Mr. Phillips hit the ground running in the Mystery genre with his debut novel ICE HARVEST and its sequel THE WALKAWAY. With COTTONWOOD, the author changes time periods but his sparse, concise style, and formidable storytelling skills are ever present.

1872, frontier Kansas. The possibilities are endless for both the honest and the dishonest. COTTONWOOD is full of characters of both inclinations. The tale revolves around Bill Ogden, a farmer who after discovering he doesn’t much care for farming, reopens Cottonwood’s Saloon. Cottonwood soon grows on the promises of one prosperous businessman. Mark Leval and his beautiful wife Maggie bring something special to the page. As the relationship between our three protagonists grows so do the town’s fortunes. And with fortune comes sin. Growing ranks of prostitution and churches occur at the same time. And then there is the case of the disappearing frontiersmen. To give away more would be a bigger crime than those within the pages of this book. COTTONWOOD confirms that Scott Phillips talent is as timeless and to the point as murder.

Ruth Jordan