Drift: Don't... Book 8

Don't... #8

by Jack L. Pyke

“My head. My body. My fucking heart behind it all.” – Jack Harrison.

Jack’s quiet confidence calls it out—he’ll get Martin back. It’s there in his soft smile to Jan, in the private brush of touch to the back of Gray’s hand. Jack’s meetings with his psychiatrist Dr Halliday are never missed, care-plans are adjusted with each no-show from Martin, and behind it all, Jack’s hold on to Gray and Jan is never more him: never more intimate.

Yet something tastes off to Gray.

Like Jan, he’s only ever known Jack alongside Martin.

But now Jack has no mask to hide beneath…?

No Martin?

When a homeless youth with the heart and soul of a Gothic romantic drifts into Gray’s hall, his fingerprints acid-burned away, masking all identity – the concern is never more there for Jack. Jack’s longer, slower drift into the… Unknown.

Genres: M M Romance, Dark, LGBT, BDSM, Transgender, Thriller, Mystery

574 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 9, 2024

About the author

Jack blames her dark writing influences on living close to one of England’s finest forests. Having grown up hearing a history of kidnappings, murders, strange sightings, and sexual exploits her neck of the woods is renowned for, Jack takes that into her writing, having also learned that human coping strategies for intense situations can sometimes make the best of people have disastrously bad moments. Redeeming those flaws is Jack’s drive.

Reviews

[Jack Pyke]

OUT NOW!

I'm so late doing this, as Drift was out a few days ago, but... Yay! Drift, book 8 in the Award-winning Don’t series, is finally -- alive!!!



It's taken a while, but it's perfect timing as the Don't... lads are up for one hell of a dark... explosive Christmas!!! *does exceedingly dark romance dance*

Usual very dark triggers apply, and I mean if it’s out there this one has it, and then some!

Links:

Amazon US

https://www.amazon.com/Drift-Dont-Jac...

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Drift-Dont-J...

Drift:

“My head. My body. My fucking heart behind it all.” – Jack Harrison.

Jack’s quiet confidence calls it out—he’ll get Martin back. It’s there in his soft smile to Jan, in the private brush of touch to the back of Gray’s hand. Jack’s meetings with his psychiatrist Dr Halliday are never missed, care-plans are adjusted with each no-show from Martin, and behind it all, Jack’s hold on to Gray and Jan is never more him: never more intimate.

Yet something tastes off to Gray.

Like Jan, he’s only ever known Jack alongside Martin.

But now Jack has no mask to hide beneath…?

No Martin?

When a homeless youth with the heart and soul of a Gothic romantic drifts into Gray’s hall, his fingerprints acid-burned away, masking all identity – the concern is never more there for Jack. Jack’s longer, slower drift into the… Unknown.


As ever, thank you to @drawnbyaggie for all of her gorgeous Drift artwork!

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

**** 4.5 Stars ****

Convenient coincidences are usually a major pet peeve of mine when reading a book, but I make an exception for this author because her writing takes me to places I never want to leave.

Jack Pyke weaves a web of intricate darkness that I'm completely consumed by, trapped in her disturbing yet fascinating world.



You might think, What a nightmare! But it’s not—I kept looking at the indicator of time left in the book, stressed out because I didn't want to escape from this. I’m happily tangled in the webs of deranged characters and their insane reality.



Shout out to the new characters! I ended up extremely attached to them. So well done!

This is absolutely addictive. Mind-bending, unsettling, and brilliant—it's mindfuck fiction at its finest. If you're a fan of this series, this is a must-read.

⛔Not for the faint-hearted.

[Jack Pyke]

I'm so late doing this, as Drift was out a few days ago, but... Yay! Drift, book 8 in the Award-winning Don’t series, is finally -- alive!!!



It's taken a while, but it's perfect timing as the Don't... lads are up for one hell of a dark... explosive Christmas!!! *does exceedingly dark romance dance*

Usual very dark triggers apply, and I mean if it’s out there this one has it, and then some!

Links:

Amazon US

https://www.amazon.com/Drift-Dont-Jac...

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Drift-Dont-J...

Drift:

“My head. My body. My fucking heart behind it all.” – Jack Harrison.

Jack’s quiet confidence calls it out—he’ll get Martin back. It’s there in his soft smile to Jan, in the private brush of touch to the back of Gray’s hand. Jack’s meetings with his psychiatrist Dr Halliday are never missed, care-plans are adjusted with each no-show from Martin, and behind it all, Jack’s hold on to Gray and Jan is never more him: never more intimate.

Yet something tastes off to Gray.

Like Jan, he’s only ever known Jack alongside Martin.

But now Jack has no mask to hide beneath…?

No Martin?

When a homeless youth with the heart and soul of a Gothic romantic drifts into Gray’s hall, his fingerprints acid-burned away, masking all identity – the concern is never more there for Jack. Jack’s longer, slower drift into the… Unknown.


As ever, thank you to @drawnbyaggie for all of her gorgeous Drift artwork!

[Katerina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, my dears, I have to tell you, there has never been anything in my life that has kept me interested in the subject for so long (except my husband - haha).

Next year it will be ten years since I got to know Jack, Jan and Gray. And it is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Every year around Christmas time I bring the boys into my house and spend the time between the years with them. I am so absorbed in the Don't world that only the prospect of Christmas presents can lure me out from behind the stove (give me a reason to get up from the couch).

So this year is going to be a particularly great time because the boys are back.

Only those who have got to know the Don't universe know the dangers of the spin cycle that you put yourself through. How heartbreaking the journey is. How exciting and unbearable at times.

Dear people, I am back. And it is THAT mood. Yes. I feel it, just like at the very beginning. So good to be back.

Jack, Jack, Jack..... you are so good. You did it again. And I love you so much for that. Love, love, love

[Darrel Oglesby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah! Wasn’t expecting that, like walking into your home where everything is all familiar and safe then all of a sudden someone jumps out of the shadows…..is it a surprise? Is it just a friend? Do you run? Scream? Have you met your end? Do you just stand there and piss yourself out of fear? This is the rollercoaster of emotions that happens in the Don’t series. I knew I was returning to London and Gray’s manor expecting Jack, Jan, Light, Simon, and hopefully Martin to all make their appearances, then hello new character with an attachment to the dark past. Enter Drift the very young street kid with hauntingly familiar eyes and a connection to Martin’s youth. Of course during the discovery of Drift a serial killer is on the loose in the UK and the possibility of a world ending illness would have Gray in full culler mode.

I completely ran the gambit of emotions through this read, and even had to reread to make sure that I didn’t miss anything in all of my shock, awe, and excitement. I have been with this series from the beginning and every new book just hits perfectly and has me begging for more. This one ended with a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to see what awaits us next, the sweet sweet torture of anticipation 🖤🖤🖤

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh! Why do you do this to me Jack L. Pyke?!? Probably because you know I'll love it and keep reading.

So here we are, back with the whole gang. A couple of years have passed in the timeline and there has been definite growth in all the characters, but as some things change, others stay the same. Jack is struggling to bring Martin back, while Gray is still working on his relationship with his son. That leaves Jan trying to keep things together. Let's throw some brutal (and graphic) murders into the mix with potential ramifications that could throw the world into chaos and require Gray to go full-on culler once again to save his (ever-expanding) family. And yeah, this would be the Don't... series without a nasty surprise or two from Martin himself now would it?

Jack Pyke, with her unique voice, once again drew me right back into the story and into the lives of these men, it was like I never left. She also had me caring for some new characters, and hating some others so easily, and worrying whether they would make it out of this alive.

That brings me to the ending of this installment. I was so invested in my reading it took me a while to ask myself, wasn't this supposed to be the last book? I was about 90% in when I finally checked and realized that this couldn't possibly be the end. I messaged Jack and she kindly let me know that due to the word count, the final book was being split into two. I then happily read on and ended the story with a cry of Noooooo!!! (in full Shatner Khaaan!! style) Because damn, what a way to keep me waiting. To be continued .....

[Abstract Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing addition to the series!

Always an incredible journey with Jack L. Pyke’s writing!

Drift, novel 8 of the series, takes the lads to the next journey of their lives, set 2 years after the events in Natural Born Cullers.

It’s another instalment of action packed gorgeous psych mystery thriller, amazing twists and turns all wrapped together with the usual stunning writing by Jack L. Pyke.

Couldn’t put it down, no matter how many times I’ve read!

Massive congratulations on the release, standing ovation ALWAYS to the talent and craft of Jack L. Pyke and simply cannot wait for the next one…

[SakuraReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in less than 24 hrs. Almost no sleep. Couldn't put it down. And still, I'd give it 3.5 ⭐️.

This one felt a little rushed in comparison to the others. I think I understand why the author made the decisions behind that, but still. It also felt a little repetitive, like we are circling around the same issues, or unearthing them, revisiting them.

I like to see the character development. But not the switch of roles for certain characters...

I thought this was the last book... this is so bittersweet.

I have to say, even though I'm used to it by now, it is sometimes so hard to understand what the characters are saying 🤣 such a creative way to write, to feel the "psychopaths" even on the page itself. I admit to either reading a page thrice to understand or just skim through some stuff and kind of get the gist of it...





With spoilers:
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I was happy to have Martin back, happy to see him handle things better and more maturely. But in turn, it was Jack who was behaving "out of character", and it was Ok until it was because of him that Drift became scared. But it was no problem, because the book is rushing so much, that no 5 min later they were having a heart-to-heart and bonding.

This rushing threw me off... I know Drift can piece things together incredibly fast just like his father, and maybe that's why it should make sense that he is quick to catch on with everything. Which I guess allows the reprieve of writing the whole drama around "lost and found" family, like it was with Light. While grateful, I didnt have to go through all that, cutting the chase was not it for me. However smart Drift is, how could he possible figure out in less than 5 min who is who, and immidiately know who his father was? When he didnt even know he had living relatives? No information/need to find information whatsoever 👀

Another quemical war? I know it's "different" than the last, but it feels like the same, only on a bigger scale.

Having Drift exist, as sweet as it is, shifts the focus from Jack, and I was hoping that wouldnt happen so much.

I have to say I miss the MC club... I was hoping maybe slowly we could go back to it someway, somehow...

I thought this book could be more about Jack finding Martin and making peace with him being there. But a new issue is brought up and not acknowledged as much (again because Drift distracts of that), it's a valid issue I didnt see coming, and I was hoping we could explore it more...

I was not sure whether this was the last book or not, I dont even know if the next is the last, or if there ever will be a last one. I dont want the story to end, but I also dont want to wait 2 years to see how it continues 😭

Ugh... but yeah I guess to be continued in 2026

[Aethena Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

TEvery paragraph is a poem.

My favorite books tend to have a lyrical quality to them, and this one was no exception. I now have another new favorite book. I honestly loved every page of this book. I wanted to sit down and read the whole thing at once, but I kept stopping to contemplate what I had just read. Reading two or three chapters at a time seemed the best pace for me because my head was spinning with all the events and emotions. The suspense, the tension, the tender moments between Jack, Jan, and Gray, the new characters Drift and West, the dark London setting, and the decidedly dark and twisted plot left me gasping a time or two, or three.

I adore this book and this series because of Jack Harrison. No matter how much trouble Jack brings to the table, how hard his issues are to deal with, or how many times his family has to clean up the aftermath, they still support and love him. I keep returning for all the angst and trauma in this series (and this book had plenty, like all the rest) because, at the end of the day, family matters to Jack, and Jack matters to his family. If you have read and enjoyed any of the books in the Don't series, this is a must-read. For me, it is a must reread. I plowed through over a hundred books this year, including a few that I considered five-star reads, but this one was my favorite. This was the perfect way to end the 2024 reading year. 2025 is going to have some serious competition for best read...

[Abstract Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing addition to the series!

Always an incredible journey with Jack L. Pyke’s writing!

Drift, novel 8 of the series, takes the lads to the next journey of their lives, set 2 years after the events in Natural Born Cullers.

It’s another instalment of action packed gorgeous psych mystery thriller, amazing twists and turns all wrapped together with the usual stunning writing by Jack L. Pyke.

Couldn’t put it down, no matter how many times I’ve read!

Massive congratulations on the release, standing ovation ALWAYS to the talent and craft of Jack L. Pyke and simply cannot wait for the next one…

[Nathalaia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okokokokok. Ok. OK.

All right. I read all nine books over the span of some three weeks (and only because I spent one of those weeks desperately trying to get my hands on book 4.5 and 5, which I eventually DID 'cause the author is the absolute sweetest) and. Whoah. One day, in the not-so-far-of future, I am going to sit down with these books again and reread them, taking the time to digest everything at a slower pace. I don't feel I have missed anything with the fast reading, but some things might have hit harder if I slowed down a bit to feel it (I was near tears a time or two, but not enough to cry, which is saying a lot of how desperately I just needed to read on to know what happens next).

I am rating this book 5 stars because I genuinely do love it, and the characters. The characters and how they interact, their vices and virtues, flaws and values, close bonds and ugh. I love them. I love Jack, Jan, and Gray so much, and Light and Simon also fast won a special place in my heart. I live for any page they're on, all of them -- Martin, too. Bastard, but getting to know him throughout the books also means I'd protect him with my fictional life. Drift is also lovely, as I get to know him, and West. I get attached to the characters in the universe fast (at least the ones I can tell are meant to stay around, lol).

Now, do I perhaps prefer the first, say, four-five books to the latter ones? Yes -- mostly because the introduction of first I-dosing seemed so far-fetched a thing (though I did a brief google search and accepted it) and a whole damn chemical warfare hitting London now by a bunch of kids? The scales have been upped for sure, and overall, I guess it makes sense for the characters and MI5/MI6, but it's juuust testing that part of me that reads for the fun of it without thinking too much -- meaning the more I enjoy a book, its world and characters, the more forgiving I am of things I might have judged harder in other books.

Also, Light's introduction as Gray's kid was lovely, and I adore that man, but now with Martin also having a son... I'll accept it, because I love them all, but errr. Convenient coincidences or whatever someone said. Someone also pointed out this book seemed a bit rushed, and, yeah, maybe? I am not overly critical of books I genuinely enjoy reading, so I didn't really think much of it, but I can definitely see the argument.

I digress. This series has a special place in my heart, and I was ecstatic to have more Light/Simon alongside Jack/Jan/Gray (and Martin) in this book. I feared we wouldn't see much of Light and Simon in this, but we DID, and I'm HAPPY. And the angst in this series -- ugh, I live for it. I inject it into my veins like a drug I cannot be without. LOVE the angst.

I look forward to seeing what the next (final???) book has in store for us, and how it picks up after this. It has the chance to maaaybe change this from being my least favourite book in the series to... at least getting up there. Or maybe not. But again: Love the whole series, and I'm definitely gonna bully anyone I think might be interested in this kind of story into reading. (Working hard on that as I write this.)

Many thanks to the author for creating this world and these characters, and sharing them! I'll never be the same, now or after the next book. I'm sure of it, and I dread it (look forward to it).

[J.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pyke delivers another intense story that completely upends everything we knew about the major players in this fascinating series. Martin may be "gone" but he is still very much a present element in the lives of Jack, Jan, and Gray. Pyke also incorporates real-life changes to the world in which this series is set to craft dramatic changes to the over-arching storyline that never goes where I expect it. The subject matter of this dark series and Pyke's unique storytelling style aren't for everyone, but I count myself a loyal follower -- even more so after the revelations of this book and the pivotal moment at which we leave our heroes at the close of this story.

Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.

[Casey Anger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, this emotionally intense book explores love, identity, and self-discovery with remarkable depth. The characters are so soul capturing and complex, the evolving relationships are filled with such raw vulnerability and authentic emotions. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and the story balances heart-pounding tension with such raw emotions. Pyke skillfully captures the fluidity of identity and the challenges of love, making this an unforgettably beautiful read. And the ending! I was left trying to catch my breath.
Could not recommend this series more.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another thrilling book

The beginning was a bit slow. I spent a lot of time confused about what was happening and who everyone was. But it started to pick up and really enjoyed. Loved all the Gray, Jack, Jan, and company story/chapters. Not a fan of the Drift and teenagers chapters. Wish there was more Light and Simon.

Looking forward to the next book.

Needed one more round of edits as I noticed a lot of typos.

[P.T. Denys · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you try to tell your 10-year-old about the major cliffhanger ending of the book you just read without telling her just what kind of book you just read. But you have to tell someone because WTF just happened and WTF are you in for next?

Because we couldn’t love Ash, Chase, and Johhny, enough and then Light and Brin, and now Drift and West.

And we walk in missing Martin so much.

And in true Pyke fashion – we learn as we go and we never get all the details until it hits us over the head and we’re left trying to put things together like Jack or Martin coming out of a fog because WTF just happened and how?

The next one can’t come soon enough…can I beta that one please???

[Iliane · Rating 5 out of 5]

You did it again Jack!
Like with all your books, I couldn't put it down 'til finished.

This one felt different but I liked it. It was not what I was expecting but in a good way. I loved Drift and the new characters and I'm dying to know how they're gonna solve this mess.

Please don't make us wait too long for your next book!!

[Trash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the writing style disjointed, more do than previously, maybe my noodle is getting old but I didn't enjoy it as much as the earlier books. Second half redeemed the slog in the 1st half.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

pure perfection

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need thisssss book now😭💕 I cannot wait!! Xx