Author: Scott Nicholson
Haunted Computer Books, 2012
333 pages
It's set in a world in the not too distant future where religion has taken over the state and secret organizations do nasty things behind closed doors. The protagonist is Freeman Mills, the pre-teen son of an abusive, mad scientist who's in jail for murdering the boy's mother a few years back. Freeman's now an experienced ward of the state, having been in and out of several unsuccessful foster situations. He's gifted with the occasional ability to "triptrap" or read the thoughts of others, and he has a wicked sense of humor.
As the book opens, Freeman's being transferred to a group home in the Blue Ridge mountains called Wendover. There, he'll meet the creepy director of the facility, a man who thinks his brand of religion is the solution to every problem. Other characters include a researcher who thinks he's smarter than everyone else; a therapist with big faith and a big heart; the resident bully; and a girl who just may give Freeman a run for his money.
Then things start to get weird. No spoilers from me. Let's just say that The Home is probably best categorized as a paranormal thriller. It was an easy read, and the Kindle version is in Amazon's Top 40 bargain books as of this writing. (I bought it several months ago for $2.99.)
I'm ready to get back to an international crime thriller now. The question is: where will I go next? So many books. So little time.
