An apparent miracle stands tiny Casper, Alabama, on its ear in this busy, hilarious*, tragic story from Han Nolan, the author of “If I Should Die Before I Wake” (1994).

    Charity Pittman’s father is a preacher, and she fully intends to follow in his footsteps until she meets Adrienne Dabney, a New York City artist. Dabney has moved into a house for a month of meditation*; at the end of the month, Dabney emerges with stunning news: Three times Jesus Christ sat in a chair and brought her visions.

    Despite Reverend* Pittman’s purple-faced anger, awestruck* townsfolk quickly line up to see the chair and offer prayers; there’s even talk of a Second Coming*.

    Nolan’s country characters are not quite caricatures*, and one’s habit of blasting away at the ground with a shotgun, or another’s resolve to lose 25 pounds, often masks profound hurts or needs.

    In the wake of a church service that is both intense and sidesplitting*, the story takes a horrifying turn. Readers will be dizzied by the multiple plots and roller-coaster* highs and lows in this portrait of a small town that is anything but quiet.

    (SD-Agencies)