Dark to Mortal Eyes

Senses Series #1

by Eric Wilson

What You Can’t See Can Hurt You.

Returning to the hometown of her birth parents, rebellious 23-year-old Josee Walker seeks answers to long-held questions about her childhood. Her biological father, wealthy vintner Marsh Addison, wants nothing to do with her. But a determined Kara Addison sets out to meet the child she gave up years before, despite Marsh’s passionate opposition.

Five Days of Hell for a Glimpse of Heaven

When Kara disappears and her car is discovered at the bottom of a ravine, however, Marsh becomes the prime suspect. Suddenly, Marsh and Josee are forced to unite in their search for Kara–and for the truth. But there’s more to their family’s past than meets the eye. What could the mysterious canister that Josee found in the woods contain? What does it have to do with her mother’s disappearance? When an ancient evil rouses, each member of the Addison family becomes enmeshed in a terrifying supernatural battle–one with global consequences.

Genres: Mystery, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Thriller, Christian, Suspense, Fantasy

438 pages, Paperback

First published May 18, 2004

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Eric Wilson is a retired NY Times bestselling author with 21 published books in over a dozen languages. He wrote fiction (suspense, mystery, supernatural), film novelizations, and nonfiction (biography, memoir, travel).

Eric's books, in order of publication:

Shattered Nerves
(unpublished--written in high school)

Something Suspicious in Bear Flag
(unpublished--written in college)

Dark to Mortal Eyes
Expiration Date
The Best of Evil
A Shred of Truth
Facing the Giants
Flywheel
Fireproof
Field of Blood
Haunt of Jackals
Valley of Bones
One Step Away
Two Seconds Late
Three Fatal Blows (cancelled)
October Baby
The Eagle's Nest (cancelled)
Amelia's Last Secret
Alice Goes the Way of the Maya
Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Team Tyson
Minutes Before Midnight (cancelled)
Samson
From Chains to Change
American Leftovers
What Are You Going to Do?
Confessions of a Former Prosecutor
Come Back Stronger (date not set)
Through the Storms We Faced (never found publisher)

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am about 40 pages in and am having a hard time getting into this story. It has jumped around a lot. I am able to follow it for the most part, but it seems like there might be too much going on, or the author is introducing elements too early in the story line. He is not letting me get attached to one character enough or laying enough background before throwing all these other plot peices into the mix.

I am not sure yet...

[C.J. Darlington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wrote this review back in 2004. Still accurate!

It's been a long time since I've read a Christian novel that I've wanted to rave about, and DARK TO MORTAL EYES has just shot to the top of my list. Not only is the pace kept to a breakneck speed, but we get character development too, which so many thriller writers tend to neglect.

Robert Whitlow (Christy award winning author of THE TRIAL & LIFE SUPPORT) had this to say about the book: "In DARK TO MORTAL EYES, Eric Wilson coils suspense as tight as a snake prepared to strike." An apt quote, considering some of the events that transpire, but I'll add no spoilers here. Take this as a hint of what's to come when you pick up this outstanding debut novel (which is the first in a series devoted to the five senses). But reader beware - don't expect to know right off the bat what's spiritual and what's natural. The lines between those realms blur in this story, but that's what makes it interesting. What IS reality? You'll have to read on to find out, which is exactly what I did, savoring every page.

I'll leave the plot summaries to others, but suffice it to say that ultimately good triumphs over evil, with one heck of a battle in between. Kudos, Eric, for making it gritty while keeping it clean. I also found it refreshing that the spiritual insights were unashamedly woven into the plot without compromising the suspense.

Highly recommended to all thriller fans, but especially those of Alton Gansky, Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker & James Pence. DARK TO MORTAL EYES is a keeper.

[J.S. Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading Dark to Mortal Eyes, it was kind of like opening up a jigsaw puzzle box and trying to make sense of all the scattered pieces. I admit that it was slow getting into this, as I had no clue how all the things that were happening were going to link together in the end. Who is Karl Stahlherz (I may have spelled that wrong)? Who is the Professor? Why are they targeting the Addisons and Josee? Why did the Addisons give Josee up for adoption all those years ago? And what the heck is with those canisters?

Fortunately the pieces all came together as the novel concluded. I especially liked Marsh Addison's growth as a character. (I thought he was a total jerk in the beginning, and by the end I was silently cheering him on.) I liked Josee, too, because she softens up a bit as the novel progresses.

I would recommend this to fans of supernatural suspense that has a strong flavor of faith interwoven into the plot. Four stars!

[Sarah Pottenger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christian fiction. Someone gave this to me--I don't think I would have picked it up otherwise. It wasn't very compelling (and you can tell because I don't remember what it was about), and there were some writing "quirks" that got on my nerves.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read, but not great. Not too involved but not dull either. Liked the mix of chess and reality. Reminded me a whole lot of THE KEEP.

[MadILYnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be careful in who you choose to trust because not everyone is who they say they are. And love your family while you have the chance because they won't always be there.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite. Stunning read, well developed characters, brilliant plot with smoothly-executed twists.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book...mystery suspense with a spiritual warfare/demons vs. angels angle.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zogenoemde christelijke thriller, maar de personages roepen alleen maar Gods hulp in als ze in de problemen zitten en Hij komt niet tussen. Niets Christelijk aan; gewoon normaal.
Ook het feit dat het gif in dit boek constant verpersoonlijkt wordt als een groene slang die gericht personage aanvalt, hapt in de geloofwaardigheid.

Geen aanrader dus.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

At 400+ pages it is far too slow moving - perhaps deliberately like a chess game?? - most of the characters are not really believable and the Christian/demon track did not ring true. The basic plot was ok and kept you guessing but 400+pages - I had to keep skimming over many parts.

[Jacques Schrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book keeps you reading till the end.
I couldn't stop any more.

[JeffandTina Pell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It did leave one key concept hanging at the end and a few others unfinished. If not for that, I would have rated 4 stars.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that was chosen for our book club because we had read one of his books before and liked it a lot. It took me a long time to get into this one and found it rather dark for my taste. However, once I finally got maybe halfway through it I really got hooked & couldn't wait to finish it. We haven't discussed it yet in book club. I'm anxious to see what the others thought of it. I would read more of his books, but would do some research to make sure it isn't quite as dark as this one.

[Hildy Peterson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Grade: F

This was weird and creepy and I just was not able to get into it at all.

[Nick Woodall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about relationships, especially child/parent relationships, wrapped in a mystery to be solved.