The Gods of Green County: A Novel

In Depression-era rural Arkansas, Coralee Harper seeks justice for her brother's murder and battles her own sanity. When she starts seeing her brother, she questions if she is going crazy or if there are darker forces at work. Sheriff Wiley Slocum, an ambitious lawyer, preacher, and townspeople play significant roles in the story.

Format: Hardback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 21 October 2021
Publisher: John F Blair Publisher

In the depths of the Depression-era rural Arkansas, Coralee Harper embarks on a relentless quest for justice, battling not only for the memory of her deceased brother but also for her fragile sanity. The year is 1926, and the landscape is dominated by the omnipresent cotton and the pervasive poverty that permeates every aspect of life. Young Coralee harbours dreams of a loving family and a meaningful place within her community, but her hopes are shattered when her brother, Buddy, is tragically killed at the hands of a powerful sheriff. The injustice of his loss consumes her, leaving her unable to recover from the profound sorrow that engulfs her.

As Coralee grapples with the unbearable weight of her brother's absence, she begins to experience strange and unsettling occurrences. She starts to perceive her deceased brother wandering around town, haunting her with his presence. Doubting her own senses, she questions whether she is plagued by clairvoyance, mistaken identity, or the onset of mental instability. The confusion and fear that consume her are overwhelming, and she feels as if she is trapped in a nightmare from which she cannot escape.

However, Coralee's troubles extend beyond her own predicament. There are dark forces at work that threaten the very fabric of the town. Leroy Harrison, a newly minted and ambitious lawyer, makes a catastrophic mistake that lands him a judgeship and a lifelong guilty conscience. His ascent to power has come at a steep price, and he now carries the burden of his wrongdoing. Alongside him, an evangelical preacher and his flock of snake-handling parishioners wield their influence over the townspeople, imposing their beliefs and values on the community. The women of the town, along with Coralee's own mother, form their own peculiar jury, judging Coralee's behaviour and actions based on their own moral standards.

Sheriff Wiley Slocum, the dominant figure in the town, harbors deep secrets of his own. He rules the entire field with an iron fist, exerting his power over everyone and everything in his vicinity. His authority is unquestioned, and his actions are shrouded in mystery, leaving the townspeople fearful and distrustful. Coralee's husband, Earl, struggles to balance his work at the cotton gin with his relentless fight for his family and Coralee's life. He is torn between his obligations to the community and his love for his wife, who is slowly slipping away from him.

As Coralee's sanity is put to the test, she finds herself facing a hearing before Judge Leroy Harrison. The judge must decide both Coralee's fate and his own, as the chain of events following his decision draws him deeper into the sheriff's far-reaching sphere of influence. The truth about the sheriff's actions and the true nature of power are revealed, and the destructive consequences of his actions become painfully apparent.

In the end, Coralee's journey for justice is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of perseverance in the face of adversity. She confronts the darkness that surrounds her, unearths the truth, and emerges stronger than ever before. The town, too, is transformed by the events that unfold, as the people come to realize the importance of transparency, accountability, and the pursuit of justice.

Coralee Harper's story serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the fragility of human existence and the importance of standing up against injustice and corruption. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is hope for change and that the human spirit can endure and triumph over even the most challenging circumstances.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 150 x 223 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781949467710