Customer Reviews

Expiration Date

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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.

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.

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.

Clay Ryker left town with a basketball scholarship to the University of Wyoming. Afterward he stayed in state and opened up a successful business and married. In the past year his life collapsed starting with his business and followed by his marriage.

Twenty-nine years old Clay crawls home to live with his parents in Junction City, Oregon. As a teen Clay witnessed bad eerie things that he shared with no one. Now he touches people and knows their EXPIRATION DATE, when they will die. He begins receiving ugly notes and soon people begin dying just as he predicted. Clay realizes his past has come back and this time he cannot flee as he must face a malevolence residing in a 1917 Russian Rasputin train on display. The human representative of the malicious Consortium wants him dead as a sacrifice to hell.

EXPIRATION DATE is an intriguing horror tale filled with twists that spin the reader from comfort zones into wondering what next. Clay is a fine character struggling with failure and with the return of the evil he first experienced as a teen. Fans will wonder just who are or perhaps what the Consortium is as Eric Wilson slowly provides insight into this group and their current agents of evil Asgoth and Monde. The Good vs. Evil war is cleverly handled as the Good is far from perfect and in some ways bad.

Harriet Klausner

Eric has taken it up a notch in Expiration Date. He wastes no time capturing your interest and imagination in this cover to cover supernatural thriller. This well crafted tale will keep you guessing as Eric intricately weaves twists and turns in the plot. Picture your favorite roller coaster ride and then multiply the thrills and you will come close to what Expiration Date does to your senses. I predict that this book will establish Eric Wilson as one of the master story tellers of our time (and not only for his chosen genre). If Expirartion Date doesn't leave you hungry for Eric's next tale, check your pulse and make sure you still have a heartbeat.

Expiration Date tackles the question of how much free-will a person has versus how much the steps in his life are already in place by God, overriding free-will. This is undoubtedly a question that causes debate among people, but a question that is worth serious consideration. Eric Wilson has woven both sides into this book with a captivating, fast-paced story.

From the spiritual influences to the personal choices that have been made by those in the town he grew up in, Clay Ryker struggles to get his life on solid footing while dealing with an unwanted, surprise "gift" that was passed onto him on his way home. Expiration Date cleverly shows the struggle to find the answer to the question of free-will through the frustrations, mystery, and intrigue that Clay Ryker must sort through. While it is an entertaining story and a suspenseful thriller, it is also a thought provoking topic.

People are about to die, and Clay Ryker knows when.

Clay returns to his hometown after a decade away, running from both a failed marriage and failed business.

But Junction City doesn't provide him with the peace he desperately needs. Instead, he's empowered by a gift he doesn't want. Through the simple act of touch, he can read a person's expiration date ... the date they will die.

Strange notes alluding to a dark secret in his past begin to arrive and townsfolk start dying. But are the deaths accidents as they first appear, or is there something more sinister behind them?

Can Clay overcome the burden of knowing when those closest to him will die, or will he conquer his own struggles and win the race against time to save as many lives around him as possible?

Eric Wilson had me hooked from the start with this fast paced suspense novel. Just when I thought I had it all worked out, Wilson threw in another twist.

When asked about his reason for writing his current series of books based on the five senses, Wilson says: "Each book follows one of the five senses opened in a supernatural way. We live in a physical world that numbs our senses to the spiritual. I wanted to merge the two worlds in a thought-provoking way."

And merge them he does! Thought-provoking? Absolutely! I dare you to come away from reading this book without it impacting you or opening your senses to God's hidden workings.

Designed as standalone novels, it is not necessary to read his first, Dark to Mortal Eyes, before reading Expiration Date, although the books are connected through tie-ins and recurring characters.

Eric Wilson has proved himself as an author to watch out for, if his first two books are anything to go by. He masterfully blends together unforgettable characters, plots and subplots that won't let you go.

Expiration Date is a novel you don't want to miss.

What can I say? Mr. Eric Wilson's 2nd book has well exceeded my expectations, and now I have to breath! WHEW! There, now that I got that out of the way, WOW!! Dealing with the human touch, he certainly brings a whole new meaning to the words "goose bumps", am I right? Just ask Clay Ryker! Because he's the one who has to deal with a few things, along with kind of a shady past. If you read Eric's first book, expect a visit from Vince Turney. There's more!

This is a new kind of spiritual warfare, because Eric did this with bravado, and had me cringing most of the way. His first book was awesome and I was looking for things to compare it to, and I came up with some differences. In "Dark To Mortal Eyes" the chapter titles were icy. In "Expiration Date" however, they were chillingly haunting! Such as "The Below World" or in one part the title is "Up The Crooked Staircase". Early on a chapter title reads "No Turning Back" and followed up immediately by "The Deception". YAH!! In his first book he started the prologue at Devil's Elbow, while in this work, he simply states the title "The Devil's Work". Yep, that gives you the goose bumps! No doubt about it.

The characters in this were awesome, some of them were downright suspenseful, take for example, Asgoth and Monde. You'll probably think they're about as charming as Henna. But I really like Kenny Preston. He never failed to intrigue me, yet in the process of it all, humor me. With his no fear attitude, some might call him a junior spy master. And with his games of Scrabble, his paper route, and a little friend named Gussy, he was easy to love and appreciate.

I can only express this one way. I'm ready for another date, because now I'm hooked to Wilson's writing, and I'm not about to let go! Set this dude next to Ted Dekker and Dean Koontz, I do believe he's earned it!

What would you do if you had the ability to know when a person would die just by touching them?

Expiration Date is the second novel by Eric Wilson and part of a 5-book series that focuses on each of the five senses. Expiration Date focuses on touch because whenever Clay Ryker touches someone he sees the date they are going to die imprinted on his hands.

Ryker is returning to Junction City, the place where he grew up as a basketball star and a place where he and many others have many secrets they want to keep hidden. Ryker meets Henna, a former highschool classmate while returning home on a bus. Henna reads his palm, recites some mysterious words, and somehow gives Clay the ability to know when a person will die just by touching them.

The best Christian novels are ones that focus on relationships, and in Exiration Date Ryker is returning home because of the impending failure of his marriage to Jenni. Other relationships include his son Jason, his high school friend Bill Scott and his high school sweetheart, Mylisha.

Wilson weaves a complicated tale where most characters are hiding something. Some characters are given little background, like the "Sarge," but all have a place in the story. Wilson introduces the novel stating that he wanted to focus on the struggle between free will and predestination. Ryker embodies this test by knowing the date of death of many friends and family and struggling to keep the deaths from happening. He succeeds and times and he fails as well.

I enjoyed this novel a lot. Wilson states on his website he likes Dean Koontz and I can see a lot of Koontz in this book. At times, you'll wander whats real and what isn't but in the end everything gets resolved.

I enjoyed the realism of this Christian novel. All the characters have real problems, and there is a lot of implied violence, cursing, drinking, drug use and sex. Just like in real life. One part I objected to is midway through the book at the conclusion of Clay's hike. I don't want to reveal what Clay does but it seems like such a weak thing to do and I don't think he was in the frame of mind where an action like that would be necessary. Still, it had to be done to advance the plot and the story takes off from there. There is also an ongoing subplot revolving around Lenin, Rasputin, and the Russian revolution of 1917. At times, it seems like it really doesn't belong even though the book concludes with it and hints a possible sequel

Wow! After reading Dark to Mortal Eyes I thought, "That's a pretty good book." After just finishing Expiration Date I was thinking "This is a great book!".

Wilson has stepped it up in every area in Expiration Date. The story has been reviewed in others, but basically boils down to one man, Clay Ryker, who moves back to his hometown and after contact with a woman named Henna, suddenly has the "gift" of knowing when someone will die when he touches their skin. Well the story takes off from there with many twists and quite a bit of action involved.

As I said, this novel is a vast improvement over Dark to Mortal Eyes in every area:

1. The characters are deep, realistic and make you want to love them (or hate them). That to me shows that Wilson deftly develops each character even if they only appear for a short while, the depth of them is apparent. He has thought out who they really are and their actions flow from this knowledge. I also loved the inclusion of the 2 gay characters. This is a bold step for a Christian writer, but I like the interaction they have with Clay and the result that both Clay and the two guys are dealing with inconsistencies in their actions and beliefs. They are not judged but shown realistically and books written today should have realistic characters for our culture.

2. The plot is amazing. The first 100 pages has people dropping like flies and the suspense is intense as Clay deals with marital, emotional and spiritual issues.

3. The ending was right on and powerful. No hollywood ending this time, but a dramatic and action-packed one that keeps you on the edge of your seat to the last page!

4. The spiritual insights again are also very poignant and insightful as Wilson deals with several topics including spiritual warfare, relationships, and predestination.

I cannot wait for the next novel! I hear it's now going to be an Aramis Black mystery novel and can't wait for it! Not sure who S.C. Savacool is but they probably wouldn't recognize a great novel if it hit them directly in the face! For a wild, suspenseful and spiritual ride pick up Expiration Date today!