Threshold

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Synopsis

Introverted scholar Percival Endicott Whyborne would prefer a quiet life with his private detective lover, Griffin Flaherty, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards for them. Whyborne's wealthy father wants to hire Griffin to look into some strange occurrences at a mine in which he owns an interest. The mine is already being guarded by Pinkerton agents, but knowing that the paranormal is real, Griffin realizes how unprepared they would be if these events turn out to be otherworldly in nature. Griffin, Whyborne, and their friend, Christine, travel to the small mining town of Threshold in Virginia, where they investigate a trail of mysterious disappearances, deadly accidents, and disembodied voices that were heard inside the mine. Among the Pinkertons is Griffin's ex-lover, Elliot, but Whyborne can't decide if he's an ally or if he's just trying to rekindle a relationship with Griffin. Whyborne also feels hopelessly inferior to the gorgeous Elliot, and when it seems that Griffin is hiding things about his past, he fears that their romance might not last. When the mystery finally begins to unravel, they discover monstrous creatures who threaten, not only the town, but possibly the entire world, and Griffin will have to face down his own demons in order to save the life of the man he loves. 

Review

Threshold is the second full-length novel in Jordan L. Hawk's Whyborne & Griffin series that's part historical M/M romance, part paranormal fantasy, and part mystery. In this one, our intrepid heroes are invited to dinner by Whyborne's father, which is an awkward affair since they have a strained relationship at best. It turns out it was a pretext for the elder Whyborne to request Griffin's services as a private investigator. A mine in which he owns a significant share has been plagued of late with strange goings-on such as miners hearing voices while working, deadly accidents, and odd disappearances of people from Threshold, the mining town. Pinkerton agents are already on the scene as guards and peacekeepers, but they can't exactly be asked to investigate these strange occurrences. As a member of the Brotherhood, the elder Whyborne is all too aware that the paranormal is real, so his son and Griffin, who are equally aware, are the only ones he can ask. They aren't too keen on helping after all that he put them through in the previous book, but a mysterious stone that was taken from a cave near the mine with markings that seem to be a language intrigues Whyborne. After he's attacked by thieves who steal it from him, they agree to take the case. Accompanied by their friend and archaeologist, Christine, Whyborne and Griffin travel to Virginia, to try to figure out what's going on. There they uncover bizarre cave drawings and learn some of the facts from locals, but the manager of the mine doesn't seem happy to have them there. Gradually they begin to unravel the mystery, and realize that Whyborne may especially be in danger from the monstrous creatures they discover. Meanwhile, their romantic relationship is put to the test when Whyborne meets one of Griffin's old lovers who is head of the Pinkertons at the mine. It seems like Griffin is keeping secrets about his past, and not only does the man stir Whyborne's jealousy, he isn't sure he can be trusted. By the time all is revealed, Whyborne, Griffin, Christine, and all the inhabitants of Threshold find themselves in a battle for survival, and Griffin will have to face his demons in order to save Whyborne's life.

These stories are told from Whyborne's first-person POV. He's a deeply introverted, fussy intellectual who was born into wealth, but when he decided to study languages instead of following in his father's footsteps, he was practically disowned. Griffin is his foil, an orphan who was adopted by simple farmers, and later became a Pinkerton agent, but his career was cut short when he encountered the supernatural and no one believed him. It resulted in him being sent to an asylum, and he still suffers PTSD attacks from all of it. The two fit together beautifully with Whyborne being kind and sympathetic to all that Griffin has been through, while Griffin respects Whyborne's intelligence and finds his shyness and other quirks amusing. As this book opens, they've been a couple for several months and care about each other deeply. But meeting Elliot, Griffin's former lover, throws Whyborne for a loop. Elliot is handsome beyond anything he's ever imagined, while also being suave and sophisticated, leaving Whyborne feeling like he can't measure up. When he witnesses Griffin and Elliot having what appear to be intimate conversations on more than one occasion, he fears the worst. That's only exacerbated by Griffin's unwillingness to talk about his past, which leaves Whyborne wondering what he's hiding. Even though they got an HEA ending in the first book, this new conflict added depth and dimension to both characters and their relationship. It leads to new discoveries about each of them and a new level of intimacy as they work through it all.

After finishing Widdershins, the first book of the series, I was completely blown away by the author's talent and eagerly looking forward to Threshold. However, I had a touch of trepidation about whether it would live up to its predecessor. I'm happy to report that it absolutely did. Both Whyborne and Griffin are fantastic characters who have totally captured my heart. They work together like a well-oiled machine with their differences complementing each other superbly. Whyborne has been experimenting a bit with the spell book that started their whole journey together and is beginning to show an aptitude for magic, much to Griffin's chagrin, although it comes in handy on a number of occasions. There's some beautiful character development for both heroes. Whyborne learns to be a bit more assertive both in their relationship and in general, showing that he, too, has some leadership skills when he needs to. As we learn a bit more of Griffin's past, he shows new vulnerabilities and dimensions. Their love scenes are just as steamy as always, showcasing a perfect balance of emotion and eroticism. Christine is still a fabulous supporting character. A wonderful long-term friend to Whyborne, who's now also befriended Griffin, she's fully aware of their romantic relationship and proven herself a confidant. I absolutely love her feminist ideals, her fearlessness, and her zest for life. The mystery is superbly done, gradually unraveling as our characters investigate. The paranormal elements are great as well, with some new monstrous creatures for them to outwit. This author is amazing at creating a perfect balance to all the elements: romance, mystery, and paranormal fantasy. They all just weave together into a story that grabbed my attention from the first page and didn't let go until the last. I can't wait to continue to find out what our heroes get up to next.

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Jordan L. Hawk

Themes

Beta Heroes
Geniuses, Scholars & Scientists aka Geeks - Heroes
Opposite Sides of the Track
Physically Ordinary Heroes
Tortured Heroes