The Hurricane Stew

Awarded the William Faulkner Literary Competition for Best Novel in 2016, The Hurricane Stew is a fast-paced fiction work set in a coastal Carolina town bracing for the arrival of a devastating hurricane. As mayhem looms, four unlikely friends are caught in the fever of a treasure hunt. Dr. Charles Holzer, the president of Watson School of the Arts, has zealously pursued the illicit collection of a valuable storehouse of expensive art on the school's dime. Along the way, he makes a remarkable discovery that ignites his passion and obsession. He fires Dr. John Wilson, dean of the Fine Arts Department, to ensure his theft remains undetected. Meanwhile, a group of friends gathers at Bunnie's old-style Southern home-she's a secretary at Watson. Sophie, a graduate art student, lives at Bunnie's house as a boarder. David, a self-employed piano tuner, often stops by to work on the piano there or to just seek company and a home-cooked meal. Dr. Marie Caldwell-Wilson's replacement-and her young daughter Isabelle join the crew. Bunnie and Marie become increasingly suspicious of Charles, who frantically tasks them with the authentication of documents relevant to his art collection. Their interest piqued, they conduct an investigation of their own as the storm approaches. Together, with the help of Sophie and David, they unveil a scholarly intrigue spanning two continents and six centuries.