Review: The Returned
Posted by Kate on Thursday, October 3, 2013. Filed under: published in 2013, review, reviewed in 2013, science fiction
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The Returned by Jason Mott
Published by: Harlequin MIRA
Our source: ARC from the publisher
What it’s about (from Goodreads):
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 tempered 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 Hargrave family finds itself 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.
Our thoughts:
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 Hargrave family finds itself 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.
Our thoughts:
For me, science fiction tends to fall into two categories: This is never going to happen, or, I'm concerned this will happen next week. This book fell into the ladder. I found Mott's world of the dead returning after many years completely real and believable.
And his characters! I loved them all. They were complicated, flawed and completely realistic.
This isn't a high-action science fiction story - it's more of a slow-burn as people deal with their rapidly changing world. It's interesting and thought provoking and I thought it was incredibly well done.
I should also note that it's already been picked up by ABC as a future drama called, "Resurrection". I'm not always on board with my favorite books being made into movies or TV shows, but I think this one lends itself really well to it so I can't wait to check that out as well!
We would recommend this to:
Fans of apocalyptic stories, science fiction and those who highly value family.
