First published 2004
Thomas runs the Mill in Kingdom Come, a rotting swamp settlement that attracts the desperate and doomed. His mother vanished years ago. His father killed himself. Now Thomas looks after his three brothers, conjoined triplets who share one mind across three bodies. The superstitious locals fear and respect Thomas because of his family's power in their small world. Granny witches work their spells while his former lover haunts his days like a bitter spirit. His closest friend serves as the town reverend but suffers from speaking in tongues, a curse that overwhelms him as he tries to deliver warnings about approaching danger. The only message Thomas can understand is that "the carnival is coming." Responsibility weighs on Thomas like chains while rage burns inside him. He must confront the painful memories he has buried and face whatever dark forces are moving toward the town that holds both his love and his hatred.
Genres: literary-fiction, horror, dark-fantasy, gothic
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Kingdom Come, Mill
Period: contemporary
225 pages · Kindle Edition · Bantam
Content warnings: death, mental-illness