The Skeleton Key by Bernard Capes

The Skeleton Key, written by Bernard Capes, is a novel that revolves around the themes of mystery, suspense, and the supernatural. The story follows a young man named John who inherits a mysterious skeleton key from his recently deceased great-uncle. The key unlocks a series of hidden rooms in an old mansion, each containing clues to a dark family secret. As John delves deeper into the mystery, he discovers that the key may hold the power to unlock not only physical doors but also the secrets of his own past and the fate of those around him. The novel is known for its intricate plotting, atmospheric setting, and unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

By Bernard Capes · First published 1891 · Genre: Mystery, Horror, Gothic Fiction · 21 chapters · 78,509 words

First lines

(_From the late Mr. Bickerdike's "Apologia"_[1])

What this Textopian page supports

The Skeleton Key is listed on Textopian as a novel by Bernard Capes, dated 1891 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Bernard Capes
• Date: 1891 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Mystery, Horror, Gothic Fiction, Supernatural
• Length: 78,509 words
• Structure: 21 chapters, 1,617 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Skeleton Key by Bernard Capes
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Skeleton Key?
• How does this novel by Bernard Capes fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Vanishing House by Bernard Capes
• The Mill Mystery by Anna Katharine Green
• The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne
• The Circular Clew by Ambrose Bierce
• The Step On The Stair by Anna Katharine Green
• A Detective Story by Anna Katharine Green

Genres

• Mystery — The book revolves around a puzzling supernatural figure, and the protagonist's attempts to solve the associated mysteries.
• Horror — The book contains key elements of the horror genre, such as a haunted mansion and supernatural occurrences with dreadful consequences.
• Gothic Fiction — The book's setting (an eerie, isolated mansion) and themes of horror and romance align with common characteristics of Gothic Fiction.
• Supernatural — The uncanny and inexplicable phenomena revolving around the skeleton key navigate the readers into the realm of supernatural.

Tags

mystery · thriller · horror · ghost story · supernatural · psychological · suspense · whodunit · detective · crime · murder · investigation

Contents

• MY FIRST MEETING WITH THE BARON
• MY SECOND MEETING WITH THE BARON
• WILDSHOTT
• I AM INTERESTED IN THE BARON
• THE BARON CONTINUES TO INTEREST ME
• "THAT THUNDERS IN THE INDEX"
• THE BARON VISITS THE SCENE OF THE CRIME
• AN ENTR'ACTE
• THE INQUEST
• AFTERWARDS
• THE BARON DRIVES
• THE BARON WALKS
• ACCUMULATING EVIDENCE
• THE EXPLOSION
• THE FACE ON THE WALL
• THE BARON FINDS A CHAMPION
• AND AUDREY
• THE BARON RETURNS
• THE DARK HORSE
• THE BARON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE
• A LAST WORD

More by Bernard Capes

• The Will and the Way (1909)
• The Moon Stricken (1892)
• Jack and Jill (1887)
• The Vanishing House (1905)
• Dark Dignum (1908)
• William Tyrwhitt's "Copy" (1893)
• A Lazy Romance (1894)
• Black Venn (1924)
• All works by Bernard Capes