'The Bone Key: The Necromantic Mysteries of Kyle Murchison Booth' by Sarah Monette is a collection of interconnected short stories following Kyle Murchison Booth, a socially awkward museum archivist with a mysterious past and an affinity for the supernatural. Through a series of eerie encounters with ghosts, ghouls, and otherworldly beings, Booth's character evolves from a passive observer to an active participant in the haunting mysteries that surround him. The writing style is described as elegantly crafted, with deft characterization and a subtle, psychological approach to horror reminiscent of classic ghost stories.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, particularly the protagonist, who is portrayed as a complex and relatable introvert dealing with dark themes.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is elegant and atmospheric, leveraging detailed language and character focus to evoke a sense of quiet horror.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative features a series of interconnected tales centered on an awkward archivist who grapples with the supernatural in his daily life.

Setting:

The setting is atmospheric and loosely historical, focusing primarily on locations that enhance the eerie and supernatural elements.

Pacing:

Pacing is uneven, offering moments of slow tension building while varying in intensity across the collection.

My head jerked up; Augustus Blaine was leaning against my office door, as if his body were too heavy for him to support on his own any longer. I recognized him at once, although I had not seen him for...

Notes:

The Bone Key is a collection of interconnected short stories.

The main character, Kyle Murchison Booth, is a shy, awkward museum archivist.

The stories explore themes of horror, particularly through the lens of classic Victorian ghost stories.

Monette aims to add character depth to traditional horror, especially missing elements in Lovecraft and James.

Booth's character is autobiographical for Monette, reflecting her own experiences.

The stories blend psychological horror with supernatural elements without relying on gore.

Booth is portrayed as a sympathetic and relatable character who struggles with social situations.

The book is noted for its elegant writing and rich character development despite being short stories.

Monette uses an older, nuanced style of horror that builds tension rather than shocks the reader.

The collection includes themes of sexuality and explores queer identities, adding depth to the stories.

Readers have found it to be atmospheric and creepy, appreciating the character over sheer horror effects.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The stories may feature themes of death, the supernatural, and mental health struggles, which could be triggering for some readers.

From The Publisher:

Kyle Murchison Booth is the unlikeliest of characters to gain a cult following, yet he has. Eccentric, socially awkward Booth is an introverted museum archivist, descended from a most unusual family, who frequently finds himself in the midst of the most unsettling supernatural experiences and strange necromantic mysteries. A gentleman and a scholar, the unwilling hero persevered through The Bone Key, a series of interconnected short stories, to win readers' hearts (and possibly their souls).

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The Bone Key: The Necromantic Mysteries of Kyle Murchison Booth

Sarah Monette