Skeleton Key

Gregor Demarkian #16

by Jane Haddam

When writer and ex-deb Bennis Hannaford discovers the body of super-heiress Kayla Anson in the family garage, her visit to Litchfield County, Connecticut, is reluctantly extended. Bennis's hostess, Margaret Anson, presents an icy version of the grieving mother, cut out her late husband's will--until now. And when Gregor Demarkian, ex-FBI man and Bennis's lover, arrives from Philadelphia to consult with local police, a media blitz storms in as more suspects crawl out of the woods.

Kayla may have been too blindingly rich for her wild, private school chum; her older, socially ambitious entrepreneur boyfriend; and a divorced, downsized bookeeper selling her furniture to survive. As Gregor maps out distances, location, and motives, Halloween descends on the dark, silent hills. From a skeleton sprawled on the cemetery caretakers' porch to more deadly mischief and mayhem, the countryside is brimming with secrets. And a killer is about to strike again...

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Halloween, Mystery Thriller, Cozy, Crime

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Aka Orania Papazoglou

Jane Haddam (b. 1951) is an American author of mysteries. Born Orania Papazoglou, she worked as a college professor and magazine editor before publishing her Edgar Award–nominated first novel, Sweet, Savage Death, in 1984. This mystery introduced Patience McKenna, a sleuthing scribe who would go on to appear in four more books, including Wicked, Loving Murder (1985) and Rich, Radiant Slaughter (1988).

Not a Creature Was Stirring (1990) introduced Haddam’s best-known character, former FBI agent Gregor Demarkian. The series spans more than twenty novels, many of them holiday-themed, including Murder Superior (1993), Fountain of Death (1995), and Wanting Sheila Dead (2005). Haddam’s most recent novels are Blood in the Water (2012) and Hearts of Sand (2013). Wife of William L DeAndrea.

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skeleton Key (Gregor Demarkian, #16) by Jane Haddam.

I've been enjoying this Demarkian series for quite a while now and decided to go back to the earlier books I had missed. J.H. usually starts her books with an in depth history of each character and their background regarding relationships as they apply to the story. This book took a different approach in that the beginning included the first murder. The fun begins!
Kayla Anson was the only surviving heir to a multibillion venture. She's on her way home driving through the short cuts early in the morning. So who was driving that jeep following her? And why was it coming so close to her BMW? It refused to pass by driving around her although she did signal for it to do so, but rather proceeded to bump heavily into the back of her car. That's when she stops and the driver steps out of the jeep to confront her or so she thought. But his intent was far more devious that a chat. His intent was murder!
Gregor Demarkian and Bennis Hannaford are in a relationship with a bright future. A future that has only one obstacle standing in their way. This story deals head long with that obstacle and I was glad the author brought it to light with her characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the plot, the characters and most of all this Gregor Demarkian mystery. Highly recommended.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great mystery!!

[Kyrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weird - second time I've read this , and I see I gave it 4 stars, but didn't write anything.

Anyhow, the back story going on with Bennis and Gregor, and Donna's battle to make Russ Tommy's legal father, are both more clear than the mystery of who's killing off the women in Litchfield County.

It's very complicated, and I'd still give it four stars, but wow. I was confused.

11/3/22 It really helps to know the ending. Still a good story.

10/10/23 This time I got caught up in the secondary characters. Good atmospheric autumn novel.

[Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!}]

DNF @ on page 25 because I have way too many books to read and this book isn't keeping my attention. I can't be arsed to finish this. I'm kinda disappointed :( I usually enjoy her mysteries.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating is probably closer to 3.5 than 4. I did like the personal side of this story - the relationship between Bennis and Gregor. But I'm not sure about the mystery part of it. As often the case with this series, I didn't know who it the perpetrator is until Gregor lays it all out. This one seemed very convoluted and I'm still not sure I understand how the murders occurred. And I also don't like it when the evidence isn't there to result in an arrest and conviction. Maybe in a later book we'll find he or she has been arrested.

[Morgen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a 19 year old heiress to millions is run off the road, strangled, and then parked back in her own garage in upper crust Connecticut, her body is discovered by a guest who is also the girlfriend of a now retired FBI man who helped set up their profiling unit. He agrees to help the stunned local police, only to have 2 more bodies be discovered in the same garage within the next few days. The tricky ending tells you whodunit, but he asserts they'll never have enough evidence to prove it, and we don't know more than that.

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read several books in this series, but I thought I'd go back to the earlier ones to see how the relationship between Gregor and Bennis started off. They come from such different backgrounds, I was wondering about it. This book helped solve that mystery as well as the mystery of who did the murderous crimes.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gregor is called up to Connecticut to,help,solve the murder of a young and famous rich girl. Ben is has found the body, but is having a crisis of her own. I think she was very stupid in ignoring things. Anyway, a couple of more murders happen. Is there a connection? The author sure enjoys coming up with the most unsavory and debased characters! The mystery in itself was very good.

[FM · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt kind of sorry for the victim, whom we never really get to know. She was despatched quickly at the beginning of the book. I figured out the murderer fairly quickly but as usual, it was a diverting book, with lots of side stories about characters. This one was OK.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I probably should not have started in the middle of this series. I think it is a series
where the characters in the Demarkian's Armenian neighborhood are what readers come back for rather than the mysteries.

[Mskarla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like all her books. This may not be her best one, but it’s worth reading.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best Demarkian mystery, but Skeleton Key did manage to move his personal story along!

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay mystery but I called it pretty early and there were 100 characters who were just noise.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much the same (successful) format as the others in the series with added personal problems.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its been a while since I read a Gregor Demarkian mystery and this was just like running into an old friend and having a good talk. The characters are believable, the mystery great fun. I read it through in three days — which says how good a book is considering that it is 360 some pages long. And a good start into October and Halloween!

[Tracyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second read of this book. I enjoyed it just a much this time, if not more. The book starts a few days before Halloween, and ends on Halloween or shortly after that. Many books in this series had a holiday theme.

[Sharon Campfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had never read this author, but it did have some interesting twists.

[Brooke · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was the worst book i've read, i think...

[Mary]

I always enjoy Jane Haddad books but this one left many of the characters auxiliary characters problems unresolved.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Cavanaugh Street entertainment. Perfect for a snowed in weekend.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wouldn't be my first choice, and probably wouldn't recommend it.