Home to Holly Springs

The First of the Father Tim Novels

By: Jan Karon

Narrated by: Scott Sowers

Length: 11 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Join Father Tim on a profoundly personal journey back to his childhood home in this charming novel in number-one New York Times best-selling author Jan Karon's Mitford series.

Thirty-eight years have passed since Father Tim Kavanagh left his Mississippi hometown, determined not to return. Then he receives a handwritten note postmarked Holly Springs. Cryptic and unsigned, it says only Come home. These two words compel him to make the most challenging journey of his life.

Traveling to his boyhood home doesn’t merely take Father Tim across hundreds of miles. Thanks to a thousand sights and smells, he also travels back through memories - some fond and some he’s tried for nearly 40 years to forget, from his quick-to-anger father and his lovingly tender mother to the picturesque small town he’d tried desperately to leave behind. And once Father Tim discovers who was behind the mysterious note, a truth is revealed that will change his life - forever.

Don't miss more of Father Tim's adventures in Jan Karon's Mitford series.

©2007 Jan Karon (P)2007 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Critic reviews

“Mitford fans, rejoice!... Father Tim answers the summons - and learns that you can go home again.” (The Washington Post)

“Lovely... This is Karon’s most emotionally complex novel.” (USA Today)

“Karon holds varying aspects of humanity up to the light, from staggering cruelty...to the awesome power of love and forgiveness.” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Holly Springs

I have to admit that I was dubious when I began this book because of having a different narrator than I was used to. But I have to admit that Scott did an awesome job. During the book he became several different characters, both men and women. There are very few people who can change their voice in such a way that it makes you forget that it is only one person doing it all.

Tying up ends

I prefer John McDonough as narrator for this series. This book ties up some old ends and has a few surprises. Good read.

My favorite storyline

After first grieving the absence of John McDonough’s voice, I adjusted to the new reader. He did a wonderful job with Peggy’s voice, especially. This storyline was one of my favorites of the entire series. ❤️

Great story that gets better with each page

Was not crazy about the narrator at first, but grew to enjoy his story telling. A great tale of coming home and full circle

John McDonough Rest In Peace

I agree that no one can surpass John McDonough as the narrator of Jan Karon’s books on Audible but just wanted to make sure that everyone who treasures his work is aware that John died on January 21, 2021. RIP

Wonderful story!

I enjoyed this having read the rest of the Mitford books but somehow never this one. As always, a fabulous story, well told. The change in Narrator was disconcerting after becoming accustomed to Father Tim’s voice, but this narrator did a great job with the dialects.

My Favorite

I liked all of the missing details of his life, especially about Peggy, being explained.

Narrators voice was all wrong

The story was excellent! Very rich, and tied together a lot of loose ends from the whole series! But the person reading it nearly ruined the experience. First, it was not the narrator for all the other books, so that definitely threw me off- but second, who they chose to read was clearly a younger man- reading a story about a 70-year-old. It just didn’t fit, and was hard to reconcile after 9 books read by someone else- I had come to think of John McDunough’s voice as a great representation of the peaceful soul of Fr Tim. That is the only reason for less than 5 stars. Great story.

Right story, wrong reader

i loved the story, but for me John McDonough will always be Father Tim. Scott Sowers was good, but just not Father Tim.

Wonderful Book

Home to Holly Springs was fun, heart warming and great to listen to. I couldn't wait to get to a place where I could listen again. I was so surprised to find out who wrote the mysterious note. Great book.