When Ghosts Come Home: A Novel

Written by Wiley Cash

Narrated by JD Jackson

Winner of the SIBA Southern Book Prize for Fiction

“I loved it and devoured it with fury, straight to its blazing end.” —Lily King, author of Writers & Lovers

From the New York Times bestselling author of A Land More Kind Than Home, a tender and haunting story of a father and daughter, crime and forgiveness, race and memory.

When the roar of a low-flying plane awakens him in the middle of the night, Sheriff Winston Barnes knows something strange is happening at the nearby airfield on the coast of North Carolina. But nothing can prepare him for what he finds: a large airplane has crash-landed and is now sitting sideways on the runway, and there are no signs of a pilot or cargo. When the body of a local man is discovered—shot dead and lying on the grass near the crash site—Winston begins a murder investigation that will change the course of his life and the fate of the community that he has sworn to protect.

Everyone is a suspect, including the dead man. As rumors and accusations fly, long-simmering racial tensions explode overnight, and Winston, whose own tragic past has followed him like a ghost, must do his duty while facing the painful repercussions of old decisions. Winston also knows that his days as sheriff may be numbered. He’s up for re-election against a corrupt and well-connected challenger, and his deputies are choosing sides. As if these events weren’t troubling enough, he must finally confront his daughter Colleen, who has come home grieving a shattering loss she cannot fully articulate.

As the suspense builds and this compelling mystery unfolds, Wiley Cash delves deep into the hearts of these richly drawn, achingly sympathetic characters to reveal the nobility of an ordinary man struggling amidst terrifying, extraordinary circumstances. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Sep 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9780063071230

Wiley Cash

Wiley Cash is the New York Times bestselling author of A Land More Kind Than Home, the acclaimed This Dark Road to Mercy, and most recently The Last Ballad. He is a three-time winner of the SIBA Southern Book Prize, won the Conroy Legacy Award, was a finalist for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize and the Edgar Award for Best Novel, and has been nominated for many more. A native of North Carolina, he is the Alumni Author-in-Residence at the University of North Carolina Asheville. He lives in Wilmington, NC with his wife, photographer Mallory Cash, and their two daughters.

Reviews for When Ghosts Come Home

[travelado.nomad · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Great narrator but the ending leaves a lot to be desired!

[Robin Herbert · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Outstanding book. Set in the coastal North Carolina in the 1980s, this engaging crime novel is populated by a mix of black and white characters from the rural southern coast. It's a character driven story that I couldn't put down. An excellent book.

[Josie Moore · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Unpredictable and beautifully written. I throughly enjoyed all the descriptive adjectives, made me feel as if I was right there. A great read.

[ridgewaygirl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This novel is a bit different from Wiley Cash's usual fare. It's almost a historical novel, being set in the early 1980s, and Cash's ability to vividly describe a specific place (Oak Island, North Carolina) at a specific time is unchanged, but here he's primarily engaged in writing a thriller. Taking place over just a few days, this novel starts slowly before throwing all the twists and turns in at the end.A sheriff is jolted away by the sound of a crash at the local airfield. Arriving at the scene, he finds an abandoned plane at the end of the runway and a dead body at the other end. As he tries to find out what the plane had been carrying and what happened, he's also in a heated election battle to retain his seat, an election he expects to lose and his opponent is acting like he's already won. The dead body is the son of a local high school teacher and civil rights activist, giving the racists an excuse to menace the Black community. And his daughter, still mourning a lost pregnancy, shows up, unsure of what her future holds. This was a character-driven novel, with a protagonist not unlike a Walt Longmire, and Cash's love of setting a scene works against the genre here. But I enjoyed this look at a Carolina ocean community in the off-season and how very nice people can hold some very ugly ideas. There's a final twist at the end that I absolutely did not see coming. While I prefer Cash's more thoughtful and quiet novels, this was a lot of fun.

[lyndainoregon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cash does a good job getting inside the main characters here, but loses points bigtime for a clunky “twist”, which is obvious almost from the first moment the key character is introduced.The basic plot is pretty simple: Winston Barnes, sheriff of a North Carolina beach county dependent mostly on tourism, is up for re-election and facing off against a local good ol’ boy. Winston needs to keep the job, both out of professional pride and for financial reasons. When a large and unidentified cargo plane is damaged during an unexpected predawn landing at the small local airport, he goes to investigate, finding an empty plane and the body of a local Black man, setting off immediate rumors of drug-running and organized criminal activity within the Black community. Into this already tense situation, Winston’s adult daughter Colleen comes home, trying to outrun the grief of a lost child and a crumbling marriage. From that point on, most of the narrative is pretty evenly split between the two as Winston attempts to keep a lid on simmering racial violence, deal with a traumatic incident in his own past, and get the mystery solved in a way that will let him keep his job. Colleen remains more internally focused as she tries to heal her emotional wounds, lay the ghost of the child who never drew breath, and decide what her path forward will be.Cash also spends a fair amount of time inside the heads of the dead man’s family – his father, who is the principal of the local high school, his young widow, and her troubled younger brother, and in doing so opens up an important question when all is said and done … but then leaves the reader to make a decision as to what really happened out there in the dark on that final, violent night. It’s so well done, and so skillfully set up, that it makes one strain to believe Cash couldn’t have come up with a more subtle and believable way to base his later “twist” on a more believable scenario.

[dawnlovesbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This southern mystery takes place near a small coastal town in North Carolina. The sheriff finds an abandoned plane and a dead body and must solve the case. At the same time, the sheriff's daughter returns home to face some demons of her own. The book touches on racial tensions, small town politics and the meaning of home. The ending though! I need to talk to Mr. Cash about that!!

[ellenh_28 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ooh, Wiley Cash doesn't disappoint here! This is a great southern mystery that looks at community, race, family, & love so well! I can imagine Robert Taylor from Longmire as the Sheriff here as another reviewer pointed out.

[brangwinn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So much more than a mystery set in a small North Carolina coastal town, Cash’s latest book takes on the racial prejudices and corruption. Winston Barnes, is the town’s kindly, ethical sheriff. When a plain crashes at the airport in the middle of the night, he discovers the body of a dead Black man and an empty cargo plane. A bigoted opponent in the upcoming election for sheriff spreads the word that the young man found is involved in the sale of narcotics. Winston, working with the FBI, struggles to find leads in the murder. Along with this he’s also dealing with arson fires in the development owned by Bradley Frye, his opponent in the sheriff’s election, the return of his daughter, Colleen, after the stillborn death of her baby, and his beloved wife’s cancer. The conclusion will bring a satisfying if sad ending to the story and justice prevails. JD Jackson’s narration brings a feeling of the slower pace of the south and authenticity to the storyline.

[carol420 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sheriff Winston Barnes has his hands full. An empty, crashed plane.... a dead man who has been shot lying next to it...a wife suffering from cancer...a daughter who has returned home months after losing her baby... and an election for his office of sheriff that he is almost certain to lose. to an avowed racist who is terrifying the local black community. Add to this mess a woman who has become a widow with a brother that has come from Atlanta to live with her after a robbery attempt. He has deputies working for him whose loyalties are more than questionable...plus an FBI pilot come to repair and demanding to take away the plane that he’s not ready to release. Add all this together and you have all the ingredients for an extremely satisfying read

[beamis12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Starts with Sheriff Barnes being called out when an airplane, now abandoned, is found along with the body of a young black man. The novelty for me was the setting, which was Oak Island, a show on TV that is now in it's third season. Not that I've watched it but have seen the blurbs. So, that's the mystery but this book is only a mystery as to the who and why. It is more a story about the racial tensions in this town. With flag flying white supremacists, who are trying to drive the blacks living in the Glades, out of town.It is also multi threaded as it is also a character study and a personal story. The Barnes adult married daughter returns home after suffering a personal grief. All this combines has the makings of a good and fast paced story. I have enjoyed this author's books in the past and this was no exception. The ending though, I thought, was rushed, but unexpected and shocking as well. However, thinking about it for a few days, it made sense. I even remember having a few suspicions while reading, wondering how this was a going to conclude. I still though wish it could have ended differently.The narration by JD Johnson was terrific.

[beckyhaase · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

WHEN GHOSTS COME HOME by Wiley CashCash lives up to his early promise and surpasses A LAND MORE KIND THAN HOME in this family oriented, murder mystery, plane crash, racial tension, political story. That sounds like a lot, but Cash expertly guides the reader through this complicated, but easy to follow, tale right through to its explosive conclusion. Winston Barnes, a small-town Southern sheriff, discovers a too large plane crashed at the local airport along with the murdered body of a local, young Black man. Complications abound with the upcoming sheriff’s election, a grief-stricken daughter suddenly landing on his doorstep, a conniving developer who is also his political opponent, and now, a resurgence of Klan type bedeviling of the Black community. Cash deftly delivers the atmosphere of a Southern town, well developed characters, believable situations and a tightly conceived plot. Book groups will find a number of topics for discussion. Well worth your time even if you were disappointed in Cash’s last two books. 5 of 5 stars

[jldarden · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I like this author and have read several of his books. I did really enjoy this one as well, the plot and characters were well done. I have a problem with the ending, however as several threads were left dangling, I suppose leaving the door open for a sequel. This is annoying. Some big questions were left unanswered. So, I both recommend and don't recommend this one.

[laytonwoman3rd · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This novel started out a bit clunky, with that feeling of information being dumped on the reader to set up the tale that is coming, but improved considerably about one third of the way along, as the author's story-telling chops kicked in.A county sheriff in coastal North Carolina, days away from an election he is likely to lose, is faced with a grim mystery. A plane has flown in low in the early morning hours and landed at the municipal airport, which is unstaffed overnight. By the time the sheriff and his deputy arrive to investigate this unusual flight, they find only an empty DC-3 cargo plane sitting disabled on the short runway. There is no sign of pilot or crew, but a local black man lies dead of a gunshot nearby. The logical conclusion is that this was a drug drop in which something went wrong, and the local connection was killed in the process. Sheriff's Barnes's election opponent, a good ole boy with shit for brains, is all for that interpretation, being as nasty a piece of greed and ugliness personified as you will ever read about.The Sheriff can't buy it. The dead man, Rodney Bellamy, went to school with his daughter, has a wife and baby of his own, and a very good job; his father is a long-tenured teacher at the local high school. Nothing about the family's circumstances or history suggests Rodney would become involved in drug running, or any criminal activity.The Sheriff's daughter doesn't believe it either. She has come home from Dallas, where she and her husband have recently suffered the stillborn delivery of their first child. She is bereft and struggling with how to get on with life, but she remembers Rodney as a decent young man, and Mr. Bellamy as an outstanding teacher.There is plenty of uncomfortable truth here about the nature of racism in the last half of the 20th century, there is the soul-searching of a man who realizes he may have to sacrifice his career to do the right thing, there is fine exploration of the relationships between parents and children/husbands and wives; and those parts of the book were so well done that I came to the verge of tears at one point. But as well as those subjects were handled, they were bracketed by a rocky beginning and a truly lousy ending that felt like the author just plain quit on his protagonist.I've loved all of Cash's previous novels, and this one had some strong material, but I guess nobody can hit a home run every time.

[refice_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Wiley Cash’s latest book – When Ghosts Come Home – was a real disappointment. I rather liked other Cash novels.The beginning sets a promising mystery scene – a plane crash on a remote air field with a dead body nearby. No fingerprints, no footprints, nothing to go on. Unfortunately, the next ‘clue’ isn’t introduced until page 274 of a 295 page book, and that clue is ambiguous to say the least. In the meantime we meet a large cast of characters who contribute little to the story: the sheriff with poor chances in the upcoming election; his terminally ill wife; his grieving daughter who just lost a child and is struggling in her marriage; the dead man’s father and wife (who are black and living in a bigoted community); a troubled black teenager who makes friends with a white kid who makes no additional appearance in the book; a couple of racists; some mysterious FBI agents. However, no new clues – no cryptic diary entries, no keys to unspecified doors, no heavy breathing crank phone calls. One of the FBI agents is caught surreptitiously talking on a public phone, but the reader is never given any clue as to whom he is speaking. (In all fairness we find out at the very end of the book that that guy was a bad guy.)The ending is the worst part. Basically, there isn’t one. Seems like maybe Cash was over deadline and didn’t have time to wrap things up. He sort of mentions what the future holds for the sheriff and the grieving daughter. The end.

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When Ghosts come Home by Wiley Cash is a 2021 William Morrow publication. Sheriff Winston Barnes, and his wife, are awakened by a low-lying plane, prompting Barnes to drive over the airport to see what was going on. Upon arrival, he discovers the plane has crashed and the lone occupant has been shot to death. The man happened to be a local, someone who went to school with Barnes’ daughter, Colleen. The crash stirs up a hornet’s nest of racial tensions, rumors, and accusations. The timing couldn’t be worse for sheriff as his bid for re-election, already precarious, could fall apart completely. To complicate matters, Barnes’ daughter, who is still recovering from giving birth to a stillborn baby, as some home, and his wife’s health depends on him keeping his job. As the mystery deepens, Winston must contend with his election opponent, discord within his own office, and the racial threats made against the widow of the murdered man…I have only read one other book by this author, but it was good enough to convince me all the praise heaped upon Cash was well-deserved. This novel, however, was not as gripping as I had anticipated. The story moves at a brisk pace, and there’s a lot going on, both on the criminal and political front, but behind the scenes, with Winston’s wife and daughter. We also learn that the sheriff has a troubled past, and that this case has dredged up some painful memories. While these uncomfortable and emotional topics, create more depth to Winston’s character, and are compelling threads, they are not especially important to the mystery at hand. The underlying web of racism that suddenly floats to the surface, is the most important element of the story, but it doesn’t get the full exploration it needed or deserved. There was something lacking in this story, along with some pretty big plot concerns that gave the story a lack of cohesiveness and a rushed feel to it. Major hints point to unpleasant developments- but the conclusion was no less shocking- because of it. I have very mixed feelings about this one. I think this author writes higher quality material, but loyal fans will probably give him the benefit of the doubt- understandably. That said, despite not measuring up to his reputation, this book is still on a level with other novels of its caliber and is not a bad way to spend a rainy fall afternoon. 3 stars

[dianekeenoy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another amazing book by Wiley Cash. I read it with my heart racing...and then heartbreaking. Don't miss this incredible book.

[tamidale · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Reading books set in some of my favorite places just adds to the reading experience, so I was glad to see Wiley Cash’s newest book was set in North Carolina. This is my first book by Cash, but I have another one loaded on my kindle waiting in the TBR list.This story revolves around Sheriff Winston Barnes and his upcoming re-election. Unfortunately, some bigger issues come up when a local man is murdered at the scene of a plane crash late one night. To add to the mystery, the plane is empty, no pilots or passengers, and no fingerprints left behind.In the midst of Sheriff Barnes’ investigation, his only daughter flies home to deal with her grief over losing her first child. Having Colleen home is a bit of a distraction, but also a bit of help for Sheriff Barnes and his wife.Sheriff Barnes is also not thrilled that the FBI steps in even before he really gets his investigation underway. An FBI pilot is flown in to repair the plane and fly it to another airport for further investigation. The pilot, oddly enough, has to stay at the Barnes home while he repairs the plane.This story has themes of loss, racial tension and small town politics throughout, with an unsettling twist at the end. My book club is reading this soon and I can’t wait to discuss some of these themes and the ending with them.I highly recommend this to readers. It was an engaging story that moved along quickly and kept my interest.Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow & Custom House for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

[fredreeca · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sheriff Winston Barnes and his wife are awaken in the middle of the night by a low flying plane. Winston, even though he is getting on up in age, refuses to pass off his duty. He heads out to find out exactly what is going on. He soon discovers more than he bargained for.If you are from the south…you know all about Sheriff Winston Barnes. We all had one just like him in our hometowns. However, I believe this one is more honest than most. Winston is a stand up guy and he really cares about his people. He is not afraid to take on his enemies!This is a slow burn of a read and I enjoyed it from start to finish. I usually am not a fan of books like this. But the characters are amazing and I just had to find out why all these strange things were happening in this small town.Need a quick, murder mystery with a kick! THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

[nbmars · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story begins in 1984 in the middle of the night when the 63-year-old sheriff of Oak Island in North Carolina are awoken by the sound of a plane flying low right overhead. Sheriff Winston Barnes heads to the airport, and not only finds the crashed plane, but the body of a 26-year-old Black man, Rodney Bellamy, who has been shot.Oak Island residents as well as the FBI operatives that soon arrive believe that the aircraft must have been bringing in drugs, and that Rodney was of course involved, because, after all, he was Black. Sheriff Barnes isn't so quick to believe that theory, at last about Rodney. Rodney’s wife said her husband went out to the Food Lion to buy diapers for their baby. The wreck was visible from the Food Lion parking lot, and the sheriff figures Rodney went over there to help. The sheriff does what he can to help solve the mystery in spite of the FBI involvement, because he doesn’t want to look feckless before the upcoming election. His wife has cancer and they can’t afford to lose income if he doesn’t win. In addition, his daughter Colleen has just left her husband and come back home after losing her baby.Barnes’ opponent for the election, Brad Frye, is also trying to nose into the investigation. Brad, a much younger man, is a real estate developer and a white supremacist who seeks to capitalize on the alleged involvement of a Black man in a huge drug deal. He and his KKK buddies use the incident as an excuse to terrorize the small Black community in the Grove, an area that backs onto Brad’s new development, and that Brad would dearly like to take over.The tension builds as the reader knows a tragedy is surely going to ensue, but the author keeps you guessing until the very end just who will be involved and how it will come down, and you will race through the pages to find out. Evaluation: There is some brutality in this book, and a lot of darkness. It is horrifying - but sadly, not unrealistic. Wiley Cash is an excellent writer, and this is a memorable story.

[sleahey_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Being an elected sheriff in North Carolina in 1984 was a challenge for Winston, but he was determined to solve his latest case fairly, even if he lost next week's election. A plane crash in the middle of the night, a missing pilot, and a murdered young black man on the tarmac led Winston to discover a side of his community and the people he worked with that was poisoned by prejudice and greed. Complicating his life was his wife's cancer and his daughter's grief over the death of her long-awaited baby. Although a couple of the characters seem to be caricatures, especially Winston's opponent in the sheriff race, the writing and the mystery carried this novel for me. The dilemmas Winston faced, the blurred line between justice and the law, the depth of the emotions described, and the unsettling ending make this story thought-provoking and memorable.

[nancyadair-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sheriff Winston Barnes knows he will be voted out of office in a week. He can hear the clock ticking in his mind. His wife is battling cancer. And his daughter has unexpectedly arrived at their door, in pain over the loss of her baby. Meantime, he still has to do his job, with a slashed budget and short staff.Bradley Frye is his challenger. Heir to wealth, Frye is “hell-bend on clear-cutting” the wetlands to expand his development. He also has a history of racist acts going back to high school when he beat up Black students for fun. He intends to be rich and powerful, and he intends to drive out the Black community. Perhaps, he also wants the job so he can cash in on drug smuggling.Wiley Cash’s new novel When Ghosts Come Home takes readers to 1984 Gastonia, North Carolina.A DC-10 cargo plane is found crashed at the local airport, likely having carried drugs, with no traces of fingerprints. The body of an African American man is found nearby. Winston and Frye face off over how to respond, and who to blame. Frye accuses the deceased man, Rodney Bellamy, of being involved. “I got a bunch of boys on my crew who’d be happy to lend a hand,” Frye offers. Bellamy’s father is a teacher and Vietnam vet who fought for school integration. And that evening, the ‘crew’ visits Rodney’s home, armed and intimating.The FBI sends an agent, Tom Groom, to fix the plane and fly it out, and Winston opens his home to him. But there is something dodgy about him.There are some wonderful scenes, beautifully written. Scenes of bonding and understanding, and scenes of recognizing the way hate divides. Winston’s daughter and the widow. Winston confronting his secretary when she withholds information from him because of personal political interests, resulting in a breach. These scenes feel honest, truthful, and written perfectly.More than the mystery/suspense aspect, I responded to the portrayal of a community in conflict, the power struggle for control. And we realize that some things have not changed in America, in human nature. Prejudice, hate, race, fear still divide us. And some believe it the world is theirs for the taking, and others are the doormats they wipe their feet on.The mystery is unexpectedly solved with a few paragraphs at the end. For myself, I would have rather had the action played out in the book; it seems a missed opportunity.I received a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.

[edgoldberg · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was excited at the prospect of this book and disappointed at the execution. When Ghosts Come Home is basicall the story of a 1980s small North Carolina town sheriff burdened with a daughter who has come home after losing a baby, a wife with advancing cancer, a large airplane landing on the town's small airstrip and a dead body at the site.Cash has tried to write a race relations book, I think, but it isn't very compelling. The murder mystery seems to take a back seat and the ending is totally UNsatisfactory. If this was the first Wiley Cash book I'd read, I'd probably not read another.

[susan0316 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This one of the best books that I've read in a long time - the writing is exquisite, the characters are real and the setting is perfect. It takes place in 1984 in Oak Island, NC. and not only provides a page turning plot full of suspense and mystery but also a vivid look at the racism and classism that existed in this small community.Winston Barnes has been the long time sheriff of Oak Island. He has a wife with cancer and a daughter living in Texas who has just lost her first baby. The election for sheriff is a week away and Winston knows that he will be beat by a younger corrupt man who has bought the election with his family money. As the novel begins, a plane flies very low over Winston's house at 3:18 am and woke up he and his wife. When he goes to the small airport to investigate, he finds a large airplane with no cargo and no pilot and the body of a local man on the runway. He opens a murder investigation and everyone is a suspect - even the dead man who is the son of a well known black teacher. As the investigation continues, the racial tensions explode and Winston must deal with a situation that bring up memories of how he reacted in a similar situation years earlier. Along with the murder, Winston has to deal with his beloved daughter showing up at their house with no notice and no indication of why she was there. As the murder investigation continues, the suspense builds to a tragic ending that I didn't see coming.This is a novel that you want to red quickly to find out how it ends but you are also reluctant for it to end because the author's writing makes the characters very real and sympathetic. It's a beautiful look at an ordinary man who has spent his life trying to do the right thing but is now caught up in a case that will prove his worth.I binge read this book - there was some missed sleep but there was no way that I could put it down until the end. The next morning, I re-read parts of the book again and I'm still thinking about the book weeks after I finished it. Book number four by Wiley Cash continues to cement his legacy as a masterful story teller.You don't want to miss this novel! I would give it more than five stars if it was possible and I know that it will be one of my top books of 2021.Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.