Area 51 in Nevada?

No. Worumbo Mill in Lisbon Falls.

“Worumbo,” local author Mark LaFlamme’s first novel, suspiciously remained under wraps until this, the 25th anniversary of the blaze that reduced most of Worumbo to blackened ruins.

In the book, LaFlamme casts an eerie light into the deepest, darkest corners of the iconic mill, exploring one of the nastiest secrets in American history — the CIA’s post-war experiments with mind control.

Jack Wilding is a young newspaper reporter with a blossoming psychic gift. He can hear the thoughts of his fellow man, random snippets that come to him unbidden. But the voices bring no joy to Jack, who finds some thoughts were not meant to be shared. And along with the voices in his head come the memories — dim recollections of a childhood experience at the spooky mill along the banks of the Androscoggin River.

The Lisbon landmark is no stranger to the page. The legendary mill is frequently on the creative sidelines, used, for example, as a prop in Stephen King’s latest novel. In LaFlamme’s work, Worumbo takes center stage and the author leaves no creaky beam or rusty cog unturned as he lays bare grim secrets that have long remained hidden among the cobwebs and crumbled bricks.

“Worumbo” was written in 2004 with inspiration from an authentic cog purchased from the Worumbo Mill Outlet, which until recently stood on Route 196 in the heart of Lisbon Falls.

Published through Book Locker, “Worumbo” is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as well as at area bookstores. For more information, visit www.marklaflamme.com.

A reporter and columnist at the Sun Journal, LaFlamme has published novels “The Pink Room,” “Vegetation,” “Dirt: An American Campaign” and “Delirium Tremens;” the short story collection, “Box of Lies;” and novelette “Asterisk: Red Sox 2086.”