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    Come Home: A Novel
    Come Home: A Novel
    Come Home: A Novel
    Audiobook12 hours

    Come Home: A Novel

    Written by Lisa Scottoline

    Narrated by Maggi-Meg Reed

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Lisa Scottoline has delivered taut thrillers with a powerful emotional wallop in her New York Times bestsellers Save Me, Think Twice, and Look Again.

    Now, with her new novel, Come Home, she ratchets up the suspense with the riveting story of a mother who sacrifices her future for a child from her past.

    Jill Farrow is a typical suburban mom who has finally gotten her and her daughter's lives back on track after a divorce. She is about to remarry, her job as a pediatrician fulfills her---though it is stressful---and her daughter, Megan, is a happily over-scheduled thirteen-year-old juggling homework and the swim team.

    But Jill's life is turned upside down when her ex-stepdaughter, Abby, shows up on her doorstep late one night and delivers shocking news: Jill's ex-husband is dead. Abby insists that he was murdered and pleads with Jill to help find his killer. Jill reluctantly agrees to make a few inquiries and discovers that things don't add up. As she digs deeper, her actions threaten to rip apart her new family, destroy their hard-earned happiness, and even endanger her own life. Yet Jill can't turn her back on a child she loves and once called her own.

    Come Home reads with the breakneck pacing of a thriller while also exploring the definition of motherhood, asking the questions: Do you ever stop being a mother? Can you ever have an ex-child? What are the limits to love of family?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateApr 10, 2012
    ISBN9781427213310
    Come Home: A Novel
    Author

    Lisa Scottoline

    Lisa Scottoline is the New York Times bestselling author of over thirty novels including Look Again, Lady Killer, Think Twice, Save Me and Everywhere That Mary Went. She also writes a weekly column, “Chick Wit,” with her daughter Francesca Serritella, for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The columns have been collected in several volumes, including Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog and My Nest Isn’t Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space. Scottoline has won an Edgar® Award and Cosmopolitan magazine’s “Fun Fearless Fiction” Award, and she served as the president of Mystery Writers of America. She teaches a course on justice and fiction at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, her alma mater. She lives in the Philadelphia area.

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    Reviews for Come Home

    3.5/5

    194 ratings33 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Doctor turned amateur sleuth, Jill Farrow investigates the death of her ex-husband when one of her ex-step daughters shows up and is convinced he was murdered. Concerned for the girl, she checks and unravels secrets that lead them all into danger. Although she has written many legal thrillers, Lisa Scottoline has also written emotional thrillers that tug at the heartstrings of the reader. This one is no exception. Although I am a dad and a step-child, I can feel for Jill Farrow and the pain that she is going through. I also strived to discover what her ex-husband was up to. The story got a little saccharine for my taste towards the end, but the surprise climax made up for it.
    • 3/5
      If the characters in this book could whine anymore, I'd be shocked. It became annoying very quickly. Story was ok. Definitely not one of this author's best.
    • 3/5
      As long as you suspend some disbelief with some of the actions that would never happen in real life, it's a good book about fractured families, and what really makes up a family. A lot of twists and turns
    • 3/5
      I listened to this on CD. It was a good book but had a dark, scary mysterious side to it.
    • 3/5
      A bit far fetched for me, and some of the dialogue was much too lengthy.
    • 4/5
      It's part exploration of motherhood part mystery. Pediatrician Jill Farrow has one daughter (Megan) and two former stepdaughters (Victoria and Abby). She's engaged to Sam (who has a son Steven). Jill hasn't seen her two former stepdaughters since their father, William, walked out on her--until Abby suddenly reappears in her life claiming that William was murdered. This begged two questions from me: 1. Why did Abby go to her ex-stepmother whom she hasn't seen in several years vs. going to her older sister Victoria? and 2. Why does Abby think that a pediatrician could solve a murder? Both these questions are addressed by the author, but not until a ways after I'd had the chance to think them and wonder about them. I also didn't think Jill was setting a particularly good example for her 13 year old daughter,Megan. She's both living with and sleeping with her fiancé, Sam.Then, despite many people (her fiancé, her best friend, and her other stepdaughter) telling her it is a bad idea, she continues to champion Abby--even to the extent that it might ruin her relationship with Sam--because she feels it is her duty as Abby's one-time-mother to do so.I was glad to see some growth in many of the characters. Jill comes to terms with what happened with William so that she can move forward into her relationship with Sam free from those encumbrances. She also comes to learn a bit more about balancing life between work and family and between various family members who need her. Victoria learns who her father really was and is willing to admit that Jill is not the enemy. She also appears to forgive Brian's deceit and be ready to give him a potential second chance. Abby grows up--she goes from driving drunk to finding a potential career. Sam goes from demanding Jill not invite Abby into their home to being willing to expand their family to include not only Abby but Victoria as well. Both Jill and Sam learn more about communication. Jill seems to be doggedly stubborn in trying to figure out what happened to William and later what happened to Abby. I have to wonder if it might not have been better for the FBI to have let her in sooner rather than later--of course, then the book wouldn't have been as exciting.
    • 5/5
      When Jill's estranged ex-stepdaughter shows up at the door to tell her that her ex-husband has died, Jill's world is suddenly turned upside down. Abby further goes on to tell Jill that she thinks that her father was murdered, and begs Jill to help her prove it. Her maternal instincts kick in for the ex-stepdaughter that she never stopped loving, but her loyalties are being pulled in all directions when her new love demands that she choose between "their" family or her old family...

      And when Abby disappears, Jill finds herself and all those that she loves being drug into something much deeper than she could have imagined...
    • 3/5
      Spoiler





      I like the action and twists but not the pat endings. Everyone ends up just a little too happy.

      In real life Sam would have left Jill Farrow.
    • 5/5
      I enjoyed this book. It was about a woman who was divorced and then her one step daughter arrives distraught because her father was killed. I found the story interesting and enjoyed the characters. I will be trying more books by Lisa Scottoline.
    • 4/5
      Another really good book by Lisa Scottoline. She really knows how to entertain readers. There was lots of intrigue, action and suspense. Well worth the read. I didn't care too much for the narrator on the audiobook. Her young adult voices were very annoying.
    • 2/5
      I've listened to a few of Lisa's book now. I have come to the conclusion that I don't like her male characters. Maybe she is trying to make us think that the significant other is involved in the crime? They come of as very selfish and unsupportive. The female character in this story was supposed to have no contact with an orphaned step child because her new love interest didn't want her to. She helped raise this child, divorced he father and still had some contact with her. I just thought this idea of making conflict between them and adding to the drama was flimsy at best. A man that is in love with you, asking to marry you, then saying he doesn't want a now orphaned step child involved in your joint lives. I just couldn't get past that honestly.
    • 3/5
      weird book and chapter structure. bordered on sappy at times. took me 2/3 of the book to get into it. just when book should have ended it it still continued. very very odd. like the lawyer series much better.
    • 3/5
      Did not care for this book – very slow, long and drawn out! The whining drove me nuts on the audio and could not wait for it to end. Would not recommend! Jill is about to remarry and her ex-stepdaughter shows up stating Jill’s ex-husband is dead. Abby insists that he was murdered and pleads with Jill to help find his killer. Jill reluctantly agrees and opens up a world she did not know from her ex-husband’s life and gets in the middle of the downfall.
    • 5/5
      very fast read! I can relate I played the role of almost Stepmom to two guys I dated children's on visits and even though I never got to spend much time with them I did get to know these children and had a connection like Jill in the book did to her "abby and victoria" her ex step daughters from her second marriage which seemed as strong as her connection to her own daughter megan. Its hard to leave all that behind when you share a connection with the kids from a relationship that is broken.
    • 1/5
      I have heard about Lisa for years and thought I would give her a try.

      Was not impressed with this book and then saw that it was her 18th so maybe it was just me.

      I just have issues with this book - I understand she was trying to solve a mystery but the lack of parenting just rubbed me the wrong way and then the twist of Mega and the boy, the one patient we heard about out of all of her patients, just so many little things that didn't sit well with me.

      I think I will stick with Danielle Steele, Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber.
    • 4/5
      A good mystery that is a quick read. The story revolves aroud Jill who is a pediatrician who is a Mom to megan and step-mom to Abby and Victoria . When her ex is found dead she goes about trying to find out how he died.
    • 4/5
      It was good, skimmed through a little in the middle but other wise the ending was very good.
    • 2/5
      Just okay, I found the characters incredibly unlikeable which made it hard to read.
    • 3/5
      Basic Scottoline. Stand-alone story. God for car travel. Did want to scream at the main character the requisite number of times, and say, "Are you out of your mind? What are you thinking?!"
    • 5/5
      A page turner of excitement! Jill, a pediatrician, falls into mystery and intrigue when she finds out her ex-husband is dead. Her stepdaughter turns up on her doorstep with the news and with the belief that he was murdered. Between being a mother, an ex-stepmother, an ex-wife, a working doctor and a fiance, she manages to pursue this idea and follow it through. At all times she is threatening each of her roles. This is a good quick read, one I read while recovering from foot surgery. I was recommend it for someone that needs a good, entertaining escape.
    • 5/5
      An excellent read. Very suspenseful with many twists and turns. I devoured this book.
    • 4/5
      This was an entertaining read, spanning both the chick lit and mystery-thriller genres. Jill, a pediatrician, is surprised when her ex-step-daughter arrives with the news that Jill's ex-husband has died. The step-daughter suspects that the man was murdered, though the police say there is no evidence. Jill starts doing a little investigating of her own.Come Home is equally about Jill's struggles to balance her priorities, and about the investigation itself. Jill has a demanding job, a young teenager, two young adult ex-stepdaughters who have just stepped back into the picture, and a fiance who isn't happy about the stepdaughters. I liked that her investigation stayed on a reasonable, believable level; she did not suddenly turn into a super-cop. The mystery elements are well done. While I guessed some of the conclusions, there were enough surprises to keep it interesting.
    • 3/5
      I know that Scottoline's a best selling author, but her writing style is vanilla. And she wastes so much time getting from Point A to Point B.Never again.
    • 3/5
      I gave this book 3 stars only because I respect the art of writing. That being said, the main character is a doctor and for a doctor, she really doesn't think things through. I realize her delving into her ex's death (said to be a murder by her ex-step-daughter) is the basis of the story, but come on! Some of the things she does are just absolutely stupid and reckless. I think at some point in time an intelligent person would say - okay - it's time to turn this over to the police. I've done enough. But, of course, she doesn't do that. Even when she's beaten and chased with guns, she continues. Found this a little hard to believe.
    • 4/5
      When do you stop being a mother. After a divorce are you no longer stepmother to children you've raised for years.Add a suspected murder & a disappearance and you have a thriller!
    • 4/5
      This was a great audiobook to listen to, as it was filled with action, suspense, and emotional struggles. Reed did a wonderful job narrating this audiobook by embracing her characters as we follow her along a journey that has her struggling with her parental responibilities, loyalties, and obligations. Jill's life appears to be on the right track, as she is getting ready to marry a wonderful man, her daughter Megan is excelling in school, and her career as a pediatrician is back on track.Jill cannot foresee how her life will take a drastic change when her stepdaughter from her previous marriage unexpectedly shows up on her doorstop one evening. Abby informs her that her father is dead and she suspects that he has been murdered. Jill thinks that Abby is hysterical from grief so takes the girl under her wing, hoping to alleviate her suspicions.As Jill spends more time with Abby she is reminded of the love that she developed for both her and her sister. She was their mother at one time and she can't help but allow the motherly feelings to resurface. Jill does not expect the renewed relationship with her stepdaughters to create a rift with her husband-to-be, but she cannot ignore her parental longings.As Jill takes a closer look at Abby's allegations surrounding her ex-husband's death, she notices some things that don't add up. As she continues her quest for the truth, Jill could end up in the middle of a scheme that not only puts her life in danger, but also everyone that she loves.This was a very engaging audiobook, with my only complaint being the crying that happened early on in the book. I found these parts downright annoying, but maybe that comes from raising a daughter. Otherwise, this was a great book to listen to and with themes of parental obligations, love, and truth, I think it would also make a great book club selection. I don't hesitate in recommending this book for your listening pleasure.
    • 3/5
      Come Home is one of Lisa Scottoline's literary chick lit mystery books, not one of her sassy-female-lawyer mystery books. I'll admit to a preference for her humorous contributions to the latter genre over her softer, more emotional chick lit books. Bias revealed. Jill's ex-stepdaughter turns up unexpectedly with the news that Jill's ex-husband is dead. The stepdaughter is convinced his death is no accident even though the police have already closed the case. Jill is excited by the opportunity to reconnect with the stepdaughters she lost access to in her divorce. However, getting involved in this drama may jeopardize Jill's relationship with her current fiance and her daughter. For me, the strength in Come Home is in Scottoline's ability to set up questions about what defines a modern family. Not only does she examine what happens when a blended family splits up, but she stacks another layer on by adding yet another blended family to the mix. In this case, the results are not all together successful. Jill finds herself having to choose between the past and the future. My only criticism is that I found the forced choice to be somewhat contrived - (mild spoiler alert) I didn't believe the fiance would put Jill in the position of having to choose, at least not without a lot more discussion and hand-wringing. A man who was that shallow would not be a mate Jill would choose in the first place. Overall, an entertaining read that addresses a modern and complex issue.
    • 2/5
      A doctor gets involved in solving the murder of her ex her relationship with stepchildren. No depth or true insight. Goes from paedritian dr to detective sleuth. Not believable.
    • 2/5
      I’m generally a fan of Lisa Scottoline, as I think her writing is smart with a twinge of nostalgia as well as some humor and a little sass. When there is a chance to read and review her books, I always try to get those books in advance when I can. Thank you to Goodreads who sent me a free copy to review in exchange for an honest opinion. Come Home was offered to me and I waited for it with open arms and read it in less than 2 days, which was rare for me during the time I actually finished it (dissertation defense week). As I look at other reviews, I’m struck by how much people dislike characters that display weakness, and I’ll admit that when I looked at Jill Farrows, the main character of Come Home, ultimately, I disliked her as well. Let me tell you why.Jill Farrows is a well-respected physician in a private practice and, after a nasty divorce, has found a man she both loves and adores who loves and adores her in return. Her biological daughter openly loves and cares for him as well and Jill has moved on with her life. Her only real regret was being taken by a con-man and falling in love with his two daughters, who were abruptly removed from her life, and that of her daughter, after the divorce. We begin our story a few years later, when the con-man ex-husband is killed and one of her ex-step-daughters shows up drunk on her door-step with a theory that dear old dad has been murdered. She just knows that Jill is going to sweep in like a prince on a horse to fix it, because Jill always fixed everything in her life.I’m gathering that this is the part of the story that upsets people the most being that the ex-step-daughter is 19-years-old and hasn’t attempted contact in those 3 years in the age of cell phones, Facebook and email. It really gets on a person’s nerves that someone who has a medical degree would drop her whole life for an ungrateful brat. Sorry, gotta call it like I see it. Jill does jump on it out of misplaced love and devotion and, in the process, her life starts falling apart piece by piece. I’ll let you find out, if you choose to read the book, if she manages to get it back, if the ex-con was really murdered and what the ex-step daughter and her wicked sister’s true intentions are, but the plot is jumpy on this one and I found it a dull read at best, which was disappointing for this book.If you are a Scottoline fan, skip this one and wait for the next one. Not her best work and, ultimately, she’ll bring a better game next time.
    • 3/5
      Let me preface by saying I am a fan of Lisa Scottoline but this book was not one of her best. I think it was because there are very few likable characters in this book. I am part of a very, very blended family and can understand more Jill’s point and not Sam’s he really got on my nerves, these girls though now grown women were at one time her daughter’s they lived in the same home and lived as a family. At first I understood his apprehension a little because Abby was drunk but after that he was such a jerk about the whole situation.It’s not that I didn’t like this book I did well, it was a little better than ok but not great. The characters are unlikeable, whiny or full of hatred and jealousy. I also didn’t really understand the whole storyline with the little boy well in the way I didn’t think it added anything to story except to try to get us to like Jill because she is caring.As for the audio production I was impressed with Maggi-Meg Reed’s of the young girl with braces because I knew she had braces before the book mentioned it. However there was a lot of crying and wailing going on and that got annoying so that part of it I had wished I’d read instead of having to hear it. The narration was a bit over the top and I am not totally convinced I wouldn’t have liked this book more if the characters hadn’t all sounded so whiny. I would listen to this narrator again and I thought I had listened and now that I looked she narrated one of my all time favorite Lisa Gardner books (Hide) so yes I would listen to her again.Wow the ending got really chicklit sappy, everything all wrapped up in a bow and Sam’s turnaround was so fast I thought I had missed something, I even went back and re-listened to a couple chapters but I didn’t miss anything it all happened with a blink of an eye.I guess what my rambling is trying to say is try this one in print I think the characters will sound less whiny than they do in the audio version but this isn’t one of Lisa Scottoline’s best books.I received this audiobook from Audiobook Jukebox’s Solid Gold Reviewer Program and Macmillan Audio for a fair and honest review.3 Stars