Game More, Pay Less
£3.99

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

You've subscribed to ! We will pre-order your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships and Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the authors

See all
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Homecoming Kindle Edition

4.2 out of 5 stars 559 ratings

In the tiny village of Westerbank in the south west of Scotland, the 1960s are not about rock'n'roll and drugs; they're about survival, making a bare living out of a struggling farm or working for a pittance at whatever job comes along. Nonetheless in this close community friendships go deep and the pub of an evening is a cheery place, at least until too much drink is taken.

Fifteen years ago, Joe McBride left Westerbank under a cloud, and in his absence life has moved on, the secrets he took with him disturbing only occasionally those who were caught up in them. But now Joe McBride is coming home, a changed man, and one who needs to face up to the past before it's too late. The truth about the mysterious death of a young girl fifteen years ago is about to come out, and nothing in Westerbank will ever be quite the same again.

Product description

Review

'Smith writes with a tight, effortless prose that pushes the story and characters to the fore. The Homecoming is mature and thoughtful: a simple but enticing tale told with great skill' Vicky Collins, Herald ― Herald

About the Author

Anna Smith is a journalist working on the Daily Record. She is the only female Chief Reporter of any national newspaper in the UK. Most of her stories come from trouble spots and she has reported from N.Ireland, Africa, Romania and the Gulf. She is single and lives in Lanarkshire, although she also has a house in Ireland.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00ELIF2S2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Quercus
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 17 Oct. 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1848663152
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 559 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
559 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find this book to be a great holiday read with a wonderfully crafted story that kept them interested throughout. They love the characters and appreciate the emotional impact, with several mentioning being moved to tears. The book receives mixed feedback regarding its plot twists, with some finding them satisfying while others find them predictable.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

52 customers mention ‘Readability’48 positive4 negative

Customers find the book thoroughly enjoyable to the end, describing it as a wonderfully crafted story that makes for a great holiday read.

"...A good story with a good mix of ages. And enough twists and sub-plots to keep it interesting. A good light read." Read more

"...Definitely kept me interested and thoroughly enjoyed it to the point I was sad when I finished it!" Read more

"A heartwarming story about ordinary people, their guilty secrets and failings...." Read more

"This story is well written and easy to get into...." Read more

12 customers mention ‘Characterization’12 positive0 negative

Customers love the characters in the book.

"Loved the characters and the way they were all brought together. I could actually visualise them and their way of life...." Read more

"This story is well written and easy to get into. The characters are interesting and the plot,though a little predictable at times,was believable and..." Read more

"...Good story, but a bit twee in places. Nice characters and coothy wee tale." Read more

"...The characters were engaging and endearing. Nice read." Read more

7 customers mention ‘Interest’7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging, with one mentioning how it kept them completely immersed in the story.

"...I could actually visualise them and their way of life. Definitely kept me interested and thoroughly enjoyed it to the point I was sad when I..." Read more

"...writer and after reading all of her thrillers this was a refreshing and wonderfully crafted story of growing up" Read more

"This book had me captivated from the onset,though I did guess what was coming on several occasions...." Read more

"Enjoyed this book a great deal. There were moments of excitement, sadness and joy. Another great kindle app book! !" Read more

4 customers mention ‘Pacing’4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with some mentioning it brings tears to their eyes.

"Enjoyed this book a great deal. There were moments of excitement, sadness and joy. Another great kindle app book! !" Read more

"...was so easy to read, which made me laugh at times and then brought a tear to my eye, great for just chilling out." Read more

"...another fantastic book by Anna Smith.....so well written and had me in tears by the end. Must read.." Read more

"Really good book it will have you crying at some things lol at others ,magic book gem of a book" Read more

8 customers mention ‘Twists’5 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the plot twists in the book, with some appreciating them while others find them predictable.

"...A good story with a good mix of ages. And enough twists and sub-plots to keep it interesting. A good light read." Read more

"Just finished this book. Really enjoyed all the twists. Loved all the characters stories." Read more

"Some nice ideas and a lot of plot juggling, but a little too predictable and rushed at the end. Not very well written. But I did finish it!" Read more

"Once again another great book from Anna Smith. Good storyline and twists. Well worth downloading. Also a great value book." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 May 2021
    I have read all this authors books and although this was very different from her other crime thrillers I thought it was brilliant.Brought back memories of growing up in the 50s and 60s.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 April 2014
    Nice easy read. Mentions of tunes and gala days brought back memories of growing up in the sixties. Had to keep focusing and reminding myself it was set in west of Scotland as it seemed to me more reminiscent of rural Ireland especially with so many Irish names! A good story with a good mix of ages. And enough twists and sub-plots to keep it interesting. A good light read.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 February 2019
    Loved the characters and the way they were all brought together. I could actually visualise them and their way of life. Definitely kept me interested and thoroughly enjoyed it to the point I was sad when I finished it!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 August 2017
    I have enjoyed all the books I have read by Anna Smith but The Homecoming was not as gripping from the start. It developed a bit more pace towards the end but was certainly not her usual page turner. The characters were not quite as believable or as interesting as in the other books I've read by this author.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 April 2017
    A heartwarming story about ordinary people, their guilty secrets and failings. I enjoyed Anna Smith's portrayal of the characters and how they change towards others when they come to understand a person properly. We could all learn a lesson here.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 August 2014
    This story is well written and easy to get into. The characters are interesting and the plot,though a little predictable at times,was believable and full of description. Not a love story, not a mystery, not a drama, but a combination of all 3 . Just a great holiday read!
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 September 2019
    Anna Smith is a spellbinding writer and after reading all of her thrillers this was a refreshing and wonderfully crafted story of growing up
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 March 2014
    I would like to recommend this book to any person who likes a good read. It was a fantastic read. I was glad that it had a good ending and that it had several stories going on at the same time.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Mark Ray
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Homecoming
    Reviewed in the United States on 19 March 2014
    This is the second of Ms Smith’s books before she turned to crime.
    Like the first it involves children in an Ayshire village and their adult associates in the Swinging 1960’s. A place of no shadows or secrets. No safer place to come home to….or so it seemed….
    Young Maggie, a local farmer’s daughter is walking in the fields when she finds a ragged man fast asleep. Terrified when he awakes she is quickly appeased by his smile then she learns he is dumb. To her mothers’ horror she brings him home for a meal and father Frankie, emerging from the barn, is equally concerned until the stranger manages to deliver a problem calf from a prize cow.
    He proves himself in other ways and is taken on as a field hand and member of the family. But where did he come from ? Frankie is great friends with neighbouring farmer Tom, an ex priest whose brother Joe left for America many years before. Tom informs him Joe is returning home at long last but the latter shares a dark secret with Joe and both remain burdened by the guilt.
    Maggie and her brother befriend another brother and sister, new arrivals at a local caravan park, sharing fun and games together. All in all an idyllic existence but the darkness lies ahead concluding in guilt, deception, forgiveness and tragedy.
    “The Big Issue” described this novel as “A Truly riveting book” and it is just that. A worthy successor to “Spit Against the Wind”.
  • Joan Hossack
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Homecoming.
    Reviewed in the United States on 4 March 2014
    I enjoy all Anna,s novels. Always written in a very believable text. Can,t wait for her next book due in a few months.
  • Geraldine Doherty
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant book
    Reviewed in the United States on 6 July 2015
    Can't wait for her next book.

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?