Overview
Billy Coffey has been compared to both Flannery O'Connor and Shirley Jackson. Journey with him to Mattingly, VA, and discover what marks the boundary between a miracle from God and the imagination of a child.
“An inspirational and atmospheric tale.” —Library Journal, starred review of When Mockingbirds Sing
Leah is a child from Away, isolated from her peers because of her stutter. After her family moves to Mattingly, she begins painting scenes that are epic in scope, brilliant in detail, and suffused with rich, prophetic imagery. When the event foreshadowed in the first painting dramatically comes true, the town takes notice.
Leah attributes her ability to foretell the future to an invisible friend she calls the Rainbow Man. Some of the townsfolk are enchanted with her. Others fear her. But there is one thing they all agree on—there is no such thing as the Rainbow Man.
The town minister is unraveled by the notion that a mere child with no formal training may be hearing from God more clearly than he does.
While the town bickers over what to do with this strange child, the content of Leah’s paintings grows darker. Still, Leah insists that the Rainbow Man’s heart is pure.
Then a dramatic and tragic turn of events leaves the town reeling and places everyone’s lives in danger. The people of Mattingly face a single choice:
Will they cling to what they know . . . or embrace the things Leah believes in that cannot be seen?
Includes a sneak peek at Coffey's novel The Curse of Crow Hollow.
“This intriguing read challenges mainstream religious ideas of how God might be revealed to both the devout and the doubtful.” —Publishers Weekly on When Mockingbirds Sing
“The Devil Walks in Mattingly . . . recalls Flannery O’Connor with its glimpses of the grotesque and supernatural.” —BookPage
“Coffey entrances readers with this quiet tale of love, loss, and deciding what matters most in life.” —Publishers Weekly on Steal Away Home
“Baseball fans will love the behind-the-scenes peek into a night game in the Major Leagues, but even non-baseball fans will be pulled into the beauty and tension of Coffey’s writing, the lovely and tragic Blue Ridge Mountain settings, and his compelling characters who make both selfless and heartbreaking choices. This is a powerful story of grief, love, forgiveness, and holy mystery, and I loved it. Billy Coffey is a master storyteller.” —Lauren Denton, USA Today bestselling author of The Hideaway, for Steal Away Home
“Coffey beautifully renders a thought-provoking story about the stony path toward spiritual enlightenment . . . [a] powerful, inspirational story centered on the bittersweet nature of grace and redemption.” —Shelf Awareness on Steal Away Home
“Billy Coffey is one of the most lyrical writers of our time . . . we leave his imaginary world hungry for more, eager for another serving of Coffey's tremendous talent.” —Julie Cantrell, New York Times bestselling author of Into the Free and Perennials
“This rich and masterful tale is touched by the miraculous and is cleverly delivered as the first-person recollections of a seasoned catcher. Fans of America’s favorite pastime will enjoy this book from page one.” —RT Book Reviews on Steal Away Home
“Billy Coffey is a minstrel who writes with intense depth of feeling and vibrant rich description.” —Robert Whitlow, bestselling author of The List and The Confession
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