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THE HUM
Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not coming to get you...
A strange humming noise, which seems to have no source, is tormenting the villagers of Nuthampstead, England, in 1989. To the Ellis family, recently moved from the valleys of Wales, it has a sinister significance. They don't like to talk about it. But Carys Ellis is only six, and she has to tell someone about the terrifying visitors to her room in the middle of the night when her family would not, and could not be roused.
And that's only the beginning of Carys's plight.
Her mother is a long-term sufferer of a number of mental health problems. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, manic depression, and borderline disorder, she's a drugged up mess. And Carys seems to be heading the same way . . .
Twelve years later, beautiful loner, Carys , is pregnant. She's never had a boyfriend; never had a one-night stand; she's never had any intimate contact with anyone to explain her condition.
Not anyone human anyway.
Plagued by the dreadful humming noise all her life, Carys is convinced the noise precedes close encounters of the fourth kind; and that the baby inside her is not of this world.
She can’t tell anyone. Her mum couldn’t cope and her dad’s been relocated from Cambridge Constabulary to a quiet Welsh village after a nervous breakdown, leaving Carys struggling with her own demons.
Can she protect her baby from its extra-terrestrial creators, or will they whisk him away for some unknown purpose?
Will the demons who torment her get to him first?
Or, is she just a little crazy...?
A strange humming noise, which seems to have no source, is tormenting the villagers of Nuthampstead, England, in 1989. To the Ellis family, recently moved from the valleys of Wales, it has a sinister significance. They don't like to talk about it. But Carys Ellis is only six, and she has to tell someone about the terrifying visitors to her room in the middle of the night when her family would not, and could not be roused.
And that's only the beginning of Carys's plight.
Her mother is a long-term sufferer of a number of mental health problems. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, manic depression, and borderline disorder, she's a drugged up mess. And Carys seems to be heading the same way . . .
Twelve years later, beautiful loner, Carys , is pregnant. She's never had a boyfriend; never had a one-night stand; she's never had any intimate contact with anyone to explain her condition.
Not anyone human anyway.
Plagued by the dreadful humming noise all her life, Carys is convinced the noise precedes close encounters of the fourth kind; and that the baby inside her is not of this world.
She can’t tell anyone. Her mum couldn’t cope and her dad’s been relocated from Cambridge Constabulary to a quiet Welsh village after a nervous breakdown, leaving Carys struggling with her own demons.
Can she protect her baby from its extra-terrestrial creators, or will they whisk him away for some unknown purpose?
Will the demons who torment her get to him first?
Or, is she just a little crazy...?
- GenresFantasy
301 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2014
4 people are currently reading
1438 people want to read
About the author
Michael Christopher Carter
33 books84 followersI grew up in the Home Counties of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. I always felt I wanted to be somewhere else and dreamed of sunny beaches and shady woods. I imagined a move abroad would be the answer but when I visited Pembrokeshire to visit my then fiance's family, I succumbed to the 'Pembrokeshire Pull' and have lived in the National Park ever since.
I have always wanted to be a writer and flirted with the idea, buying a word processor and beginning a number of manuscripts, with very little idea how to actually write a book. When I turned forty something polarised within me, or I just stumbled upon the right advice, and I found the whole thing immensely enjoyable. In fact, I would say I'm only truly happy when I'm writing (I have just completed my fourth book since beginning writing mid-way through 2013!)
Prior to writing I was a dreaded double glazing salesman. I ended up running my own conservatory design and build company for a number of years before the ill-health of a family member meant moving away from the industry.
Opportunities can be found in adversity. It began with studying Welsh language and then Psychology. Then I found my confidence in my own life experiences to know I had plenty to give as an author. I am now able to focus on my writing where the long working hours of my past life never would have allowed.
I live and write in South-West Wales, with my wife, four children and dog!
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I have always wanted to be a writer and flirted with the idea, buying a word processor and beginning a number of manuscripts, with very little idea how to actually write a book. When I turned forty something polarised within me, or I just stumbled upon the right advice, and I found the whole thing immensely enjoyable. In fact, I would say I'm only truly happy when I'm writing (I have just completed my fourth book since beginning writing mid-way through 2013!)
Prior to writing I was a dreaded double glazing salesman. I ended up running my own conservatory design and build company for a number of years before the ill-health of a family member meant moving away from the industry.
Opportunities can be found in adversity. It began with studying Welsh language and then Psychology. Then I found my confidence in my own life experiences to know I had plenty to give as an author. I am now able to focus on my writing where the long working hours of my past life never would have allowed.
I live and write in South-West Wales, with my wife, four children and dog!
Show Less
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 15, 2014
Incredible. It wasn't at all what I expected it to be and very different from Paved with Good intentions which I also loved. The Heroine, Carys, begins the story as a little girl of six who has a close encounter of the fourth kind. Her family don't seem to believe her but her mother, who is mentally unwell, seems to believe her a little too much. From there the story is set and moves in some very unexpected directions that left me utterly breathless.
The plot reminded me a little of the film 'The fourth kind' but the characters, particularly that of Carys, are so interesting it was so much more than that. I'm not even sure I would call this a science fiction story, despite it being about alien abduction. It is as much about society's attitude toward the mentally unwell as it is about the idea of extra-terrestrial life.
The ending could have been so predictable but was not at all. I finished this book with my heart in my mouth and hoping desperately that there is a sequel on the way. If there isn't, there needs to be. Brilliant.
The plot reminded me a little of the film 'The fourth kind' but the characters, particularly that of Carys, are so interesting it was so much more than that. I'm not even sure I would call this a science fiction story, despite it being about alien abduction. It is as much about society's attitude toward the mentally unwell as it is about the idea of extra-terrestrial life.
The ending could have been so predictable but was not at all. I finished this book with my heart in my mouth and hoping desperately that there is a sequel on the way. If there isn't, there needs to be. Brilliant.
January 23, 2022
The Hum Came From Everywhere and Nowhere...
No spoilers. 3 stars. The hum had been constant for days at night when there were no other sounds. A nightly check by the neighborhood couldn't pinpoint its origins...
It was a low hum similar to a distant diesel engine or police helicopter nearing...
It came from everywhere and nowhere...
... but Six year old Carys Ellis knew what the noise was and she was sure the hum was making her mom sick...
... at night, while Carys was in bed, long after her parents were snoring away in their room, she would hear the hum growing louder...
It made her feel unsafe and alone...
Then...
A bright light like a police helicopter searching for someone. The light was then replaced by glow at the bottom of Carys bedroom door...
It was inside the house...
... her doorknob rattled up and down until it creaked ajar. Long Grey fingers gripped the edge of the door and pushed it fully open...
... a figure quickly entered her room; There was nowhere for her to go as it prowled closer and closer...
It had enormous cold, black eyes in its featureless grey face. Carys felt the heat of its rage...
The being told Carys: Do as I say and I will not hurt you. Then more of the creatures entered her room...
They made a gruesome and probing examination of her body... then Carys woke up. It was only a dream. The light and the hum were gone...
Twelve years later...
Eighteen year old Carys, while on a date, sees the lights and hears the hum again after all those years...
You're thinking: sounds like a good book. The first half was indeed a good story but what happened to the second half? Did we have a tag-team takeover?
The second half of the story was very bizarre and Carys, who I really felt empathy for, became the psycho b*tch from hell! In my opinion, as an adult, she was very unlikable making it hard to have empathy for her and her story.
Also irritating to me was the way the story literally just ended leaving me hanging. This was a sore spot for me because during the second half of the story I wanted to abandon the book out of sheer boredom and frustration but I stuck with it just to arrive at its ho hum ending... and that is why I removed 2 stars.
I would classify this novel a sci-fi. If you like sci-fi stories try FOE by Iain Reid, CONSTANCE by Matthew Fitzsimmons or TENDER IS THE FLESH by Augustina Bazterrica.
No spoilers. 3 stars. The hum had been constant for days at night when there were no other sounds. A nightly check by the neighborhood couldn't pinpoint its origins...
It was a low hum similar to a distant diesel engine or police helicopter nearing...
It came from everywhere and nowhere...
... but Six year old Carys Ellis knew what the noise was and she was sure the hum was making her mom sick...
... at night, while Carys was in bed, long after her parents were snoring away in their room, she would hear the hum growing louder...
It made her feel unsafe and alone...
Then...
A bright light like a police helicopter searching for someone. The light was then replaced by glow at the bottom of Carys bedroom door...
It was inside the house...
... her doorknob rattled up and down until it creaked ajar. Long Grey fingers gripped the edge of the door and pushed it fully open...
... a figure quickly entered her room; There was nowhere for her to go as it prowled closer and closer...
It had enormous cold, black eyes in its featureless grey face. Carys felt the heat of its rage...
The being told Carys: Do as I say and I will not hurt you. Then more of the creatures entered her room...
They made a gruesome and probing examination of her body... then Carys woke up. It was only a dream. The light and the hum were gone...
Twelve years later...
Eighteen year old Carys, while on a date, sees the lights and hears the hum again after all those years...
You're thinking: sounds like a good book. The first half was indeed a good story but what happened to the second half? Did we have a tag-team takeover?
The second half of the story was very bizarre and Carys, who I really felt empathy for, became the psycho b*tch from hell! In my opinion, as an adult, she was very unlikable making it hard to have empathy for her and her story.
Also irritating to me was the way the story literally just ended leaving me hanging. This was a sore spot for me because during the second half of the story I wanted to abandon the book out of sheer boredom and frustration but I stuck with it just to arrive at its ho hum ending... and that is why I removed 2 stars.
I would classify this novel a sci-fi. If you like sci-fi stories try FOE by Iain Reid, CONSTANCE by Matthew Fitzsimmons or TENDER IS THE FLESH by Augustina Bazterrica.
July 15, 2014
This is a great book. I don't usually like science-fiction. I don't like obvious plots. This is superb though. I think the narration by a very unlikely and unusual main character really makes this special. It is an action packed and thoughtful story that educates and entertains. I liked the writing style, which wasn't too flowery but used some good metaphors. The story moves forward in time which I usually hate, but it wasn't at all confusing. I knew exactly what was going on. I loved the ending. I can't say why without spoiling it, but it was gripping to the very last page. I will definitely read more from this author.
August 19, 2014
I have read the excerpt and it's really nice
I wished I can read the whole book
I wished I can read the whole book
May 17, 2022
I really struggled to get through this book. I didn't read anything about the story before I started. I just found the Alien stuff weird
August 11, 2021
Sooooooo
In the beginning it seems so promising..Little girl that was visited by aliens, no one believed her or her mother, fastfourd.. 12 years later aliens put baby in her, the baby born with bigger head and speech difficulties but was a genius!Her husband turn to be an alian that was working with others aliens and been manipulating all her life, she end up in psychiatric hospital because no one believed her and the book finished that she overdose but told the nurse because didn't wan to die!
Won't be reading more of this..
In the beginning it seems so promising..Little girl that was visited by aliens, no one believed her or her mother, fastfourd.. 12 years later aliens put baby in her, the baby born with bigger head and speech difficulties but was a genius!Her husband turn to be an alian that was working with others aliens and been manipulating all her life, she end up in psychiatric hospital because no one believed her and the book finished that she overdose but told the nurse because didn't wan to die!
Won't be reading more of this..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2022
Yeah, just.. don't. At least not if you expect a story to be accurate or convincing. Opening chapters pulled me in enough, and I really like to give a book a chance, so despite some oddities and murky storylines, I stuck with it until the 60% completion mark but it had continued getting worse and worse. By the midpoint, it felt like reading something written by a QAnon theorist. Nothing convincing about the sci-fi, full of conflicting details and terminology regarding mental illness (bipolar does not equal schizophrenia does not equal borderline personality disorder).
Could not believe there's a book 2. Would be 1 star had it not started out with an interesting premise.
Could not believe there's a book 2. Would be 1 star had it not started out with an interesting premise.
February 12, 2019
Very good stoy with a mental illness. Is the main character going down this at that direction too? She gets pregnant with the aliens brian washing her. She knows here little one one is alien but loves home too. Recommend for sure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2022
Took some getting into, but I really enjoyed this book, despite it being full of holes and loose ends, but the ending was very disappointing and let it down badly. Could have been so much better!
October 16, 2014
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Carys is afraid of aliens. Ever since she was six years old she'd been afraid of the strange omnidirectional humming noise that is the prelude to bright lights and alien abductions. But since no one believes these experiences of hers are real she ends up questioning her own sanity.
I liked the way the surroundings and the landscapes were sketched, and the glimpse into Welsh society and values.
The book isn't particularly well-written, in that there are grammar, punctuation and spelling mistakes in most every sentence. Since I'm not a native speaker that made the story hard to understand and had me reading at a much slower pace than usual.
The story was good, though I found it hard to sympathise with Carys. Something about her just seemed flat, throughout her life there was not a single friend, no hobby or passion, no job, no ambition. The entire story is focussed on her health, maybe too much so.
Marco is an awesome character and I would love to read more of his and Ebe's story since I'm generally more interested in science fiction elements than family drama.
Carys is afraid of aliens. Ever since she was six years old she'd been afraid of the strange omnidirectional humming noise that is the prelude to bright lights and alien abductions. But since no one believes these experiences of hers are real she ends up questioning her own sanity.
I liked the way the surroundings and the landscapes were sketched, and the glimpse into Welsh society and values.
The book isn't particularly well-written, in that there are grammar, punctuation and spelling mistakes in most every sentence. Since I'm not a native speaker that made the story hard to understand and had me reading at a much slower pace than usual.
The story was good, though I found it hard to sympathise with Carys. Something about her just seemed flat, throughout her life there was not a single friend, no hobby or passion, no job, no ambition. The entire story is focussed on her health, maybe too much so.
Marco is an awesome character and I would love to read more of his and Ebe's story since I'm generally more interested in science fiction elements than family drama.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews