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Finn McCoy #1
Homecoming
Finn McCoy is a paranormal handler. He handles things that ordinary paranormal investigators can't or won't, and he often ends up cleaning up behind them.
For fifteen years, McCoy has turned his back on his hometown of Shallow Springs, Virginia, and the dark secrets the town harbors. But now an evil, unstoppable force has been unleashed on the unsuspecting residents of the town, and McCoy finds himself the only thing standing between the town and total destruction.
For fifteen years, McCoy has turned his back on his hometown of Shallow Springs, Virginia, and the dark secrets the town harbors. But now an evil, unstoppable force has been unleashed on the unsuspecting residents of the town, and McCoy finds himself the only thing standing between the town and total destruction.
147 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 10, 2012
516 people are currently reading
1631 people want to read
About the author
Scott Langrel
19 books43 followersI was born and raised in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, a town nestled in the mountains of Appalachia. Which, by the way, is pronounced "apple-atcha", not "a-puh-lay-shua". My favorite TV shows as a kid were "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" and "Night Gallery" with Rod Serling. I was also drawn to books with larger-than-life heroes such as Doc Savage and Robert E. Howard's Solomon Kane. I was (and still am) a big X-files fan, along with Lost, Supernatural, and The Walking Dead.
I prefer horror and thrillers where there is a real, supernatural villain as opposed to psychological horror, and I try to incorporate such characters into my stories.
I prefer horror and thrillers where there is a real, supernatural villain as opposed to psychological horror, and I try to incorporate such characters into my stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
June 25, 2015
Finn McCoy is a handler, apparently meaning that he handles demons and the fey, keeping humans who don’t know these threats exist, safe from the monsters. People are disappearing from Shallow Springs, the small town McCoy grew up in, and the sheriff grudgingly calls McCoy asking him to come back and help.
Paranormal thriller? Yes. It can also be described as horror as the Sluagh are nasty Fey creatures who want to take out the entire town and they are definitely not something you’d want to run into.
I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with how well this self-published book was written, especially in comparison to all other self-published books I’ve read. There is a very well-rounded professional feel to it.
The story flows well, describing the various settings, the people involved, their thoughts, fears and actions with both good world and character building. I had to go back and look to see if credit is being given to an editor as it felt very much like I was reading a book that came out of a publishing house.
I really like the major characters and the fact that they are far from perfect. Finn, our main hero, is capable and determined, but in his forties his body is obviously not as agile and pain-free as it used to be. And his girlfriend, Amanda, has a vested interest in his safety and is more than willing and able to get in the middle of the action. She’s also smart and able to offer up observations and suggestions that McCoy, in the middle of the “picture” can’t always see.
I picked up this book when it was offered for free and I’m glad I did. I’ll definitely be reading the next book in the series.
Paranormal thriller? Yes. It can also be described as horror as the Sluagh are nasty Fey creatures who want to take out the entire town and they are definitely not something you’d want to run into.
I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with how well this self-published book was written, especially in comparison to all other self-published books I’ve read. There is a very well-rounded professional feel to it.
The story flows well, describing the various settings, the people involved, their thoughts, fears and actions with both good world and character building. I had to go back and look to see if credit is being given to an editor as it felt very much like I was reading a book that came out of a publishing house.
I really like the major characters and the fact that they are far from perfect. Finn, our main hero, is capable and determined, but in his forties his body is obviously not as agile and pain-free as it used to be. And his girlfriend, Amanda, has a vested interest in his safety and is more than willing and able to get in the middle of the action. She’s also smart and able to offer up observations and suggestions that McCoy, in the middle of the “picture” can’t always see.
I picked up this book when it was offered for free and I’m glad I did. I’ll definitely be reading the next book in the series.
September 11, 2015
IMO the best part about this book was that the main character wasn't some 20 something perfect rock star. No smoldering eyes. No rock hard abs. No lustrous hair, waving in the breeze. He was just a dude. A dude with skills and an aging truck. And oddly enough, I enjoyed the adventure.
This is book one in a series. I knew that going into the book. When I reached the last page, the mystery was concluded. And yet, there was more information to be found, I was want to continue. I like being able to walk away if I so desire. And I like that I'm gently lulled to continue reading. Nicely done.
The writing style was good, a man of skill. The story was different enough to keep me feeling like I hadn't seen or read this 10 times already. And the characters were great!
This is book one in a series. I knew that going into the book. When I reached the last page, the mystery was concluded. And yet, there was more information to be found, I was want to continue. I like being able to walk away if I so desire. And I like that I'm gently lulled to continue reading. Nicely done.
The writing style was good, a man of skill. The story was different enough to keep me feeling like I hadn't seen or read this 10 times already. And the characters were great!
July 16, 2022
Downloaded for free on Kindle. A quick read. Plot keeps you reading, although for at least half the book I felt like it had to be a second or later book in the series. Finn is a handler, can sense paranormal beings, and knows how to battle them. He just does, because of his youth, but no real explanation. Town is a hot spot for paranormal, but it just is. History between Finn and the beings, just is. I’m assuming that as the series unfolds the layers will slowly be unwrapped… maybe. It left me feeling like I was missing knowledge through most of the book. Like starting a movie in the middle and not having anyone to tell you what you’d missed. Through the plot there’s no time for explanations, and as the reader I felt like I was piecing together what was happening much like the deputies in the book.
August 30, 2017
A 3.5 star read.
This was a surprisingly fabulous read that I picked up as a freebie from Kindle Australia. Extremely well written with a pacing style that kept you glued to the story and the pages turning quickly. The characters were wonderfully lifelike (no escaping with barely a scratch for Finn!) and the plot varied enough from the norm to make for a fresh, interesting read.
I love that Finn is a little long in the tooth - wise and intelligent in the ways of "handling" the paranormal, but crusty and despairing of his rapidly aging body.
With enough creepy and crawly monsters to fill a .... well ..... forest, the novel has peaked my interest considerably to read on and discover what happens next in the series.
This was a surprisingly fabulous read that I picked up as a freebie from Kindle Australia. Extremely well written with a pacing style that kept you glued to the story and the pages turning quickly. The characters were wonderfully lifelike (no escaping with barely a scratch for Finn!) and the plot varied enough from the norm to make for a fresh, interesting read.
I love that Finn is a little long in the tooth - wise and intelligent in the ways of "handling" the paranormal, but crusty and despairing of his rapidly aging body.
With enough creepy and crawly monsters to fill a .... well ..... forest, the novel has peaked my interest considerably to read on and discover what happens next in the series.
July 7, 2016
frightening what goes bump in the night.
October 14, 2023
I took a chance on Scott Langrel's "Homecoming". When I started the book I felt like I made a mistake. But I'm prejudiced against books that aren't famous and I'm mad at myself for that so I continued to read.
The verdict: this is a very enjoyable book. Scott Langrel's prose flows and is unflawed. I also appreciated that this book is so short. The shortest book I've read recently was around 350 pages, the books before that topped 500 and 600 pages. The brevity of "Homecoming" was very refreshing. In just over a 100 pages Langrel manages to tell his story.
And what a gem of a story it is. Centered around a paranormal handler named Finn McCoy and the small town of Shallow Springs under a slow assault from the Fey known as the Sluagh. This is a horror book with an number of supernatural elements but the prevailing feeling I got while reading it was not horror but adventure. The pacing was brisk and the plot twists unexpected. A really good and fast ride.
Find books that you might love in my book review site
The verdict: this is a very enjoyable book. Scott Langrel's prose flows and is unflawed. I also appreciated that this book is so short. The shortest book I've read recently was around 350 pages, the books before that topped 500 and 600 pages. The brevity of "Homecoming" was very refreshing. In just over a 100 pages Langrel manages to tell his story.
And what a gem of a story it is. Centered around a paranormal handler named Finn McCoy and the small town of Shallow Springs under a slow assault from the Fey known as the Sluagh. This is a horror book with an number of supernatural elements but the prevailing feeling I got while reading it was not horror but adventure. The pacing was brisk and the plot twists unexpected. A really good and fast ride.
Find books that you might love in my book review site
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October 28, 2024I was worried I wasn’t going to like this book because it had gotten it during one of the free kindle days. However, I LOVED it.
This book follows a paranormal hunter, or handler as he preferred to call himself. In this one, he’s forced to deal with the Sluagh, a type of fairy.
This book made me happy as can be, because the author stayed close to the folklore! On top of that, this book was really interesting and fast paced. This one was an easy and quick read thanks to the pacing of events within it. There was an error or two, but all were easily overlooked and didn’t take away from the story being told. Definitely recommend this book.
This book follows a paranormal hunter, or handler as he preferred to call himself. In this one, he’s forced to deal with the Sluagh, a type of fairy.
This book made me happy as can be, because the author stayed close to the folklore! On top of that, this book was really interesting and fast paced. This one was an easy and quick read thanks to the pacing of events within it. There was an error or two, but all were easily overlooked and didn’t take away from the story being told. Definitely recommend this book.
August 25, 2025
Homecoming was an interesting take on the Fae. Finn McCoy is a handler and deals with the paranormal world. He is called to his hometown to help figure out what is causing townspeople to disappear and remove it. The story was engrossing and had plenty of twists to keep me turning the pages. However, at the end of the book, I felt like I had missed something. There were several references to past events without enough detail to satisfy curiosity. It was similar to the Jerry McNeil series by Sherry Burton, with the difference being the entities that Finn deals with.
November 23, 2021
in the woods
I grew up in the mountains and enjoy being in the woods whenever I have a chance, although I never saw anything there were times when the hair stood up on the back of my neck and I felt I was not alone. So it is not a great strech for my imagination to consider an otherworldly possibility, so that being said I enjoyed this book very much and I am looking forward to the next in the series
I grew up in the mountains and enjoy being in the woods whenever I have a chance, although I never saw anything there were times when the hair stood up on the back of my neck and I felt I was not alone. So it is not a great strech for my imagination to consider an otherworldly possibility, so that being said I enjoyed this book very much and I am looking forward to the next in the series
August 22, 2025
A town of horror
Very intriguing and suspenseful read. I really enjoyed the difference of just a regular ghost or paranormal storyline. The characters, including the protagonist, seemed believable even though it was a paranormal fiction book.
The author did a appended job of creating a monster related story while keeping the main storyline realistic.
The book was fun and entertaining to read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Very intriguing and suspenseful read. I really enjoyed the difference of just a regular ghost or paranormal storyline. The characters, including the protagonist, seemed believable even though it was a paranormal fiction book.
The author did a appended job of creating a monster related story while keeping the main storyline realistic.
The book was fun and entertaining to read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
October 9, 2020
This is a great read.
I didn't have much hope for this book, but glad I have it a whirl. It was very enjoyable, entertaining and fast paced. The characters were written well and have so much potential to become great. The story catches your attention and you end up looking forward to more. This was a pleasure to read. Give it a try.
I didn't have much hope for this book, but glad I have it a whirl. It was very enjoyable, entertaining and fast paced. The characters were written well and have so much potential to become great. The story catches your attention and you end up looking forward to more. This was a pleasure to read. Give it a try.
February 15, 2022
Fantastic story-line. I was hooked and couldn't put it down which is something to say for me lately.
Finn McCoy is a paranormal entity handler, someone who can combat paranormal entities using well known items like iron, silver, and salt.
I plan to continue the series because the characters are relatable, the paranormal aspects are well written, and it was a great book.
Finn McCoy is a paranormal entity handler, someone who can combat paranormal entities using well known items like iron, silver, and salt.
I plan to continue the series because the characters are relatable, the paranormal aspects are well written, and it was a great book.
October 22, 2017
Fairies, Demons and magic. Oh my!
This book definitely had some slow parts and I almost abandoned it a couple of times. But I'm glad I stuck with it, there were a couple of surprises in the end. Overall, a good read.
This book definitely had some slow parts and I almost abandoned it a couple of times. But I'm glad I stuck with it, there were a couple of surprises in the end. Overall, a good read.
October 26, 2017
I'd probably give this a 3.5 if we could do half stars. I really enjoyed the story and the character. There were some places where I felt like the characters were a little cliched, but the action of the story pulled me right past that. I'll be reading more of these.
April 6, 2019
Fairies, demons, magic, missing kids, murdered adults, crooked Sheriff...what's not to like about it. The chemistry between Finn and Amanda was great. John Talbot, well, didn't see that coming. I think i'm going to enjoy the series.
April 23, 2019
I loved this book more than I expected. Fast pace, maybe not as creepy, but there were demons, mystery, and a little bit of magic. Oh and I loved the romance between Finn and Amanda. Definitely planning on reading the rest of the series.
February 25, 2024
Great World Building and Characters
I hope to learn much more about Finn and Amanda as time goes by as Scott Langrel has created an amazing paranormal series based on these two characters and the town of Shallow Springs.
I hope to learn much more about Finn and Amanda as time goes by as Scott Langrel has created an amazing paranormal series based on these two characters and the town of Shallow Springs.
September 1, 2024
Fey
Wonderful story and full of excitement. Loved the characters and the added fantasy.
Would recommend to anyone who likes a great read from start to finish.
Please read you'll not be disappointed.
Wonderful story and full of excitement. Loved the characters and the added fantasy.
Would recommend to anyone who likes a great read from start to finish.
Please read you'll not be disappointed.
March 16, 2017
Just my sort of book.
Enjoyed reading this so much, I couldn't put it down. Would recommend it to anyone who loves phantacy and paranormal books.
Enjoyed reading this so much, I couldn't put it down. Would recommend it to anyone who loves phantacy and paranormal books.
May 8, 2017
Really good.
September 29, 2018
Nasty little fays
This adventure was exciting and full of surprises. Loved every minute of it. Plus it has a happy ending and a promise of more to come.
This adventure was exciting and full of surprises. Loved every minute of it. Plus it has a happy ending and a promise of more to come.
October 12, 2018
3.5* good start--I will definitely read book 2.
January 13, 2019
this was a good book. Kept me reading and I liked how the story unfolded. I would recommend this book.
August 30, 2019
Book Homecoming
This was a good book for anyone, who likes excitement in the paranormal realm. Great ending. Loved it. Great read!
This was a good book for anyone, who likes excitement in the paranormal realm. Great ending. Loved it. Great read!
February 10, 2020
Excellent, great characters!
June 14, 2020
First time reading Scott Langrel and rather impressed. Great story telling, plot was spot on and the characters were interesting. Recommend highly.
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July 11, 2020Needs some editing but quick easy read. Some horror bits and not too much mush. Might read more of the series at the right price.
November 12, 2020
Great book to read during this pandemic.
Great book, I recommend this book to anyone who likes this genre. I'll be following this author. I was surprise how good this was.
Great book, I recommend this book to anyone who likes this genre. I'll be following this author. I was surprise how good this was.
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April 1, 2021Great read
Excellent for a quick bit of fun and excitement during a boring portion of a vacation. I really enjoyed it. I will be looking for more books by this author.
Excellent for a quick bit of fun and excitement during a boring portion of a vacation. I really enjoyed it. I will be looking for more books by this author.
September 24, 2021
Amazing book, hopeful for the rest
I loved the direction it was going for as a paranormal series, would definitely recommend I honestly couldn't recommend this book enough
I loved the direction it was going for as a paranormal series, would definitely recommend I honestly couldn't recommend this book enough
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews