Expiration Date [Paperback]

Eric Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 17, 2005

Your Days Are Numbered…And Clay Ryker Knows It.

Clay Ryker is a man with a dark past and an uncertain future. A failure in both business and marriage, he has come home after a decade away, hoping for a fresh start in the small Pacific Northwest town where he grew up.

But Clay harbors a terrible secret, one that even those closest to him don’t know. When increasingly sinister notes appear in the folds of his morning paper, Clay realizes that the truth is not so secret after all. Then people around him start dying and, with a serial killer on the loose, he discovers a terrible gift: he can foresee the timing of a person’s death–his or her expiration date.

As his newfound ability proves both a blessing and a curse, Clay’s foreknowledge could cost more than he can bear to lose. Working with ex-cop and investigator Vince Turney, Clay has no choice but to face up to the truth of his past. Will he find the courage to overcome an unspeakable evil, one that he himself may have empowered?

Editorial Reviews

Review

Endorsements for EXPIRATION DATE
By Eric Wilson


“With bravado and compelling prose, Eric Wilson is set to leave his mark on the world of fiction.”
–Ted Dekker, best-selling author of Thr3e and Black


“Eric Wilson is great addition to the ranks of Christian novelists. His exploration of God’s hidden workings and how they invade human lives is as needed as it is fun to read. Enjoy the adventure in Expiration Date, but don’t miss its ultimate question. Well done, Eric!”
–Jefferson Scott, author of
Operation: Firebrand–Deliverance 


“Eric Wilson is creating his own genre: one part factual history, one part present-day fiction, along with a potent dash of spiritual conflict. With plot twists and revelations that will make you hungry for the next chapter, Expiration Date is more proof that Eric Wilson and his unique storytelling style are here for the long haul. This book will leave you wondering how he comes up with such great stories–and how long we have to wait for the next!”
–Alison Strobel, author of Worlds Collide


“Expiration Date was more than a great read. I experienced this powerful story with the characters, my stomach knotting with each riveting plot twist. Eric Wilson is a master at weaving an intricate tale in which the stakes rise at every turn. Just when I thought I knew what to expect, another level of this multi-layered story would reveal even greater
spiritual proportions than first realized. Because of Expiration Date, Eric Wilson is now one of my favorite writers. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this talented novelist!”
–Tricia Goyer, author of From Dust and Ashes and Night Song



“With Expiration Date, Eric Wilson sets the bar even higher than he did with his debut novel, Dark To Mortal Eyes. Like a classic Hitchcock hero, Clay Ryker is an ordinary man caught in an extraordinary situation that forces him to risk everything to save his wife and child and even his own life. With a premise that won’t let go of you, Eric Wilson builds a story that twists and turns and keeps you going until the final, explosive climax.”
–Steven Womack, Edgar Award-winning author of By Blood Written



“Expiration Date is a first-rate thriller that provides page after page of skillful plots and sub-plots that climax to an electrifying conclusion. Eric Wilson is a masterful storyteller who lays a foundation of biblical truth on a canvas of contemporary culture and shows the clear blessings and consequences for those who follow or reject that truth.”
–Hamp Morrison, publisher, Nashville Christian Family Magazine

About the Author

Eric Wilson is the author of Dark to Mortal Eyes. A bible college graduate, he has a firm understanding of Scripture and doctrine, which he uses as a backdrop for the tough issues in his novels. Eric and his wife live with their two pre-teen daughters in Nashville, Tennessee.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (May 17, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578567459
• ISBN-13: 978-1578567454
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.1 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #380,882 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've written twelve novels:

1. Two Seconds Late (Feb. '12)
2. One Step Away
3. Valley of Bones
4. Haunt of Jackals
5. Field of Blood
6. Fireproof
7. Facing the Giants
8. Flywheel
9. A Shred of Truth
10. The Best of Evil
11. Expiration Date
12. Dark to Mortal Eyes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wilson delivers again!, May 18, 2005

By 

Brian Reaves (Anniston, AL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Expiration Date (Paperback)

Eric Wilson's latest thriller takes the concept of his first book up a notch. Clay Ryker finds himself with the "gift" of seeing the date of a person's death. Now he has to deal with it! Can he save the person, or is death inevitable for them?

Wilson continues to grow as a writer. While I enjoyed "Dark To Mortal Eyes", I found myself washed away in a tidal wave of characters right at the start. In "Expiration Date", Wilson paces things better, giving us time to meet the characters and learn about them before introducing another. I felt like I knew the character before they moved on. The action and story line in this one are also set at a faster pace. While DTME set up a sinister plot over time, Expiration Date moves us into action that never wants to let up. The climax of the book is great and really works!

One thing: you'll need to have read "Dark To Mortal Eyes" before this one to understand some of the significance of certain characters and items. It's obvious Eric's slowly building things up to a huge climax at the end of his "Five Senses" series. We're beginning to see pieces of it fall into place, though I'm betting he's saving the best for last. When you finish this one, you'll want to read his other work anyway, so start at "Dark" first.

All in all, if Wilson's writing continues to improve at the rate it did for this one, you're looking at the next big name in Christian Fiction. Highly recommended for fans of Dean Koontz, Frank Peretti, or Ted Dekker.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Touching" Wilson Thriller, May 22, 2005

By 

C.J. Darlington "Author of Thicker Than Blood... - See all my reviews

This review is from: Expiration Date (Paperback)

What if by touching someone you could know when they would die? In EXPIRATION DATE, Clay Ryker suddenly finds himself in just that position, and he's not sure if it's a blessing or a curse.

In this second book of Eric Wilson's unofficial Senses series, he deftly spins a tale of intrigue while presenting the story of a man whose life is flipping out of control. Having read Eric's previous "sight" book, DARK TO MORTAL EYES, I wasn't sure if he'd be able to produce a "touch" novel of the same quality. He did. Although starting a bit slower than EYES, I wasn't disappointed. And I love the way Eric intersperses history and lore (this time about Russia and the Romanovs) into his stories, right along with the supernatural element we're starting to expect in a Wilson thriller.

Many of the threads introduced in DARK TO MORTAL EYES are woven through EXPIRATION DATE, as are some of my favorite characters (Josee & Sgt. Turney, for example). By the time I was halfway through the book I started having fun "Eureka!" moments as pieces of the puzzle missing from EYES fell into place in this novel. However, Eric leaves much room for the continuation of the saga in future stories. So if you haven't read DARK TO MORTAL EYES, I'd suggest picking it up too as you'll have a richer experience if you read the books in order, but EXPIRATION DATE can also stand alone. Excellent book! I can't wait for the next one.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another success, May 28, 2005

By 

Karri F. Compton "kc" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Expiration Date (Paperback)

What if you knew when those around you would die? This question is posed and fleshed out in Eric Wilson's fantastic novel of suspense. In his first novel, Dark to Mortal Eyes, Wilson takes us on a supernatural adventure in a deadly game of real-life chess. In Expiration Date, time is of the essence as believable characters and harrowing plot twists keep the reader guessing and gasping for more.

Born out of events during the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, sinister figures emerge to wreak havoc on the small town of Junction City. A strangely familiar woman touches Clay Ryker's hands on his bus trip back home. Consequently, Clay sees a brand on his hand showing the "expiration date" of each person with whom he comes in contact. This power and a ghost from his past cause Clay to seriously rethink his life and loyalties. He must choose to deal with his past in order to preserve his future.

Taking on topics such as divorce, interracial dating, horoscopes, demons, God's sovereignty, past sins, and the meaning of life, Wilson raises more questions than gives answers, allowing the reader to fill in his own blanks.

Fast-paced and mind-boggling, this book is sure to please anyone who prefers a good read over a good night's sleep.

Thanks, Eric. It was fantastic.