The Recipient

Casey Schillinge is a vivacious young woman on the verge of making her mark on the world. While backpacking, she is struck down by a tropical disease and suffers cardiac failure. But at the eleventh hour, Casey receives a life-saving heart transplant and a rare second chance to begin again.

Her new heart is changing her.

Three years later, Casey has become a withdrawn shell of her former self: she is estranged from her loved ones, afraid of open spaces and rides the line between legitimate and criminal work. The worst of her troubles come in the form of violent night terrors; so frightening that she resorts to extreme measures to keep herself from sleeping.

What is her heart revealing?

When she can take no more, she embarks on a desperate search for the source of her dreams. In so doing, she makes a shocking discovery surrounding the tragic fate of the donor whose heart now beats inside her chest. As she delves deeper into the mystery of her donor, she realizes her dreams are not a figment of her imagination, but a real-life nightmare.

Will her heart end up killing her after all?

“As Dean takes you on an adrenaline-fuelled ride that twists to a kicker of a climax, ultimately uncovering a tale of human horror that is all too real, he will keep you guessing throughout as you try and figure out just who the good guys and the bad guys are. A word of warning – trust no-one as you race towards the very satisfying conclusion of this gripping psychological thriller!” – Marcia B, Book Muster Down Under

“Entwining very real social issues with fast-paced adventure and fascinating dream sequences, Mayes has created a story that successfully combines suspense, dark humor, cultural references, action and outright horror, an intense examination of what motivates the terrible crimes perpetrated in the novel. Be prepared for a wild ride!” – Abbie Williams, author of The Shore Leave Cafe series

“Overall, a great read that was fascinating medically and had great character development.” – Christina Boswell, Manhattan Book Review

Be sure to also read Dean Mayes’ other novels:
The Hambledown Dream
Gifts of the Peramangk
The Artisan Heart