The First

A Prequel to 'The Returned'

By: Jason Mott

Narrated by: Victor Bevine

Length: 33 mins

Publisher's summary

In Jason Mott's haunting and unforgettable debut novel, The Returned, an impossible miracle is occurring all across the globe. Read how it all begins in this short story, The First.

It's been just over a year since Edmund Blithe died, and just over a month since his fiancee, Emily, stopped wearing her engagement ring. Emily has finally begun to move on… Until Edmund mysteriously and inexplicably returns, sending the world - and Emily - into a tailspin.

Edmund is only just the beginning. Around the world, people's loved ones are returning from beyond, seeking only to reenter the lives they left behind. As the world dives deep into uncertainty, Emily and Edmund are determined to find their way back to one another…even if it means risking everything.

The reappearances continue in The Sparrow, and look for The Returned from Harlequin MIRA, a moving tale of a family given a second chance at life and a world where nothing - not even death - is certain.

©2013 Jason Mott (P)2013 Audible Inc.

fascinating

This was a great introduction to the series (The Returned). This was a demonstration on what was happening around the world from different standpoints.

Melodramtic

Melodramatic, swarmy, silly, not well written. Half way decent concept, just needs a good writer to do justice to it.

Under the Spell

Whatever sort of magic Jason Mott weaves, he has completely captivated me in the 34 short minutes of this prequel. As one who is easily disappointed by this genre, I am actually looking forward to August 27 and the release of The Returned.

The prequel promises much while not giving away anything - a difficult trick to pull off! During this brief introduction to Edmund and his "situation," which is apparently not limited just to him, the narrator immediately brings to life the author's portrayal of the characters' personalities.

Both writer and performer have left me spellbound and anxious for the story to continue. Well done

Free Book - Short Story - Great Concept!!

STORY - This is the first of three prequels to a book called "The Returned," which just came out last month. Each prequel is apparently the story of a different person's unexpected return from the dead, a phenomenon which is starting to occur all over the world (but this book is the first occurrence). What a great marketing concept -- release a few prequels of different occurrences to get people salivating, then hit the market with the story that ties them all together and explains everything. Brilliant!

I don't know if I'm going to buy "The Returned," as the reviews are not too great, but this prequel was very enjoyable. I actually got chills...a young woman finds that her dead fiance is alive again. OMG!

PERFORMANCE - Good enough, nothing special.

OVERALL - It's free, it's short, it's good. What are you waiting for? (It makes a nice little break when you're listening to a long book).

Love it!

I really enjoyed this audiobook. It was a quick in and out story that gave you a good sense of the clear writing style of the writer and the direction the novel will be going in.

Great Prequel

This is a freebie from audible. What a great idea to release short, free prequels in order to help market your book. This worked for me and certainly generated my interest in reading the full book. This is the first prequel that tells the back story of the first person to return. Interesting premise!

Not bad

What a clever idea. I don't know this author, I think he's fairly new. So he offers 3 free prequels to his first book! What can you lose? And to top it off the narrator is very good and the story may be OK. I' listen to the other two freebies and then decide if I want to buy the real book.

Terrible

I will definitely not be reading the sequel. This book is not the least bit interesting.

an outline for a story

this was not a short story. it was an outline for a short story. the plot points came like a bullet list. and in between there was a lot of repetitive declarations of emotions, as if saying it make it so. I will NOT being buying this author's novel The Returned. I do appreciate that there was a free download to show me just how bad the writing might be.

I see dead people!

Suddenly her fiancé who died over a year ago shows up for work. Seemingly healthy, with no memory of his death or how he got there, the mystery is not just how but why? And it's happening all over the world!

It's free and I'm thankful, but I'm just not curious about how or why.

It seems well written and certainly well read.