Slippy Mcgee, Sometimes Known as the Butterfly Man

In the small, dusty town of Appleboro, South Carolina, a Catholic priest makes a decision that defies everything the town believes about justice and mercy. When Father De Rancé finds a severely injured man by the railroad tracks, he doesn't ask questions, he brings the stranger into his home and nurses him back to health. Only later does he discover his patient is Slippy McGee, the infamous burglar whose exploits have become legend throughout the county. Rather than turn him over to the authorities, Father De Rancé offers him something more radical: a chance to become someone new. Under a false identity, Slippy begins to build an honest life among the townspeople who have no idea of his past. But when a young girl's safety hangs in the balance and predatory men close in, Slippy faces an impossible choice. To save her, he must become what he was before, and risk everything he's built, including his freedom. Oemler writes with a warmth that feels almost tender, crafting a story about whether redemption is truly possible, and whether a man can be more than the worst thing he's ever done.