SOLVED. Adult Novel about killing of handicapped boy named Stumpy in faith healing church. [s]

[Ted]

I flew to Moldova and left a book I found in a little neighborhood library in the seat back. Hoping to find the title as I was half way through and it was SO good.

It’s a first time novel by a male author. The book is set in Arkansas, or the south and centers around a controversial church where the pastor believes in faith healing and the congregation kills a handicapped boy (I believe he is nonverbal and autistic) named Stumpy. Stumpy’s brother is one of the main characters and he and Stumpy listened to a prayer service a day or two before Stumpy gets killed. After Stumpy is killed his grandfather (father’s father) arrives in a pickup truck to help take care of the brother and Stumpy’s father beats up a member of the church who came to Stumpy’s house to try to convince the father not to involve the police in the death. The grandfather and the father have been estranged for a while before the death.

At the beginning of the book is a woman who realizes the church/pastor is not a safe place for children and she stops attending the church and begins to take care of children in her home while adult church members attend services.

I just picked up the book before my trip, but believe it was written in the late 90’s or early 2000s. It was the novelist’s first book.

[Rainbowheart]

What year did you read it, approximately?

Dog on the Cross and Rides of the Midway both have faith healers and are by male authors, but not sure they're a great match otherwise.

[anonymous]

Not sure how much it helps but I think I remember reading this as well, I remember the cover was red and there were scenes in the book with a snake or snakes at church that really freaked me out (lol).

[Ted]

Found the book title on line. This book is called A Land More Kind Than Home, by Wiley Cash

[Denis]

A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash for Ted's link. Congratulations!

[Rainbowheart]

Awesome news, glad you found it!