Keys of the Hollow

Debbie Feisst is the reference/Internet resources librarian in the
Information Services Division of the Edmonton Public Library.

Keys of the Hollow is the sequel to Josefchak’s successful first
novel, Angel on Her Knees.

Frank and Thea Nickles, a young, career-oriented Toronto couple who
recently inherited an Victorian-style house from Thea’s Aunt Grace,
have made a new life for themselves in the sleepy small town of Fenelon
Falls, in Ontario’s Haliburton Highlands. Thea keeps busy running an
antique shop as well as caring for their three-year-old daughter, Sarah,
while Frank works as a general contractor. During the ongoing
renovations of their own home, Thea finds a set of three small gold keys
that she wears on a necklace as a reminder of the many mysteries that
the house still holds. Meanwhile, Frank finds some information in a
locked box that could change his family’s life forever.

The text is peppered with clues as the mystery of the keys, and the
ending is not truly a surprise. The story is nicely wrapped up, but the
suspense, readability, and plot development that made the first novel so
successful are missing from this sequel. Several important characters
from the first novel make an appearance, but their characters are not as
fully explored.

This gentle novel will be enjoyed anyone interested in an old-fashioned
mystery. It would be helpful to read the first book to get a feel for
the characters’ sensibilities and geographic setting, both of which
are crucial to an understanding of the story.