Novel set largely in GEORGIA (the American South)

18th May 2026

Holy F*ck by Joseph Incardona, novel set largely in Georgia (the American South).

TR: Sam Taylor

Nineteen year old Stella Thibodeaux lives in an RV and has a phenomenal gift. She can heal the men who come to her (she happens to earn her money through prostitution). They arrive with all kinds of illnesses and afflictions, and simply by taking them to her bed she can cure them.

The Vatican, Pope Simon II no less, gets wind of her talents and is enthused by what he hears. However, when he learns of her trade, that she is a “meretrix mulier” he goes off the idea of making her into a living saint, and he and his team have to consider their options.

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Step forward the Bronski Brothers, who are engaged as hitmen to take her out, which would save the day for the holy men back in Rome.  They readily take on the assignment but are no match for those who have Stella’s best interests at heart.

The author has a curious and original voice, the story is very readable and well suited to a caper such as this, – and, as many reviewers have observed, it would be a project for Tarantino or the Coen Brothers, all brought to life by the, as always, great translation work carried out by Sam Taylor.

Overall, I was happy to read this unusual story. It does cast an astute and oftentimes humorous eye over the machinations of the Catholic Church, as Stella continues with her life’s mission. I enjoyed it because it is relatively short and a quick read. The concept is ingenious but there was something missing for me that left me unmoved, needing something just a bit more to bring this into the realms of a truly memorable read.

The setting is recognisably America.

Tina for the TripFiction Team

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