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Limetown: The Prequel to the #1 Podcast Hardcover – November 13, 2018
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On a seemingly ordinary day, seventeen-year-old Lia Haddock hears news that will change her life forever: three hundred men, women, and children living at a research facility in Limetown, Tennessee, have disappeared without a trace. Among the missing is Emile Haddock, Lia’s uncle.
What happened to the people of Limetown? It’s all anyone can talk about. Except Lia’s parents, who refuse to discuss what might have happened there. They refuse, even, to discuss anything to do with Emile.
As a student journalist, Lia begins an investigation that will take her far from her home, discovering clues about Emile’s past that lead to a shocking secret—one with unimaginable implications not only for the people of Limetown, but for Lia and her family. The only problem is…she’s not the only one looking for answers.
Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie are first-rate storytellers, in every medium. Critics called their podcast Limetown “creepy and otherworldly” (The New York Times) and “endlessly fun” (Vox), and their novel goes back to where it all began. Working with Cote Smith, a PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize Finalist, they’ve crafted an exhilarating mystery that asks big questions about what we owe to our families and what we owe to ourselves, about loss, discovery, and growth. Threaded throughout is Emile’s story—told in these pages for the first time ever.
- Print length304 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSimon & Schuster
- Publication dateNovember 13, 2018
- Dimensions6 x 1 x 9 inches
- ISBN-101501155644
- ISBN-13978-1501155642
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Editorial Reviews
Review
― Publishers Weekly
“Though this book is a prequel to the podcast of the same name, it can be read independently….entertaining….a breezy lead-in to the second season…its family themes come across strongly and at times affectingly.”
― Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Zack Akers is the cocreator (with Skip Bronkie) of the podcast Limetown and the Two-Up podcast channel. He graduated from Tisch School of the Arts in 2008 with degrees in Film & Television and became a documentary producer with Flagstaff Films whose work has appeared on HBO, ESPN, CBS, and NBC. Limetown (written with Cote Smith) is his first novel.
Skip Bronkie was raised on a farm outside of Buffalo, NY. He graduated from Tisch School of the Arts in 2008 with a degree in Film & Television and worked as a creative director at Facebook and Pinterest. He went on to cofound Two-Up with Zack Akers, producing Limetown and 36 Questions. He lives in Brooklyn and can be found in Prospect Park any given day.
Product details
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster (November 13, 2018)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 304 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1501155644
- ISBN-13 : 978-1501155642
- Item Weight : 1.02 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 1 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,451,646 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #8,083 in Occult Fiction
- #13,992 in Supernatural Mysteries
- #64,480 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book helpful for understanding the characters better and providing background information that enhances their listening experience. However, opinions differ on the pacing and writing quality - some find it well-written and captivating, while others feel the plot evolves slowly.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book helpful for understanding Lia better and resolving questions. They appreciate the background information that enhances their listening experience.
"...I'm actually glad I read it first as it gave a lot of background info that enhanced my listening experience--I even went back and listened to season..." Read more
"...I won't spoil it but this was SUCH. A good book. It really cleared up a lot of questions I had, and it was well written...." Read more
"...It was so good getting into Lia’s head and even more to get into Emile’s head. It was spooky and sad and everything was pitch perfect." Read more
"...It made me understand Lia better and hope she is okay." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the book's pacing. Some find it well-written and engaging, with a great plot that connects nicely with the podcast. Others feel the plot evolution is slow, and the prequel is too in-depth for their liking. The pacing doesn't match the podcast's tempo, making the story less compelling.
"...It was spooky and sad and everything was pitch perfect." Read more
"...I do want to warn that there are lots of plot holes, but there are ideas interesting enough to keep you invested...." Read more
"...a very specific part of what was otherwise a pretty good, spooky book, but it REALLY ticked me off...." Read more
"...One by Emile, and the other by Lia, his niece. It's a complicated story, but to boil it down (and basically take all the flavor out) Emile is..." Read more
Customers have different views on the writing quality. Some find it well-written with beautiful language, while others feel the story is poorly written.
"...It really cleared up a lot of questions I had, and it was well written. I read it all in one sitting and plan on rereading it" Read more
"...I also want to warn that the story itself is poorly written...." Read more
"Well written. Great plot that tied very nicely with the podcast...." Read more
"Compared to the podcast the writing is somewhat cliche and sophomoric. The evolution of the plot was slow, but paid off...." Read more
Reviews with images
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Book was not in condition I expected
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2019The best way to describe this book is an author was commissioned by whomever runs the podcast to write a novel loosely based on the series, but not too concerned with capturing its essence.
I do recommend this book to anyone that enjoys the podcast if only to make the series more popular. I do want to warn that there are lots of plot holes, but there are ideas interesting enough to keep you invested. I also want to warn that the story itself is poorly written. There are some redeeming qualities and throwbacks to both seasons of the podcast that will make you smile. I am not sure if there will be more books, but I'll probably buy them too.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2019I absolutely loved this book. I bought the book after I listened to the audible version. I love the podcast as well.
Other readers may not care for the book but I believe that it carries the same feeling as the podcast and leaves the reading wanting more, in a good way. The podcast answers questions but always leaves us wanting more of the world. I believe this book has beautiful world building and only adds to the world and podcasts of limestone.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2020I loved the podcast, Limetown, so felt I had to read the prequel to find out how the town came about in the first place I wasn't disappointed.
The story is told in two timelines. One by Emile, and the other by Lia, his niece. It's a complicated story, but to boil it down (and basically take all the flavor out) Emile is searching for his mother and his place in the world while Lia is searching for Emile and her place in the world.
It is much more exciting, frightening, and emotional than the above would indicate. But I highly recommend you read it for yourself. If you've listened to the podcast, you already know some of the story. But you don't have to listen to it before you read the book. The order you consume the series in is totally up to you.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2018I was hesitant to read this before the full 2nd season of the podcast was released, but I started reading and couldn't stop! I'm actually glad I read it first as it gave a lot of background info that enhanced my listening experience--I even went back and listened to season 1 again.
It was clear to me that the book was written after season 1 came out and that some of the details that are fully flushed out in this prequel may not have been fully flushed out before the first season of the podcast was released. That being said, this book is a welcome expansion of the Limetown universe and it was a pleasure to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to any fan of the podcast
- Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2018No fault of the book, but it's hard to match the pacing of a podcast. In a dialog-driving podcast you don't have all the narrative and setting that is part of this (and most) books. The book might be good... but I'm having a hard time with it when my frame of reference is the podcast.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2018I'm an avid listener of the podcast and I love it. I had to pre-order the book when it came out along with Season 2 of the podcast. I won't spoil it but this was SUCH. A good book. It really cleared up a lot of questions I had, and it was well written. I read it all in one sitting and plan on rereading it
- Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2019Well written. Great plot that tied very nicely with the podcast. (SPOILER ALERT)- I would only like to know how Lia got the job at the broadcasting network and how she got out of that facility.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2024Ok, I'm criticizing a very specific part of what was otherwise a pretty good, spooky book, but it REALLY ticked me off. As a queer person, I would LOVE, just once, if I could read a horror book where a gay person wasn't violently beaten or SA'd or killed because they are gay. Like, we get it!! That happened a lot, and still does!! We are well aware!! The knowledge that we live a hair's breath away from violence at all times is something we live with every day. Your horror book is not saying anything groundbreaking by having a gay person get hate crimes, and other books have done it better. Can't the gay person get killed by the spooky thing for once, instead of the high school bullies? Read Alice Isn't Dead instead.
Top reviews from other countries
- RockfaceReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 17, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and unique story
Best time to read the prequel is after the podcast.
- RivierraReviewed in Canada on November 22, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book! Reccomended to fans of the Podcast!
I really like it, the characters are well-written and likeable. (my personal favourite character is Emile) This is just my opinion but I feel as though you can portray a character better in a book than in a podcast or show. Pieces begin to come together and stories become intertwined. (like how Art was in both Emile’s side of the story and Lia’s) One thing I’ve found that people may dislike is that the chapters are rather long (Around 20 pages each) meaning that I cannot usually get a full chapter done without stopping near the middle, this isn’t a problem for me as I can just pick up the book again and read more!
In conclusion I really like the book, but the chapters are a bit on the longer side.
-
Tamara K.Reviewed in Germany on November 18, 2019
4.0 out of 5 stars Ein Muss für Fans
Für alle Fans der Podcast-Serie ein Muss, wie ich finde. Auch wenn es mir an einigen Stellen schwer viel, den Überblick über die Handlung zu behalten und die Inhalte des Romans mit denen der Podcast-Serie zu verknüpfen, hatte ich doch sehr viel Spaß bei der Lektüre.
- Breanna DurantReviewed in Canada on December 31, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent condition
Great book, fascinating story, perfect quality
- BeckyReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 18, 2018
2.0 out of 5 stars A disappointing money-grab
Ignores the canon of the podcast it's based on, makes the central characters look either stupid, unpleasant, or both, and has none of the atmosphere or good writing Limetown once showed. Was so bad it actually made me dislike the podcast I once loved.
One person found this helpfulReport