Super Short Summary

In Child of God, set in 1960s Sevier County, Tennessee, 27-year-old Lester Ballard is violently dispossessed of his family farm and gradually becomes more isolated and morally corrupt. As he squats in a dilapidated cabin and later a cave, he begins engaging in increasingly violent behaviors, including spying on couples and committing murders. Despite his temporary arrests and societal rejections, Lester's actions spiral out of control, exploring themes such as the inherent violence in humanity, societal breakdown, and the nature of free will. The book references murder, death by suicide, rape, and necrophilia.