Gary R. Austin

Murder in the Pigsty: a Southern Family's Story Gary R. Austin

It is the first week of July, in the year 1956, and four teenaged siblings are spending time on a rural farm in Arkansas; bored and restless. They, along with their parents are just beginning their summer vacation paying the obligatory visit to the grandparents, and Uncle Romey, the adult son with Down's syndrome. Instead of spending their time searching for four-leafed clovers in the grass, the youngsters would rather be going to the beach every day and hanging out with their friends back home in Long Beach, California. The vacation seems as though it will be the same as the last one...and the one before that. But at least the arrival of an aunt and uncle and cousin makes things a little more fun for the youngsters, as they find ways to entertain themselves; which of course translates as getting into mischief. Also, with the arrival of the aunt and uncle, tensions begin to escalate between the adults when a long held secret, previously known only to the grandparents is brought to light. Then with the unexpected arrival of the argumentative, prodigal daughter, who has decided to join the family in the Fourth of July celebration, things really begin to heat up within the household and the dissention magnifies. What was expected to be a routine holiday celebration, turns into an exraordinary adventure. With the discovery of long buried human remains, the story unfolds into one of dark secrets, assault, deception, lies, dead bodies, ghosts, and murder; and the life of each remaining family member is affected forever.