The Sparrow

A Prequel to 'The Returned'

By: Jason Mott

Narrated by: Therese Plummer

Length: 40 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this short story by Jason Mott, author of The Returned, one determined couple seeks to reunite a young girl with the father who thought he had lost her forever.…

When Heather and Matt Campbell find 10-year-old Tatiana Rusesa on the side of the highway, she is thousands of miles away from her village in Sierra Leone. She hasn't seen her family in almost two decades, not since she and her mother were killed by rebel soldiers. Now Tatiana has inexplicably returned, a lost orphan with no place to call home.

As the world dives deeper into uncertainty and chaos, Heather is determined to save Tatiana and help her find her way back to her family. But how much is she willing to lose to protect a girl she doesn't even know?

Learn how the mysterious reappearances begin in The First, and don't miss Jason Mott's unforgettable debut novel, The Returned, from Harlequin MIRA, a moving tale of a family navigating this unusual new reality and given a second chance at life.

©2013 Jason Mott (P)2013 Audible Inc.

Touching prequel that will leave you wondering...

STORY- The Sparrow is the second of three prequels to Mott's book "The Returned." People all over the world are returning from the dead -- yes, returning, seemingly normal and unharmed, not zombies. This is the touching story of a young girl who returns. It's very short and enjoyable. The only problem is that it's a prequel, so if you want to find out where these people are coming from and why, you gotta buy the book. Nevertheless, it was free and I enjoyed the 40 minutes I spent listening to it.

NARRATOR - Good job, nothing special.

OVERALL - I think it's worth the time and the free download whether you plan to buy "The Returned" or not.

2.5 stars

Not bad for a freebie. When times are difficult you find out what you are made of. You also find out what other people are made of.

more requested more received

This was a great follow up to the introduction to the series (The Returned). This was a demonstration on what was happening around the world from different standpoints. I found it intriguing the differences in the reactions to the returned.

Matt was an ASS with all capital letter all day long. He had not feeling, no thought to the child but only to himself. I could feel that through every word.

interesting

this is the second prequel I've read from this series so far both prequels has made me curious about the full story. We keep getting snippets of different people that have returned from death, but of course you're missing most of the story. the author has done a great job getting you interested in the story while keeping the rest a mystery.

So so prequil to The Returned

Maybe worth the couple of bucks it cost, this 40 minute prequel is fairly blah. I purchased all 3 prequels after I'd heard the story and frankly, it is a waste of money by them. Listen to them first if you plan on listening to The Returned.

Awesome

I thought the story was vivid and the narrative voice brought you really into the book.

Intighing

Well produced. Excellent story with a unique tale. Quite a teaser to make you interested in his full work.

love it

this is the best book ihave ever read short but simple.
it was a beautiful story.

Cold and eerie.

As I said, I first saw the TV series then found these three books for free on audible and I was delighted. These are short stories, each depicting the return of one person and the impact it has.

The narrator is very cool and calm in his story telling method which adds to the over all chilling effect of the stories.

That said, I found these stories to be very dark and for now, although I think this is a brilliant way to promote the full length novel, I will wait a bit before I buy the novel.

The TV series, although dark enough does not really convey the start reality of what it is like to have a loved one return from the dead, in that aspect these books should get a 5* rating for in these stories that reality is all too clear. Unfortunately the narrator is so good at his job that these stories, although I did not listen to them one after the other left me drained.

If dark and gloomy is your thing, then you will adore this. If not, why not give these a try in anyway they are free after all.

WaAR

Good, but too early to tell

This is another prequel to The Returned. My review is similar to "The First" but this story goes a little deeper. It explores the different reactions that people would have in this type of phenomenon. Still too early to fairly evaluate the book (The Returned.)

Much anticipation

Novel concept, people returning from the dead without being zombies. I eagerly anticipate the follow up.

A Child's Tale

Sometimes we don't see the truths in front of us... Because we can't... Because we don't want to... Because we want to believe a different truth... But the truth will always be there in the end.

So touching!

This was a very touching story, loved that the wee wasn't influenced by her husband and continued to have faith in humanity. A great quick read, looking forward to the next book.

A touching follow up.

A touching follow up come prequel to the original book. A sad little story considering what happens but it was good to keep that world alive a little bit longer after finishing the main book.

This is turning into a very interesting story

I'm very glad they released these prequels for free, as they are a brilliant way of finding out if you like an author and I would have regretted missing this one. Despite the heavy handed advertising this is turning into a very interesting story for syfy fans.

So far these stories are more about human interest, the impact of the returnees and the general population's reaction to them, than horror. While there is no display of powers or abnormalities beyond resurrection, this reminds me more of the 'TV series The 4400, than anything else. The story is centered around a child who died in terrible circumstances with her mother, only to find herself resurrected in a strange country and taken in by a couple of strangers. It is told through the eyes of both the child and the female from this couple, which gives you both sides of the story and makes the plot more interesting.

I am pleased to see that there is a different narrator from the first story. While Therese Plummer is reasonably good I would have preferred it if they had used the same narrator as the main book, the reason being that finding out if you like the narrator, it is just as important as if you like the author for me.