Reviewed by Sarina
TITLE: The Riddle of the Sands
SERIES: Fathom’s Five #2
AUTHOR: Geoffrey Knight
PUBLISHER: Cleis Press
LENGTH: 256 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 10, 2014
BLURB:
The clock is ticking! Blackmailed by Jake’s nemesis – the vengeful Pierre Perron – Professor Fathom’s team of five horny gay adventurers is sent on a seemingly impossible mission to uncover the legendary Riddle of the Sands in order to save one of their own from a rare and deadly poison. But what is the Riddle of the Sands? Where are the long-lost clues and hidden maps that can lead to its whereabouts? Is it a myth, a mirage, or the greatest engineering feat in the history of ancient Egypt? From the icy plains of Siberia to the shadowy bathhouses of Cairo, from the scorching valley of the Nile to the heart of the Amazon jungle, readers join these hunks – treasure-hunter Jake, Brazilian biologist Eden, Texas cowboy Shane, art expert Luca, and quarterback Will – in a search that blends nonstop action and high-octane sex!
REVIEW:
I have to give it to this author, he sure knows how to pack a serious amount of punch in his books! From the first page of story to the last it was practically non-stop action and I enjoyed every bit of it. The start of the book was a little confusing to me as I was expecting the story to start right off from where the first one ended but instead we’re given a glimpse at something that should be showing up in a future installment before getting right into the plot for this book. Once the Professor was informed about what had happened with Sam and the blackmail left for Jake, the story really takes off and you get to see Fathom’s Five back in action as they try and solve the riddle of the sands in order to save a life.
There were quite a few different things going on here, like in the previous installment, but it was all easy to follow and each man on the team still appeared to work to their strengths and all were showcased fairly well. One minor complaint could be that the story in this book actually seemed easier here than in the first book and there were less overall parts, as well. The easier story line, however, allowed for other problems and future issues to be brought up such as Will’s father; that man needs a serious attitude adjustment! There were still sexy times though those were confined to the beginning half of the book but, really, that felt appropriate since the focus here was on saving Sam’s life not trying to get laid. My biggest problem with the book though was the ending. Or, it wasn’t a problem per se but the ending just left me feeling a little down (and irritated seeing as how Jake has provided for Sam as much as possible) as Jake just seemed to get stomped on again. Someone needs to take that man home and give him some love because he really needs it. Overall this was an easy action packed read that, while not the most complex (or realistic at times) that I’ve ever read, was still hella entertaining and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series. My review of the first book in the series, The Cross of Sins, can be found here.
RATING: 
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