God's Little Cows by Mike Rusetsky

A stubborn pensioner declares war on a swarm of ladybugs—only to discover he’s picked the wrong enemy. Paul Dupree has always taken pride in his home. His deck, his yard, his patch of suburban peace—it’s his domain. So when he discovers a writhing infestation of ladybugs beneath his deck, he takes it personally. What begins as irritation quickly becomes obsession. Ignoring the reassurances of his wife and the dismissal of professionals, Paul becomes convinced there’s something deeply wrong with these creatures. They’re not just bugs—they’re invaders. A threat. And he alone sees the truth. Armed with pesticides, stubborn pride, and a growing sense of righteous fury, Paul wages a one-man war against the swarm. But the more he fights, the more the line between pest control and paranoia begins to blur. The infestation doesn’t behave like anything he understands—and it doesn’t respond the way it should. As Paul spirals deeper into his crusade, the consequences of his actions begin to close in on him. Because some things aren’t meant to be eradicated. And some enemies are far more intelligent—and far less forgiving—than they appear.