In a Distant Valley

Dalton, Maine #3

by Shannon Bowring, Patricia Shade (Narrator)

10 hours, 35 minutes

Both a love letter and a window into the rural places that have shaped many, In a Distant Valley sets the stage for a final act to play out across a deep winter in snowy Maine. 

For a while, Rose Douglas believed life had given her a break. She was enjoying a steady job at the local clinic in Dalton; her two young boys, Adam and Brandon, were doing well in school; and their little family had found an easy friendship with widower Nate Theroux and his daughter, Sophie. The possibility of something deeper even hung between her and Nate—until the day Tommy Merchant, her ex and the father of her sons, showed up without warning on her doorstep. While Rose knows all too well his erratic and abusive nature, he swears he’s clean, and ready to turn over a new leaf. 

Tommy isn’t the only one who’s found his way back to the town that defined him. Lost after a disastrous stint living down south with her father, Angela Muse has returned home to Dalton. There she runs into Greg Fortin, the friend who once saved her life when they were children and finally starts to believe there may be someone who understands her in a world that offers more questions than answers.  

But secrets are the lifeblood of a small town, and everyone in Dalton soon finds themselves part of a chain of events hurtling towards outcomes beyond their control, where more than one future will be decided. Brimming with compassion and heart, In a Distant Valley is the remarkable conclusion to the story readers have been following since Shannon Bowring’s debut novel, The Road to Dalton. 

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Literary Fiction

Audiobook

First published October 7, 2025

About the author

Shannon Bowring’s work has appeared in numerous journals, including Best Small Fictions, and has been nominated for Pushcart and Best of the Net prizes. She is the recipient of the 2022 Julia Peterkin Literary Award for Flash Fiction and was selected by Deesha Philyaw as a finalist for the Fractured Lit Anthology II Contest. Shannon has been recognized on such short- and long-lists as the Maine Literary Awards, the Writer’s Digest Short Story Competition and the New Millennium Writing Awards. Her debut novel, The Road to Dalton, received a Kirkus Starred Review and was included in the June 2023 Indie Next List. Shannon’s sequel to Dalton, WHERE THE FOREST MEETS THE RIVER, is forthcoming from Europa Editions.

Raised in Northern Maine, Shannon now resides in the mid-coast region of the state, where she works as a cataloger at her local public library.

Reviews

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

the setup…
The story continues with Rose Douglas who has grown comfortable and confident now that her abusive ex, Tommy Merchant, left town five years ago. She’s loving her job at the clinic, her two boys are thriving and she’s tiptoeing around a potential relationship with widower Nate Theroux. But when Tommy suddenly shows back up, their lives are disrupted even though he professes to be a changed man. Meanwhile, Greg Fortin is reluctantly back from college for the holidays, fully expecting his father to continue pressuring him to continue the family business legacy and commit to running the hardware store. Things look up when he discovers Angela Muse, his high school best friend and secret crush, has returned home to Dalton. But she’s still battling demons and he still needs to come clean with her and his family about his sexual identity.

the heart of the story…
While there isn’t a lot of explosive drama in Dalton, the quiet reflections of the people in this town expose the issues they face that are common in any city, large or small. Domestic abuse, fear of rejection because of sexual identity differences, drug and alcohol abuse are just some of the issues dealt with here. But what’s different is how this small community looks out for one another, sensing when someone needs support and when they just need space. The connections are real and substantive.

the narration…
Patricia Shade is the voice of this series and I love what she contributes to the storytelling. Her subtlety and voice tone are perfectly suited to the writing.

the bottom line…
I felt so much tension for Rose throughout the story and was rooting for her and Nate, despite the potential disaster from her ex. The other plot lines were equally compelling if less dramatic but underneath all was a sensitivity and authenticity that reflects real life. The strong sense of community resonates powerfully, one of the elements I’ve found endearing this series. I hate saying goodbye to these characters and Dalton, Maine but the author left me in a really good place.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Tantor Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a Goodreads synopsis for Book 2, this series is described as “a stunningly human portrait of small town America.”

And that it is. However, I won’t be saying anything about what the book is about. For that, you can read the synopsis or any number of other reviews on this page. I’m going to address only one thing… how it made me feel.

In a Distant Valley is the third and final book in the Dalton, Maine series by Shannon Bowring. I thought the first two books were quite good, but this last one… well, it felt pretty cringey to me.😬😖 I’ve been trying to figure out WHY that is. I mean, all three books are about the same town, the same people, and with mostly the same issues. The only difference I can see is that the author seems to want to settle everything in this finale. She tries to bring every issue “full circle” or, as some would say, “tie everything up in a bow”. But things don’t work that way in real life! Everyone has a few “loose ends”, right? So I suspect that is why this felt so cringey to me. It’s not the way I want to feel when I read but, unfortunately, I felt it most of the way through! It felt a bit like the author was trying too hard to make everything right! [sigh] It was all I could do not to DNF it.😔

Anyway, I’m sorry to say I’m not all that sad to see the series end.🤷‍♀️ But to be honest, I actually think most people are going to like this book. There’s really nothing at all wrong with it! It simply wasn't for me.🙅‍♀️

3 “In–the–end,–promises–are–just–words” stars ⭐⭐⭐

[Diane Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a worthy conclusion to this trilogy of a small town in Maine in the late 1990's. It's a small town where everyone knows everyone else, and their business. Like everywhere, there are good and bad people, good and bad things happen, and lots of secrets and guilt to go around, but there's also tolerance and understanding. I enjoyed it just as much as the first two books. Europa Press generally publishes quality fiction and the artwork is gorgeous as well. I think this is the last of the citizens of Dalton but I'm excited about where this author goes next.

[Mary McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a bittersweet visit to Dalton knowing that this was the final book. I loved each and every character and will miss them as I would friends. But life will go on- with love and grief and the challenges of living. Kudos to Shannon Bowrirng for her creation of indelible characters and a glorious town In Maine.

Thanks to Europa Editions for an early copy.

[Bookaddictpnw · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - I would buy a grocery list from this author.

[Mary Lins · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In a Distant Valley” by Shannon Bowring is the third book in the “Dalton” series, full of the wonderful, eclectic, and unforgettable denizens of Dalton, Maine, as they navigate life in the 1990s.

This is the kind of series best read in order, so if you are here, but haven’t yet read “The Road to Dalton” and “Where the Forest Meets the River” you are in for a treat, because those books are as wonderful as this one is!

I don’t know if Bowring will ever return us to Dalton, but if this is the last we know of them, it’s a satisfying conclusion. I shall miss them all.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad to leave this series behind. I picked up book one as a souvenir in a Maine bookstore. I fell in love with the fictional town of Dalton and its inhabitants, each of which grew in depth and complexity throughout the three book series. As an avid reader, I often forget a book shortly after I finish reading it. This is a series I continue to think about. It’s just so damn good.

[Ruth L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last book of the series, and I am sad. If you liked the book "Sandwich", you should try this series it will not disappoint.

[Bonnie Brody · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful braiding of lives as Ms. Bowring revisits the beloved town of Dalton, Maine. With empathy, compassion, sorrow, love and disdain, the protagonists of this trilogy come alive on these pages after a brief hiatus of time. The interwoven tales meld together lives, longing, hope and disappointment. There isn't a skipped beat in this heartfelt book.

No one in Dalton is exempt from close examination. I feel like Ms. Bowring shows a braver and more personal side of her authorship in this book. The previous two novels in this trilogy are wonderful but 'In a Distant Valley' shines above all. Ms. Bowring explores the inner lives of her characters with honesty and fervor, not sparing anyone from her fierce glance.

This will definitely be on my top ten list for the year. I love how each character takes charge of their life, even if minimally. Acceptance and hope shine through as Dalton's residents come to an understanding of how the past has shaped them, and the future awaits.

Every character carries a burden and a painful history but Ms Bowring has freed all but Tommy from despair. She owns her anger at his choices and how they hurt and damage those in his path. Yes, his actions bring tragedy, but he can no longer continue to blame others for what he has brought on himself. I loved sharing Sophie's brightness, Nates self-acceptance, Rose's openness to a second chance, and Greg's coming to terms with his true self. The deep and everlasting love between Trudy and Bev moved me deeply.

Ms. Bowring understands the many facets of love and the unique aspects of intimacy. Her gift is her ability to share love and sorrow with her readers. She does not back away from pain, but she never leaves a character without hope.

[Erin Bergin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final book of the Dalton trilogy surpassed my expectations. A fabulous end to the perfect trilogy.

1.) I loved how Bowring intertwined the characters of Dalton in unexpected ways.

2.) I love the completeness of the book.

3.) I loved the fact that deep introspection of characters happened and forced the reader to do the same.

My only complaint is that the trilogy is complete. I wish I could live in these books forever.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect conclusion to Bowring's Dalton novels. Themes of addiction, identity, generational trauma, family, and interpersonal relationships set in small town Maine. I love these characters so much, and am so glad to have spent more time with them. I'll think about Dalton and its inhabitants for years to come.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fitting end to the Dalton trilogy. I will miss spending time with Bev and Trudy, Nate, Greg, and all the other characters in these novels.

If you enjoy small town stories, read these books.
If you enjoy well written, character driven novels, read these books.
If you lived in the 70s and 80s, read these books.

[Kerry O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something about this series is so comforting to me and I’m sad this is the last book. I could have done with less about Tommy, but overall I loved this one as much as the first two books.

[Val Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the town of Dalton, Maine and all of the small town characters so fully developed by Shannon Bowring. I read the first two books in the trilogy and couldn't wait for the third. With all the horrid chaos of our Country right now, it was so comforting to settle back into a place I know and love with people who are so familiar. It's like coming home. I closed the book so sadly, almost sure that stories of Dalton were complete.....but maybe not! Shannon Bowring is an inspiring writer and fellow librarian. I will look forward to everything she writes in the future.

[Carol Scheherazade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful end to the series. I guess I’d say this book was about truth, honesty and compassion. Small towns can be lovely or awful. Dalton was lovely.

[Emily Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this book up not realizing it was the third book in a trilogy. Despite some of the impact probably being lost because I didn’t read the first or second novel, I throughly enjoyed this book. It draws you straight into the world and wraps you in the cold and cozy blanket of wintertime in Dalton, Maine. So, if you accidentally buy this book not realizing it’s the final book in a trilogy, do not despair. Still totally worth the read.

[Zehava (Joyce) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final Dalton book was lovely just like the first two. Revisiting these characters in this place and time is always a treat. I will say this book was quite a bit slower but it definitely did pick up the pace in the last 100 pages or so. I look forward to reading whatever Shannon Bowring does next.

[AMenagerieofWords Deb Coco · Rating 4 out of 5]

They were so different back then from who they are now. Hard to believe a person can go through so many iterations of oneself - all the infinite, tiny changes that occur minute to minute, day to day, year to year....a constant evolution, everything moving always onward.
In a Distant Valley
Shannon Bowring
•
I was choked up as I turned the last page of the final book in the Dalton Trilogy, as it has come to be known.
I first visited the fictitious Dalton, Maine in 2023 when I read The Road to Dalton (thank you Europa Editions for knowing I would adore it). I became immersed in this honest depiction of a working class town in Maine and the people who make up the community. I was thrilled to interview Shannon Bowring and then felt even more connected to the world she created.
(Interview in Highlights)
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These books contain multitudes. Bowring crafted a town that is every bit as real as if you stepped into the pages yourself. The characters are hardworking, often down on their luck, suffering from all the things that life tosses at all of us. This is not the Maine of elite summer homes, but the Maine you see when you drive in from the coast where the living takes place. Dalton is a town where everyone knows your name and your story, where they watch and care for one another, and this community felt so authentic I was elated when book #2 (Where the Forest Meets the River) and finally the last in the series were announced.
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I know the question always arises “do I need to read them in order” and I would say YES! Bowring does a great job at refreshing the story for books 2 and 3, but if you want to immerse yourself in these lives, it’s important to know where their stories began.
•
Bowring doesn’t shy away from tough topics and this last book felt a bit edgier than the first 2, but The Road to Dalton broke lots of readers’ hearts and In a Distant Valley will mend those heartbreaks.
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There aren’t a lot of authors who can see a story through all the iterations and not have a reader bored or let down but Bowring managed to do it 3x over. I’ll be thinking about Dalton for years to come.
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Out 10/7 - plenty of time to read books 1 and 2.

[Jamie Dacyczyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice conclusion to this trilogy.

The most notable thing (for me at least) was the mention of something called "Bicker Batter Bread". I had to rewind my audiobook and slow it down, repeating the phrase several times to be sure I heard it right. Some kind of soft yeast bread with a sweet glaze, served in the school cafeteria. Off to Google I went, where I found the only mentions to this in Facebook groups related to Ashland, Maine. Apparently it was made at the local high school, and people have fond memories of the school smelling yeasty and sweet on bicker batter bread day. I immediately posted, asking if anyone knew a recipe. Someone shared a recipe, which stated that the amount of flour was just...enough to make a thick dough. So helpful, but so delightfully typical of a lunch lady recipe. Still, I'm not a bread novice, so I was able to extrapolate enough to try my hand, and the result was a soft, fluffy, slightly chewy bread, baked flat on a sheet pan. It was almost like a good yeast doughnut, minus the fried component. Or, because of the sweet glaze, almost like a cinnamon roll without the filling, and also it's a flat slab? Like white bread and a doughnut and a sheet cake all gave birth to this confection. Deliciously simple, and I ate four slices by bedtime. There was some discussion about whether cinnamon was included in the glaze (as the author notes in this book) or whether it was just plain vanilla, so I frosted the bread with both options; the cinnamon is superior, though both are good. NO IDEA where the name comes from; it's not a batter bread, and why "bicker"? Doesn't seem to be a surname in that area, unless it's a misspelling of Becker. Or maybe it literally just means the word bicker. Was the bread born from a dispute? Maybe a husband and wife were arguing over whether she should bake cake or bread, so she threw up her hands and came up with this compromise.

Anyway, this trilogy has proven popular with my library patrons, and it led me to a new sweet bread. Win win!

[Susan McAulay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third and final installment of a series of character driven novel about the people of a community in Maine, Dalton. While as I have gotten older, I have grown to have less patience with the kind of character driven novels that have little plot, and this is that type of novel, this was an exemplary series which demonstrates Ms. Bowring’s keen sense of detail and ability to convey the kind of rich characters that you would just love to sit down with over a good up of coffee. The big catch is that these meetings would need to take place in Dalton because throughout the series, Ms. Bowring brings the reader right into this small town that you can’t help but want to be there. Every once in a while, a writer creates the kind of setting that is so rich and detailed that it is virtually its own character. That is what Ms. Dalton does.
The author explores themes of family, addition and relationship with a broad scope and without hitting the readers over the head with them. She uses the interactions between the characters as well as the setting to accomplish this.
This last installment did feel like a conclusion, which is laudable. I was still engaged with the residents of Dalton but I was beginning to feel about two thirds of the way through like Ms. Bowring was starting to run out of steam, even though her gift for details and use of language remained strong as it did throughout the rest of the series. While I loved Dalton and its residents, including the town’s level of dysfunction, I was ready for the series to end. I am looking forward to seeing this author apply her skills to a new book or series.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Europa Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
4 1/2 stars.

[Beth Peninger · Rating 5 out of 5]

No need for another summary — there are plenty out there. Let’s get straight to what I thought!

Bowring brings the experiences and stories of Dalton, Maine’s residents to a thoughtful close for the reader. This has been the most unexpectedly delightful and heartwarming series. As I said in a review of another book in the series, Bowring created wonderful characters with relatable struggles and complications. Her setting in the 1990s didn't feel dated, unlike some books set in the 1990s.

At the conclusion of the series, I loved Rose's storyline the most, followed by Trudy and Bev's. Really, I didn't hate any character storyline, even Tommy's. Redemption—and the pursuit of it—is a hard road to travel, with many obstacles and potholes.

One of the things I loved most about the series was how Bowring didn't tie everything up with a pretty bow; she let real life inform her fiction and resisted the urge to write a "happily ever after" ending. Yes, at the end of the book and series characters Bowring introduced to us are living happy, fulfilled lives, but that is a state that ebbs and flows with the day-to-day. We know that, and Bowring's Dalton, Maine residents know that as well.

Fantastic series, thank you, Bowring, for sharing Dalton, Maine, with us.

[Susan Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. Glad to return to this series ... about the inhabitants of small town Dalton, Maine. Bowring writes about the characters so seamlessly ... that we know them well after the first two books. This novel focuses on what happens when Tommy (Rose's abusive ex-partner) returns to town saying he's changed his bad drinking ways and wants to see their two sons. But then angry Tommy loses a job and proves to be a handful as usual ... which isn't good for Rose & her budding relationship with Nate Theroux, the cop who still grieves his late wife with his young daughter. Meanwhile a subplot sees college student Greg Fortin ... on a date into the forest with Angela when a snowstorm hits, and things get dicey. These two plotlines keep things churning and the goodness of characters Nate and Greg shine through.
The story at times seems to get a bit sentimental with all the characters & how things turn out but Bowring’s such an apt storyteller that she's able to pull it off and make a good ending for her trilogy. I will follow what she does next ... though I will miss these characters and town a lot.
ps. I listened to the audiobooks of this trilogy narrated superbly by Patricia Shade.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shannon Bowring ends her trilogy, paying homage to WINESBURG, OHIO, with IN A DISTANT VALLEY (earlier novels include THE ROAD TO DALTON and the weakest of the three, WHERE THE FOREST MEETS THE RIVER. I liken Bowring's writing to comfort food, where, of course you worry--teenagers lost in a snow storm, ex-husbands with shotguns drunkenly threaten love interests, lesbian lovers come to terms with adultery--in ways that always work out. While the trilogy certainly has its share of tragic incidents, in Dalton, the fictional town that Bowring depicts, the best of human nature always wins out, and even though she describes conflict, it's comforting to know that, in Dalton at least, everyone will make the best choices and end up, finally, with the right people. Bowring writes assuredly about the town, and even though we are certain that couples will end up where they belong, IN A DISTANT VALLEY is a strongly plotted, well-conceived novel that will keep readers happy. And that's no small achievement.

[Beth Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

IN A DISTANT VALLEY by Shannon Bowring

This is the third novel / short story collection in the Dalton series, which starts with THE ROAD TO DALTON.

I highly recommend this entire series. Dalton is a working-class town in Northern Maine, and it features enduring characters who are going through life with struggles and humanity, like you and me. While I don't want to give too much away, the town police officer Nate is the cornerstone of the novel. However, I'd say there are many (but not an overwhelming number of) characters. I like that this third book showed domestic abuse survivor Rose and her abuser Tommy. Even Tommy was shown with such humanity.

A side note about these novels is the 1990s setting. They don't have a ton of pop culture references, but it's obvious that the author wanted to downplay the pervasiveness of technology.

[Tina Culbertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed reading this series and I can't wait to see what the author comes out with next.

The tension between Rose, her husband Tommy and the police officer Nate ended up well but it wasn't without some drama from Tommy. Funny to me how I couldn't stand Tommy's character but we all know you need a "bad guy" in a story to keep it interesting. That said, reading about his neglectful upbringing gave me some sympathy for him near the end.

Also bringing in some action after the first half of the book was Greg and Angela's relationship...or perhaps I should say where that friendship/romantic interest was headng. Greg's parents also turned a corner regarding how they saw their son and what he should be doing with his life.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and thought the series was excellent. Great followup to the first two books. 4 stars

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the last of the Dalton series Shannon Bowring does a beautiful job of bringing this collection to an end. I don't think I have ever read a series where I have given all the books five stars. In a Distant Valley follows all of the previous characters from the previous books, starting shortly after Where the Forest Meets the River Ends. Just like the others, it is a quiet book with wonderful character descriptions where you really feel like you are in the small town and know these people well. It is a story of friendship and grief, abuse and addiction and eventually hope, love and community. I highly recommend the Dalton books.

[Kevin Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great trilogy this ended up being. I reread The Road to Dalton in advance of the 3rd book. I was glued to every page. I haven’t stayed up this late to finish up a book in years. I haven’t immediately told all of my book buddies that this was just terrific. This was a total encapsulation of a community in Maine that is more than what they seem to be. I was moved. I was floored. And I just had a really great time reading all 3 of these.

[Jennifer Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in this series wasn't even on my radar. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this so that I could read this final installment of life in Dalton, Maine. This was a wonderful series, especially if you love quiet, character-driven novels. I enjoyed getting to know everyone in town and experience the way they grew as individuals. I'll miss this town, the '90s setting, and these great down-to-earth and hardworking and kind people.

[Katie Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gutted that this series is over. The book was just as wonderful as I was hoping, and I’m thrilled with how things wrapped up. Shannon Bowring perfectly captured the nuances of so many different types of relationships. I would have loved to see more of Trudy and Bev in this one, but I’m happy with the pieces we got. Can’t we please get another one??

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, LOVE the community of characters and the sense of place that Shannon Bowring has created in the Dalton series. This third book in the trilogy wraps up almost every story line, but I can’t help but hope for a sequel, or a prequel, or anything that brings us back to the people and the place of this small Maine town.