Dark Hollow

The small town of Shelby is shaken by a brutal murder. In its remote outskirts, in a place called Dark Hollow, a man by the name of Etheridge was found beaten to death. John Scoville, a local inn-keeper, is convicted and executed for the crime. Many years later, "a woman in purple" shows up at the house of Ostrander, the respected judge who had sentenced Scoville to be executed. This mysterious woman turns out to be the wife of the convicted man, but she does not believe he was guilty. Deborah Scoville had to move away with her daughter and change her name to avoid the stigma of being the wife of a murderer. She visits the Judge, who is now a recluse, to challenge him on his verdict. He listens to her plea, but reaffirms his belief in Scoville's guilt. Having nowhere to go, Deborah is given the position of maid, which she secretly will use to obtain proof of her husband's innocence and the identity of the real killer.

However, the initial evidence that Deborah collects points in troubling new directions. It forces disclosures about the Judge's errant and estranged son. More evidence emerges: peculiar marks on a walking stick, a knife, a tragic fire, mistaken identities, heated arguments between friends. All of this produces astonishing tension, culminating in bitter accusations and an exciting chase in upstate New York. Finally, all the circumstances of the crime are revealed. Judge Ostrander carries painful secrets from long ago, involving his son and his best friend, secrets that he hoped would never come to light. Dark Hollow is a compelling tale of hidden guilt, honor, and remorse.