The Hollow Tree

by Scott E Adams

A Novel of Secrets Buried Beneath the Hemlocks.

Nestled deep in the forests of Potter County, Pennsylvania, the company town of Blowville rose with the timber boom, and rotted just as quickly beneath the surface.

When Clara Moran stumbles upon a hidden cellar beneath a hollow tree, she uncovers more than crates and company secrets. Whispers in the woods, vanished workers, and a town too afraid to speak point to something watching from the trees; something that remembers.

As tensions rise between loyalty and truth, the townsfolk must choose whether to protect the lie that built their lives or face the darkness that has waited too long to be unearthed.

Based on real newspaper clippings and forgotten fragments of Pennsylvania’s lumber past, The Hollow Tree is a haunting tale of industry, silence, and the forest that never forgets.

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 10, 2025

About the author

Scott draws his inspiration from the quiet woods of Potter County, Pennsylvania, where he keeps a cabin tucked among the trees. After learning that a once-thriving logging community had existed near his property, he began researching its past—and uncovered a remarkable history of industry, hardship, prohibition, and everyday life in the Pennsylvania wilderness at the turn of the century. Those discoveries sparked the world in which his historical fiction novels now take place.

When he’s not spending as much time as possible at his Potter County retreat, Scott lives in State College, Pennsylvania, with his wife and their two cats.

Reviews

[Heather Eddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hollow Tree pulled me in from the first page. It’s eerie and atmospheric, with that perfect mix of small-town mystery and forgotten history. Clara’s discovery under the hollow tree kept me turning pages, and the forest itself feels like a living character. I loved how the story tied in real Pennsylvania lumbertown history without losing its sense of suspense and wonder. If you like slow-burn mysteries with a touch of the supernatural, this one’s worth the read.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for anyone enjoys learning of a time before our own - while also diving deep into the lives of fictional characters. Although, I would argue that the main character of this book is the woods. The Hollow Tree keeps you guessing what will happen next. I can’t wait to read the next one!

[Becky Almoney-Carr · Rating 2 out of 5]

a tad weird