# The Key by Kathryn Hughes (Paperback)

**A hidden note. A lost love. A second chance...**

**'A wonderful, enthralling story; one that I didn't want to end' Lesley Pearse on _The Key_**

**'A heartbreakingly powerful read'** **_The Sun_ on _The Key_**

**From the #1 bestselling author of _The Letter,_ Kathryn Hughes, comes _The Key,_ an unforgettable story of a heartbreaking secret that will stay with you for ever.**

**1956**  
It's Ellen Crosby's first day as a student nurse at Ambergate Hospital. When she meets a young woman admitted by her father, little does Ellen know that a choice she will make is to change both their lives for ever...

**2006**  
Sarah is drawn to the now abandoned Ambergate. Whilst exploring the old corridors she discovers a suitcase belonging to a female patient who entered Ambergate fifty years earlier. The shocking contents, untouched for half a century, will lead Sarah to unravel a forgotten story of tragedy and lost love, and the chance to make an old wrong right . . .

**'Oh wow! This story broke my heart then filled it with joy then broke it all over again! I adored _The Letter_ and _The Secret_ but this I have to say was my favourite. Heartfelt and poignant an absolute joy' A reader on _The Key_**

**It's time to discover what a million readers already know. No one grips your heart like Kathryn Hughes . . .**

'You will find it hard to put down. **I cried buckets** of tears reading it'

'A **beautifully told**, tragic tale . . . **restoring your faith in the kindness of strangers** and the strength of the human spirit'

'From start to finish, a lovely, sometimes **heartbreaking** read'

'A **sheer joy** to read . . . **Wonderfully romantic** with beautiful characters'

'I have finished this book with **tears in my eyes but a smile on my face**'

'I **couldn't put it down**. So beautifully written. I feel like I'm a **better person for reading** it'

'I cried with this book - it **tugged at the heart** all the way through'

'This must be **one of the best books I have ever read**'

'You will be **thinking of this book** long after you've finished it'

## Details

- **Price:** 9.99 GBP
- **Vendor:** Headline
- **Tags:** All Books, Romance

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 9.99 GBP | In stock |

## Images

- The Key by Kathryn Hughes book cover

---

> Source: [Somiibooks](https://somiibooks.com/products/the-key-kathryn-hughes-9781472248848)
> Updated: 2026-09-22