The Homecoming

By: Alan Russell

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Seven years ago, young Stella Pierce vanished from the face of the earth. Now her grieving, broken family - along with Detective Orson Cheever, who never stopped working her case - is stunned by her mysterious return.

The now-teenage girl claims to have spent her missing years in the company of Travelers - extraterrestrial nomads - voyaging through space.

Despite her family's effort to keep Stella's incredible tale secret, the story becomes a national sensation. Most people want to discount her story, saying it's the result of trauma; only Detective Cheever seems to want the same thing Stella does: the truth.

The enigmatic Stella finds herself in the eye of the storm while vying forces - some visible and some not - swirl around her. Is it her tale that is incredible, or is it Stella? As new questions surrounding the girl gain terrifying urgency, Cheever learns that there is nothing - and no one - he can trust.

©2017 Alan Russell (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

This Book.....Wonderful

Didn't think I would, but I loved it!! Great book and great narration!
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Perfectly unexpected

There are two things that I prefer to experience when reading a new book: unpredictablity and great character development. The Homecoming delivers on both in phenomenal ways. While I initially thought that I knew where the plot was headed, within a few chapters I had no idea. Rather than be bored as I waited for the plot to go to its expected destination, I was enthralled as the story moved in unforseen directions. I literally was unsure what would happen next or how the book would end.

The characters were full and vivid. Not only were you able to get a sense of who each person was, but also their relationships with each other. Cheever specifically was so well developed that it felt like I knew him. The author was also able to find realistic voices for all of his characters from teenage girls to seasoned politicians. You could feel the emotions in their interactions, and see their relationships grow and develop.

The only downside I saw to this book was the naming of certain characters. The obnoxious, self centered high school girl was named Tiffany, which is a little too calculable. But then again, this is probably a personal bias.

All in all, I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

Deftly handled mystery w/sci-fi wrinkle

I really enjoyed the premise and the story (although a few recurring odd turns of phrase stood out to me), but I felt the narrator struggled with some of the voices.

Anticlimactic ending

The storyline was engaging. However the plot unraveled toward the end and left me feeling dissatisfied with the conclusion.

Very plausible

Well written, well read. This is sci-fi at its best. No matter the age or gender of the reader/listener, one can identify with any of the characters. Enjoy!

Kept me interested enough that I was late for work

I'm still not sure what exactly happened to her or who or what she and the others will become but I want to find out!

Decent story helped by great narration.

I liked this book and Luke Daniels did a knock out job. Now parts of the story was under developed with certain characters forgotten about like her brother micheal and Dr. Benjamin Froke. There were characters who I thought would become the main antagonist like Scare Crow and his crew but they just took a back seat at the end. SC was given orders to bring Stella back but his crew never showed up on the beach. I get why Wilkerson was mad but he was sentenced for other crimes involving touching but certainly gets out when Stella shows back up? No ankle monitor or put on the child sex offender list was also odd. Honestly if Luke Daniels narration was so dang good I probably would have given up half way through. Overall good book but needed another hour to 90 minutes to tie up lose ends and fresh out a few minor characters.

Bizarre kidnapping to sci fi

This book was really strange. It was very much mystery of a missing girl, maybe a pedophile kidnapping her. However, then it becomes about an alien abduction, but she had actually gone willingly. It was far fetched, but enjoyable... reminded me of K-Pac.

Teen Book

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Probably not. It read more like a book for teens.

Would you recommend The Homecoming to your friends? Why or why not?

No

Was The Homecoming worth the listening time?

Eh, it passed the time on a plane.

Love or loathe?

People will either love or loathe this story. I am on the love side and Luke Daniels narrative sealed the deal for me. This is kind of a YA meets sci-fi, but I hate to say that because I would not have started reading it if someone told me that’s what it was. A young girl goes missing one night right out of her family home and then years later shows up right when her family is on the brink of disaster. Really liked the premise behind this one.