The Returned

A Novel

By: Jason Mott

Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte

"Jacob was time out of sync, time more perfect than it had been. He was life the way it was supposed to be all those years ago. That's what all the Returned were."

Harold and Lucille Hargrave's lives have been both joyful and sorrowful in the decades since their only son, Jacob, died tragically at his eighth birthday party in 1966. In their old age they've settled comfortably into life without him, their wounds healed through the grace of time.... Until one day Jacob mysteriously appears on their doorstep - flesh and blood, their sweet, precocious child, still eight years old.

All over the world people's loved ones are returning from beyond. No one knows how or why this is happening, whether it's a miracle or a sign of the end. Not even Harold and Lucille can agree on whether the boy is real or a wondrous imitation, but one thing they know for sure: he's their son. As chaos erupts around the globe, the newly reunited Hargraves find themselves at the center of a community on the brink of collapse, forced to navigate a mysterious new reality and a conflict that threatens to unravel the very meaning of what it is to be human.

With spare, elegant prose and searing emotional depth, Jason Mott explores timeless questions of faith and morality, love and responsibility. A spellbinding and stunning debut, The Returned is an unforgettable story that marks the arrival of an important new voice in contemporary fiction.

©2013 Jason Mott (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Written for believers to understand the departed

Where does The Returned rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 10

What did you like best about this story?

The way it was presented

What about Tom Stechschulte’s performance did you like?

His voice is enthralling

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes. The author's notes at the end.

Any additional comments?

I read the book with no emotions and wondering why the author had taken the time to write it and wondering if I should return it for credit. At the very end I was in tears as I realized that this same situation happened to my departed mother. This book made me understand why, as a child, I had felt unloved by my mother. My brother drowned when I was six months old and my mother first blamed my older brother then must have blamed all her children as she seemed unable to love us. I can now forgive her for this although she has been gone for some years. I love you Mom and can now forgive you.

Was sucked in immediately

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have recommended this book to friends and I will continue to do so. This book is not only a captivating book to listen to, it opens your mind to so many other possibilities about life, death and the human condition.

What other book might you compare The Returned to and why?

I have never read or listened to another book like tis one. It is a very unique story.

Which scene was your favorite?

I don't think that I could choose any one part of this book to be my favorite. Every chapeter brought something new and something honest and deep with it.

Who was the most memorable character of The Returned and why?

The father I believe was the most memorable in my mind. The way he said one thing yet his actions were a complete contrast to that.

Interesting Story

I got a copy of this book from the author/publisher at BEA13. Yes I know! That was one month shy of a year ago and I am just now getting to it. Well the audiobook at least.
The story of all stories starts with a little boy found in the rice paddies of China being returned to his family in the states. The story twist, the OMG of it all is that this boy has been not missing but dead for 40 years and he is the same age as when he died. Eight year old Jacob remembers nothing of the time he has been gone, only waking up in China. To him no time has passed and nothing unusual has happened. Jacob is not the only one. There are hundreds of people just waking up in the most random places with no memory of what has happened to them. They all say they just woke up. The dead or coming back and they all are trying to get back to their loved one.
I love this story idea. I have said it before I am a sucker for an original story idea. This is not a "Night of the Living Dead" book at all. It is more like people just reconnecting with the ones they love(d). There are several storylines and families in this book but Jacob's parents -Harold and Lucille are the main focus. I love the way their love and reconnection of their family builds and grows as Jacob's life touches them both in completely different ways. No absent YA parents here. They have been married forever.
Could you image seeing your son after he has been dead and buried for more than 40 years? You have worked as much as you could through the grieving process. You have moved forward with your life and WHAM!! He's back and looks the same as when you saw him last.
I really like this book but it was not a solid like until I got to the author's notes at the end. The book does not give a explanation as to why this is happening all over the world. The reactions of the population I can see really happening but I needed a bit more. The author's notes give the reader an answer to the why? But the question is ...What made him write this novel? What a touching answer.
Please read the prequels before jumping into this novel. The prequels are great.

Great Concept -- However not what I expected

I enjoyed 2 of the 3 prequels. I thought they were setting the stage for something bigger, however it turned out they were just mini versions of the novel.

First, I should say that this is NOT a bad book -- it's just not a scifi book. The premise and promotion seem to be designed to hook in those looking for a great scifi tale, and this just isn't it.

Forgetting the above, it's a decent tale that tries to deliver multiple messages at once, and I appreciate that, however it falls very flat. There are a few tales interspersed that only have a vague impact on the main story, which is fine since the main story isn't really all that epic on its own. The story plods along, all the while you're hoping it gains steam. It never truly does -- perhaps this is the first in a series?

Either way, I'm not sure I could recommend this book.

I expected more

I decided to read this book or shall I say listen to this book (I purchased the audible version) because of the recent commercials on television for a new television series called Resurrection which will be appearing on ABC. The television trailers looked interesting enough to spark my curiosity into the dynamics surrounding a loved one coming back from the dead and the paradigms presented if reintroduced into your life as if nothing has ever changed. How would you and the people around you handle the unique type of situation?

Although, I enjoyed reading this book, it was not a good match for me because it appeals to the possibility of bring hope into your life then taking that hope away. I imagined this story would be much more; however, when you involve faith, morality, and ethics coupled with the fears of the world, it can present chaotic circumstances.

I am on the fence with recommending this book. It depends on individual preference and how well you can deal with a phenomenon like the one presented in this book without knowing how and why they came back.

I never once wanted to put this book down. I always wanted more….thinking and hoping to gain the perspective of the Returned but I was hopelessly lost in the end.

I would reread (listen) this book again to see if I missed anything from the first read, maybe then I might have a different perception of the book and my review present different outlooks. Maybe I will see how the book relates to the new TV series coming in March. I wonder if my outlook will change.

No answers for the mystery

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I'd recommend the book just because the concept itself spurred so many WHAT IF's !

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

It would be a spoiler!

Have you listened to any of Tom Stechschulte’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No...my first. He was a good reader.

Any additional comments?

If you are the type that likes your book plots all wrapped up in a neat package, this one's not for you. But....Even though I really like a solid end to a book, I found the mystery of the who- what- when- where - how's actually spurred a lot more thoughts and ponderings after the book ended. More than if the author had wrapped up the ending in a neat package. It's been weeks since I finished the book and I'm still weighing what I thought about it. I loved the concept. Worth the read.

Meh.

The plot was not what I expected. I wanted to book to go in a different direction than it did. The narrator's voices were annoying.

Duty Calls!!

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This was my book club's selection of the month. I didn't like it but I read it as a "duty." We all know that a duty does not have to to be liked - just done.
Well my thoughts about the books; First the disappointments (other than not liking the book in first place): Elvis, Marvin Gaye, nor Otis Redding ever came back! Also the Pastor seeing his wife as "failures," and the way he left her and his continued patterned. Fred Green's revolt (reminded me of the California citizens blocking the immigration bus.) Funny - was the 'love affair' of Harold and the old Black lady, Mrs. Stone. Compassionate, but hilarious! The surprise was Lucille!

If you’ve listened to books by Jason Mott before, how does this one compare?

No, this was my first.

What three words best describe Tom Stechschulte’s performance?

Job well done!

Do you think The Returned needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Goodness no!! Let the dead stay dead!

I wanted to like it but...

What did you like best about The Returned? What did you like least?

I liked the concept and I'm a huge Tom Stechschulte fan. The 3 preview stories grabbed my interest. However, this book fell short. It just didn't go anywhere very exciting and the characters weren't that interesting.

could have been better but great message

I think for me this book left a lot of open questions. I started this with the first 3 prequel books which left me in suspension. I pre-ordered this book with hopes of continuing the story(s) from those short stories and answer a lot of the questions I felt at the time must have been saved for the full title. I was left with a lot more to be desired. Dont get me wrong the book is well written and flows together just fine, its just I wanted more out of it. I felt there could have been more easily added that could have made this book not only good but shine.

The author leaves you with a great message about love, memories and regret which is in itself worth it. I felt the ending was rushed however surprisingly satisfied once it was all said and done.

There is far more going on here than just a bunch of resurrections. This will open your mind to thinking about how you would feel, what you would do, and what you would experience if you had one more chance.

All in all The Returned is definitely worth the read/listen regardless of your belief in God.