The Home

By: Scott Nicholson

Narrated by: Daniel Dorse

Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

When 12-year-old Freeman Mills arrives at Wendover, a group home for troubled children, it's a chance for a fresh start. But second chances aren't easy for Freeman, the victim of painful childhood experiments that gave him the ability to read other people's minds.

Little does Freeman know that his transfer was made at the request of Dr. Richard Kracowski, whose research into the brain's electrical properties is revealing new powers of the human mind. Freeman simply wants to survive, take his medicine for manic depression, and deceive his counselors into believing he is happy. But when the other children develop their own clairvoyant abilities, and insane spirits begin haunting the halls of Wendover, he can't safely hide inside his own head anymore.

Because there is no escaping the enemy within....

©2006 Scott Nicholson (P)2012 Scott Nicholson

Creepy paranormal horror thriller

At first I thought that Daniel Dorse's voice was too casual and world weary for the material, but it's perfect. Especially when he voices other characters. The world weariness and cynicism fit Wendover, and the unlikely hero of the tale, Freeman Mills, who is like Rick in Casablanca, if Rick in Casablanca were trapped in a home for troubled kids and a spiritual battle between good and evil.

Enough peace and quiet to drive you squirrel $hit

First thoughts about the cover of The Home? Everything in the picture, except the person in front of the window and the chandelier, leans to the right. With the way it leans and the shades of blue set the tone for me to wonder if the story is going to be spooky/scary or coming of age/horror.

This book is about a twelve year old boy named Freeman Mills. The story starts with Freeman arriving at Wendover Group Home. He’s trying his hardest to be a hard case and be indifferent to the world around him to help keep out anymore hurts. A coming of age story mixed with super human abilities. There are other points of view in the story, but the main character is Freeman. Also, this book is 10 hours and 32 minutes long.

Daniel Dorse is the narrator for this story. Deep, smooth, twangy. Reminds me of Clint Eastwood’s voice. What I found funny is that Freeman actually mentions trying to act like Clint Eastwood. ‘Walk in mean, talk tough. Squint like a miniature Clint Eastwood with saddle sores, ready to eat nails and $hit bullets.’ Would not recommend listening to this if you are laying down. His voice is very soothing if you get relaxed. I had to backtrack a few times. Still, really enjoyed his voice. Loved how it washes over you and brings you deep within Freeman’s world.

I was hooked into this story from the line ‘Enough peace and quiet to drive you squirrel $hit nutty.’ It made me laugh and I found myself listening even more closely to what Freeman might think or say. I feel bad for the children in this foster home. A lot of them have mental issues. Rather than making it better, the doctors mainly make it worse. Add in the ghosts and the mental ‘trip-trapping’ and you have very interesting story.

The adults in this story seemed either wrapped up in their own narcissistic tendencies and/or their religious views. Rather than helping the children they seemed to want to use the children to further their careers. Bad examples for the children. I seriously feel bad for the kids in the foster home in this story. They get used like lab rats.

When I finished this story I had more appreciation for my home, my family. Children can understand and see things that many adults cannot. Trust them, listen to them, believe them. They need us to love them just as much as they need to give us love in return. Treasure them, they are precious.

Audiobook provided for review by the author.

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A chilling read.

Any additional comments?

The summary pretty much says it all so let's get straight to my thoughts.

I liked this well enough to listen to the whole book in the matter of days, which is good for me because it's over 10 hours long!! But one thing I didn't like was the narrator. He was very very dull. I found myself at times with my mind wandering, even though the story itself was intense. Daniel Dorse, while being clear and concise, was dull and boring. He didn't bring any life to the story and it felt like he read the whole book in a high falsetto voice, which was quite annoying. This is a case of reading it instead of listening to it!!

The plot was intriguing. The setting was perfect and the characters were varied and wonderfully written. I think my favourite part was the setting. The home they are in now is filled with the ghosts of people who were patients there years ago. I always find these kind of settings to be the scariest because asylums just scream haunted!!!

All the characters were awesome in their own way. Everyone of them are flawed but you can't help but root for the kids. Each of them has their own story and reason they are there but they don't deserve the likes of Dr. Kracowski nor Mr. Bondurant looking after them. Both are truly evil in their own way!

In all this is a creepy, chilling and intense read. I could totally picture this as a scary movie and one I would think twice about watching, because while I can read about ghosts etc, I am a total wuss when it comes to watching them! It scares me silly!!

*I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Good

Interesting plot, and how it progressed within the kids. The narration lacked given audio for my voluntary review

Intriguing and Creative

This story was intriguing, creative and creepy all at the same time. A crazy doctor uses kids as guinea pigs while screwing up their brains looking for that one big breakthrough. I loved this paranormal thriller with so many twist that intersect to that final conclusion or does it. Daniel Dorse has a ever so relaxing voice as the narrator but in my opinion he actually does a amazing job with all the voices bringing the story to life. The only downside is that this book is so long. I received this book from Audiobooks Unleashed and this is my honest unbiased review.

Just can't get through it

What would have made The Home better?

A different narrator. There is too many whistles and the voice just grates on me. It's very slow, and dull.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Home?

Scott Nichelson writes an incredible tale

Would you be willing to try another one of Daniel Dorse’s performances?

No

Any additional comments?

Pass on this or anything else Daniel Dorse reads. It's just not good.