Product Description

Cameron Miller is the son of a murderer. All he has ever known is the stench of the locked cellar, where he can hear the blows and cries and his father's torrent of terror and abuse. Then a miracle happens: his father is killed in a police shootout. In the aftermath, Cameron grabs his one chance for a normal life: he takes on the identity of Neil Lacey, a boy who Mr. Miller had abducted six years ago. As Neil, he has a life with loving parents, a brother and sister, and the comforts only money can buy. But someone knows what Cameron's doing-someone with the power to turn his life back into a nightmare.

"An engrossing, suspenseful novel that is sure to keep the reader glued to the page." (Kirkus Reviews)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #690837 in Books
• Published on: 2002-07-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Customer Reviews

Creating Identity
Cameron is fourteen when his father is finally killed in a police raid. For as long as he can remember, Pop had abused and raped him, and brought other young boys back to their isolated cottage to abuse as well. Cameron tried to tell these other boys to behave themselves and quietly do what Pop said, but eventually they all misbehaved and ended up dead, buried in the cellar of the house.

Before Pop died, Cameron spent a great deal of time locked in the cellar, and he came across a filing cabinet filled with newspaper articles about all of the boys Pop had abducted and killed. One story about Neil Lacey particularly struck him, especially the descriptions of the family's sailboats. When Pop dies, Cameron decides that he can become Neil Lacey, that he can convince this family he is their missing son.

Neil's parents immediately believe that Cameron is their son. They bring him into their lives and try to act like everything is exactly as it used to be. But Neil's thirteen-year-old sister Diana and eight-year-old brother Stevie are another matter. They watch his actions and compare him to what they remember of their brother. Diana even confronts him, telling him she knows he isn't Neil.

Will Cameron be able to keep up this act? When Cougar, a man who was something of a partner to Pop and whom Pop got sent to jail, is paroled, will Cameron be in danger?

I liked the Lacey family. I liked the way they all fit together and the dynamics between the kids and their parents. I liked that the kids weren't as overjoyed as the parents about having someone back who claimed to be their brother. I also liked that Cameron was such a survivor, and even after all of the trauma with Pop, he looked like he might be able to have something of a normal life.

I thought the ending was too easy, though, and I thought that Detective Simmons was far too venomous toward Cameron. Even if he were sure Cameron was lying, I don't think any police officer would have been that outright mean to a kid.

Back from the Dead
"Counterfeit Son" by Elaine Marie Alphin takes place in a house near a lake, with a new comer and old. He has come back from the dead, for after six long years. You know what though? He's not someone that has come back from the dead, but someone impersonating the dead boy. His name is Cameron Miller, son of a murder. His Pop had killed the boy he is impersonating. He had taken Neil Lacey's life, and he had taken his family.
Cameron's Pop has gotten murdered, and now the police are looking for him. He lies and goes to the doctor with pains, and then the Lacey's family takes him in. They actually think he is Neil Lacey, and not some other kid. He hates lying to them, but he really doesn't want to go to jail. He's really nice, unlike Neil, who black-mails his younger siblings. He gets scared that sometimes, that the Lacey's family will find out he's not Neil.
Cameron shows more and more love for the Lacey family each day. They love him and care for him, just like he was Neil. He feels like he should tell them, but is too scared. Will he always be scared, and never tell them he's Neil? Will they ever find out he really isn't Neil.

-Hellen P.

The 7th time ive read it
it doesnt get any worse. ive read this book 7 or 8 times and everyrime i still find myself right along with the characters in the book. It is extremely well written and weel thought out and i cant stop reading it. it is by far one of my favorite books of all time