Summary: A Choir of Ill Children

A CHOIR OF ILL CHILDREN by Tom Piccirilli

"We move in spasms.
My brothers because they are conjoined at the frontal lobe, and me -- because for me there is no other way to continue moving."

GENRE:

Horror Fiction, Southern Gothic.

DESCRIPTORS:

Horror, Ghosts, Stream of Consciousness, Granny Witches, Conjoined Triplets, Detectives, Mills, Family, Mysterious Deaths, Relationships, Carnival, Speaking in Tongues, Superstition, Swamps, Epilepsy.



SUMMARY:

Years ago Tom's father committed suicide. Thomas inherited the Mill, making him the town patriarch, filling a role his family has always held since swamp-mired Kingdom Come was founded. It also puts him in charge of his brothers, triplets conjoined at the frontal lobe and constantly facing each other. Now dire portents of strife have appeared and Velma Coots calls upon him to do his duty to the town by providing some blood and vinegar (semen) for a spell to ward off the coming storm. Tom refuses.

Weird things begin to occur: Sebastian, one of the twins, falls in love with a film student named Sarah. A girl/woman of indefinite age is found wearing a child's dress with a lollipop and no memory of who she is. Dogs are turning up injured from severe kicking. Erie ghosts are making their presence felt. Then Tom's best friend Drabs Bibbler disappears after giving a cryptic warning about a carnival.

A terrible storm is brewing that will test Thomas and the inhabitants of Kingdom Come, those who are living and those who are dead.

APPEAL:

This book has been labeled Southern gothic. It is an odd -- almost stream of consciousness tale -- told from Tom's point of view, of his pride (refusing to give of his vinegar) and the consequences. It reminded me of William Faulkner's tales or Flannery O'Connor if they were mixing horror into their stories.

This book is not an easy read, you plunge right in and it takes a while to get your bearings. It is also difficult because of some of the subject matter, especially when it involves the triplets.

I particularly like the character of Thomas. He knows he is the town patriarch -- as his fortunes flow so do those of the town -- which is why his one act of refusal upsets Velma and the "Granny witches". Tom is also on a quest for answers, but the book does not wrap everything in a tidy bow.

Thomas must face the ghosts that come with the storm and those that come with the carnival as well.

READALIKES:

A Choir of Ill Children is off-kilter and engaging with just a touch of grotesque. If you enjoyed this novel you might want to try Flannery O'Connor, William Faulkner or James Lee Burke's David Robicheaux Mystery series.

(Originally Posted in . . . With Intent to Commit Horror.)