Desolation Ridge

When a small town in the Pacific Northwest is rocked by a shocking murder, Maggie Blackthorne hunts a killer still lurking in the surrounding forest.

After a state trooper is killed under mysterious circumstances, Oregon State Police sergeant Maggie Blackthorne is assigned to the case. The investigation takes her to Desolation Ridge in the Umatilla National Forest, where the suspect is reported to be hiding out with a possible hostage.

It's late fall. Daylight is scarce, and there is a fierce chill in the air. To make matters worse, a deadly cougar has been spotted nearby.

But as Maggie and her partner Hollis trudge on, uncovering clues and dealing with their own tense past, one thing is clear:

Somewhere amongst these towering pines, a murderer is watching them.

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Praise for LaVonne Griffin-Valade and the Maggie Blackthorne series:

"Lush descriptions, wonderful characters, and plenty of twists will have readers enthralled..." -LynDee Walker, Amazon Charts bestselling author of No Sin Unpunished

"...a strong, smart, lead, a setting that is almost a character itself..." -Susan Hunter, author of Dangerous Habits

"...will have you seeing the rimrock, smelling the sage and greasewood, and feeling the dry cold of the eastern Oregon desert. An excellent read that will leave you wanting more." -James Chandler, author of Misjudged

"Trash-talking, tough as leather, determined, and smart Maggie Blackthorne is just the kind of hero I want to follow in adventure after adventure. I'm looking forward to more of Maggie!" -Shannon Baker, author of the Kate Fox series

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What readers are saying:

"...fascinating..."
"...shocking revelation..."
"My highest recommendation."
"...will literally take your breath away."
"...the beauty of Oregon on every page."

About the Author
LaVonne Griffin-Valade was born and raised in the high desert country along the John Day River of eastern Oregon--a place that stoked her imagination and inspired her to become a lifetime writer of short stories, essays, poetry, and novels. She has worn many professional hats: elementary school teacher, mentor, education equity advocate, and Auditor of the City of Portland. Griffin-Valade has published essays and pieces of fiction in multiple publications including the Oregon Humanities Magazine and the Clackamas Literary Review. After receiving her MFA from Portland State University in 2017 she moved to fiction writing. LaVonne lives in Portland, Oregon and works as a full time writer. Dead Point, the first book in the Maggie Blackthorne series, is her debut novel.