John Vercher’s gut-wrenching third novel begins with its unnamed protagonist, a biracial writing professor and struggling author, having a panic attack on his way to his teenage son’s funeral. These attacks have become an all too common occurrence since the 17-year-old’s death. As have the one-sided conversations he’s started having with his late child. Days after the burial, he learns he has inherited a plot of land that was once a plantation from his estranged white grandfather. He goes down there looking to sell, but finds himself convening with the ghosts of those who were buried on the grounds. In this haunting work of magical realism, the professor is forced to reckon with his family’s tortured past and his own parenting sins.
Buy Now: Devil Is Fine on Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Where Trump 2.0 Will Differ From 1.0
- How Elon Musk Became a Kingmaker
- The Power—And Limits—of Peer Support
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Contact us at letters@time.com