The Children's Home: A NovelA “disquieting” (The New York Times) and mesmerizing tale from an award-winning British author about a mysterious group of children who appear to a disfigured recluse and his country doctor—a tale that “[stirs] the imagination in the manner of Roald Dahl or C.S. Lewis” (Winnepeg Free Press). In a sprawling estate lives Morgan Fletcher, the disfigured heir to a fortune of mysterious origins. Morgan spends his days in quiet study, avoiding his reflection in mirrors and the lake at the end of his garden. One day, two children, Moira and David, appear. Morgan takes them in, giving them free reign. Then more children begin to show up. Dr. Crane, the town physician and Morgan’s lone tether to the outside world, is as taken with the children as Morgan, and begins to spend more time in Morgan’s library. But the children behave strangely. They show a prescient understanding of Morgan’s past, and their bizarre discoveries in the mansion attics grow increasingly disturbing. Every day the children seem to disappear into the hidden rooms of the estate, and perhaps, into the hidden corners of Morgan’s mind. “A one-of-a-kind literary horror story” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), The Children’s Home is “an absorbing and dream-like narrative that recalls both the pastoral gothic of Shirley Jackson and the dystopic vision of John Wyndham” (Columbus Dispatch). “Written with charm and restraint,” (The Missourian), Lambert’s American debut weaves elements of psychological suspense and neo-gothic horror to reveal the grotesque—as well as the glimmers of goodness—buried deep within the soul. “This genre-bending horror story is sure to haunt you in all the best ways” (Bustle). |
Contents
Section 19 | 121 |
Section 20 | 129 |
Section 21 | 131 |
Section 22 | 135 |
Section 23 | 139 |
Section 24 | 152 |
Section 25 | 161 |
Section 26 | 170 |
Section 9 | 56 |
Section 10 | 64 |
Section 11 | 68 |
Section 12 | 76 |
Section 13 | 84 |
Section 14 | 89 |
Section 15 | 96 |
Section 16 | 101 |
Section 17 | 107 |
Section 18 | 117 |
Section 27 | 173 |
Section 28 | 176 |
Section 29 | 179 |
Section 30 | 185 |
Section 31 | 191 |
Section 32 | 198 |
Section 33 | 203 |
Section 34 | 211 |
Section 35 | 213 |
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Common terms and phrases
arms baby backgammon began beneath beside boathouse can’t CHAPTER chil child closed couldn’t Daisy David didn’t know Doctor Crane dogs door dren Engel everything eyes face factory father feel feet fetus fingers floor garden girl glanced Goddie grandfather grandfather’s hadn’t hair hand happened he’d heard horseradish isn’t kitchen knew laugh lifted lips living daylights looked man’s mask Melissa Mite Moira Morgan felt Morgan saw Morgan shook Morgan thought mother mouth never noise once opened Pate paused perhaps potting shed pulled Rebecca round seemed seen She’s shook his head shoulder sister skin smiled sort standing stared stepped back stood suppose sure talk tell There’s They’re thing thought Morgan told took touched Trilby turned voice waiting walked wall watched What’s window woman won’t wondered words you’re you’ve