The Uninvited

by Jonathan Daniel

This edition is no longer available. Please see the Author's Updated Edition.

There’s nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. They’re coming. And they’re hungry.

Still struggling with the tragic death of his wife, Owen Decker is determined to battle the debilitating fear that continues to haunt him. Traveling to a tropical island to fully face the crippling terror he harbors appears to be his only option. However, Owen is unaware of the unforgiving evil awaiting him.

On the island, Owen awakes to a horror unlike any he's ever witnessed before. Survival seems impossible as the mutilated and the dead surround him. Teaming up with the only two other survivors of the massacre, the three search for an escape.

But something ravenous and incomprehensible refuses to let them off the island alive.

There's nowhere left to hide.

With time running out and the sinister beings close behind, will Owen's chance at a new beginning be the end he feared all along?

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Zombies, Paranormal

201 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 25, 2011

About the author

I write stories that pull you in fast and don’t let go—dark, gripping tales where danger lurks in the shadows and the past is never really buried. My books are filled with flawed, sharp-edged characters fighting their way through eerie landscapes, whether it’s a haunted town in the Deep South or a world unraveling under its own corruption. In addition to my books, I’ve had several short pieces published in various magazines such as Black Petals, The Harrow and Lullaby Hearse.

I live in Birmingham, Alabama with my wife and hyper Boston Terrier, Buster. When not writing about nightmarish things, I enjoy cooking, reading, brewing beer and trying to watch every horror movie made in the 80’s.

Follow me at: byjonathandaniel.dot.com

Reviews

[Hanna (Hanna.k_draws)]

DNF at around 30%
This is so s**t 🤣🤣🤣

I thought it was going to be a zombie book.
It’s weird creatures (from reading the reviews - yes I started reading them when I was around page 60 when I started to question my life choices „why on earth have I picked this book?!” - you never really find out what they are and how they became)
The writing is soo bad 🤦‍♀️10/10 do not recommend

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

If your standards for horror books are moderate to high, don't read this book.

I just finished the book and have no idea to what the title refers. I don't think it's some deep meaning--I think its title is meant to sound "cool". If it does have a significant meaning, it's never explained in the book.

The book needed a better editor. Can I write any better? No, but in addition to spelling mistakes, much of the narrative is clunky and repetitive.

Warning--MINOR spoilers: The monsters in this book are former humans. You never find out exactly why the humans turn into monsters. I think the author came up with a silly idea, and because he couldn't explain it, he decided to ignore a definitive explanation entirely.

Here's a plot summary. Guy travels to island. People turn into monsters. He runs to the woods. He runs to the house. He runs to the woods. He runs to the house. He runs to the beach...And so on.

I didn't care too much for the characters. Their actions were oftentimes dopey. The monsters were nonsensical. And the book leaves too much hanging. Not in a clever, make-you-think-way. It's more like the author has as much clue as to what's going on as the reader does. So, I guess I should give this book one star--but I'll give it 2 since I've read worse.

[Netanella · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars, rounded up, because Owen became SuperOwen™ by the end of the book!

I'll freely admit that I selected this book simply because it was free with KU and the title started with a "U," the last letter needed to complete a quarterly book challenge. And I thought that it was a throw-away read, something that I could skim through quickly and check off my list.

Ah, but Owen. Owen, top-selling toy store manager who's rewarded with a week's vacation to a private island in the Bahamas. Owen, recent widower since his last vacation, when his lovely wife was drowned in a typhoon that hit Thailand.

Owen, who morphs into bad-ass, loverboy, ninja warrior, blade master beast hunter on a tropical island full of mutated cannibals. Owen made the story.

And, he was invited.

[Nicola Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horror really isn't my thing genre wise but this was pretty good. The premise is good.

The cover is creepy which means it fits perfectly with the genre. The images are good and a bit gory but it works!

I thought the book was well written and flows nicely. The book didn't give me any scares which is normal. There was plenty of suspense and tension though.

The characters were good and fit in nicely. I liked Owen. I felt sad for him but I did enjoy how his story unfolded.

Although horror isn't my thing, I definitely recommend it

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the cover of the book and I was expecting this to be a horror novel. I love zombies and I did like that element of the story. However it just didn't have enough action for me. I think maybe if there had been more characters with more depth I would have enjoyed it more. It just wasn't to my liking very much.

If you like books that have zombies to it you might enjoy it. The descriptions of the zombie like creatures were great.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book grabbed me from the first page and just kept going. I haven't read a book like this in a long time and I thought it was well done.

Owen is depressed and having a hard time coping with the death of his wife after a sunami while they were on vacation. As manager of a top selling toy store, he is invited to spend a week all expenses paid on a private island with the owner and other top store managers. Owen's psychiatrist thinks it's a great idea and would do him good. The island is beautiful and Owen thinks he may enjoy it but after waking up with a terrible hangover from the night before, he can't find anyone. Then to his dismay, he stumbles upon a creature dressed as one of the wait staff eating one of the guests. There are three left on the island who have not been mutated into horrible human eating creatures and they are trying to escape.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't wait to pick it up again. I do wish the ending had more as to what happened to the island and the mutants afterwards but was a good read.

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this was my first ever horror and I am obsessed!
I don’t know if it would be classed as gory horror or where it falls within that spectrum! But for me it was a delicate balance of enough to scare the s@*t out of me and gross me out but not enough I wanted to vom! 🤣 Baring in mind I do not watch horror films, my heart can’t take it!

The story follows Own Decker who years on is still struggling with the loss of his wife, he ended up at an exclusive soft launch party of a Hotel resort on a remote island along with his friend Michelle and lots of other guests.

The party turns into chaos as hellish creatures descend on the party goers and there starts Owen’s fight for survival. Along his journey to find Michelle he finds a couple of other survivors Jessica and Dixon, who reluctantly agree to go looking for Michelle with him. Nothing is ever easy for them with flesh eating creatures determined to wipe out all humans on the island but eventually Michelle and Owen after battling for survival make it off the island.
You would think that’s where it ends? I won’t spoil it for others but the story ever evolves and is so faced paced from the very start that my heart was in my throat the whole time. Lots of ewww, and ahhhhh and being grossed out. The descriptive writing of the gore and creatures really brought the visualisation to the forefront but scattered through this story was humour, love and a strong desire to survive no matter what.

And that ending! Absolutely genius.
Is this the start of my horror era? Yes yes it maybe!

[Summer R Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and the publisher or publishers for all your hard work! I'm leaving this review voluntarily and happily! Take a look!

Well, this book doesn't even prep you it gets right to the violence, death, and blood! I definitely enjoyed a book like this. Not every time, of course, but I definitely love a book that gets right down to the action pretty quickly at times. The pacing was definitely fast-paced and was nonstop till the very end. The creatures in this are definitely something i haven't come across before. They are dark and vicious and are out for death. This definitely makes me think twice about going on a trip to places I haven't heard before. I absolutely connected to a couple of the characters and enjoyed how they grew and changed throughout the book.

Owen is taking a trip to clear his head, maybe get over his fear of the water and just enjoy life. Life, of course, has other plans. There are things there, beings that lurk beneath the sand, and now they are coming. They are angry, hungry, and want violence. What is Owen and the others going to do? Will anyone survive? Or is this going to be one huge bloodbath?

This is very much like a creature feature. There is chaos,death, gore, and a slight love interest. Of course, if you're looking for the smutty kinda thing, this isn't the book for you. I enjoyed the ride this took me on and know others will, too.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot imagine the absolute terror that Owen and Michelle must have been feeling as they became under attack. The description of the monsters made them look like some otherworldly aliens. Not to mention the strength of muscle and smell these creatures must have had to hunt down human after human. When I am reading a tale of survival my stress level intensifies to the point where I can hear my heart beating and I zone in on reading the pages to see where the story is headed. The all consuming terror is real as the group of survivors scope all areas for a way off the island. The deeper the reader gets into the book the more bleak reality of death seems to appear. The author has such talent at describing the utter isolation and claustrophobic fear Michelle and Owen experience as they traverse those tunnels. The fear emanating off these two can be felt out of the pages, as though I were there with them and trying to find the strength to go on. There were many times I felt hopeless for Owen and Michelle as they met with each disaster. When they finally found a way off the island, I felt as though I had found the boat with them. This book was a truly immersive horror novel that is a must read.

[Claire Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Uninvited by Jonathan Daniel is not just a tropical horror—it reads like a breath-stealing gut-punch. Owen Decker’s escape to a remote island in a desperate bid to outrun his own trauma initially feels like the setup for self-reflection. But peace was never on offer, and the horror that unfolds is merciless, visceral, and relentless. Yet it’s the core humanity that elevates this novel beyond the usual survival story.

Daniel doesn’t just rely on gore (although there’s plenty of that); he builds dread from the inside out. Owen is a man hollowed out by loss, and as he’s plunged into a waking nightmare of mutilated bodies, grotesque creatures, and the deafening absence of hope, the question isn’t just whether he’ll survive—but whether he still wants to. The pacing is sharp, the island setting vividly hostile, and the dynamic between Owen and other potential survivors (*no spoilers!) adds tension that goes far beyond physical danger. It’s primal and personal all at once.

Brutal, breathless, and surprisingly poignant, The Uninvited is mesmerising horror that bites deep and doesn’t let go. And I couldn't put it down.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE UNINVITED IS THE FIRST BOOK I HAVE READ BY AUTHOR JONATHAN DANIEL AND IT WILL NOT BE THE LAST. I REALLY ENJOYED THE UNINVITED. THE STORY WAS VERY WELL WRITTEN AND THE AUTHOR'S DESCRIPTIONS MADE THE READER FEEL LIKE A PART OF THE STORY. THE UNIVITED WAS VERY SCARY AND INTENSE HORROR THAT WAS FILLED WITH CONSTANT ACTION, SUSPENSE AND GORE. I WAS IMMEDIATELY DRAWN IN THE STORY FROM THE VERY FIRST PAGE UNTIL THE VERY END. I DID NOT WANT TO PUT THE BOOK DOWN. JONATHAN DANIEL, AUTHOR DID AN EXCELLENT JOB CREATING THIS STORY LINE AND DESCRIBING WHAT WAS HAPPENING THAT THE READER FELT LIKE PART OF THE STORY. I REALLY LOVED THE 2 MAIN CHARACTERS. BOTH WERE TOUGH CHARACTERS WHO GREW CLOSER AS THEY TRIED TO SURVIVE IN THIS FRIGHTENING PLACE. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN EXCELLENT HORROR STORY THAT WILL LEAVE YOU WANTING MORE, THEN I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE UNVITED. I CAN'T WAIT TO READ MORE BOOKS BY THIS AMAZING AUTHOR.

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this in exchange for an honest review.
This book, I don't feel like was exactly horror, but again, that’s a personal opinion, but this was more like just a book about zombies .

I expected more of an isolation type horror or even mystery book, but it didn’t hit those either for me.
It however was a good in between read and no regrets, if you like reading about zombies, and aren’t looking for much horror or action, check it out.

I wasn’t a fan of Owen or how the story really ended, but again, just a personal thing, check this out if the story sounds good, or you love reading about zombies, because the descriptions and talk about those in this book, were actually pretty cool.

[Nadine-Sue Sargent · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great creepy horror set on an island. Team building exercises should come with a warning. 😂

Owen and Michelle have their work cut out with this. Owen's still struggling with his own demons and I don't think popping off to an island resort was the best idea for him. Didn't do much good for his colleagues either!!

Not many characters to get to grips with really. I had high hopes for Jessica and her and Dixon seemed to be quite a team. However, they are significantly outnumbered. I do wonder whether anyone thought of just killing it with fire but Owen has his own idea that's just as good.

Not a new concept but certainly a fun one and one that horror fans should enjoy. Particularly enjoyed how the saga carries on for Owen and Michelle giving the feeling that there's no escape!!

[Emma book blogger Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, @zooloosBT, for letting me be part of this tour and reviewing this book. The Univited is a horror genre, and the story is about Owen, who has lost his wife and travels to an island where he has to try to survive the horror. I like how the author, Jonathan Daniel, goes straight into action from the start of the book. I found I was in suspense all the way through, gripping the chair and wondering what would happen to Owen and the other survivors. The story is at a great pace you can keep up with—very intense, which is great. The writing is engaging and full of goe. If you like horror, this book is for you with great descriptions you can visualize, and occasionally I felt like I was with them on the island. Fantastic read, 5 stars.

[Nikki B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Uninvited was a decent horror thriller with zombies. I like stories like this, where you can put yourself in the characters shoes and try to see things through their eyes and what's happening. However, I found the pacing of the story to be a little uneven. It was very up and down and the down moments, it was a little hard to keep my attention. Even with everything going on in Owens life and what he's encountering now in the story, he was a likable character. I also enjoyed Michelle's character and the way they both worked together to find a way off the island. It's definitely an interesting story.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than i did, however i did still really enjoy it.

Gore was pretty decent. Last 15% was uninentionally hilarious but it really made the book for me. I literally toppled over and belly laughed for over 5 minutes at one line. It was pretty good. I just wanted more history.

My main gripe was with Jessica and how she was used. I love laymon, so i can take the sexualisation. But literally chopping her into pieces? Kind of seemed like what the men were doing the whole novel really.

[Larry Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gore-filled tale of survival against a relentless swarm of monsters. This book has a straight-forward concept and delivers on that premise with little deviation. The strength of the story is the relentless action and commitment to violent passages. The weaknesses are the lack of character development and some redundancy in the story. This repetitiveness leads to some overused descriptions and some wordy and awkward metaphorical passages. Overall, an entertaining story, but nothing that will inspire deep thought or wonder.

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gory grossness abounds in this thrill-ride novel!

This was genuinely full-tilt from start to finish. The action is almost immediate jumping straight into the thick of a massacre of epic proportions. Not only does this play out on a Romero style zombie epic, but the setting is like I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. Surrounded by water and creatures more deadly than anything, I had to devour this story to figure out what happens. The story is quick paced and doesn’t relent until the very end!

Perfect for fans of David Sodergren or Duncan Ralston!

[Kelly Alberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A heart-pounding survival horror that grabs you and never lets go!”

This story is pure adrenaline from start to finish. Owen’s grief and vulnerability make him such a relatable hero, and watching him fight not only his inner demons but also the very real horrors stalking the island had me completely gripped. The atmosphere is chilling tropical paradise turned nightmare and the tension builds with every page as Owen and the other survivors struggle to outwit the unimaginable evil closing in on them.

[Melanie Massey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not my normal read. At first I almost didn't continue to read it, but something caught my interest so I read it. This is a gruesome tale, but it was one of those stories that you can't put down, or find yourself looking forward to getting back to. So, its zombi-ish but not so gross that its unreadable. It has a good supporting story so its spooky and good at the same time. It is also written in a way that my mind was able to visualize the setting very well

[Alan Loewen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trapped on an Island With Monsters

Owen, the protagonist of this tale, is a complex messed up man who happens to be a successful manager of a national toy store chain. As a reward for a great year of sales, the managers of all the stores are invited for a week-long party at the CEO’s private island.

The story is unrelenting in its tension as Owen and two other survivors try to escape a island filled with monsters.

[Jacquetta Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt I was dreaming and this is the most horrible nightmare I have ever had. Thank God I couldn't see the people or the resort, reading it was frightening. The poor people, the survivors struggling, trying to find escape from the island. 

Will Owen, Michelle, Dixon and Jessica make it and will they find more survivors? Will they get to the boat in time? Will they find a boat? Will they get away from the island? 

If you truly love terror, I promise you will love this book.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely interesting, but

This was definitely an interesting and thrilling story to read. I liked how the story built up and fairly quickly. I'm not sure how I feel about Owen. I didn't really care for how the story ended. There wasn't really a wrap up in terms of what went on on that island. It left a lot of holes for me.

[Vickiec192 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a great read. A very creepy and high adrenaline creature thriller. A great concept and very well executed. This had some beautifully disgusting deceptive writing, a really exceptional skill and this made this even more addictive.

This is very plot focused but there was still enough work on the characters for mini arcs and emotional investment. Really enjoyed this one

[Adrian Gooch · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Uninvited

The book title states that the book is a fast paced horror novel, it is a fast read unfortunately that's about it. It was a C grade novel at best. Totally unrealistic, not logical in any way, and had so many flaws I lost count.

[Holly Arkle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐- 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅. 𝑰 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒛𝒐𝒎𝒃𝒊𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚...

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was scary and fast paced but I did not like how it ended. No closure and lots of unanswered questions.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent non stop action , well written creating a great visual image of the situations and characters develop and are very human .. great read !! Devoured It !

[courtney (not your dad)]

Sir, please do not sexualize the other (female) survivor in the middle of a life or death crisis. Three times.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started Interesting and had a good pace, ultimately this book ended poorly, one of the worst endings I’ve read this ruined the book for me, It really did lose its way 3/4 way through.