Critical Praise

“Debut author Scotton sets a captivating modern morality tale in Kentucky's coal country, 1985. With the small-town aura of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, a man reflects on the summer he learned that tradition, greed, class, race and sexual orientation can make for murder…A powerful epic of people and place, loss and love, reconciliation and redemption.” 

—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“One of the characters in THE SECRET WISDOM OF THE EARTH is described as having a voice that was gifted from God, but Scotton’s own voice could easily be described as such. In language that will stun and amaze with its remarkable beauty, he tells of the joys and griefs of the people of a rural Kentucky county and the devastation of its landscape by strip mining…A novel epic in story and wisdom, and all told through the deeply moving voice of the main character, Kevin, who has a heart as vast as the Blue Ridge Mountains he so loves.”

—Natalie S. Harnett, author of THE HOLLOW GROUND

“Atticus Finch meets DELIVERANCE. Highly recommended.”

—John Hart, author of IRON HOUSE and THE LAST CHILD