s enough seance discussion and references to the Order of the Golden Dawn to draw in those interested in the occult. Marian Womack’s book is fun, and it’s a delight to skip through the twist and turns of a story that feels part Wilkie Collins and part Sherlock Holmes.
The Golden Key is now available from Titan Books, and it doesn’t hurt that it has a shiny golden cover.
