Widdershins by Jordan L. Hawk [Review]

Widdershins (Whyborne & Griffin #1) by Jordan L. Hawk
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 17, 2014

Whyborne & Griffin
1. Widdershins - Paperback | Kindle
1.5. Eidolon
2. Threshold
3. Stormhaven
3.5. Remnant
4. Necropolis

Jordan L. Hawk
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Synopsis (Goodreads):

Some things should stay buried.

Repressed scholar Percival Endicott Whyborne has two skills: reading dead languages and hiding in his office at the Ladysmith Museum. After the tragic death of the friend he secretly loved, he’s ruthlessly suppressed any desire for another man.

So when handsome ex-Pinkerton Griffin Flaherty approaches him to translate a mysterious book, Whyborne wants to finish the job and get rid of the detective as quickly as possible. Griffin left the Pinkertons following the death of his partner, hoping to start a new life. But the powerful cult which murdered Glenn has taken root in Widdershins, and only the spells in the book can stop them. Spells the intellectual Whyborne doesn’t believe are real.

As the investigation draws the two men closer, Griffin’s rakish charm threatens to shatter Whyborne’s iron control. When the cult resurrects an evil sorcerer who commands terrifying monsters, can Whyborne overcome his fear and learn to trust? Will Griffin let go of his past and risk falling in love? Or will Griffin’s secrets cost Whyborne both his heart and his life?

Thoughts on Widdershins: I have to admit, I had a soft spot for the bumbling Whyborne and his inability to stand up for himself. Isolated by choice, ridiculed and bullied by his coworkers and family, and forced to hide his sexuality because man-lovin' was frowned upon in that day and age, the poor guy got to me. He just... got to me.

That moment when he found out he had people he could lean on was marvelous. And, yeah, maybe there was a little bit of perceived betrayal in there, but everything worked out in the end and that's what counts, RIGHT?

Anyway. The story. A nicely gruesome mystery throws Whyborne into the path of Griffin. Whyborne bumbles, but ultimately shows his mettle. Griffin eases his way into Whyborne's life with finesse. Mind you, he doesn't do everything with finesse and he had plenty of secrets he does his best to keep from Whyborne, but he's a good man with a troubled past. I liked the two of them together. I liked when the two of them steamed up the sheets. I liked that Griffin gave Whyborne confidence in himself.

While the mystery behind who was involved was fairly easy to figure out, the hows and whys kept me guessing. And the bad guy? Was bad. The shivery sort of bad that makes you check the dark corners of a room when you enter.

Overall, a solid historical with some quality man-lovin'. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.