Epiphany Strange owns and runs The Strange Sanctuary and Petting Zoo. This is the story of Epiphany and her family, which is her four younger brothers and sisters, all of whom call nineteen year old Epiphany "Mom," when chopped up parts of the children's father, who supposedly deserted them, are found in trashbags in the landfill. Epiphany says that her father wasn't murdered and why can't she throw out trash? She stonewalls the investigation from there and blocks anyone from talking to "her" children.
That's where Jack McMillan, the D.A. comes in - with his contentious relationship with his own teenage daughter. The tale begins with McMillan sorting through the evidence, the testimony, and trying to figure out what happened and then what to do about it. The detective, Tom O'Hara, McMillan's oldest boyhood friend has some problems on the family front, too.
That's what this book is about: family.
Some extreme circumstances, some R-rated and some comically so - but a thought provoking and moving novel.
