Hemlock Hollow - by Culley Holderfield (Paperback)

About the Book

Caroline McAlister, college professor and life-long skeptic, is reeling from the loss of her father and her marriage. Her once promising career has come to a standstill. When her father bequeaths the family cabin to her, it comes with a ghost who haunted her childhood. When she discovers a century-old journal in the attic, she awakens the voice of Carson Quinn. The journal reveals Carson's love for the same hollow that enthralled Caroline growing up. A little sleuthing uncovers rumors that the kind, curious boy in the journal grew up to murder his brother. Caroline plunges into the project of exonerating Carson, only to find herself in the throes of a personal past she's spent her life trying to avoid. Hemlock Hollow is about how we forever haunt the places we love and how they haunt us in return.

Book Synopsis

"Past and present, love and loss intertwine in a magical mountain hollow. Holderfield's love of place shines in his sensitive descriptions while his storytelling enthralls the reader." --Vicki Lane, author of And the Crows Took Their Eyes

Caroline McAlister, college professor and life-long skeptic, is reeling from the loss of her father and her marriage. Her once promising career has come to a standstill. When her father bequeaths the family cabin to her, it comes with a ghost who haunted her childhood. When she discovers a century-old journal in the attic, she awakens the voice of Carson Quinn. The journal reveals Carson's love for the same hollow that enthralled Caroline growing up. A little sleuthing uncovers rumors that the kind, curious boy in the journal grew up to murder his brother. Caroline plunges into the project of exonerating Carson, only to find herself in the throes of a personal past she's spent her life trying to avoid. Hemlock Hollow is about how we forever haunt the places we love and how they haunt us in return.

Review Quotes

"In Culley Holderfield's Hemlock Hollow, Caroline McAlister ponders The Journal of Carson Quinn, translating what she reads, ever wanting to understand. Her haunts prompt us to remember our own heritages. A former college teacher, Caroline McAlister praises personal history, finally wearing it like a charm, researching and recalling characters she cannot let go." --Shelby Stephenson, poet laureate of North Carolina (2015-2018), author of More and Shelby's Lady: The Hog Poems

"Past and present, love and loss intertwine in a magical mountain hollow. Holderfield's love of place shines in his sensitive descriptions while his storytelling enthralls the reader." --Vicki Lane, author of And the Crows Took Their Eyes

"In this sophisticated and nuanced narrative, past and present collide to shed light on a century-old murder. With its evocative sense of place and carefully-timed revelations, reading Hemlock Hollow feels akin to opening a treasure chest. Highly recommended for fans of historical mysteries." --Heather Bell Adams, 2022 PiedmontLaureate and author of Maranath Road and The Good Luck Stone

About the Author

Culley Holderfield learned to love storytelling on the porch of a cabin in the mountains of North Carolina. After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill, he ventured to South America, Africa, and Europe. When not writing or working in community development finance, he spends his time hiking, paddling, and pondering in the outdoors. His short stories and poetry have appeared in a variety of publications. Hemlock Hollow is his debut novel. He lives in Durham, NC.