Publication Date: January 27, 2026
In a split-second decision that will shatter his life, insurance salesman Jack Spinks stops to help a young woman walking alone down a back country road. After getting into his truck the mysterious young woman grabs the steering wheel and forces the truck off the road, sending it plunging over a cliff and into the woods. What begins as a simple act of kindness spirals into a nightmare as Jack finds himself trapped in a dark and perilous world, hunted by the woman’s cryptic pursuers. As he fights for survival, Jack’s journey uncovers a haunting connection to his own past—one that may hold the key to unraveling the mystery and escaping the deadly forces closing in on him. From the highly acclaimed author of A Single Shot, A Reckoning Up Black Cat Hollow is a pulse-pounding crime thriller that weaves together psychological suspense and a gripping mystery, where every step brings Jack closer to a truth he’s long buried—and forces him to confront who, or what, he can truly trust.
When Jack Spinks comes across a young woman walking along a deserted road at night, his decision to help comes with unexpected consequences.
Author Matthew F. Jones serves up an introspective story in A Reckoning Up Black Cat Hollow. While the timespan is technically over the course of one day, embedded flashbacks provide background regarding Spinks and his military experience.
One of the primary challenges is discerning fact from fiction. The surreal quality added to the story raises the possibility that some of the events were imaginary.
While the storyline might seem fairly straightforward on the surface, it is actually quite complex. It’s not until much later in the story that the pieces begin to fall into place. This can be challenging for a casual reader.
A Reckoning Up Black Cat Hollow features a man with good intentions who gets caught up in a mystery.
Matthew F. Jones is the author of seven critically acclaimed novels as well as a number of screenplays. His novels have been widely translated and several times  have been named on best novels of the year lists. Three of his novels, A Single Shot, Deepwater and Boot Tracks, have been made into major motion pictures. He has taught creative writing at a number of colleges and universities, including Randolph Macon College, Lynchburg College and the University of Virginia. He grew up on a horse and dairy farm in rural upstate New York and currently  lives  in Charlottesville, Virginia.
