The Butterfly(1947)

James M. Cain

First published in 1946, The Butterfly takes place among the hills and hollers of West Virginia coal country. Cain uses his favorite form of narration, the first-person confessional, in relating this unusual tale of deceit, incest, and murder.

Jess Tyler is a church-going mountain man. One day out of the blue, his estranged daughter, Kady, shows up at his cabin and starts throwing herself at him in a most undaughterly way. At least that's the way Jess tells it. Cain leaves a few hints that Jess may not be 100% accurate as a narrator. For example, he claims to be a God fearing teetotaler. Yet he quickly shows himself to be a seasoned expert when it comes to constructing and operating a commercial still.