Joyce Owen is depressed and alienated from her neighbours
as her son Robbie, aged 34, causes havoc outside the
house. Reeve Hadfield narrowly escapes being shot as the
small town in Washington State is turned into a crime
scene. Acadia Henderson leans that her father has been
killed, and David Owen drives grimly to where his mother
mourns her mentally-ill son. Robbie had refused to take his
medication and could not be committed against his will.
In A HOMETOWN BOY the police, the hospital, the news
agencies all crowd the situation and the townsfolk say that
they knew Robbie had been a problem and they could see
trouble coming. The evil deeds rebound on his family while
the families of the victims receive flowers. Acadia
bravely stands beside David during a press conference and
insists that his family was not to blame. Now working in
Sacramento, Acadia only intends to stay at her father's
home long enough to clear and sell it.
David, who used to be pals with Acadia when they were at
school, wishes he could just get to know her as adults, but
they seem to keep connecting over the deaths. She has a
funeral to arrange while he has to clear his disturbed
brother's basement apartment. Can they ever see some good
come of the tragedy? Reeve too is determined to change his
life and takes a serious step away from the town.
A HOMETOWN BOY is an unusual take on a bitter crime, with
no complex police investigation, no suspense, just the
stories of love and loss and trying to rebuild lives.
Janice Kay Johnson has looked hard at the small-town scene
and felt her way into the hearts of the inhabitants amid
chaos and despair. While not an easy read at times, the
story puts forward the necessity for access to better care
for those with serious mental illness, showing that the
benefits will outweigh the costs.
Prosecutor David Owen has fond memories of growing up in
small-town Washington State. But he outgrew that place—and
his family—long ago and hasn't felt the need to return.
Until the day a tragedy shakes the town and calls him back
to a community desperate for hope and healing. In the
emotional fallout, he never expects to find Acadia
Henderson again.
For one teenage summer they hovered on the edge of a sweet
attraction before she moved away. Now as adults, that same
attraction is there…only, hotter and way more intense. This
seems like the wrong time to find a connection. But it
could be the perfect time to move on…with each other.
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