The Salt Road

By Jane Johnson

My dear Isabelle, in the attic you will find a box with your name on it.

Isabelle's archaeologist father dies leaving a puzzle: a mysterious African amulet. But what is it? And why did he want her to have it? On impulse she takes a plane to Morocco to find out. But has Isabelle's curiosity got the better of her?

Almost killed in an accident which damages the amulet (revealing more of its secrets), she realises she must be careful. But when her rescuer, Taïb, who knows the dunes and their peoples, offers to help uncover the amulet's history, she cannot resist uncovering the story of Tin Hanan – She of the Tents – who made a legendary desert crossing alone, and her descendant Mariata.

Across years and over hot, shifting sands, tracking the Salt Road, the stories of Isabelle and Taïb, Mariata and her lover, become entangled with that of the lost amulet. It is a tale of souls wounded by history and of love blossoming on barren ground.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Mar 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9781789545265

Jane Johnson

Jane Johnson is a novelist, historian, and publisher. She is the UK publisher of many bestselling authors, including George R.R. Martin. She has written for both adults and children, including the bestselling novels The Tenth Gift and The Salt Road. Jane is married to a Berber chef she met while climbing in Morocco. She divides her time between London, Cornwall, and the Anti-Atlas Mountains. Connect with her on Twitter @JaneJohnsonBakr, on Facebook @Jane-Johnson-Writer, on Instagram @JaneJohnsonBakrim, or visit her website at JaneJohnsonBooks.com.

Reviews for The Salt Road

[deltaqueen50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Salt Road by Jane Johnson is the second of three novels set in Morocco. These books are all stand-alone stories, set at various points in history. The Salt Road follows two story-lines that are about thirty years apart in the not too distant past. I found this book to be an excellent escape read, very atmospheric and romantic, but for me, the stars of this book were the Sahara Desert and the Tuareg people, nomads of this immense land.The story spans generations and cultures, from a modern-day Isabelle, who comes to Morocco on a climbing holiday to the headstrong Mariata, a young Tuareg woman who must flee to the desert to find refuge and shelter. Both women find adventure and love along the ancient caravan route across the Sahara called the Salt Road. The author’s vivid descriptions of the breathtaking beauty and incredible danger of the Sahara will long remain in my mind.The Salt Road was rich in it’s description and I loved reading about the exotic culture of the desert people. The ingredients of The Salt Road were mainly mystery, romance and travelogue which blended well. The weakness in the book is that having two narratives to follow meant that the author had to take a few short cuts and the emotional depth of the book suffered from this particularly in the romance angle. Ultimately the information learned and the entertainment offered far outweighed the books short-comings and I was a happy armchair traveller.

[moniica_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Synopsis: Isabella discovers a mysterious amulet when clearing out her estranged father's house after he dies. Deciding to uncover the meaning behind it, she finds herself in one of the places she least expected, Morocco... and the journey that would define the rest of her life begins.My Opinion: I like how the author created a parallel between Isabella and Mariata and the different cultures they lived in and the impact this had on their lives as women. Some of the parts towards the end were a bit tedious but overall it was an insightful story that brought me into the world of Morocco.

[iudita_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Two different story lines - one taking place in modern day Morocco and another taking place years ago in the desert. For me, this book started out slow and didn't start to pick up until the mid point, however when it did pick up it was very good.I wanted to read the whole 2nd half of the book in one sitting.