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Rascal on the Run
Drawn into a web of small-town secrets, family drama, and the rusted tentacles of the Dixie Mafia, a young lawyer is forced to confront his own notions of justice, freedom, love, and sobriety.
Athens, Georgia, 1988: Attorney August “Critter” Stillwell dreams of a life on the open sea, but he’s stuck juggling a crushing caseload after the sudden departure of his defense attorney father, Guy Stillwell. When an episode of Unsolved Mysteries leads to the capture of a murder suspect who’s been on the run for 25 years, the ominous pattern of facts drags Critter into a hidden corner of Guy’s past.
In 1963, To Kill a Mockingbird was playing in local theaters, and Guy Stillwell was a lot like Atticus Finch - if Atticus had been a charming two-timer and burgeoning alcoholic. For 15-year-old Critter, working at his father’s law firm was a master class in the art of good-ol’-boy litigating and congenial backroom deals. Guy took on the trial of the decade that defending a Black woman charged with the murder of a KKK thug. By the time it was over, Critter’s world and the sleepy town of Athens were in flames.
As an older, wiser Critter looks back on that fateful season, he discovers stunning connections between Guy’s case and his own defense of the runaway murderer. Now, he must choose between his duty to the law and an unwavering loyalty to his flawed but charismatic father.
Athens, Georgia, 1988: Attorney August “Critter” Stillwell dreams of a life on the open sea, but he’s stuck juggling a crushing caseload after the sudden departure of his defense attorney father, Guy Stillwell. When an episode of Unsolved Mysteries leads to the capture of a murder suspect who’s been on the run for 25 years, the ominous pattern of facts drags Critter into a hidden corner of Guy’s past.
In 1963, To Kill a Mockingbird was playing in local theaters, and Guy Stillwell was a lot like Atticus Finch - if Atticus had been a charming two-timer and burgeoning alcoholic. For 15-year-old Critter, working at his father’s law firm was a master class in the art of good-ol’-boy litigating and congenial backroom deals. Guy took on the trial of the decade that defending a Black woman charged with the murder of a KKK thug. By the time it was over, Critter’s world and the sleepy town of Athens were in flames.
As an older, wiser Critter looks back on that fateful season, he discovers stunning connections between Guy’s case and his own defense of the runaway murderer. Now, he must choose between his duty to the law and an unwavering loyalty to his flawed but charismatic father.
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Published March 25, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 4, 2021
Move over John Grisham and Dave Barry,
There's a new rascally storyteller on the run. Howard Scott's first novel is a fusion: well-written, hilarious insightful, intelligent. A whodunnit that invites one into the history and culture of a southern town set in the 60's and 80's. It's an articulate, fast-paced, perceptive, and emotionally gratifying tale of family love and loyalty wherein the protagonist learned his legal craft from the school of hard knocks at his daddy's knee. Don't miss it!
There's a new rascally storyteller on the run. Howard Scott's first novel is a fusion: well-written, hilarious insightful, intelligent. A whodunnit that invites one into the history and culture of a southern town set in the 60's and 80's. It's an articulate, fast-paced, perceptive, and emotionally gratifying tale of family love and loyalty wherein the protagonist learned his legal craft from the school of hard knocks at his daddy's knee. Don't miss it!
March 23, 2021
This was a book that got my interest because of a connection to Athens, Ga (my daughter attended college and now lives there). I love the visible descriptions of the time in history and Stillwells desire to fix the wrongs being done. He truly faced a challenge. Loved this book, it kept my interest and couldn’t put it down.
March 8, 2021
Great read
Love the characters in this book. The descriptions of people, places and time in life are excellent. It was an entertaining and well written read. Especially good for a first novel.
Love the characters in this book. The descriptions of people, places and time in life are excellent. It was an entertaining and well written read. Especially good for a first novel.
May 13, 2022
Fun and fast-paced! The characters are incredibly real and incredibly likable…
Loved being wrong about the ending - never saw it coming and was fully engaged throughout the story. A BRILLIANT achievement!!!
Loved being wrong about the ending - never saw it coming and was fully engaged throughout the story. A BRILLIANT achievement!!!
December 8, 2023
I picked up this book at a second-hand shop in Sun Valley and was so surprised how much I liked it. It was a great story, flawed but likable characters, and very well written with good analogies and descriptions. It’s the author’s first novel and I really hope he writes more!
February 16, 2021
Great story and written well.congratulations Howard
May 21, 2024
I usually tend to stay in the fantasy genre but a family member recommended this book to me and I’m so glad they did. I thought it was incredibly well written with thought out characters. I can not recommend this book enough.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews