| Title | : | The Homecoming |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1477809937 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781477809938 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 334 |
| Publication | : | First published June 13, 2017 |
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.
The Homecoming Reviews
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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.
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'The Homecoming' was an unusual journey. It's a narrative that didn't go where I expected it to or via the route I expected it to take but which provided me with something quite different to think about.
Here's my précis of the publisher's summary:
'Seven years ago, young Stella Pierce vanished from the face of the earth. Her grieving, broken family and the policeman became obsessed with looking for her, are 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.'
That is what the book is about but not in the way I expected it to be.
I'd expected something like Graham Joyce's
'Some Kind Of Fairy Tale' where the novel focuses on whether the returning girl can be believed.At the start of the book, I allowed myself to be distracted by my expectations of a thriller. Everything in the story worked but I felt the pace was off. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Then, it dawned on me how sad my own reaction was.
This was a story about a family that has had their happiness, their ability to function, taken away when the seven-year-old daughter disappeared into the night. Yet I was impatient with the grief and the anger and the endless but pointless searching. Part of my reaction was because this was supposed to be a story about a girl who goes missing for seven years and then comes back and I wanted to get to that But part of it was that the story of a girl vanishing and her family being devastated is so ordinary, so familiar, that I've become desensitised to it.
I'm saddened and a little ashamed that, when the story reached the twenty-five per cent point and the girl had not yet returned I just wanted the author to get on with it.
Yet he'd shown me a mother whose will to live had been destroyed, a father who'd channelled his grief into becoming a Law And Order politician, a son whose childhood had been so over-protected that he had grown up reckless and at an emotional distance from his parents, and a policeman who had spent seven years in an obsessive search for a missing girl that he feels he has failed. The descriptions were empathetic without being clichéd or saccharine. They felt real. So what was my impatience about? Wasn't this worth spending some time on?
I'd just checked my reaction and tried to settle into the story that the author wanted to tell when everything changed. Stella, the missing girl, came back. But there was more to it than that. A whole thriller's-worth of more to it. Suddenly, the seven year absence became necessary to the plot. I could see that it was important that the missing girl's father had become a Congressman and that the detective had grown to know the family. I was pleased finally to be able to bite on the hook the story was sold on. but mostly, I was impressed that this novel wasn't just a clever idea supported by plot-required roles but a story with hard to accept elements that was grounded in a difficult but very credible reality.
The story changed again when I met Stella. She becomes the centre of a lot of classic thriller activity. She is stalked by a predator, surveilled by an anonymous black ops team and sent to sessions with a psychiatrist who is following a script given to him to ensure Stella is discredited. Yet it is Stella's viewpoint that captured most of my attention. She is at once a likeable fourteen-year-old-girl coming back to her family and someone with a deeper understanding and broader expectations that she's not certain people are ready to hear.
The ending of the story wasn't what I expected. It didn't quite deliver on the implied promise of the thriller. There were too many loose ends and unexplained players, just like in real life in fact. The emotional conclusion of the novel is more interesting and more important to the book as a whole. There is a wonderful scene towards the end that seems to be set up to become another 'Carrie' but goes somewhere else entirely.
I was happy with the surprises that 'The Homecoming' threw my way. I'm glad to have met Stella and I can live with not having all the answers - there's nothing new in that.
I listened to the audiobook version of 'The Homecoming'. Click on the SoundCloud link below to hear a sample.
https://soundcloud.com/audiolibrary-a...
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A daughter’s mysterious return seven years after disappearing during a family beach outing has everyone overjoyed and yet baffled. Stella is different from the missing girl her family once knew. What happened to her? She tells a mesmerizing story. The story of the Travelers and their journeys beyond the stars. Stella story becomes of public scrutiny. What is the truth? The story of the travels beyond our dimension or the story of a young teenager’s trauma.
What a captivating and well-written novel with gritty and down to earth characters. Science fiction is not my usual reading genre but after reading Russell’s novel I may have to include it in my searches. The audience for this book may be on the more on the YA side but Russell’s writing style has complexity with a layering of rich imagery. The story is set in Southern California and we are taken on a tour of big and small cities and historical places. The intriguing plot left many questions unanswered at the end of the book. Could there be a sequel?
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. -
First Sentence: “Don’t get too near the fire, Stella.”
Seven years ago, a perfect day at the beach became a family’s worst nightmare when young Stella disappears from her home during the night. Now, a teenaged Stella has reappeared with a story of having been taken by a company of Travelers; extraterrestrials who communicated telepathically. Detective Cheever, who has been working the case the whole time, searches for answers while another mysterious group is tracking Stella as well.
Russell’s voice is that of a true storyteller, almost simplistic in tone. But that doesn’t diminish the story we’re being told. He starts off with a classic summer scene and the telling of a ghost story, giving us a true sense of Stella; who she is and what matters to her. But placid quickly turns into panicked.
The portrayal of the family is sensitively handled. The twist is well executed. But then….there are the seemingly villains, or are they? One is not quite certain, but we do know their code names for everyone becomes rather confusing. Once, however, can’t help but like Det. Cheever and his girlfriend psychiatrist Rachel Stern—“Rachel nodded. “I believe it was Obi-Wan who said, ‘Many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view’” “And that’s what makes you so exceptional,” said Cheever. “Any shrink can quote Freud. But how many can quote Yoda?” “It’s not something I typically advertise,” she said.” How nice it is to have a good cop.
The information on desert communities and the Salton Sea denotes an author who has done his research. It’s also a fascinating inclusion. Aside completely from the story, are gems of truth—“Because nothing is constant. Because you have to accept the blessing of those people who are part of your life and who make your life special, just as you have to accept their absence. In the end there is always the hope that you will meet up in some way and at some time in the future.”
“The Homecoming is a wonderfully unpredictable book. It is a mystery, a fantasy, a love story. It is fascinating if one can let go and just enjoy it.
THE HOMECOMING (Susp/Pol Proc-Stella/Det. Orson Cheever-SoCal-Contemp) – G+
Russell, Alan – Standalone
Thomas & Mercer – June 2017 -
When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained. - Mark Twain
This was a story that I very much liked sections of but the pieces kind of fell apart when trying to mesh it together.
There were vignettes scattered throughout the story that were thought provoking and sometimes quite beautiful. But then there would be another stretch of dry narrative or out of sync narrative that would jar me out of the story.
Seven year-old Stella comes from a loving nuclear family - Mom, Dad and big brother Michael. One night she totally disappears, leaving behind a devastated remnant of what was.
Seven years pass, with her mother especially devastated, and then Stella reappears - with an amazing story of what was behind her disappearance.
I felt like this could have been a great story but missed the mark. Too bad - I really did want to like it more. The premise was promising.
I did enjoy Detective Cheever's character - down to earth, questioning, kind of the calm in the midst of the storm.
And I'm sorry this review isn't clearer. This story was a bit difficult to review, maybe because I did like sections of it so much.
I received this book from Thomas & Mercer through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review. -
4.5*
Set in California, Alan Russell opens the story with several couples and their children having a Valentine’s Day BBQ at the beach. A ghost story told by the fire, sworn to be true by the teller, fascinates Stella but makes the adults uncomfortable. Introducing Jason’s story lays the groundwork for what was to come.
After such a lovely get together Eleanor and Duncan Pierce had no idea their lives were about to shatter. That night seven year old Stella Pierce disappeared from her bedroom. Stella’s bed didn’t look slept in and nothing was out of place. She had disappeared without a trace.
After a frenzied local search, her distraught parents contact the police. Detective Orson Cheever, first introduced in Multiple Wounds, heads the investigation which initially leads to convicted paedophile, Guy Wilkerson. He has been stalking Stella and Cheever finds damning evidence, although not enough to convict him. However, he has broken the limitations of his parole and is jailed.
Eleanor never fully recovered from Stella’s disappearance but Duncan channeled his energies into becoming a congressman and their son, Michael, in resisting the constraints placed on him by the now over protective Eleanor, in a variety of sometimes dangerous ways. Stella’s sudden return seven years later, with special abilities and at a crucial point for Eleanor, causes a sensation, her incredible claims of space Travellers attributed to the trauma she has suffered.
Cheever, however, isn’t swayed by opinions. He just wants to uncover the truth and find out what actually happened to Stella, even though the results of his investigations produce more questions than answers. The case hasn’t been far from his thoughts for seven years and he wasn’t about to give up now.
Excellent writing and characterisations have been my experience while enjoying several of Alan Russell’s books. This was no exception and, needless to say, Luke Daniels’ narration was faultless. It’s a fascinating, different and totally unpredictable story, a suspenseful and compelling tale with mysterious threads woven through the narrative, leaving an open ending; either for the individual to decide or perhaps a sequel. Whichever, I hope we’ll see Orson Cheever in future books. -
Luke Daniels's expert narration made this slightly better than average story better.
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3.5 stars rounded up to 4
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To Like, or Not to Like...
I went back and forth throughout the book, seesawing between enjoyment and frustration. The characters kept me drawn in, especially Luke and Cheever. The "woo-woo" of the story was a little much. Who were the mysterious men pulling the strings of the psychiatrist? CIA? Hard to say. That subplot was left hanging. Stella's father appeared to imply there was some top secret government project going on. Were these mysterious people part of it? Who knows? If so, they weren't very kind people and were manipulative of a child's life. The talent show sequence was a bit overdone. Luke and Stella's love was sweet. But what comes next? Very vague. -
4.75 stars!
The cult classic “flight of the navigator” is one of those movies that haunts me... I catch myself thinking about it and if that’s you, or you loved that movie, you’ll devour this book. The description and premise sounds hokey but it’s fantastic! Another fantastic audible daily deal!
Summary: 7yo Stella disappears. Then 7 years later Stella returns with a story she’s traveled through space. Everyone around Stella, including her therapist, thinks this far-fetched story is a coping mechanism to avoid facing the reality of where she’s been. Slowly we find out what happened and while she definitely didn’t fly through space what really happened is not what we’d expect... this is my kind of psychological suspense... twisty snd mind scrambling without depravity or darkness -
I have no idea what happened in this book but I loved it. I almost wish this was a series so I could have more of these characters. It felt pretty young adult as far as content went. And what is up with authors always using the proverbial queen bee high school girl as the villain? I never experienced this queen bee / clique phenomenon in high school, but maybe it really was or is still typical? At any rate. That was really my only complaint. The mystery was complex and captivating and I really really enjoyed this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. -
I am going to go with a 4 even though at times I think it was a 3.5 but that is just me. I don't really care for endings that don't wrap things up.
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So this was kind of crazy with a touch of sci-fi thrown in for good measure. When seven-year-old Stella goes missing during the night the police are unable to find any clues as to what happened. It’s like she just disappeared. Fast forward seven years later and she shows up on her mom‘s doorstep just as her mom has about given up hope. She proceeds to tell a crazy story about traveling through space. Who will believe her and who will hurt her? Why does the government seem interested? Another good book about trust - who deserves it and who doesn’t.
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I would have preferred to have the spies and coverup take the main stage of the story. It would have made for a more action packed and interesting read. Instead, this is more of a family drama with a little excitement at the end.
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As a note, a review copy of this novel was provided on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way. Thank you! Review also posted
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Despite what my 3.5 rating says, I liked The Homecoming far more than I disliked it. While it had its flaws and a sort of slowness to it in spots, I liked the complexities in it that reflected family life and one massive mystery. Alan Russell crafts both topics into a tale of... well, everything. It can be very thrilling to read.
One of the first thoughts that comes to mind was how... odd (delightfully so) this novel could be in its prime. I expected something a bit different than I got and that's what reading is all about. Surprising yourself. The Homecoming was often this: a surprise. A mystery. A story that unfolds in a gritty and--at times--shocking manner. Russell portrays the roughness of its exterior quite well; making his mark on a reader as they flip the pages. A lot of it's "can't-put-down-ness" (is that even a phrase?) is pulled off well only because of the way Russell pens the story.
It also has this dark tone that leaves questions in the air even as the pages fly by, leaving it in perfect taste for readers to wonder and maybe even hope for a second installment of it.
Because of the best and most frustrating parts of the story is how many questions you still have, even as you develop the answers you needed. There was something deeply fascinating and frustrating about this. If you're a reader who loves novels of madness that get under your skin, The Homecoming has hints of that--it troubled me, in ways, how it made me feel by the end.
I can't decide if that's a good or bad thing.
Overall, it is a deeply conflicting novel that will make readers think and question at all turns. Thrilling and impossible to put down. Alan Russell is anything but predictable and it's oh-so-delicious. -
It is better to have loved and lost
Stella Pierce is just seven years old when she disappears from her bedroom one night after an evening with her family and friends on the nearby beach. Her room is tidy with everything in its place and there are no clues as to where she can be. After a frantic search, her family contacts the police and a widespread search take place. The officer in charge is Detective Orson Cheever, an officer who can empathise with the parents of a lost child.
As investigations continue it seems that Stella may have been abducted, and suspicion falls on Guy Wilkerson, a convicted paedophile; whilst he has been seen taking an interest in Stella, and her favourite doll is found in his possession, there is no hard evidence and more to the point, nobody. Wilkerson is however charged with breaking the conditions of his parole and is returned to jail.
Time passes and with no more news of Stella, the family, Duncan, Eleanor and her older brother Michael return to a semblance of normal life. Whilst Duncan and Michael cope well, Eleanor falls apart and on the seventh anniversary of Stella's disappearance makes the decision to end her life. Her resolve fails when, having taken the first set of pills, a teenage girl rings the doorbell; could this be Stella and can her story be believed?
Russell spins a complex mystery as the girl's story is investigated and there is no shortage of suspense as sub-plots are introduced and investigated. Cheever remains the investigating officer and follows every lead he can find. Meanwhile, there seems to be a third party interested in the girl, but their interest is not explained.
This is a well-written novel with Russell's trademark feature – no murder! In truth, it isn't needed and wouldn't add anything. I thoroughly enjoyed it and whilst the conclusion is frustratingly inconclusive it is an enthralling read.
Pashtpaws
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review. -
Not particularly believable (although one can always hope) but still an enjoyable read. The Pierce family is All-American. Mom's (Eleanor) a teacher; Dad's (Duncan) a lawyer. They have two well-behaved, good-looking kids - Michael (age 11) and Stella (age 7). They enjoy each other's company. Dad reads to Stella and she loves a good story. Stella thinks Michael's best friend Luke is great and sends him a handmade valentine. Luke loves the unsigned valentine. He knows it's from Stella but doesn't say anything to avoid Michael's barbs.
Then suddenly the good days are gone. Stella is missing and cannot be found. Detective Orson Cheever heads up the investigation. He hates missing children cases and this one has him completely mystified. While there is evidence that suggests a known pedophile is the culprit, his story checks out. While Cheever finds the guy to be slimy and despicable, his gut tells him the dude is not responsible for Stella's disappearance. Cheever never gives up on the case.
And then 7 years later, Stella shows up at the door of the family's house. The family and Detective Cheever are ecstatic. But for Cheever, the case is not over - he must find out what happened and Stella's story is, well, unbelievable. Stella says she was invited to join a group called the "Travelers" and has been traveling around the galaxy. Now the story really begins as Cheever works the case and some secret, covert group tries to manage the situation. -
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. -
3.4 overall - This was another Audible book that my wife picked out a few months back, and I had honestly never heard of it. I was just looking for something to listen to during a couple long workdays.
It turned out to actually be a surprisingly entertaining story. I didn’t expect much from it, but I found myself very intrigued by the events surrounding Stella, her disappearance, and her unexpected return. The characters were decently fleshed out, and their motivations were all pretty clear. The story did sag in the second act after a very strong first. I found myself zoning out during a few poorly done subplots. But the third act picked things back up, with an admittedly weak but overall satisfying ending. Feels like this is meant as the first book in a series, which may explain the slightly flat conclusion.
A few thoughts on the narration. I can’t decide if it was really well done or hokey and overacted. Some of voice acting for characters was stellar, but others were cringeworthy. Definitely can tell maximum effort was put into it, though, and I completely respect that. -
So, I try not to assume a book’s quality based on the fact that it is an Audible or Kindle Daily Deal. Shoot - I bought “It” for 99 cents and it’s an amazing story and Audio book.
In the case of THIS book, I got what I a paid for. There was promise in the conceit - a young woman reappears 7 years after her disappearance, claiming she was traveling with aliens. But in execution, it fell flat with a lot of useless plot points and characters. It was a weird genre mash up that didn’t seem to click. It’s a random mix of sci-if mystery, teen drama/coming of age and government thriller - but none of them are interesting. The story is full of stock characters and cliche situations. The government subplot goes absolutely nowhere (and it’s bogged down by annoying Wizard of Oz references) - as does the police investigation - all of which become insignificant at the end. The teen dialogue is painful, made only worse by the narrator. -
This is one of the most unique books I’ve read. It’s definitely in the sci-fi family and explores a lot of really cool ideas, at least to a geek like me, like aliens, and the origin of us as a species. The overall story, the plot, is amazing. It’s such an out there idea but the author makes it all so believable.
The reason I didn’t give it five stars was that although the characters were interesting I never felt like a lot of them were fully developed. They all had potential most of all, of course, Stella. The only character I felt like, throughly mapped out was Cheever, the detective who investigated Stella’s disappearance. But Stella is such a mystery, which not reveal anything, is somewhat understandable. But still I would have liked her to be a bit more realistic as she’s 100% altruistic all the time which made her slightly less likable.
Overall I really liked the book, I thought the ending was ok, but seemed slightly abrupt. Still I would most definitely recommend. -
Seven year old Stella is abducted from her room one night. Her family is devastated. Detective Cheever is sure she must have been murdered by a child molester but he can't find enough evidence for him to be charged.
Another seven years pass and the day her mother decides to commit suicide, Stella returns. She claims that aliens invited her to come with them. Did she? Or did Wilkerson, her childhood stalker, hide her somewhere before he returned to prison on other charges? Could someone else have taken her? And who are the group of people willing to blackmail a psychiatrist into convincing everyone that Stella is crazy? Cheever is determined to find out for Stella, her family and his own peace of mind.
I was given a free copy in exchange for a review. This book was fun despite the fact that it was predictable and the last chapter was 'let's tie everything up'. The only real problem I had with it was the talent show scene was melodramatic. -
Being a fan of Alan Russell's work, it was a no-brainer for me to pick this up and lose a few hours to it. I was compelled by the story surrounding Stella's disappearance and her return. There were a lot of element that kept me interested: Detective Cheever, Guy Wilkerson, Stella and Luke, and Stella's family.
The only thing that kept me from giving this five stars was the fact that I had so many unanswered questions. It felt like there were a lot of excess characters and not enough movement that really explained what was going on with Stella during the seven years she was missing. It felt like there were three different plot lines that weren't meeting up like they should have.
Should you read this? Oh yes. It definitely gets your mind roaring and ready to explore. Would I recommend this to others? You bet. -
Stella Price vanishes at 7 years old after a family day at the beach then reappears 7 years later. The family goes through a rough time and the mother goes as far as contemplating suicide. The father drowns himself in his job. taking position as an elected official. When Stella reappears their joy is mixed with questions.
The story isn't completely unique but was enjoyable and fast paced. Everything the family went through was realistic as well as their reactions to having her back. There was suspense, twists, even a bit of conspiracy. The writing is even paced and builds towards the plot. The characters were vibrant and the scene descriptions were developed and not overwhelming.
This story is one not only for sci-fi fans but those who enjoy a good mystery with a touch of conspiracy. -
Open you mind -- and your heart to this book
Alan Russell has the lightest touch with God's gentlest creatures, and in "The Homecoming," this holds true again and again.
There is definitely evil here, in the forms both hated by all of society, and hated by majority of society but immune (too mean and truly too stupid) to self-recognition. The sad thing of the "teen Queens" of the world is that their beauty (what wee thin sheen there may be) lasts only long enough to capture a man stupid enough to not have a prenup (and a condom), for the evil and stupid runs all the way through, and while being ugly is temporary and can be fixed with surgery, being stupid and evil is forever. -
3.5 stars. I liked this. In the smallest way, it reminded me of
Where the Forest Meets the Stars (which I loved). Just in that there is a girl, who claims to be from "somewhere out there" and we as a reader aren't sure what to believe ...
I like Luke Daniels as a narrator ~ but I wonder what this would have been like with a younger/female narrator, to match Stella more. With the professional narration sound, I think I stayed a bit detached.
I don't know how much I'll really remember this - probably just vague recollections, but I did like it.
