A Choir of Ill Children

"A Choir of Ill Children" tells the story Kingdom Come - a decaying, lust-filled swampy backwater of a southern town. Piccirilli's lyrical, atmospheric tale of murder and redemption is a startling, breakout novel in the southern gothic tradition pioneered by the likes of William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor. Since his mother's mysterious death, and his father's suicide, Thomas has been forced to take care of his three brothers, Jonah, Cole, and Sebastian. Conjoined triplets who have 3 bodies, but share a single brain. In addition to the care of his three brothers, Thomas has inherited Kingdom Come's only industry and source of jobs, The Mill. Because of this position of wealth and power, he is at once feared and respected by the backwards, superstitious townsfolk. The walls that have grown up between Thomas and his fellow residents of Kingdom Come are high, and hide many strange, unexpected things. The town's 'Granny witches' cast their spells, and read their auguries, trying to win influence over Thomas, while his childhood sweetheart Maggie must decide what, if any kind of relationship they will have. When Thomas' best friend, Drabs Bibbler (a reverend who suffers from the power of tongues), tries to pass on a warning of impending danger to Thomas, he is overcome by his 'gift'. All Thomas learns is 'The carnival is coming'. With the help of Maggie, The Granny Witches, and pieces of his past that he thought lost, Thomas must face the strange forces that are swirling towards the people and town that he loves.