The Donors

by Jeffrey Wilson

An evil force is at work at the Hospital where Nathan is recovering from injuries he received at the hands of his Mom's abusive ex-boyfriend. Demonic looking men with pale faces and glowing eyes lurk in the shadows. Someone is harvesting skin and organs from living donors against their will. In his dreams, Nathan can see these demons in their true form -- evil creatures who feed on the fear and hatred they create in their victims. Nathan's only ally is the Doctor who cares for him. Bound together by their common legacy, they alone seem to share the ability to see the demons for what they truly are. Together they must find a way to stop these creatures before they, and their loved ones, become the next victims.

Genres: Horror

246 pages, Paperback

First published June 29, 2012

About the author

Jeffrey Wilson has at one time worked as an actor, a firefighter, a paramedic, a jet pilot, a diving instructor, a Naval Officer, and a Vascular and Trauma Surgeon. He also served numerous tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Navy combat surgeon, deploying with an east coast based SEAL Team as part of a Joint Special Operations Task Force.

He is the co-author, with Brian Andrews, of the Wall Street Journal and Amazon #1 Bestselling TIER ONE series of thrillers from Thomas & Mercer, including TIER ONE, WAR SHADOWS, CRUSADER ONE, and AMERICAN OPERATOR. He and Andrews also Co-author the Nick Foley Thriller Series, written under the pseudonym Alex Ryan, from Crooked Lane Books, which includes BEIJING RED and HONG KONG BLACK.

He is the author of three award winning Supernatural thrillers from JournalStone Publishing: THE TRAITEUR'S RING (2011), THE DONORS (2012), and FADE TO BLACK (2013).

He is also the author of the faith based, inspirational war time novel WAR TORN.

Jeff and his wife, Wendy, are Virginia natives who, with children Ashley, Emma, Jack, and Connor, call Tampa, Florida home. He still works as a Vascular Surgeon and as a consultant for the Department of Defense when not hard at work on his next book.

Learn more about Jeff at www.jeffreywilsonfiction.com and www.andrews-wilson.com

Reviews

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Info: Genre: Dark Fantasy Reading Level: Adult

Disclosure: I received a free ARC in ebook format from Journalstone via the LibraryThing Early Reviewer’s giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: An evil force is at work at the hospital where Nathan is recovering from injuries he received at the hands of his Mom’s abusive ex-boyfriend. Demonic-looking men with pale faces and glowing eyes lurk in the shadows and it appears that someone is harvesting skin and organs from living donors against their will. 

In his dreams, Nathan can see these demons in their true form – evil creatures who feed on the fear and hatred they help create in their victims. Nathan’s only ally is the doctor who cares for him. Bound together by their common legacy, they alone seem to share the ability to see the demons for what they are. 

Together they must find a way to stop these creatures before their own loved ones become the next victims and the demons destroy them-- and much more.

My Thoughts: I’m not a huge fan of “horror novels that feature children”; they’re right up there with “horror novels about animals acting like... umm, animals”. However, this one was quite engaging overall, and actually ended up being more dark fantasy than horror. The sections with Nathan sort of rubbed me raw, because I’m just not that excited to read about things from a young child’s point of view, but at the same time, I felt badly for the little guy. And as a result, I was 100 percent behind the monsters – want to kill abusive jerks painfully and slowly? I’m right behind that, gotta say. Of course, they don’t stop there, and that’s where the trouble starts.

There are a lot of point-of-view shifts in the book, but they’re pretty easily followed, so it doesn’t feel like head hopping. We get the most character development from Nathan and Jason, with a bit from Jenny, while Sherry feels mostly like a filler character. I feel like readers would have had a stronger impact from Steve and Jazz from outside their heads, but that’s just me; I didn’t really feel like their internal dialogue did much for the story other than make them look unsympathetic.

Overall, those who enjoy dark fantasy should enjoy this story. I wouldn’t really define it as horror due to the ending, but those who enjoy lighter horror fare should probably enjoy this story as well. Hard-core horror fans might feel cheated by how it all ends up. If you have a problem with abusive jerks, you will probably like what happens in this book. So, overall, I think there are a lot of people who will enjoy this story. Check it out.

[Cynthia Rielley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, that was a creepy creepy creepy creepy-ass book. Not that that is a bad thing. Whooo! Good ride, glad I am off. I am not going to sleep well tonight and I blame Jeffrey Wilson. Creepy. When's your next book coming out?

[Brett Talley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read enough of a writer’s work, you start to get a feeling for their strengths and weaknesses. And when an author gets in his groove, it can end up creating something truly magical. Jeffrey Wilson is a talented writer, no matter what he puts his hand to. But when he creates a story that is quintessentially about family, that is when he shines. In The Donors, he has done precisely that, and it is the readers who have benefited.

The Donors is a wonderfully well balanced story about evil, revenge, fate, and family. Set in primarily in a hospital, The Donors follows a little boy named Nathan who has experienced terrible things in his young life. But within him stirs a power that almost no one recognizes. No one, that is, but a doctor who also works in the hospital. He has seen the same dark visions as Nathan, and he knows that if the boy is to survive against the evil forces that hunt him and that neither of them fully comprehend, both of them will have to go to the blackest corners of their souls and confront the things that make nightmares happen.

I am constantly amazed by Jeff Wilson’s ability to spin believable and lovable characters out of seeming thin air. From the moment we meet Nathan, we are rooting for him. The same can be said for Dr. Gelman and the young nurse who quickly becomes his love interest. I cared about these people. I rooted for them to succeed. I was so invested in their efforts that I literally finished this novel in the span of twenty-four hours. It’s that good.

I want to say something about the “lizard men” who are the bad guys in The Donors, but I want to be careful not to give too much away. I love that they are clearly the antagonists in the book. They are evil, through and through. And yet, and yet. You will root for them. You will want them to succeed, in a certain way at least. I dare you not to celebrate when they pull off their first kill. The fact that we do says something about all of us. It’s rare that a horror novel manages to make such a profound statement about the human condition. The Donors accomplishes that in spades.

Jeffrey Wilson can spin a chilling scene with the best of them, but it's his characters that make his writing so horrifying. These are real people and real families, and Wilson forces us to walk with them on a terrifying journey into the blackest shadows where creatures of primordial evil feed on their darkest fears. Highly recommended.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Donors" by Jeffery Wilson is a suspenseful and frightening story. The book opens with shadow creatures outside of a hospital. The creatures are waiting for an opportunity to feed on the pain and misery of the E.R. patients. Five year old Nathan ends up as a patient in the E.R. because he was burned by his mother's boyfriend. His mother's boyfriend, Steve, ends up being questioned by police about what happened to Nathan. Two strange cops named Mr. Clark and Mr. Smith come to question Steve.
Nathan meets Dr. Jason Gelman while being treated in the E.R. Jason and Nathan form an instant bond. Nathan also meets an nurse named Jenny.
The descriptions of the medical procedures and attention to detail of the degree of suffering is exceptional! I felt like I was on the operating table and feeling the same pain as the "donor" characters. There were many horrifying scenes in the story. The character description was excellent. I pictured and knew every character while reading the story. All the characters left a lasting impression on me. Especially Jenny. "The Donors" overall made a lasting impression on me. This book brought back all of my childhood fears! This book made me remember what it was like to be a child and afraid of the darkness and pain.

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five-year-old Nathan is rushed to the hospital after being abused by his mother's boyfriend. As bad as his ordeal has been, though, things are worse in the hospital because he starts having horrible nightmares. Someone or something is cutting up people for their organs without their consent and while they are wide awake. Only Nathan's pretty sure they aren't dreams at all. In fact, he's pretty sure they're real and he is a big part of the horror. Fortunately, his favourite doctor and nurse believe him and will do anything to save him. The question is can they or will they too end up as donors.

I have read a lot of books put out by Journalstone and they have never disappointed. The Donors is no exception. It is a scary, sometimes disturbing but always engrossing horror tale. Author Jeffrey Wilson has a real knack for telling a spooky story so if you are looking for a really good horror tale to read on a dark and stormy night, this one is sure to please but make sure all your doors are locked and you might wanna hide real deep under the blankets before you start.

[Christopher Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An evil force is at work at the Hospital where Nathan is recovering from injuries he received at the hands of his Mom’s abusive ex-boyfriend. Demonic looking men with pale faces and glowing eyes lurk in the shadows and it appears that someone is harvesting skin and organs from living donors against their will.

In his dreams, Nathan can see these demons in their true form-- evil creatures who feed on the fear and hatred they help create in their victims. Nathan’s only ally is the Doctor who cares for him. Bound together by their common legacy, they alone seem to share the ability to see the demons for what they are.

Together they must find a way to stop these creatures before their own loved ones become the next victims and the demons destroy them-- and much more.

[Joe Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging story that chronicles the terror of a small boy who is living in an abusive situation with his mothers boy friend baby sitting him while his mother works and resenting the task and hating the child he is watching. What complicates the story is the second year resident medical student that is treating young Nathan after he is badly burnt and his arm broken by the cruel boyfriend, Steve is also the product of an abused childhood where every day was lived in pain and fear while his mother did everything she could to provide for him but finally died from cancer. The doctor, Jason, felt he didn't do enough to sustain his mother even though he was just a small child. In this mix, two lizard like entities from another dimension, Mr. Clarke and Mr. Smith were attracted to the hospital environment because of the fear and pain that is incident there. They had the ability to mask their true appearances (lizard like creatures with black hollow eyes with an orange cast around the center, appearing like just very white slender men that dressed in long trench coats and fedoras). They also were able to compel human subjects to take part in their grizzly actions of drugging patients, declaring death and then kidnapping and harvesting organs in the most painful and cruel way, then erase their memories of the actions the participated in. This activity supplied the heavy charged emotions incident with fear and pain that the entities fed upon, in the form of life force escaping as light from the mutilated patients and absorbed by the monster entities. Mr. Clarke and Mr. Smith cloaked their actions as attempts to reform abusers that they justified torturing to force their repentance. The other dimension entities feared children younger that six or seven because of their ability to imagine and believe in their dreams. A torture cave with liquids puddling after draining down the walls was the center of much of the torture of Mr. Clarke and Mr. Smith. The darkness, moistness and hard echos of the moaning caused by pain accentuated the creation of even more fear and hence more food for the other dimension natives. It was impossible to leave the book for any length for fear that the beautiful nurse that Jason was falling for was going to be subverted by the monsters or they would drag off another patient to do terrible things to or perhaps compel Nathan or his mother to participate in one of their organ removal activities. It felt like you had to just keep reading to prevent any additional damage to these poor young damaged children. It was just about as hard to abandon the abused mothers but, there was an urge to encourage punishment of the abusive partners that were also taken. Good read with consequences and redeeming strength being manifest just at the right time from abused children that still were able to conjure up the images of the Red Ranger or in Jason's case, the force from his youthful association with the Star Wars Characters. A real edge of the chair action thriller with very real seeming threats to the sympathetic characters. A bit of a dark story based on the horrible activities that the children and other weak people were forced to endure but, not that far away from real life on our planet.

[Hal Bodner · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a fan of monster tales, you'll definitely want to check out "The Donors". While you'll find no traditional vampires or ghouls here, Jeffrey Wilson has managed to capture the essence of the classic monster novel in a very innovative way.

Wilson never quite explains his monsters and, in most cases, that's a serious literary flaw. But in "The Donors" Wilson achieves something that lesser authors try to do and often crash and burn. He's created a monster in his Lizard Men which is both believable and creepy without telling us too much about it. This is one of those rare instances where the lack of information actually heightens the suspense in the novel.

There are, however, some problems with the book and, thus, the four stars instead of five. Normally, these issues could be overlooked but Wilson relies far too heavily on the mechanism of the "other voice" within characters' heads which guides them and tells them what to do. It's a care worn literary contrivance which, in this case as in most others, serves to gloss over the author's inability (or choice) to manipulate his plot organically. The voices serve as a deus ex machina and in this book the device was completely unnecessary and, frankly, stood out like a sore thumb.

Nevertheless, "The Donors" is a marvelously creepy and suspenseful novel made even more intense by Wilson's adroit handling of his characters. Each is fully developed (or, at least, as developed as far as needed for the story) and has a very real emotional life and, thus, also has an emotional impact on the reader.

I most heartily recommend "The Donors" to all fans of horror. It's a marvelously creative read and, I suspect, Jeffrey Wilson will be an author to watch out for in the future. I'm eagerly awaiting his next work and hoping it's as original and attention capturing as this one.

[Kelly Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nathan is five years old. His mother works full time and his mother’s live-in boyfriend, Steve, is his sitter. Steve should not be allowed near children, but he thinks he has punished Nathan enough to keep control. But Nathan is hungry, so he quietly tries to fix his dinner of Spaggettios.

When Steve catches him, he decides the boy needs to learn just how dangerous the stove can be and forces the boy’s hand into the flames of the gas stove, breaking Nathan’s arm while causing deep tissue burns.

The doctor on ER duty, Jason, can sympathize with Nathan and finds himself checking in on the boy before and after each rotation. On the second visit, Nathan mentions his nightmares. He says Steve is in real trouble and the lizard men of his dreams are scary.

The lizard men are scary. They feed off of fear and sadness. And they find retribution for adults harming children by using these humans for their donor organs. They make adults uncomfortable but are able to disguise themselves from their real visages. But they have to be careful because young children see them for what they are, And Nathan is very young. Can he convince the Dr. Jason that it’s not all a dream?

Wilson has the touch, able to create a world that writhes with spine-chilling description and realistic characters. His descriptions of child abuse at its worst, is spot-on and gut wrenching. He grabs you with a grip as tight as the one that breaks Nathan’s arm and doesn’t let go until the end. And worst of all, he has you so confused between the evil lizard-like creatures and the violent incidents of abuse that it is difficult for the reader to decide…are the lizards truly evil or just taking the basest of humanity for their needs?

[Chandni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly dark novel. It starts off with a young boy getting abused by his mother’s boyfriend. At the hospital, he meets Dr. Jason Gelman, a man who has something very important in common with Nathan. I liked this novel, but it’s not what I normally read. The antagonists in this book were the Lizard Men, creatures that feed on fear and pain.

This isn’t the type of book I normally read because in this book, it’s pretty clear who the bad guys are. It’s simplistic in the sense that you know exactly who’s good and who’s bad. You know exactly who you should be rooting for. However, that being said, it’s incredible in the amount of detail when it comes to the medical procedures. Some of the descriptions of the torture were indescribably horrific. I found myself cringing and physically uncomfortable while reading. It wasn’t as gut wrenching as in Robert Pobi’s Bloodman, but it wasn’t fun to read either.

At the heart of this book is a story about courage and belief in oneself. It’s almost inspiring, but there are some moments that are a little too sweet. Nonetheless, Nathan is one of those rare kids in literature that you don’t wish would move to a foreign country. He’s not unbearably precocious and both mature and childish at the same time, which should be a contradiction, but somehow isn’t.

Overall, it’s a very good horror book and I enjoyed it. Wilson knows how to build a suspenseful atmosphere and keep the reader completely invested in the characters. He writes with great promise and I’m looking forward to reading more from him.

I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nathan was at home with Steve, his mother's boyfriend. Steve was mean. It was still going to be a long time until Nathan's mother returns home. Nathan decides to cook himself dinner. Suddenly, Steve comes marching into the kitchen and burns Nathan's arm. Nathan ends up in the hospital in the burn unit, where he will receive skin grafts.

Steve is about to meet his worst nightmare. The Lizard men. The Lizard men are judge, jury, and executor.

This book was full of gruesome, gut-wretching moments. Even I who can read one after anotehr of serial killer books and I mean the dark stuff, had a weak moment that surprised even me. It was the first time when the Lizard men were ripping into Steve and tearing out his intestines. After that, I was fine but this jsut goes to show you that I was really into this book. When Nathan would be in the Lizard men's world, I could see it so real. It was like I could smell the fear, piss, metallic smell of blood and feel the dirt underneath my feet.
For being a horror book, I thought that Mr. Wilson did a nice job. He did bring life to the characters and made me cheer for Nathan. I liked Nathan. He was a good superhero. He was the perfect person to fight the Lizard men. I could not totally hate the Lizard men as I did find them to play part good guys. They punished the really bad guys like Steve and helped the innocent. The Donors is a scary, thriller read. Don't be the next victim to scream!

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won this as a goodreads giveaway!

So this book took me awhile to get to. The font always intimidated me and with good reason. My eyes are exhausted! It is small, cramped and has very little margin space. So it felt much longer than the page count. And yes, each page took almost twice as long to read. I think the author tried to keep the page total down but it really made it hard as a reader, especially with poor vision.

This story got my attention right away but be warned it has a rather horrific start! If you can't handle young kids getting cruelly hurt do not read! It was engaging yet so bizarre. Perhaps too bizarre. A lot does not get answered to my satisfaction. The attraction between doctor and nurse (Jason and Jenny) I get but it goes too far too fast. Very little interaction and suddenly in love. The doctor begins to think of the kid as his in a way and everyone just rolls with it and it doesn't feel real.

I think the author did a good job with all the different POVs of the characters. Especially young Nathan. There is a childlike innocence the author portrays well here.

Overall it was an okay read but I really hope other editions are available with different page setup, if not now then in the near future.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens to those that rob, beat up and generally are bad people?

In this hospital they are taken away to another world to be a donor. But not in the sense of what you believe.

If you are visited by The Lizard Men be careful as you have been bad...very bad. And they will make you pay. Bit by bit.........as they make you wish you had not done anything wrong in the first place.

But as there power grows so does their wish to get more donors. Who can stop them? Who is the innocent who believes enough to stop them and save everyone?

The Lizard Men need one last donor but the fight is one to stop them. But who will succeed in this good old fashioned good v evil finale!

Okay you have to suspend belief but that is half the fun when reading books isn't it. Once that is done then the rest is plain sailing...characters are believable the storyline is not overstretched.....and the end is a......now for that you will need to read the book now won't you! :-)

[Sarah Hulcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly a different take on "the monsters are coming to get you" tale! This book has a good pace and involves interesting and realistic characters. The "bad guys" are real monsters (from another planet or space-time continuum) and must be faced down by someone who believes he or she actually CAN destroy them. There is pathos, hope, fear and dread; but also strength, concern and putting someone else first. Together, those qualities of the characters make this a worthwhile read for horror fans - especially horror/sci-fi fans.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five year old Nathan is brought to the emergency room after his mother's boyfriend breaks his arm and burns his hand to teach him a lesson. Dr Jason Gelman feels an instant rapport with the boy due to his painful childhood due to abuse. Nathan mentions the strangle dreams he is having to the doctor and Dr Gelman has a sensation of de'ja vu. Well written horror and hard to put down. Can Jason save Nathan from the horror he remembers or will they become donors? Great way to spend an afternoon in the sun.

[Lourdes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great horror book full of supernatural monsters and people with forgiving and courageous spirits who somehow find a way to forgive and still fight the bad. One reason I really liked it was because I've worked in hospitals and the descriptions just brought me back. The characters seemed real to me, although 5 year old Nathan was sometimes too mature for his age. I guess having gone through what he has in his short life was what forced him into being "mommy's little man."
I am already planning to read more from this author.

[Monica Skeens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a Horror Book, very descriptive with gory details. Well written story line with hospital being overtaken by an evil force attempting to do good by killing the Evil people who entered the hospital for treatment. The Evil force however drags in Dr's a nurse and a child patient to help them along with their killing of the Evil people. Recommended for people who are into Horror however this is not for the faint of heart. I received this as an ER book and I am glad I got to enjoy it.

[Benjamin Ethridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the more suspenseful, tense things I've read in a while. Wilson has definitely shown he can do action-driven plots, as well as more thoughtful, cerebral books (Traiteur's Ring). In THE DONORS his main characters are very likable and the Lizard men are brutal nasties I always looked forward to seeing again, despite their smell.

If you like fast-paced horror fiction, you're going to have to check this one out.

[Pam K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved this book through Librarything's member giveaway program.

Starting with little Nathan getting burned by big bad Steve, his mom's boyfriend, this book keeps you entranced. From the detailed torture supposedly to make the bad people feel remorse,to the agony of those caught up in the operations, to the bravery of Nathan and Jason. Jeffrey Wilson has given you it all.

[S.B. (Beauty in Ruins) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Donors is one of those rare books that manages to challenge, and indeed alter, your perceptions. I started the book in complete sympathy with the 'lizard men', so much so that I looked forward to their appearance on the page. It made me feel guilty, and a bit dirty, but I took no small amount of pleasure in the pain they inflicted upon the human monsters of the tale.

Until, that is, the course of the story began to change, and the certainties that I held were not only challenged, but ultimately proven wrong. It takes a skilled storyteller to build up that kind of monstrous allegiance, and then to tear it down - without coming across as a cheat - but Jeffrey Wilson deftly manages it. If you've ever thought that, just maybe, the end does sometimes justifies the means . . . and wondered what might be at the bottom of that slippery moral slope, then this book gives you a lot to think about.

What immediately struck me about the book is just how well Wilson immerses us in the voices of his characters. Dr. Gelman hits all the right notes in drawing the reader into his world of long hours, difficult decisions, and painful histories. You really get the sense that this is a man stretched thin, but passionate about what he does. Similarly, Nathan is pitch-perfect in creating the literary illusion of childhood, portraying a sense of vulnerability, innocence, and child-like wonder.

As for the lizard men, Wilson smartly keeps them shadowy and creepy, never quite putting them all the way out there for the reader to dissect. It's a gamble, but it maintains the suspense, and really helps sell that twist in perception I mentioned earlier. What they really are and where they come from isn't important. What is important is the role they play in the shared experiences of Dr. Gelman and Nathan. It takes a long time for that role to become clear, for their connection to prove itself, but it sets up a climactic battle that works as a climax, rather than just as a means of tying up the storylines.

Creepy and suspenseful, with definite heart, this is a horror story that keeps you engaged, builds a relationship with you, and ultimately allows you to exit with a smile of contentment upon your face. I find my greatest struggle with most horror novels is that the end never quite lives up to what has come before, but Wilson succeeds here where so many others have failed. Definitely worth a read.


Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins

[Shirley Kingery · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Donors is a thrilling, highly entertaining read; but it is not for the faint of heart or the squeamish, that's for sure.

It's a fast paced horror story, that's hard to put down once you start reading. A little boy must face his worst fears, shown to him in vivid night terrors, that are not dreams. Along the way, a doctor and a nurse, are drawn to him, and to each other; and all must face their own demons to join together in a battle of good versus evil; evil being demoniac beasts who prey upon living flesh and feed upon the suffering of their human prey, as their victims are being torn apart and devoured alive, bit by bit. (Like I said: graphic horror, not for the squeamish).

It is well written and the character development is amazing. You'll be grabbing the arm of your chair and sometimes left breathless as they forge into the bowels of hell to rescue each other, and loved ones, from their worst nightmare, "the Lizard men".

[Donny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fade to Black
Jeffrey Wilson
*** Spoiler Alert ***
Fade to Black is, according to the publisher, Jeffrey Wilson’s third novel with JournalStone Publishing. The author of “supernatural thrillers” The Donors (2012) and The Traiteur’s Ring (2011), this June 2013 release makes Wilson a prolific writer (considering that his “day job” is as a vascular surgeon), which is impressive in its own right. The publisher’s tip sheet includes an endorsement by Tom Young, and if you are familiar with Young, this might also impress you. I am not. Nor am I familiar with Wilson’s work. However, the blurb at Library Thing seemed interesting, so I put my hand up to receive an advance copy for review.
My task was delayed by other (paying) commitments; however, once I began to read, I became immediately entrenched, if only to see how things played out. Almost immediately, Fade to Black put me in mind of Bruce Joel Rubin’s Jacob’s Ladder, but with fewer horror-like influences. Don’t get me wrong, I love Jacob’s Ladder, have had the opportunity to meet Rubin and discuss the screenplay with him, so my expectations were high for Wilson’s book.
I was further gratified, as a Vietnam-era Navy veteran myself (with a Vietnam vet Marine Corps spouse) that Wilson actually has combat experience, medical experience, and served as a Navy Officer with the Marines. These are all important to the plot of Fade to Black.
The action – such as there is – is therefore believable. The main character, Sergeant Casey Stillman/Jack, experiences flashbacks to combat in Fallujah that may or may not have included him. Meanwhile, his life as a devoted husband, father of a near-toddler girl, and high school science teacher seems to be surely disintegrating into madness. He seeks medical then psychological assistance; he accommodates his wife’s wishes and is mindful of her fears, and – the thing Jack shares with Sgt. Stillman – he most definitely loves his wife and daughter and is loath to be separated from them. How this is all resolved constitutes the meat of the novel.
From time to time, I enjoy fiction about the afterlife; Kevin Brockmeier’s The Brief History of the Dead comes to mind as one of my favorites (and it isn’t nearly as scary as Rubin’s or Wilson’s work). And if the reader already has ideas or theories about how the afterlife works – well, that determines to some degree how much he or she is willing to accept the premise of the work in question. I wondered why Casey and Jack had different names, although (to my recollection) Jack’s surname is never mentioned while Casey is most often referred to as Sgt. (“Sar’n”) Stillman. Even his surname may give one a bit of a hint as to his real physical condition. The hints and foreshadowing abound for an alert reader; however, this doesn’t interfere with the enjoyment of the novel. While not as “heavy” as Jacob’s Ladder or, say, Marlantes’ Matterhorn, it is also by no means a “beach read.”
In short, if you enjoy forays into speculations about the afterlife, don’t mind some combat action (the first chapter is the seminal battle around which the plot revolves), and respect the fact that the author knows about what he writes, then pick up a copy of Fade to Black. I warrant that once you pick it up, you won’t be able to put it down.

[Carl Alves · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Donors is a macabre tale that spins between the world of the known and a shadowy world where these creatures known as the Lizard Men prey on unsuspecting victims of a hospital. Their aim is to inflict as much pain and suffering on their victims as they can, meanwhile harvesting skin and organs from the donors. Nathan, a young boy who finds himself in the hospital after being horribly burned by his mother’s boyfriend, has a special gift that makes him a threat to the Lizard Men. Together with Jason Gelman, the ER doc who first saw him when he was admitted to the hospital, they must stop the Lizard Men from claiming more victims, including their loved ones.

This is a novel that puts front and center of it the eerie and the creepy. There are many chilling moments throughout the novel. The Lizard Men are unique horror villains who have sinister motives, even when at first it appears they are delivering their malice to people who deserve it. There are times along the way where some aspects of the story are a little difficult to understand, but the ending to the story is well set up. The tension continues to build throughout the narrative and the climax has a fiery conclusion. If you enjoy good horror, then this is a novel you will want to read.

Carl Alves - author of Blood Street

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nathan is a five year old boy that has found his was to the ER after an “accident” with his mother’s boyfriend, Steven. There he meets Dr. Jason Gelman. Jason sees himself in Nathan since he grew up in an abusive situation too. Enter Mr. Clarke and Mr. Smith, two strange cops that are there to question Steven about the accident with Nathan.

Mr. Clarke and Mr. Smith are creatures that can disguise their appearance. But they are attracted to the hospital with its pain and suffering. There they harvest organs from patients and feed on the fear and pain of their victims. Jason can also see the creatures and is trying everything he can to protect Jenny, the nurse that he loves, Nathan, and other kids safe.

This is a great horror story. I couldn’t put the book down. I was so wrapped up in the book that when I put it down it was all I could think about. The setting was well written and I just fell in love with poor Nathan. I admit that even though the creatures were supposed to be evil, I couldn’t help cheering for them. It’s a rare story that has me cheering for the bad guys.

This is a great, gory horror story. It has a little bit of everything including a great plot. You have to check this book out.

I received this book from the Early Reviewer Program with Library Thing in exchange for an honest review.

[Joyce Gilmour · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Donors by Jeffrey Wilson is probably not a book that I would have picked off the shelf to read, but when presented the opportunity to read it for MWSA, I chose to “get out of my box” and try a genre outside of my comfort zone. The cover alone would have scared me away, however, I am glad to say that I accomplished the reading of The Donors. I found myself wanting to constantly get back to reading this book…it drew me into its pages—scary as they tended to be.

Jeffrey Wilson created believable characters that pulled me into their story. Nathan, a young boy, abused by his mom’s ex-boyfriend, ends up in the hospital where Jason works, and this is how these two are drawn into the action together. Nathan and Jason “are bound together by their common legacy, and they alone seem to share the ability to see the demons for what they are.” They must work together to stop the evil creatures.

If you have strong visual abilities, you might want to be careful where and when you read The Donors. Author Wilson does a fantastic job of describing scenes and events—however, readers beware! You will “see” things that you will want to forget and definitely won’t want to take them into your dreams. So if you enjoy the dark and scary, then The Donors is a book for you.

[Eirian Houpe · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting premise, though poorly delivered.

The premise of Wilson’s book was reasonable enough, but it could have been a far more frightening and gripping book if time had been taken to build the suspense, and not give away too much too soon; to allow the story to build more slowly and to show more of what was going on, rather than tell all there was to know. Most of the ‘horror’ in the book came from half-heartedly written descriptions of a person being eaten alive by the bad guys in the story… and it was never really explained who those bad guys were, or where they came from – though it was overly stated as to what they were.

Although the characters were likable enough, they were somewhat two dimensional and overly stereotypical. There was nothing really outstanding about any of them. I thought at times Wilson overdid the effort to make the narrative sound childlike, since one of the main characters in the story is a young boy, it made for a very self-conscious text.

In the end I felt I didn't really understand the 'how' of the defeat of the bad guys either... other than a poorly hidden admonition for people to believe in themselves and anything is possible. With a rewrite, the book could be much better than it is currently.

[Richard Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I received a copy of this book from the author and/or publisher. All requested is a honest review and all expected was a copy of the book.

This is a book that I wasn't sure if I should give it 3 stars or 5. The reason is this book I just couldn't get interested in and I don't know why but I would read a few pages, put it down, then read a few pages and put it down. It wasn't until about the last 10% of the book that I really became interested. As I said I don't know why I couldn't get interested in the book because it seemed to have everything,It had human interest, a good story line and supernatural monsters. While the adults in the story could have used a little more backstory, that was a minor point. The story seemed to flow well with no jumping from one segment to another but did seem to flow but even with that for me it just didn't grab me and give me that must read the next page feeling.

However I am sure that many people will disagree with me and more power to them. I did enjoy the book but not as much as some I have read lately.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book through a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway. I had some conflicting emotions while I was reading this book. When I first read the summary, it reminded me of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode, 'Killed by Death.' I have to say that I was very happy that this was not exactly the case. Instead of a 'monster/creature' killing the children in the book, it tortures people who hurt them. However, that was the best concept the author had. I liked that there were multiple people who knew about the 'Lizard men,' whether that was good or bad (and we did get to see those consequences). I did not like that certain parts of the book were from the Lizard men's point of view, but we never get to have any background on them. It was sort of annoying to read 'the lizard men' every few pages. Overall, this book had some good concepts, but was not enough to keep me keenly interested for long periods of time.

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Halloween aproaches, I find that reading spooky books is a fun way to honor the season. I'll be honest there were times when I was creeped out and others that eerie chill that creeps up your spine is more accurate way to describe this book. An another review mentioned that Mr. Wilson knows how to creep you out with his words to move the story along. I have to agree with this reviewer. I can read creepy books but watching horror movies sometimes is more than I can take. I find that Mr. Wilson's book is very much in the keeping with horror movies where you can see where the plot is going but are unable to stop it any way. Quite frankly I'm glad the story is over because I can move on to my next good read. I look forward to Mr. Wilson's next book creepy or not.