Lock and Key: Book One When he was eight years old, Scott Fogel died. Paramedics revived him, but he came back changed. Ghosts and spirits tormented Scott for over a decade until, thinking he was going mad, he did the only thing he could.He ran—leaving behind his best friend, Tim Jennesee.Scott’s had five normal, ghost-free years in Chicago, when the spirit of Tim’s mother comes to him and begs … mother comes to him and begs him to go home because Tim’s in trouble and needs him.
He isn’t prepared for what he finds when he goes home—a taller and sexier Tim, but a Tim who hasn’t forgiven Scott for abandoning him… a Tim whose body is no longer his own. The ghost of a serial murderer has attached itself to Tim, and it’s whispering dark and evil things. It wants Tim to kill, and it’s becoming harder for Tim to resist. To free the man who has always meant so much to him, Scott must unravel the mystery of the destiny he shares with Tim.
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I was excited to read this book after I stumbled across the book blurb. The book sounded like a fun paranormal thriller with romance and sexual tension. However, it turned out to be a letdown. I normally have no problem with first person narrative, but this book made the first person point-of-view painful. It just didn’t work. Too many times Scotty was telling and explaining the story to the reader, instead of having the reader experience the story with him. These long-winded explanations left the story bogged down and ruined the momentum and pacing of the plot. I also had a hard time believing Tim and Scotty were in love or were even best friends. The only way I knew they had such a deep relationship was because Scotty (and everyone) kept telling me that they did. But their actions towards each other were confusing and inconsistent. I also thought the forced explanation for what a Lock and Key were, and how they are trained was just plain silly and weak. This book has a lot of potential, but it needs to be revamped.
The audiobook was fine, but the choice of voice for Tim was not to my liking. Collin Darcey does a good job with keeping all the character voices consistent, and he narrates the story well.
The Spirit Key by author Parker Williams is the first book in the Lock and Key series. I loved this story!! A little who dun it, a little romance, and whole lotta love. This book kept me turning the pages wanting to know what happens next.
Scott, when he was eight, he died. When he came back, he had a new gift. He can see ghosts. He has run away from home so to speak and thinks he is going nuts.
He is a good person. His one flaw is he cannot see the love around him, but hey he has a good reason for the past ten years he has tried to hide a major part of himself and deny it.
Tim is Scott’s best friend. He got left behind when Scott ran. When the spirit of Tim’s mom visits Scott and tells him to come home to save Tim he does it. But Tim has a hard time believing everything.
Scott thought everyone was better off without him. Turns out Tim is the one who needed always the most. Can their love save them both?
This story has many layers and as you peel them back you discover a unique love story that I personally loved. I cannot wait for more books from this series I want to know what happens next.
Five Shooting Stars and Recommended Read
Every lock has a key. Trying to keep evil from tearing the two apart won’t be easy. It will take everything including the very breath in their bodies. This one will keep you on the very edge of your page turning seat.
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
This starts with a long, detailed first person recap of the past from Scotty’s POV. After he died at age eight, he started seeing ghosts but didn’t tell anyone. This is really the crux of the whole book. By the time he was eighteen, it was overwhelming, unrelenting. The stress of everything made his family implode. Through it all his best friend Tim was always supportive, but it wasn’t enough and Scotty ran away. The farther he got from Milwaukee, the sparser the ghosts became so he lived his life normally for five years in Chicago until a visitation from Tim’s mom.
If you like the idea that there is one person meant to help the main character as they fullfill their destiny, then you might like this. There are parts of this book that remind me of me of Kris Bethke’s Requiem Inc. series (or even Mary Calmes’ Warders), although there are parts that are completely original and there is no organization that helps these ghosts cross over. In fact, the support team is not fully fleshed out. I think this is meant to set up a series, but for me this felt like the complete story.
There are several times when I feel the execution could have been better. Scotty is going home after five years when no one knew if he was even alive and Tim just throws them into a sex scene with power dynamics after a day? It was a hot scene, but the emotional impact could have been greater if they had a chance to build trust first; it doesn’t quite work as angry make-up sex either. Tim’s mood swings are jarring and confusing because this is in Scotty’s first person POV and he doesn’t know Tim is possessed, but the audience already knows from the blurb, so this is not quite successful. There is a scene where it is supposed to be first person, but Sophia talks to Scott, about Scott, as if talking to someone else, which is confusing. I am hoping that gets fixed before publication. Then, Scotty does the most colossally stupid thing, without consulting Tim, which endangers himself and breaks what little trust is left between them. I know these guys are in their twenties, but the bad judgements and lack of honesty between them is what causes all the anguish in the first place, although there is plenty of parental/adult bad judgment that contributes to the circumstances Scotty finds himself in. I think the author is showing everyone trying to do the best they can. Because of these story-framing choices, there are things that just seem to come out of nowhere…at least it’s told through dialogue and not narrative.
The book is at its best as Scotty actually tries to figure out why he sees ghosts and if he can help them. The flashes of the past Scotty sees are good additions to the story. As Scotty and Tim figure out who they are to each other and how they fit into this paranormal role, they also have to take care of themselves emotionally and physically, as well as each other. What they are doing, what is happening, is dangerous. Although this could have been frightening and quite atmospheric, the author doesn’t go this route so if you dislike horror, don’t worry. There are flashes of what the killer sees, but they are short and are only detailed enough to show his character. However, there is some violence that could be upsetting. The flashes of humor and love between Scotty and Tim are a nice counterbalance. Overall, the story is supposed to be about them but their whole lives are told through a recap and in their present Tim is not really Tim; this makes connecting with them a bit of a challenge. We are told they are best friends and in love, but only shown a few days of it when they are hurt, angry, and in danger. I liked so many ideas in this book, but I feel the way it was written constrained the story.
The cover art by Reese Dante captures the dark, tortured, paranormal feel well.
A tragic event when Scott is 8 years old changes his life forever… but dying could do that right?
Tim watches his best friend die and Scott’s life fall apart afterwards. But he sticks by him through everything which is more than he can say for Scott. At eighteen Scott is afraid Tim will get fed up with all of his drama and not wanting to drag him under he runs away. In Chicago, he no longer sees ghosts until Tim’s mom comes and begs him to help Tim. Reluctantly he goes back to his hometown to face his fears and the man he loves.
The Spirit Key is a unique, fast-paced, steamy, story full of twists, action and hot man-sex. I love the wit of the narration, the story is well written, and well planned out. There is a touch of mystery, some breathtaking scenes, and it gripped me from the very beginning. I loved all of the characters especially Scott. I am curious to see where this series goes!