SOLVED. Possibly YA horror story - set in a swamp or marsh area, scary old man and mentally disabled son, one of them named Hiram. Spoiler ahead. [s]

[Erin]

I read this book back in the early 90s but I'm not sure when it was published. I remember the cover being dark - possibly a dark green. I think the main character was a teenage boy, but he may have been a man. The big bad guys are a father and son (or two sons), and they have a plot of land with a swamp on it. They kill people, put them in barrels of acid or toxic waste, and I think they may have dumped the barrels in the swamp, but I seem to remember a scene in a barn with rows and rows of barrels. I read this book as a young teenager so I'm assuming it was a YA book, but that's not a definite.

[Erin]

*** bump ***

I seem to remember the front cover was dark green, hinting at the story's setting in a creepy swamp at night.

**** SPOILERS ****

Also, I think the main motivation for the killings had something to do with the town council.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Erin, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Erin]

Still looking!

[Ayshe]

The Pond maybe?

[Erin]

That's it! Amazing! Thank you so much!

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Erin. Thanks for the update.