Find Your Way Back To Me

by William J. Donahue

Retirees Jodi and Martin have fled their home in Phoenix and absconded to a falling-down farmhouse on the edge of Navajo territory. They chose the remote location not for its peace and quiet, but to evade a malignant otherworldly entity named Pappaduffus who has been terrorizing Martin since childhood.

When a mysterious and catastrophic infection lands Martin in the ICU, his medical team traces his ailment to an absurd the sting of a rare and deadly scorpion from the other side of the globe. Jodi suspects the work of Pappaduffus. As Martin’s condition deteriorates, Jodi realizes she must confront her husband’s demonic oppressor—and go through hell in the process—for any hope of pulling him back from the brink of death.

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2025

About the author

William J. Donahue lives in a small but well-guarded fortress somewhere on the map between Philadelphia and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. When he's not writing fiction, entertaining his cats, or wandering quietly in the woods, he works as a magazine editor and features writer.

Reviews

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, to be honest I feel this book won't be for everyone. It's very much written like the second book of a trilogy, but ends the way a duology would: leaving a few questions unanswered, sure, but still managing to provide much needed closure to a story full of grief and loneliness. Which is surely weird, since there's no reason for grief or loneliness in the way the story develops, at least till we reach the end. And yet the whole book works better as a gut-punch of grief horror, once the story settles on following Jodi, whose husband lies comatose in the ICU for practically the entire book, probably brain dead with no chance of recovery. This is a horror novel, though, and it has a lot to say about the role of the supernatural, specifically the demonic, in human life. So this is neither a story of medical or psychological horror, as one might be misled to think by merely skimming the pages. It's a slow-burn supernatural story, essentially dealing with the repercussions of another story, which has happened just before (in the non-existent Book I, so to speak!).

Martin, Jodi's husband, has a demon attached to him since childhood. Not possessing him; just feeding on his pain and misfortune, taking care of him in case his feeding source dies (during the Vietnam War, for example). So Martin spends most of his life with the evil entity on his side: he gets married, has children, yet Jodi never realizes what's going on with him. Until Mattin does try to get rid of the Demon, and partially succeeds - but Jodi and he, now an old couple, have to leave their home in Phoenix and move to a farm outside a small town in Arizona. And that's the point the book begins!

The story moves slow, but is written with great skill and empathy for the characters, I found it impossible to put the book down before the end. The author should be praised both for his brilliant characterization and the subtlety with which he conveys ideas of resilience and hope. The horror elements were rather uninspired, involving little to no novelty - but were employed with care and precision, and succeeded wonderfully in giving several opportunities to the characters to shine.

The ending is bound to be extremely divisive. A sudden turn deeply into the lore regarding the demon and Martin's ritual takes place right before the culmination of Jodi's involvement, and doesn't seem to add much, though I may be wrong here and just missing an Easter Egg or a connection to the author's other books.

I recommend the book to horror readers who enjoy emotionally heavy stories with fully fleshed out characters and tons of heart!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jim Holscher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to BookSirens and Manta Press for the ARC! Here we're following Jodi and her husband Martin who abandoned their house near Phoenix to move to Crum Arizona for a fresh start.
Martin is in a coma after a medical emergency. I loved the venom expert character!
Mr.Donahue was great at putting me right in the action. Mr. Donahue is very, very good at writing interesting characters it is easy to pull for. Jodi is both sympathetic and strong. She is someone it would be nice to meet in person.

The end sort of petered out. I really didn't like Martin's story line mostly because I generally don't like books that float back and forth in time unless there is a good reason. I don't think there was a great one here.
I would recommend this book to readers of cozy mysteries and even medical mysteries.

[Nicola Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some really good quotes relating to life and grief the plot wasn’t anything I could shout out about this book had me there for the quotes which I could really relate to and I really feel a lot of people will relate

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like its focus on an older couple in a vivid Arizona setting. As someone who lives in the Grand Canyon State, I appreciated seeing rural Arizona on the page; the heat, the isolation, the rugged landscape make it a great backdrop for something sinister taking root.

The story's two narrators, Martin and Jodi, have distinct voices, and the pacing kept me reading. I enjoy that the horror isn't saved for a final burst. The tension simmers throughout, as memory and present action intersect. However, because so many of the encounters with the entity unfold in the past, some immediacy and peril are diminished. Yet it is a riveting tale of a malevolent presence shadowing a life.

In a few chapters the writing is sharp and atmospheric, especially the bear scene which coalesces beautifully, blending action, suspense, and fear.

However, the portrayal of Tuba City, a real community within the sovereign Navajo Nation, reads as a generic rural town, lacking the language and presence of the people who actually live there. Tuba City is 90% Native American, yet none of that community or culture appears in the interactions with the book's white protagonists while in Tuba City. This is a problematic representation of a real community.

Additionally, the inclusion of self-harm, suicidal ideation, mental illness, and eating disorders repeatedly appear in the book but are not handled with the depth those subjects deserve. Racially charged language goes unexamined, which dulled my trust in the story's moral center.

This is a book that builds dread slowly and gives its characters moral weight. I only wish that the same care were extended to the people, place, and sensitive topics.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Courtney Keating · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of ARC reading this book and have to say while it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s about to drop perfectly for October vibes. It had elements of horror and suspense. It ranks low on gore/ scare level - 1/10, making it suitable for people who are exploring the genre. I absolutely adore the characters and found that unlike other books of its genre, the characters were extremely well written. My favorite book quote of the year goes out to this book “"Rainbows and rain," he said. "As silly as it sounds, you can't have one without the other. Life is a wonderland, but not every day's going to be a birthday party."

[Wendy Horn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel cheated after reading this book. I spent time investing in characters and the hope of a horror for an ending that was as confusing as disappointing. Jodi was supposed to be spunky but ended up being unlikable. So many chances to really build these characters seemed abandoned. Even the little gray man seemed forced. The story meandered never really catching. Too many areas I found myself skimming to try and get to better parts. The read was bumpy at best. I did receive an advanced copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily

[Melissa-Sue Fitzpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a refreshing change to have a story follow characters at a much more mature stage of life. The kind of life experience that comes with age allows for a deeper development of the characters and the themes explored, particularly love, and of course grief. Which is exactly what this story offered. The author effortlessly tells the story from the present tense, as well as insights from the past.

We follow Jodi's current journey navigating Martin's deteriorating state as he lays unconscious in ICU following a bizarre incident. We also get flashbacks from various stages of Martin's life (childhood, wartime, adulthood), which provides deeper context and insight into his experiences with his demon as he travels through life, and his struggles to free himself from its grip.

While there is certainly a tone of horror (supernatural, demons, witchcraft), what I really liked about this story were the more profound musings surrounding family, hardships, love, and loss.

Exceptionally and beautifully written, the detail was evocative and created vivid imagery, in an effortless way that wasn't gratuitous. The story was complex and layered, well-paced and thought provoking. It made me laugh, and it made me cry.

My only feedback is that there were some moments that felt unnecessary to the story, which only become apparent once you realise they wouldn't be touched on again. Not plot holes per se, but they didn't add anything to the story. For example, Jodi's walk to the mesa, and the other ICU patient. Unless I entirely missed the point, it had no significance.

Thank you to BookSirens, Manta Press & of course William J. Donahue for the opportunity to read the advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Overall I really enjoyed this, very unique story. I would definitely recommend.

[Dannielle Hardenstine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be honest, when I first read “little grey man” I was unsure. What am I reading? But I’m so glad I kept going. What a fun and unique story. I absolutely don’t want to give any spoilers but I loved the way the story seamlessly moved from the present to all throughout the past without ever feeling lost. I did not want to put the book down!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ef Deal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The opening chapter of this novel is a masterclass in Poe's theory of "unity of effect." Every word choice, every image, every sound solidly establishes the foundation of dread that leads us forward and backward through time as Martin Avec-Georges suffers unbearable, dehumanizing decay from the sting of a rare species of scorpion. In his coma, he relives his moments wrestling with vicious abuse from his father, the devastating horror of the Vietnam war, a GSW from a convenience story holdup, and extreme depression, all of which feed the hat man, a parasitic demon from another dimension who feeds on Martin's suffering and makes certain Martin survives it all so as not to lose his food source, even as Martin tries in vain to rid himself of this spiritual incubus.

But Martin is not the central figure of the novel. His dealings with the hat man form the background for his wife's passage through the stages of grief, deftly couched in conversations with her daughter, with the doctors, with visitors, even with strangers. Jodi is Martin's anchor in life. It's not so much that she's strong-willed; she has a path to follow, and nothing deters her, not even the assault on her from the hat man.

From a personal perspective, I could not help thinking of Martin's condition as a metaphor for cancer, not just because the hat man literally consumed Martin, but because Jodi's emotional journey keeping vigil over Martin in the hospital paralleled my own as I faced wildly invasive breast cancer in 3 forms of devastation. Confronting death and the threat of death redefines a person, and this novel is a tale of Jodi redefining her existence after immense devastation.

But make no mistake: This is a horror novel, and the horror is real, invasive, terrifying, and provocative. It will challenge your perspective of hell and the afterlife. The Hat Man phenomenon takes on teeth and tentacles, and where he takes you, through Martin, is a place of despair and desolation.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to BookSirens and Manta Press for the ARC! Find Your Way Back to Me is a beautifully haunting story that blends grief, memory, and the supernatural in a deeply human way. What I loved most is that this book centers on older characters people who have lived, loved, lost, and carry the weight of their past. It’s not about teenage heartbreak or first love; it’s about lifelong bonds, complicated history, and the ache of trying to move forward when part of your heart is still reaching back. The author handles grief with honesty and tenderness, showing how it twists into guilt, longing, and even hope.

The atmosphere is emotional and eerie at the same time. The haunted house vibes are metaphorical and literal, giving the story a gothic edge without losing the emotional core. The writing is vivid and immersive, and the pacing allows the tension and heartbreak to slowly build. I loved the character depth and the exploration of how far someone would go for the people they’ve lost. There were a few slower spots, but overall, the story delivered emotional impact, mystery, and healing in a way that felt satisfying and real.

This is a grief story wrapped in a ghost story and I think so many readers will see themselves in it. It’s haunting in more ways than one, and it lingers after you close the book.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story about Martin, his wife Jodi, and his otherworldly companion Pappaduffus unfolds in alternating chapters of past and present. The chapters representing the past are mostly Martin's history from the age of 8, when Pappaduffus entered his life, to the present. Although I wouldn't have expected it when I started reading this novel, especially because I was hoping the horror element would be more intense throughout the book, I really enjoyed the journey through Martin's life. That being said, I also loved the snarky character of Jodi and would be interested in reading a spin-off story with her possibly being terrorized more by Pappaduffus or some other entity.

This book had very few editing and grammatical issues, but I found myself frustrated by Roy, the cat being referred to as "it" instead of her (made clear earlier she was a female) in the final chapter. Also, I'm left bothered by the H.cavestanii... was it Pappaduffus's doing and what became of it once Martin tossed it away...???

All in all, I thought Find Your Way Back To Me was quite an original story, and reading it was time well spent.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[R.B. Shifman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting blend of mundane and cosmic horror — I read this book in one day. I can’t recall the last time I read a book of nearly 300 pages in one sitting. It had me hooked from the start, perhaps with something as simple as the sound of an axe chopping wood in the distance, perfectly timed to ramp the tension and insert a mystery (what’s about to happen and why?) within a mystery (what came before—why did these nice people flee to a remote house in the desert?) The author unfolds these mysteries with perfect pacing and a well-executed and well-explained flashback method. The tense/POV choices for the flashbacks vs the present scenes are well done, using present tense in the flashbacks to give them immediacy. The imperfect main characters, Jodi and, especially, Martin, are well drawn, their stories unwrapped in such a way that I cared what happened to them. This amped up the tension and kept me reading as they battled for their lives and souls. I made some assumptions about the plot based on the climax and satisfying resolution, which left a couple of things open ended in my mind. If you’re looking for a robust, generally well written, engaging cosmic horror with some prickly chills, this is it. Strongly recommend for horror fans.

[Tina Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where a mind can take you
Martin & Jodi have retired and moved to an old farmhouse just outside of Navajo land. They were looking forward to the peace & quiet of that location. What they did not count on was Martin getting bitten by something that was slowly killing him. What happens through the part of this story is what I think many people/families might go through, wondering, waiting, worrying, what is really going on inside their loved one, when in a coma? The other side of this story is the strange and horrific work of Pappaduffus, her husband's demonic 'oppressor'... the one who has both saved him and horrified him over the years. Like, while in this coma, what Martin can do... it makes this story overall many things, sad, strange, and wonderful.
The ending is one that I would want if I were in that position.
Thank you, William J. Donahue, for a story that works my mind and heart.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Donna D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. The writing is beautiful and paints a vivid picture of the lives and relationship of Jodi and Martin. I immediately was rooting for these two characters because of the way the author detailed their personalities both as a couple and as individuals. I especially loved Jodi’s kind yet spunky, fiery, don’t mess with me attitude. The dark elements of the story were awesome and showcased how life is not always as it seems and things don’t always go as planned. As much as I despised the Pappaduffus character, I found myself even growing somewhat fond of him by the end. This book will suck you in with its characters, realistic dialogue and a love story that transcends even the darkest of evils.

[Jim Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

You gotta love a horror author who introduces his story with a W.S. Merwin poem, and Bill Donahue doesn’t let the reader down. Donahue is a master at crafting compelling characters and quirky Martin Avec-Georges with his boatload of baggage and perky wife Jodi who doesn’t take crap from anyone are at the top of the list. But it doesn’t end there with pugnacious doctors absent bedside manners, a strong, likeable reservation cop, and a slimy creature from the netherworld. Like his characters, his settings are just as expertly devised, the coastal ruggedness of Maine and the red rock, mesa laden dessert world of Arizona. He tops it all off with a wild paranormal plot and page-turner of a story. A must read.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many times when I hear about a ‘good’ person dying; I wonder if there is a higher power deciding to use that person somewhere else. This book makes a story out of this hypothetical situation. Martin had it rough from the time he was young until the day he was bitten by the scorpion. He was able to make it home from Vietnam, he was able to find work at a time when people did not treat Vietnam Vets well and he had a good life with his family. When his demon fiend showed up, Martin found a way to deal with the pain and heartbreak his visits brought about and he was able to move on. The best part is when given the chance to have a different outcome; Martin stuck to his original plan and did not give in. So in the end, Martin really was a ‘good’ person.

[Natalie Dyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike other books in this genre, Donahue's novel was more about relationships than horror (though there was plenty of that as well). And it’s the relationships that drew me in. Because the protagonists, Martin and Jodi, are older, they faced much in their lives, much that tested their relationship. The difficulties in raising their children, the indiscretions, and most of all the existential threat of the demon that took its toll on both of them. What lingers after the last page has been turned is the love that bound them together through their mortal lives and beyond. I thank the author for sharing this story with us.

[H.A. Callum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a standout voice in horror? Donahue’s writing is always refreshing but never on the outside in the genre. The best horror writing is human at its core and Donahue is unmatched in tethering emotions to the primal fears stalking us at every age, every experience, every life defining moment. Find Your Way Back to Me is perfectly timed for the Halloween season and is sure to set readers on nervous edge from the moment that first page is turned. Get yours, because I’m not putting mine down.

[C.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gifted author. Outstanding narrative. Characters to root for, the character studies very insightful. And a horror to root against. Such beautiful, deep language throughout, where readers are not accustomed to seeing it in genre novels like this. It reminds me some of LCW Allingham's paranormal novella MUSE in how it deals with fantastical parasitic stalkers of the innocent. I highly recommend this read.

[Craig Simons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very pleased I chose this for my first ARC. It did take me a while to finish but I wanted to make sure I focused on it all so I could make sure to form my own opinion. I enjoyed the way the timelines meshed well together and would definitely read other works from this author. It's definitely different to the stories I normally read but I really enjoyed it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

eeeeeee this book was so good!! i really loved the way it all came back around in the end. such a good story with impressive build up, and it was a super fast read! i would’ve liked to have seen more of what came before, more specifically details of the night that really precipitated the events of the book. all in all, a good read!! i received an advance review copy for free, and i am leaving this review voluntarily

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Booksirens for a copy of the book to review!!

I really enjoyed this book overall! I felt as if this book was written about people I know. The characters were very grounded and life-like, making "the little Grey man" even more horrifying in contrast. The underlying love story was touching and the mother- daughter relationship was compelling. I would recommend this to someone looking for meaningful book.

[Wil Kirk]

This is a jolly ride up crazy shenanigans without a single safe exit. The characters are steel cold and irresistable while living in an unforgiving land of snakes and scorpions that will follow you even after you die, so don't get lazy and skip a wordle or you might miss what heaven is supposed to be about

[LCW Allingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Donahue book so far. Reminiscent of King’s Lisey’s Story, Find your Way Back to Me takes on the strangeness of intimacy in a long marriage when even your demons are marital property. Donahue has a unique understanding of how people work and how they bend when circumstances get really weird.

[Lee Bigelow Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been an absolute pleasure to read. Because the characters (Jodi, Martin, Pappaduffus) are so well developed and the settings are presented with such incredible sensory detail, I found scene after scene, no matter how otherworldly, to be utterly believable. Such is the case, I find, with all of William J. Donahue's stories.

[Codi Billingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a while to get into the book, but once I got half way through it, I was hooked and needed to know what happens at the end.

Not a book I would normally go for but I’m glad I did as I did enjoy it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Angela Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book!!! It was so original and unlike anything I’ve ever read. Enjoyed the main characters and their backstory. Will definitely recommend this to everyone that I talk to.

[John Bitsko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a very fast read. I was hooked from the opening pages.

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A couple trying to out run evil go to an old isolated home. They discover that the evil is still after them. Chilling read.

[Lyndsey Gollogly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a strange quirky little story i liked it but sometimes struggled to get through some bits.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.