Ruby Falls

by Gin Phillips

One body. Five suspects. Total darkness.

A tense, claustrophobic historical mystery set almost entirely underground at the onset of the Great Depression about the discovery of a 150-foot waterfall in the middle of a mountain, the unthinkable crime that happens in its caves, and a woman who’s never felt more alive.   

In 1928, a Chattanooga man disappears down a hole in the ground and discovers a 150-foot waterfall in the middle of a mountain that he names after his Ruby Falls. Within months, visitors can buy tickets to see the falls for themselves. Ada Smith has been sneaking into the caves at night, entranced by the natural wonders around her and the freedom granted by this new underground world.

But it’s tough timing for a natural wonder. As the country flounders in the Great Depression, a shrewd public relations ploy seems like the only way to save Ruby Falls. A famous mind reader and mystic agrees to launch himself into the Ruby Falls caverns where he will attempt to locate a hidden hatpin using only his psychic abilities. He'll be joined by five his manager, his wife, a guide, a Chattanooga businessman, and a reporter from the Chicago Times. But they’re not alone in the caverns. Ada and another guide, Quinton, have been asked to follow the mind reader’s party at a distance, staying out of sight. They are a safety net, in case of a broken leg or busted flashlights.

One of them will be dead before the end of the day.

Faced with a corpse and the stark reality that one of the people in her midst is a killer, Ada needs to get everyone—the murderer and the innocents—back aboveground before their light runs out.

Ruby Falls is both a unique twist on the locked-room mystery and an exploration of loss and what it means to start over. It’s a heart-racing story of survival and a testament to the threads that bind strangers together. Set against the true story of the discovery of Ruby Falls, the novel also draws on the memoirs of Katie Stabler, a female guide at Wind Caves in South Dakota.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery

336 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 3, 2026

About the author

Gin Phillips is the celebrated author of The Well and the Mine (winner of the 2009 Barnes & Noble Discover Award for Fiction) and Come in and Cover Me (“original and strikingly beautiful” – Elle Magazine). Her recent novel, Fierce Kingdom, was named one of the best books of 2017 by Publishers Weekly, NPR, Amazon, and Kirkus Reviews. Her novels have been named as selections for Indie Next, Book of the Month, and the Junior Library Guild. She lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her family.

Reviews

[robinreadstoomuch · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1928, Ruby Lambert’s husband Leo discovers a massive waterfall inside of Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee. He names it Ruby Falls after his beloved wife.
This amazing discovery attracts visitors from all over the world.
Meanwhile, Ada Smith has been exploring the caves of Lookout Mountain alone at night.
Unfortunately, The Great Depression hits Tennessee hard. Leo and Ruby are struggling to keep their attraction open to the public.
Along comes famous mind-reader Jeremiah Hagathorn. He proposes a publicity stunt that Leo cannot resist.
Someone will hide a hat pin inside Lookout Mountain, and Jeremiah will find it using only his psychic ability.
Jeremiah is accompanied by his wife and three others, including a reporter. Ada and fellow spelunker Quinton are secretly hired to follow the crew in case of an emergency.
A simple publicity stunt turns dangerous and deadly quickly.
Ruby Falls is a unique thriller that takes place underground in darkness. The story also becomes a tale of survival!

Thank you Atlantic Crime Publishers and NetGalley for sending me this ARC.

[Jen G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
Living in north Georgia, I found the premise and setting interesting, but the story and characters did not hold my interest. Fans of historical fiction/romance/mysteries may enjoy this one.

[Deanna Loves to Read!!:) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my! I really loved this different, unique, historical locked-room mystery! It is also based on a real place.

Taking place during the Great Depression, Ruby Lambert's husband, Leo, discovers a big waterfall in of Lookout Mountain. This is where they have been mining, and this discovery is unexpected. People come from all over to see it.

Ada Smith is Ruby's best friend. She has lost her husband, and the depression has hit. She begins exploring the caves and tunnels of Lookout Mountain at night when no one is around. While doing this, she meets a worker one night named Quinton. He does not judge or condemn Ada, but instead gives her advice on exploring, and even joins her at times.

The depression affects their town hard, and especially Leo and Ruby. They made a huge investment and turned Ruby Falls into a tourist attraction with a restaurant, tours, and weekend dances. However, to drum up more business, Leo decides to invite Jeremiah Hagathorn to partake in a PR event. Hagathorn is a renowned mind reader. LEo will have 2 of his most trusted people hide a hat key somewhere in the monstrous caves and tunnels. Then a group of people, including the two hiders, a journalist, Hagathorn's wife, and a tour guide, will go down and Hagathorn will have 12 hours to find it. Unbeknownst to the group, Ada and Quinton are hired to follow the group from a distance to keep an eye and provide a safety net.

However, tragedy happens and Ada and Quinton have to get the other explorers out before another death occurs.

This was a claustrophobic, atmospheric mystery. I really liked most of the characters. I really liked the characters, especially Ada and Quinton. They are intelligent and resourceful. Ruby is also very likable. This is more a mystery than a thriller, but there are tense moments and just an overall dark, closed in vibe. IT is very well written and comes together nicely, and I was a little surprised at the reveal- or more for the motivation behind the crime! Well done!

There is a lot of reflection in the characters, that at times made the story drag a bit. And it is told through multiple viewpoints- but I felt this worked for the story. I highly recommend for anyone interested in a mystery with a unique take on the locked room mystery!

I also highly recommend the author's note at the end. I found it very interesting about the history of the falls!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Crime for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Christina Hiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in East Tennessee myself, I was drawn to this historical fiction called Ruby Falls. This book follows Ada Smith, strong female main character who explores the caves on her own at night. This story is so intriguing and has amazing character development. If you like caves, a good mystery/ thriller, or historical fiction, pick up this book and dive in. During the Great Depression the cave needs a new stunt or gimmick to draw in customers. They decide to enlist a mind reader and mystic to explore the cave in search of a hidden hat pin in the caves. Cute right? That's when the story turns! Tragedy strikes. Ada and her partner have to figure out what happened and get everyone out with losing another member of their party. Think Murder on the Orient Express but in a spooky cave with some smart characters. 5 stars!

[Diana Luzsanyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book! I have loved all of Gin Phillips books and expected nothing less from Ruby Falls, but this book is next level. There are no new stories, only new ways to tell them. The story is a good one, the storytelling, masterful. The way in which these richly drawn characters evoked the picture in my mind’s eye, far exceeded my expectations. I was so drawn to them that for the duration of the novel, I felt truly surrounded by their presence. Her writing is so beautiful, I feel as if she deliberated over every single word. Ms. Phillips’ novels always feature strong women and Ruby Falls is no exception. Ada is a strong woman who knows who she is and knows what she doesn’t know. She is wise beyond her years. You will love her! Preorder your copy now. Available March 3, 2026. You’ll thank me

[Katherine Itro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby Falls by Gin Phillips is a compelling and suspenseful novel that captivates readers from the very first page. The protagonist, Ada, emerges as a remarkably resilient and complex character, shaped by the many challenges she has faced throughout her life. The narrative begins prior to the discovery of Ruby Falls, but the true heart of the story unfolds as Ada becomes involved with a rescue team.
Without revealing too much, it is worth noting that the character development in this novel is exceptional, and the plot is rich with tension and intrigue. Phillips masterfully crafts a “whodunnit” that keeps readers guessing until the very end. I found the book difficult to put down, and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries and suspenseful fiction.