The Salisbury Key by Harper Fox
M/M Romantic Suspense
February 22, 2011
E-Book
Samhain

Reviewed by Mandi

Daniel Logan has found love with a much older man, a man who also happens to be his mentor and a fellow archaeologist. But Jason Ross has ghosts, and these ghosts drive him to do the unthinkable – commit suicide. After three years together, Daniel is distraught and devastated that he found Jason’s body in his car, dead from exhaust.

Before his death, Jason had been obsessed with the Salisbury Plain, a 300-square mile area that contains archaeological treasures buried  beneath the ground. The problem is that the military  set up in the late 1800’s on this ground and much of it is now closed to the public for the immense amount of hidden mines and bombs that are laying underground. As Jason and Daniel discovered one day, if you try to trespass, the army is waiting to handcuff you and take you back to the main road.

But with Jason’s death, leaves some mystery and clues. In particular a map of the area. Daniel has no idea and at first, no motivation to pursue this. But that will change when Lieutenant Rayne comes into his life. They first met briefly on that day when Jason and Daniel trespassed into a military area. Coincidentally, right around the time Jason passes away, the military decides to demilitarize an area of the plain in which Jason wanted access too. That doesn’t mean it is safe though. A Colonel assigns Rayne to go with Daniel, to help clear the mines and make sure it is safe for a civilian to walk through. What they start to discover, is more dangerous than any of them could have guessed.

The Salisbury Key surprised me in many ways. First of all, after reading the blurb, you know that Jason commits suicide. No surprise there – but I was surprised by how much time we spend with Jason and Daniel together. Almost 20% of this book is with Jason still alive. Which makes it that much more heartbreaking when he commits suicide. Although I do think as the reader, I would have still understood their love and devotion to each other had Jason made less of an appearance.

Quite quickly, Rayne enters the story, first as a co-worker, but very soon as a friend and lover. Eleven days after Jason dies, and on the day of his funeral, Rayne and Daniel exchange oral sex. Now I know what you are thinking – wait, what? And I would think that too if I had read that but not read the book. But they way Harper Fox writes this, it makes sense. Don’t worry – Daniel is in extreme grief and denial about Jason dying. There is much torment, and conflict and I think this author does such an amazing job writing the character of Daniel. His struggle to accept what has happened continues through the entire book. Just because he chooses to act out with Rayne, doesn’t mean he has accepted Jason’s death in the least. It is beautifully done.

This is told in Daniel’s POV, so we don’t come to know Rayne as intimately, but we still see a lot of him. He hasn’t had any relationships with men until he meets Daniel and I really like his exploration and his need to be with Daniel. He is a soldier, one who has seen devastating things in the middle east, and is such a serious guy. So when he admits to Daniel he can’t stop thinking about him, it really melted my heart. As I said, I loved their romance together, as unlikely as it came to be about.

I did think the suspense part was a little over the top, but interesting none the less. I am loving this author’s voice and can’t wait for a lot more from her!

Rating: B

Recent Reviews:
Tracy’s Place – 4/5
Goodreads

Author’s Website

Kindle l Nook l Samhain