The Garden of Eden

A hilarious tale of love, loyalty, and redemption in small-town America from New York Times–bestselling author Stephen Coonts writing under a pen name.

Trooper Sam Neely, fresh out of the State Police academy, finds himself assigned to the sleepy town of Eden, U.S.A. But things quickly heat up when banker Ed Harris discovers his wife in bed with his best friend, Hayden Elkins. In a fit of rage, Ed escorts them to the door, shotgun in hand, and declares, “Guess what? She’s yours!”

Hayden, already married, suddenly finds himself with two wives and becomes the laughingstock of the town. As the situation spins out of control, unlikely relationships form, including town drunk Elijah Murphy falling for the snooping widow next door. Meanwhile, Deputy Delmar Clay’s penchant for snapping photos of young couples in parked cars leads to a backside full of birdshot, and the notorious Barrow Boys are out of jail and looking for trouble.

In Garden of Eden, Sam Neely discovers that keeping the peace in a small town is a full-time job, requiring the help of the entire community, from the compassionate magistrate to the new female preacher, to prevent an explosion of big-city proportions. Touching and humorous, this parable for our time delivers a powerful message of forgiveness, tolerance, and the simple solutions that keep tight-knit communities strong.

“A funny, wise, romantic, and altogether pleasing novel.” —Homer Hickam, #1 New York Times–bestselling author

“Laugh-out-loud humor with a southern accent.” —Julie Ortolon, USA Today–bestselling author