Deep in the heart of Washington State's Olympic Peninsula lies Temple Grove, one of the last stands of ancient Douglas fir not protected from logging. Bill Newton, a gyppo logger desperate for work and a place to hide, has come to Temple Grove for the money to be made from the timber. There to stop him is Paul, a young Makah environmentalist who will break the law to save the trees. A dangerous chase into the wilds of Olympic National Park ensues, revealing a long-hidden secret that inextricably links the two men. Temple Grove is a gripping tale of suspense and a multilayered novel of place that captures in taut, luminous prose the traditions that tie people to a powerful landscape and the conflicts that run deep among them.

Reading guide: http://www.washington.edu/uwpress/books/TEMPLE_GROVE_reading_guide.pdf

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"Elliott layers suspense with Greek myth, native legend, and personal back stories to create an existentialist puzzle. He offers nuanced observations of character, family, and society, lightly seasoned with a Pacific Northwest brand of magical realism."

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"Temple Grove's geographical backdrop is not incidental but serves as a character itself. Knowledge of the Olympic Peninsula exudes from the pages as though they were printed from an old growth and the trees were speaking for themselves."

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"Elliott provides a worthwhile exploration of the conflicting interests of tradition, commerce, and the environment. A good choice for readers interested in ecofiction and regional literature."

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"A subtle, brooding novel of environmentalism and human complexities set in the Pacific Northwest."

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"A fine, timely work….Elliott achieved his goal as a novelist — to help a reader fall in love with the natural world, especially that place perched on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. It’s a book worth reading, especially for those of us who already love the Pacific Northwest."

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"Scott Elliott's compelling prose vividly captures the essence of its wilderness setting."

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"Tribal culture, environmental concerns, and the need for work in a land where beauty won't put food on the table lead to adventurous encounters, dangerous forest pursuits, and questions . . . to take to . . . book clubs to discuss."

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"A fine, timely work….Elliott achieved his goal as a novelist — to help a reader fall in love with the natural world, especially that place perched on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. It’s a book worth reading, especially for those of us who already love the Pacific Northwest."