Revenge on the Rocks

Meg Reed Investigates #5

by Ellie Alexander

When reporter Meg Reed sets out on an underground expedition she thinks her biggest problem is going to be claustrophobia—until she discovers a body.

Meg is covering a geological expedition in Oregon’s mysterious lava caves when a forest ranger is found murdered in the underground tunnels.

What should have been a straightforward story about ancient rock formations quickly becomes more dangerous as Meg realizes this murder is connected to something much bigger and closer to home than she could ever have imagined.

Armed with her trusty notebook, her grandmother's protective agate stone, and the support of her loyal friends Matt and Jill, Meg sets out to investigate. She’s about to find out that some secrets are buried for good reason—and some people will do anything to keep them that way.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Central Oregon's high desert, this twisty cozy mystery delivers outdoor adventure, family secrets, and a determined amateur sleuth who proves that sometimes the best stories are the ones that find you. Perfect for fans of small-town mysteries with unexpected twists…

Revenge on the Rocks was previously published as In Cave Danger.

Readers love reporter Meg

“I'm totally mind-blown by this book! It was incredible! I absolutely devoured this book” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“An awesome end to the series.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“You will find yourself rooting for the characters! The Portland, OR setting and adventure travel tips are a fun bonus. Enjoy!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Love, love, love. This series has been a delight to read. I can’t wait to read more of this author’s work.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Loved This Book!! I have read all her others and love her devotion to Oregon outdoor adventures!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A great ending to a great series!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Fantastic! Well written and keeps you on your toes.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

Published September 25, 2025

About the author

Ellie is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over forty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.

She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.

Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her website at: http://www.elliealexander.co/ or following her on social media—
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_alexa...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliealexande...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elliealexande...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliealexand...
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/elliealexan...

Reviews

[dnsyl57 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Revenge on the Rocks" is book #5 in the "Meg Reed Investigates" series by Ellie Alexander. The book was previously released in 2017 as "In Cave Danger" under the author name Kate Dyer-Seeley.

Despite her fear of dark and small spaces, Meg Reed sets out on assignment to explore the underground caves near Bend Oregon. What starts out as a straightforward assignment quickly goes sideways as a body is discovered in the caves. Political and environmental factions collide and a connection close to home sets Meg on a dangerous path!

Cave exploration is not for the faint of heart, so reading how Meg reacts to her surroundings could be challenging for some. What really got me though was how the whole story unfolded and played out. There were so many unexpected turns and stunning revelations that I didn't see coming.

This story went far beyond what I had expected and I found myself saying "No way!" and "OMG" a couple of times. I also shed a few tears as the the ongoing Meth Madness subplot of the series came to an explosive head! WOW!

The ongoing relationships between Meg, Matt and Jill also evolve as the tight threesome follow their life paths. I love the bond between these three.

Though I've never been an outdoor adventurer, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this series!

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow!

We finally get answers on what happened to Meg's dad and it is a shocker!!! I can't go into detail, but it was a "what did I just read?!" moment. Not what I expected.

As for the murder in this book, I kind of feel like it took a backseat in this book, Meg was fully focused on investigating her father's death. I felt that was the majority of the book and little on the murder. I did like how it concluded the dad mystery. I just kind of felt like it was obvious who the murderer was, it felt like let's make this easy so we can focus in Meg's dad. Not sure how I feel about that. That's why I gave a 3 star rating.

I do have a question, what happened fo Meg and Kenny?! No mention of him in this book! Are they even friends? I really liked him!

I believe this ends the Meg Reed series, maybe that means Meg doesn't find anymore bodies? If it's true, I'm going to miss Meg and her adventures.

[Lady Galaxy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trigger alert. If you are claustrophobic, you may want to skip several chapters in this one!

I guess I'm in the minority, but I was not pleased with the way the series ended. The twist to me seemed more like a "Deus ex machina" than a realistic possibility. It made her father seem more like a sadisticly cruel narcissist than a crusader out to free the world of corrupt politicians and drug lords. How could he let his daughter grieve his death when he was still alive. He put the glory of the story above his daughter's needs. She may have forgiven him, but I don't. It left me with a bitter taste about the whole series.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I started reading this last book of the series, I thought this formula was getting a bit old. In the first chapter Meg finds a body. The next few chapters, about one third of the book go back in time and let readers know how she got there, the history of Pops, her relationship with Greg, Matt, Gam, Jill, and her mom. If you read the first four books, it drags a bit. However, the rest of the story is quite good and worth wading through the details. I am glad that I read the books in the series in order, but now it seems like the story has been told.

[Amelia Chapman]

speed read this, it was cool how the mystery for the book tied into the overarching mystery. interested in reading another series of hers



spoilers- was the mention of greg’s dad working in “shipping” supposed to be a red herring?

[Nana Fields · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it.

[Kori Arkfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great wrap up to the series. Not how I thought it would end and I can’t wait to read the 10 years later book.

“Tears are our body’s way of cleansing. Don’t resist them, Margaret. Embrace them.”

“I was barely functioning. I wasn’t in any position to try to heal them.”