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From Away
A family in mourning confronts ghosts from the past in this “complex, surprising, and haunting novel” from the New York Times–bestselling author (Tod Goldberg, New York Times–bestselling author of Living Dead Girl). After a fatal car accident, the only remaining members of the Kehoe family are Sammy, his sister Charlotte, and her four-year-old daughter Maggie. Together they visit their beloved family home on remote Fox Island, Maine, to support each other and find healing. Much to their surprise, Sammy and Charlotte each have relationship sparks with island locals. But the budding idyll is shattered when Sammy and Maggie’s unexplained abilities to “see things” are put to the test. Ghosts from the past are beginning to resurface. And they’re making Fox Island a very dangerous place to be. Peabody Award–winning television writer and New York Times–bestselling author Phoef Sutton offers “a page-turner of a different mysterious, weird, and deeply affecting” with this novel of family and suspense (Tod Goldberg). “I loved this book—it’s the best take on ghosts and how they work that I’ve ever read. Scary and mad but real, with crackling dialogue, From Away is a rare a proper novel and a proper ghost story. I massively enjoyed it.” —Steven Moffat, creator of Sherlock and executive producer of Dr. Who
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2018
329 people are currently reading
1086 people want to read
About the author
Phoef Sutton
20 books127 followersPhoef Sutton started as an actor and playwright in college; he was lucky enough to go to a small liberal arts college in Virginia, James Madison University, which encouraged student playwrights. Phoef was one of the only undergraduates to win the Norman Lear Award for Comedy Playwriting. After graduation, Phoef had plays produced at various regional theaters around the country, had his award winning play BURIAL CUSTOMS selected for publication by the Theatre Communications Group and was awarded a National Endowment for Arts Playwrights Fellowship.
After marrying and moving to Los Angeles, Phoef started his career at the NBC television show CHEERS. He stayed with the show for eight years, working his way up from staff writer to executive producer, winning two Emmys and a Writer’s Guild Award. A greater training ground for a writer could not be imagined.
After CHEERS, Phoef has produced and created a number of television shows and consulted on others, including NEWS RADIO and BOSTON LEGAL. He is honored to have won a Peabody Award, a GLAAD award and a Television Academy Honors award for this work on BOSTON LEGAL. Recently, he has worked on critically acclaimed series TERRIERS for FX and THE SOUL MAN for TV Land, DEFIANCE for SyFy Channel and ALPHA HOUSE for Amazon.
He has directed a short film – a suspense tale called ‘TIL DEATH. ‘TIL DEATH has been shown and various film festivals around the world and received prizes at the Garden State Festival and WorldFest in Houston, Texas.
Phoef has also worked for many years as a screenwriter and script doctor. MRS. WINTERBOURNE, directed by Richard Benjamin was an adaptation of a novel by one of his favorite authors, Cornell Woolrich. THE FAN, directed by Tony Scott and starring Robert DeNiro was an adaptation of the novel by Peter Abrahams.
Phoef is a published novelist – FIFTEEN MINUTES TO LIVE, a romantic-thriller; DEAD MAN: THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, a horror novel and its sequel DEAD MAN REBORN.
2015 is a promising year for Phoef, with the debut of his collaborations with Janet Evanovich, WICKED CHARMS and publication of his hard-boiled crime novel CRUSH.
Phoef lives in South Pasadena, California with his wife Dawn and his daughters Skylar and Celia.
After marrying and moving to Los Angeles, Phoef started his career at the NBC television show CHEERS. He stayed with the show for eight years, working his way up from staff writer to executive producer, winning two Emmys and a Writer’s Guild Award. A greater training ground for a writer could not be imagined.
After CHEERS, Phoef has produced and created a number of television shows and consulted on others, including NEWS RADIO and BOSTON LEGAL. He is honored to have won a Peabody Award, a GLAAD award and a Television Academy Honors award for this work on BOSTON LEGAL. Recently, he has worked on critically acclaimed series TERRIERS for FX and THE SOUL MAN for TV Land, DEFIANCE for SyFy Channel and ALPHA HOUSE for Amazon.
He has directed a short film – a suspense tale called ‘TIL DEATH. ‘TIL DEATH has been shown and various film festivals around the world and received prizes at the Garden State Festival and WorldFest in Houston, Texas.
Phoef has also worked for many years as a screenwriter and script doctor. MRS. WINTERBOURNE, directed by Richard Benjamin was an adaptation of a novel by one of his favorite authors, Cornell Woolrich. THE FAN, directed by Tony Scott and starring Robert DeNiro was an adaptation of the novel by Peter Abrahams.
Phoef is a published novelist – FIFTEEN MINUTES TO LIVE, a romantic-thriller; DEAD MAN: THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, a horror novel and its sequel DEAD MAN REBORN.
2015 is a promising year for Phoef, with the debut of his collaborations with Janet Evanovich, WICKED CHARMS and publication of his hard-boiled crime novel CRUSH.
Phoef lives in South Pasadena, California with his wife Dawn and his daughters Skylar and Celia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
June 7, 2018
Phoef Sutton writes purely entertaining books. Kinda like his name, pronounced feef, it’s just fun. I’ve read a thriller of his before and this for a nice change of pace was a ghost story. Told from a perspective of a likeable leading man as a diary style narration to his young niece lying in a coma as a result of a ghostly situation. The story is set on a remote island in Maine where there are locals and those from away. Then again who can be considered more from away more so than a restless spirit of a traumatized child. And the entirety of a book hinges on whether our protagonist can find a way to put it at rest in time. So a sort of thriller element to it also. The so entertainingly named author has won many award for his television work and recognition for his writing also, so the man is a natural storyteller, his narrative moves along swimmingly and engages the reader just so. The dialogue works, the pacing’s great, it reads easily and enjoyably and doesn’t resort to cheap tricks or pandering to the audience. Fans of suspense, supernatural and particularly a mixture of both should appreciate this one. Recommended.
January 21, 2020
It pains me to write a negative review for an accomplished author like Phoef Sutton who has some serious credentials to his credit. But his ghost story, From Away, will never be one of them. Ghost stories should be full of dread, not dreadfully boring. His was the latter.
The story is told by a twenty-something erstwhile video store clerk to his four year old niece, written as a sort of diary to her to read on her twenty-first birthday. They both share the ability to see ghosts, or “spooks” as he calls them. One spook who haunts them is a little girl named Jellica. Though the narrative is neither scary nor suspenseful, at least the backstory involving Jellica was interesting.
But with few exceptions the chapters beginning mid-way through the book and beyond describing bad dreams, an instructional manual for mediums, Mrs. Day’s philosophy of life, the behavior of ghosts, and the book as a whole were a struggle to finish. I lost the struggle and gave up at 74%.
Although Chapter 24 in particular was very well written, I skimmed the remaining 26% of the book hoping the story would come to an unpredictable conclusion. It didn’t.
The story is told by a twenty-something erstwhile video store clerk to his four year old niece, written as a sort of diary to her to read on her twenty-first birthday. They both share the ability to see ghosts, or “spooks” as he calls them. One spook who haunts them is a little girl named Jellica. Though the narrative is neither scary nor suspenseful, at least the backstory involving Jellica was interesting.
But with few exceptions the chapters beginning mid-way through the book and beyond describing bad dreams, an instructional manual for mediums, Mrs. Day’s philosophy of life, the behavior of ghosts, and the book as a whole were a struggle to finish. I lost the struggle and gave up at 74%.
Although Chapter 24 in particular was very well written, I skimmed the remaining 26% of the book hoping the story would come to an unpredictable conclusion. It didn’t.
February 18, 2018
I received this book through a giveaway. I ended liking this book a lot more than I was expecting too. I tore through this book in a day. When it comes to ghost stories, there are so many unoriginal boring ones. I’m happy to say this wasn’t the case. I enjoyed this author’s take on life after death, and how a medium’s gift works. The mystery moved along at a good pace, and I never found myself skimming through. I also really enjoyed the story being a letter/book Sam is writing to Maggie. It gave just enough background without slowing down the pacing. This is definitely a must read for people who enjoy a good mystery with their ghost stories.
April 10, 2019
Those who experience the paranormal regularly aren’t like most people. Especially if they are, as the taciturn locals on Fox Island like to say, from away. This is the situation Sammy Kehoe faces when he convinces his sister Charlotte to flee to the scene of their many childhood family vacations rather than face the prospect of continuing as they have been, sad and numb from the long-ago death of their parents and brother. Not to mention suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous languor.
Others might have used the opportunity to refuel so they could return to “real life,” rested and ready to be productive. But Sammy has problems. For starters, he can’t stop seeing the dead and desperately wishes they would leave him the hell alone. Can that explain why at way past college age, he still works in a video rental store?
In lesser hands, the premise of this novel would have played out as maudlin and uninteresting. But the way this author describes Sammy’s state of mind as he tells the story—accompanied often by wry, even side-splitting observations—drew me into this strange family, wanting more than anything to learn how they would extricate themselves from their collective morass which, if left unchecked, could have a lasting adverse effect on Charlotte’s daughter, Maggie.
If you like ghost stories that are fresh and modern and feature plenty of humor, then I highly recommend From Away. You won’t be disappointed.
Others might have used the opportunity to refuel so they could return to “real life,” rested and ready to be productive. But Sammy has problems. For starters, he can’t stop seeing the dead and desperately wishes they would leave him the hell alone. Can that explain why at way past college age, he still works in a video rental store?
In lesser hands, the premise of this novel would have played out as maudlin and uninteresting. But the way this author describes Sammy’s state of mind as he tells the story—accompanied often by wry, even side-splitting observations—drew me into this strange family, wanting more than anything to learn how they would extricate themselves from their collective morass which, if left unchecked, could have a lasting adverse effect on Charlotte’s daughter, Maggie.
If you like ghost stories that are fresh and modern and feature plenty of humor, then I highly recommend From Away. You won’t be disappointed.
May 7, 2019
The island itself is one of the strongest characters in From Away -- beautiful, comforting and familiar, but with hidden and sometimes terrifying nooks and crannies. I found the story compelling and some of the writing truly masterful. I thought the device of relating the events through a supposed letter to a child didn't quite work, though. Almost from the start, the author had to invent workarounds for things the narrator certainly wouldn't have shared with her -- even if she were to read it years later. It was unnecessary and cumbersome to tell the story that way, and I would have preferred not to have that layer between the events and the relating of them. That complaint aside, I was gripped by the main character's struggle over his purpose in life, and I appreciated the strong bonds between the characters, perhaps especially when they were tested. The underlying themes are woven skillfully into the fabric of the narrative, so that by the time the most mystical events unfold, they feel as powerful and real as a blast of the island's winter wind.
July 12, 2018
Enjoyed this book quite a bit. Interesting story and the main character felt "real".
June 20, 2018
One of the best books I've read in a long time! Tough to stop for any type of break, really sticks with you.
May 27, 2018
Super suspense
This tale of love, hauntings, ghosts and family is the best I have read in a long while. A must-read.
This tale of love, hauntings, ghosts and family is the best I have read in a long while. A must-read.
May 26, 2018
Sammy and his sister Charlotte and her 4 year old daughter Maggie are the only ones left after the car accident. But Sammy sees ghosts....
March 2, 2018
A haunted man who doesn't accept the fact he's haunted plays uncle/father to a niece who has the same gift as him, only, one of the "Spooks" is super powerful, heavily damaged, and lashing out.
This is your usual "Small town" type story, first person, a small cast of characters, but charming enough overall to pull it off. (Similar, in some respects to: Raising The Dad, The Book Of Moon, Quiet Until The Thaw, and Peace Like A River.) It only didn't get five stars because I sort of feel like more could have been done with closure, instead, we get a Hitchcock-style ending. I might change my mind if there's ever a sequel, but, I really don't expect one.
This is your usual "Small town" type story, first person, a small cast of characters, but charming enough overall to pull it off. (Similar, in some respects to: Raising The Dad, The Book Of Moon, Quiet Until The Thaw, and Peace Like A River.) It only didn't get five stars because I sort of feel like more could have been done with closure, instead, we get a Hitchcock-style ending. I might change my mind if there's ever a sequel, but, I really don't expect one.
December 19, 2018
meh
started out good but towards the end of the middle it lost my interest so just scanned thru to the end
started out good but towards the end of the middle it lost my interest so just scanned thru to the end
December 24, 2020
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book! The main character was very likable and real. I thought the ghost component of the story was well done and believable – which is hard to do with a ghost story. It takes place around Christmas so the timing to read it was also good. I didn’t love the approach of the narrator writing to his niece. I don’t think it was necessary and sometimes did not work. Given I came across this book while looking for books based in Maine and it is clearly not mainstream, it makes me think of all the other books out there that I am missing that are so good but just don’t get the press. I love when a book references a song (or movie or food, etc.) I have never heard before that I listen to and like. This one referenced The Song Remembers When by Trisha Yearwood and I love it. Some lines I noted:
[W]hen we mourn for a pet we mourn for more than just the animal itself; we mourn for the time it marked in our lives, the time that will never be regained.
I felt myself sinking into the blackest of depressions, the Christmas Blues.
As much as I hated to tell the tale yet again, here it came. Dead. Dead. Dead. And yes, it was awful.
There are all kinds of nightmares, of course….Then there are the nightmares that come when you are already awake. There’s no escape from those at all.
I felt the fear before I heard the sounds. A rapid, inexplicable quickening of my pulse and a tightening of my gut.
It was a miasma of emotions, a wild noise of them, like a thousand radio stations coming in on the same frequency. Grief. Anger. Hate. Resentment. Loneliness. Confusion. Envy. Jealousy. Sorrow. All swimming in a sea of regret.
You have to be brave to wake up every morning.
I wondered at the marvel that each face in the world had its own name attached to it; who came up with that miraculous concept?
Sometimes a parent can hear silence more clearly than any noise.
I hate waiting more than anything. Time hanging heavy. Knowing that a second is coming that will change everything or put it right back the way it was.
[W]hen we mourn for a pet we mourn for more than just the animal itself; we mourn for the time it marked in our lives, the time that will never be regained.
I felt myself sinking into the blackest of depressions, the Christmas Blues.
As much as I hated to tell the tale yet again, here it came. Dead. Dead. Dead. And yes, it was awful.
There are all kinds of nightmares, of course….Then there are the nightmares that come when you are already awake. There’s no escape from those at all.
I felt the fear before I heard the sounds. A rapid, inexplicable quickening of my pulse and a tightening of my gut.
It was a miasma of emotions, a wild noise of them, like a thousand radio stations coming in on the same frequency. Grief. Anger. Hate. Resentment. Loneliness. Confusion. Envy. Jealousy. Sorrow. All swimming in a sea of regret.
You have to be brave to wake up every morning.
I wondered at the marvel that each face in the world had its own name attached to it; who came up with that miraculous concept?
Sometimes a parent can hear silence more clearly than any noise.
I hate waiting more than anything. Time hanging heavy. Knowing that a second is coming that will change everything or put it right back the way it was.
April 1, 2020
Interesting Book but Hard to Read
This book is a bit confusing at the beginning because it just starts with the narrator writing to someone called you. The narrator mentions a sister Charlotte,but it took me quite a while to figure out that the narrator was Charlotte's brother and that you was Charlotte's daughter. So having that handicap made the book very confusing until I figured that out.
The characters were superficial until about halfway through the story, and then we began to get some more in depth background on them to understand why they acted, reacted and did some of the things they did. The book would have much less confusing and a better read if the reader had some of that information up front.
I did think the storyline was very good and the plot interesting. I just would have liked a little more information on the characters upfront to make it easier to understand.
This book is a bit confusing at the beginning because it just starts with the narrator writing to someone called you. The narrator mentions a sister Charlotte,but it took me quite a while to figure out that the narrator was Charlotte's brother and that you was Charlotte's daughter. So having that handicap made the book very confusing until I figured that out.
The characters were superficial until about halfway through the story, and then we began to get some more in depth background on them to understand why they acted, reacted and did some of the things they did. The book would have much less confusing and a better read if the reader had some of that information up front.
I did think the storyline was very good and the plot interesting. I just would have liked a little more information on the characters upfront to make it easier to understand.
November 25, 2024
This started with so much backstory into the main character that I almost stopped reading. Then it got better. The writing is nice, clear, peppered with a few vividly imaginative phrases, often quite amusing, that lift the book into 3-star level.
The latter part of the story had too many characters coming and going, to the point where I had to turn back a few pages to see if this or that character was still on stage. But the climax is nicely foreshadowed without giving away the ultimate ending.
I was expecting a darker, "don't read in the dark" kind of book, and instead we have a manual on the behavior of ghosts, and how to help them move on. The tragedies and sufferings that cause the "spooks" (as the main character calls them) to linger are touched on only briefly, but deeply, in a way that the average such story fails to reveal. For that, the book goes from 3 to 4 star status.
The latter part of the story had too many characters coming and going, to the point where I had to turn back a few pages to see if this or that character was still on stage. But the climax is nicely foreshadowed without giving away the ultimate ending.
I was expecting a darker, "don't read in the dark" kind of book, and instead we have a manual on the behavior of ghosts, and how to help them move on. The tragedies and sufferings that cause the "spooks" (as the main character calls them) to linger are touched on only briefly, but deeply, in a way that the average such story fails to reveal. For that, the book goes from 3 to 4 star status.
November 8, 2019
What an excellent ghost story. A man and his sister touched by tragedy and whose choices since have led to mostly sadness and loss of hope. The man who can see ghosts and his young niece who shares the gift that he doesn't want to acknowledge. An isolated island in Maine where everyone knows everyone, in the winter, after the summer people have all gone home. And an ex-cop with a tragic secret. It all comes together in a way that is charming, yet tense. This is a good one for people who enjoy psychological thrills rather than in your face horror.
February 13, 2018
How much you like this will depend on how much you like ghost stories. Sam, his sister Charlotte, and 4 year old niece Maggie have decamped to Maine, when Sam decides to tell Maggie the story of his life. Well, not just his life but the lives of others who he channels. It can be slow in spots but there's a good heart here. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Not what I expected but still worth a read.
June 5, 2018
The plot itself was really fantastic (hard to find with ghost stories these days), especially with regards to the impact of inter-generational trauma. But goddammit, the narrator/protagonist was such an insufferable man-child that I wanted to throw my kindle across the room. He's not a bad person, just an incredibly stunted one. If the family's current predicaments were supposed to be a catalyst for his emotional growth, I certainly didn't see it.
February 20, 2019
Wow, fantastic book. Well written, gripping, good characters.
Great writing, seamlessly going between past (not distant past) and present, first person narrator with a sense of humor and skeptical of ghosts and such tho he ends up coming to terms with it. Gruff Maine staters, happy families, sweet kids, dysfunctional bad news families... Not too much of the child horror, doesn't make you dwell on it. Picks up speed as it goes. Resolves most issues by the end. Very good.
Great writing, seamlessly going between past (not distant past) and present, first person narrator with a sense of humor and skeptical of ghosts and such tho he ends up coming to terms with it. Gruff Maine staters, happy families, sweet kids, dysfunctional bad news families... Not too much of the child horror, doesn't make you dwell on it. Picks up speed as it goes. Resolves most issues by the end. Very good.
May 15, 2025
wow I loved this book. it took 6 years to read. I got 5 chapters in and stopped for some reason. but in those 6 years I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd read. I started from the beginning again a couple days ago and blew through the book. the rest was so much better than the beginning and I loved every minute. there's no middle lag or filler. and the ending is really good. seriously give this book a chance. its so beautiful
August 19, 2018
~ ghost stories with an edge of humor. Actually quite a bit of humor. What a gift! I smiled at Sam and Charlotte’s banter, and shivered at the encounters. The inexplicable kind that only a choice few can share. In this case, Sam and his niece, Maggie, are the only ones that seem to share “the gift”. That must mean that they are real, right?
March 3, 2019
Spooky, but not too spooky
Nicely crafted story with a supernatural thread woven through it. More of a ghost story than a horror story, but there are creepy elements.
Read the whole book while traveling from Miami to Berlin. Not as strong a story teller as Stephen King, but perhaps almost as good as Joe Hill. Pretty easy to read, and the right length for a quick read.
Nicely crafted story with a supernatural thread woven through it. More of a ghost story than a horror story, but there are creepy elements.
Read the whole book while traveling from Miami to Berlin. Not as strong a story teller as Stephen King, but perhaps almost as good as Joe Hill. Pretty easy to read, and the right length for a quick read.
September 26, 2019
Very good spook story
I wasn't sure where this book was going at first. It started out a little slow but stay with it, it is worth it in the end. I don't review books by telling what they are about, you can read the book jacket for that. I'll just tell you that it is a really good ghost (spook) story. If you are a medium, you will understand.
I wasn't sure where this book was going at first. It started out a little slow but stay with it, it is worth it in the end. I don't review books by telling what they are about, you can read the book jacket for that. I'll just tell you that it is a really good ghost (spook) story. If you are a medium, you will understand.
September 23, 2021
I can’t say that this wasn’t well written as the approach to writing a diary to an older version of the 4 year old was really well done. However, the book itself was really boring. I read it in its entirety hoping for a twist in the ending, a revelation or perhaps just a completed story, but all threads remained unsatisfying.
June 24, 2018
Amazingling gripping
This is a wonderfully told story of growth, sorrow and love. A tail that should have continued for me to read day after day after day. I want to be in their world and hear the rest of their stories. Amazing read.
This is a wonderfully told story of growth, sorrow and love. A tail that should have continued for me to read day after day after day. I want to be in their world and hear the rest of their stories. Amazing read.
February 26, 2019
Novel approach to POV, the main character is telling his story to his young niece, who is in a coma in the hospital. A great ghost story with interesting characters. This is a quick read, and one you'll want to pass on to others.
March 3, 2019
Paranormal Mystery
A well written paranormal mystery with many twists and turns. An intriguing tale filled with a myriad of emotions. Three-dimensional characters. A great story line.
A well written paranormal mystery with many twists and turns. An intriguing tale filled with a myriad of emotions. Three-dimensional characters. A great story line.
March 10, 2019
Dig in deep to read it gets better
It moved to slow. It was about the 10-12 chapter that I was able to really flow with it. Good book but you need to have patience to get to the meat of story where it begin to flow.
It moved to slow. It was about the 10-12 chapter that I was able to really flow with it. Good book but you need to have patience to get to the meat of story where it begin to flow.
April 2, 2019
Different but really good!
This book was more like journal entries or letters written to someone. Self revelation, romance, ghosts/spirits, and hope for a future. I will be rereading this book again. It was wonderful.
This book was more like journal entries or letters written to someone. Self revelation, romance, ghosts/spirits, and hope for a future. I will be rereading this book again. It was wonderful.
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February 16, 2022Good read, well written, jumps around a little too much but all in all a very good read. Reminded me of Casteneda’s A Yaqui’s Way of Knowledge. I guess here we have Sutton’s A Yankee’s Way of Knowledge. (Sorry for the pun, but it fits and I just couldn’t resist it)
August 4, 2022
Best book I've read in a long time.
The book caught my interest right away. I couldn't stop reading until it was done, then sorry if didn't go on further as loved all the characters. Very well written. Could be the basis for a movie.
The book caught my interest right away. I couldn't stop reading until it was done, then sorry if didn't go on further as loved all the characters. Very well written. Could be the basis for a movie.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews