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Land of Hills and Valleys
Her inheritance came with an unsolved mystery.
If she can’t find out the truth, she may lose more than she gained.
Lena Campbell never knew her grandfather—but she always dreamed of visiting Wyoming, where her mother was born and raised. When she receives word that her grandfather is dead and his Wyoming ranch belongs to her, she jumps at the chance.
Only later does she learn that Garth McKay was murdered, and the murder is still unsolved.
Despite this shadow hanging over her, Lena thrives in her new life—and unexpectedly finds love there. And then a new revelation breaks the McKay murder case wide open again, and leaves her reeling.
Caught in a battle to prove the innocence of the man she loves, Lena begins to have frightening doubts. Whatever verdict the jury returns, will she ever know the truth about Garth McKay’s death—and does she even want to?
If you love mystery and romantic suspense in the style of Mary Stewart and Phyllis A. Whitney, you’ll love this story of murder, romance, and coming of age in 1930s Wyoming.
If she can’t find out the truth, she may lose more than she gained.
Lena Campbell never knew her grandfather—but she always dreamed of visiting Wyoming, where her mother was born and raised. When she receives word that her grandfather is dead and his Wyoming ranch belongs to her, she jumps at the chance.
Only later does she learn that Garth McKay was murdered, and the murder is still unsolved.
Despite this shadow hanging over her, Lena thrives in her new life—and unexpectedly finds love there. And then a new revelation breaks the McKay murder case wide open again, and leaves her reeling.
Caught in a battle to prove the innocence of the man she loves, Lena begins to have frightening doubts. Whatever verdict the jury returns, will she ever know the truth about Garth McKay’s death—and does she even want to?
If you love mystery and romantic suspense in the style of Mary Stewart and Phyllis A. Whitney, you’ll love this story of murder, romance, and coming of age in 1930s Wyoming.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2020
6 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Elisabeth Grace Foley
27 books192 followersElisabeth Grace Foley (that’s Elisabeth with an s) is the author of numerous works of historical fiction and historical mystery set mostly in the American West, including the Mrs. Meade Mysteries, short cozy mysteries featuring a lady detective in Edwardian-era Colorado, and the Western comedy A Sidekick’s Tale. Her most recent release, The Smoking Iron and Other Stories, is the latest of several collections of Western short stories.
She was a Peacemaker Award finalist in 2015 with her novella Left-Hand Kelly, and again in 2021 with her short story “Dakota Clothesline,” and won the Peacemaker for short fiction in 2025 with her short story "Valiant-For-Truth." Her historical mystery novel Land of Hills and Valleys was voted one of Readfree.ly’s 50 Best Indie Books of 2021.
When not reading or writing, she enjoys gardening, crocheting, digging further into her family tree, cheering for underdog European football teams, and watching old movies. She lives in upstate New York with her family.
She was a Peacemaker Award finalist in 2015 with her novella Left-Hand Kelly, and again in 2021 with her short story “Dakota Clothesline,” and won the Peacemaker for short fiction in 2025 with her short story "Valiant-For-Truth." Her historical mystery novel Land of Hills and Valleys was voted one of Readfree.ly’s 50 Best Indie Books of 2021.
When not reading or writing, she enjoys gardening, crocheting, digging further into her family tree, cheering for underdog European football teams, and watching old movies. She lives in upstate New York with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 2, 2021
I have read quite a few of Foley's books over the last ten years or so, and I think she has truly come into her own with this book. It has a seemingly effortless flow that only comes with a great deal of work. In fact, it swept me off to Wyoming with such ease I'm still a little breathless.
This isn't quite a suspense novel, but it has a LOT of tension. I raced through the last half of the book. Wonderful stuff. Like I said, I think Foley has come into her own with this novel. It has a maturity and a power that I was not expecting, and now I can't wait to see what she writes next.
This isn't quite a suspense novel, but it has a LOT of tension. I raced through the last half of the book. Wonderful stuff. Like I said, I think Foley has come into her own with this novel. It has a maturity and a power that I was not expecting, and now I can't wait to see what she writes next.
August 30, 2021
When Lena Campbell inherits her grandfather’s ranch, she receives a dangerous mystery along with it. She begins a new life in the beautiful ranch country of Wyoming. But above the bright sunshine and open skies looms the shadow of an unsolved murder. Who killed her grandfather? And why? Will she ever be free of the consequences?
I recently read and loved Land of Hills and Valleys, a new romantic suspense novel by Elisabeth Grace Foley, one of my favorite authors.
I was in love with the book from the first chapter. It gave me a feeling of pure, exquisite delight. I enjoyed it even more as the book continued, and I became more and more invested in the story and characters--even though I was very invested from the first! By the end, I was so emotionally invested in the characters and story that I inhaled the entire second half of the book in only two days--exactly one-quarter of the book each day. I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to find out what happened--and paying close attention to every detail of the mystery. And I couldn’t put the book down and go to bed until I finished a pivotal sequence during the third quarter, and until I finished the end of the book the next night.
The writing was excellent, and so was everything else. The setting was rich, gorgeous, atmospheric, and alive--both the awe-inspiring landscape of Wyoming and the 1930s Western small town. The mystery and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, and the story became even more gripping as the book went on. I enjoyed the lively humor, playful interactions, and interesting situations in the first half of the book--and many of them made me smile or laugh.
I fell in love with Wyoming while reading this book, and I am now excited that I already have the possibility of visiting there someday. Perhaps I’ll even reread this book while I’m there! I fell in love with the mountains, valleys, skies, and ranches. It made me love Westerns even more. There is a beautiful appeal in the open lands of the West, and the hardy cowboys who tame the land, and the ranch life that is tied to the land and the animals. This book makes me want to experience it myself, and it makes me understand why people move there and fall in love with the land--just like the protagonist of Land of Hills and Valleys.
I loved the characters and relationships most of all, as is usual for me with any good book. I loved the lively friendship and partnership between the man guy and girl. I loved the loyalty of the quirky ranch hands, to both of the main duo. Lena was a wonderful protagonist--interesting, relatable, bright, brave, and strong. I felt for her in her struggle to make sense of the new and confusing world she plunged into. But my favorite character ended up being the main guy, Ray. I didn’t even realize I had a favorite character until the second half of the book--but when I found myself wanting to cry for him at several points, because I loved him so much, felt for him, and hated to see him suffer . . . I knew I had a favorite character. It snuck up on me. I love real, strong, imperfect, good men, in fiction and in real life. And Ray is just the kind I love.
The complex plot was masterfully spun, and it left me in awe of the author’s skill. Everything made sense, nothing was overlooked, every piece mattered, and it all worked together perfectly. There was not a plot hole in sight that I could see, even though there were so many details and threads of the mystery that all came together in the end. I wondered how she could have written it so perfectly--and then I recalled that she spent more than a decade writing the book before it finally fell into place. That’s a comforting thought--it can be done! But it takes skill.
It was fascinating to notice the foreshadowing and clues throughout the book, and to try to predict the mystery as it unfolded. I predicted everything and nothing. I was surprised by every twist, and even though the possibility sometimes crossed my mind a few pages before, I was never able to accurately predict anything that happened. I suspected nearly every character of being the guilty one, and I predicted so many other things that were possible but not correct--so there was plenty to throw me off the scent. The author kept me guessing all the way till the very end, and things only got more interesting as they went along.
But even though everything surprised me, the foreshadowing was so masterful that nothing came as a shock, and everything seemed right and appropriate. When I looked back, I could see that the clues had been there all along--I just couldn’t see them, or couldn’t see what they meant. I could never have predicted how things turned out, but it made so much sense, in the end.
I wasn’t expecting the more serious, grim tone of the second half of the book, after the lighter, brighter first half. But it was natural and necessary, and the signs were all there even in the first half. It felt right and appropriate, and I was not disappointed, even though I felt more like crying than laughing during the much of the second half. It was serious and a little sad, but definitely not too much. And I enjoyed it very much.
I love it when the right book and author break my heart and put it back together, and this was one of the cases when I enjoyed the pain and trusted the author to do it well. I was in great suspense during the second half of the book, trying to figure out the mystery. I hoped so much that the author would give me the ending I wanted, and I thought she might. But I wasn’t sure, so I was very tense until the very end. Things kept getting worse and worse, and a good ending seemed more and more impossible--but I kept hoping. I saw three major possibilities for how things would end for the two main characters, and I knew that I wanted one of them and did NOT want the others.
I did get the ending I was hoping for. Because things had been so grim in the second half of the book, the ending was not as happy as I was hoping for, and it even lacked humor or anything lively or bright--but that would have been inappropriate after the serious events of the book, and the ending fit the book well. I liked it. I was just relieved that things happened in the general way I wanted them to, even if it wasn’t very happy. But it was at least a little bit happy--in a quiet, bittersweet way--and there was hope, above all. Perhaps not as much as I was hoping for. But there was the promise of a new day, a new life, freedom, and a future. And I was satisfied. It was wonderful to receive that promise for the characters, after so much sadness and heartbreak. And I really, truly enjoyed everything about the book, even the unexpected pain and sadness.
I find it hard to think of anything I didn’t like about this book! I think there was only one scene or element that I felt was weak--a scene near the end when the characters discuss and sum up the mystery and everything that was going on. I needed that scene and information to finish putting the pieces together and making sense of it all. It was all there, and it worked perfectly, but I didn’t pick up on some things even though I saw most of them by the end. However, the scene wasn’t as strong or excellent because it was mostly conveyed in paragraphs of dialogue. It didn’t feel quite natural, and I wondered if there was a better way to summarize the entire puzzle. But I couldn’t think of a better way, and it was minor in the context of the book. There was nothing else I didn’t like, and the book is excellent.
I have recently discovered the romantic suspense novels of Mary Stewart, and I became a huge fan of the author. I was very excited about Land of Hills and Valleys when the blurb compared this book to Mary Stewart’s novels of a similar genre. I definitely got strong Mary Stewart vibes from the beginning of Land of Hills and Valleys. It is definitely worth comparing to the masterful writing of Mary Stewart, and it has a lot of the same strengths and appeals. But as this book went along, I stopped thinking about Mary Stewart, cause Land of Hills and Valleys has an appeal and character of its own. I love that Elisabeth Grace Foley has her own unique style. She is the only recent author I know of who can authentically and accurately bring a vintage or historical setting to life.
This is definitely my favorite of Miss Foley’s published works so far. I loved several of her wonderful novellas, but so far, they were all tied for my favorite. Land of Hills and Valleys quietly but firmly took the top spot, leaving all the rest in second place. Her writing has always been excellent, but it has only grown better as she’s published more books. This one is her best yet, at least for me. I am looking forward to seeing Miss Foley’s future works!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Westerns, vintage time periods, historical fiction, Mary Stewart, or romantic suspense novels. It will appeal to anyone who loves even just one of those things. I can’t recommend it enough!
I rate this book a full five stars, and I know it will remain one of my favorite books of all time and one of my top few favorites for this year.
I recently read and loved Land of Hills and Valleys, a new romantic suspense novel by Elisabeth Grace Foley, one of my favorite authors.
I was in love with the book from the first chapter. It gave me a feeling of pure, exquisite delight. I enjoyed it even more as the book continued, and I became more and more invested in the story and characters--even though I was very invested from the first! By the end, I was so emotionally invested in the characters and story that I inhaled the entire second half of the book in only two days--exactly one-quarter of the book each day. I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to find out what happened--and paying close attention to every detail of the mystery. And I couldn’t put the book down and go to bed until I finished a pivotal sequence during the third quarter, and until I finished the end of the book the next night.
The writing was excellent, and so was everything else. The setting was rich, gorgeous, atmospheric, and alive--both the awe-inspiring landscape of Wyoming and the 1930s Western small town. The mystery and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, and the story became even more gripping as the book went on. I enjoyed the lively humor, playful interactions, and interesting situations in the first half of the book--and many of them made me smile or laugh.
I fell in love with Wyoming while reading this book, and I am now excited that I already have the possibility of visiting there someday. Perhaps I’ll even reread this book while I’m there! I fell in love with the mountains, valleys, skies, and ranches. It made me love Westerns even more. There is a beautiful appeal in the open lands of the West, and the hardy cowboys who tame the land, and the ranch life that is tied to the land and the animals. This book makes me want to experience it myself, and it makes me understand why people move there and fall in love with the land--just like the protagonist of Land of Hills and Valleys.
I loved the characters and relationships most of all, as is usual for me with any good book. I loved the lively friendship and partnership between the man guy and girl. I loved the loyalty of the quirky ranch hands, to both of the main duo. Lena was a wonderful protagonist--interesting, relatable, bright, brave, and strong. I felt for her in her struggle to make sense of the new and confusing world she plunged into. But my favorite character ended up being the main guy, Ray. I didn’t even realize I had a favorite character until the second half of the book--but when I found myself wanting to cry for him at several points, because I loved him so much, felt for him, and hated to see him suffer . . . I knew I had a favorite character. It snuck up on me. I love real, strong, imperfect, good men, in fiction and in real life. And Ray is just the kind I love.
The complex plot was masterfully spun, and it left me in awe of the author’s skill. Everything made sense, nothing was overlooked, every piece mattered, and it all worked together perfectly. There was not a plot hole in sight that I could see, even though there were so many details and threads of the mystery that all came together in the end. I wondered how she could have written it so perfectly--and then I recalled that she spent more than a decade writing the book before it finally fell into place. That’s a comforting thought--it can be done! But it takes skill.
It was fascinating to notice the foreshadowing and clues throughout the book, and to try to predict the mystery as it unfolded. I predicted everything and nothing. I was surprised by every twist, and even though the possibility sometimes crossed my mind a few pages before, I was never able to accurately predict anything that happened. I suspected nearly every character of being the guilty one, and I predicted so many other things that were possible but not correct--so there was plenty to throw me off the scent. The author kept me guessing all the way till the very end, and things only got more interesting as they went along.
But even though everything surprised me, the foreshadowing was so masterful that nothing came as a shock, and everything seemed right and appropriate. When I looked back, I could see that the clues had been there all along--I just couldn’t see them, or couldn’t see what they meant. I could never have predicted how things turned out, but it made so much sense, in the end.
I wasn’t expecting the more serious, grim tone of the second half of the book, after the lighter, brighter first half. But it was natural and necessary, and the signs were all there even in the first half. It felt right and appropriate, and I was not disappointed, even though I felt more like crying than laughing during the much of the second half. It was serious and a little sad, but definitely not too much. And I enjoyed it very much.
I love it when the right book and author break my heart and put it back together, and this was one of the cases when I enjoyed the pain and trusted the author to do it well. I was in great suspense during the second half of the book, trying to figure out the mystery. I hoped so much that the author would give me the ending I wanted, and I thought she might. But I wasn’t sure, so I was very tense until the very end. Things kept getting worse and worse, and a good ending seemed more and more impossible--but I kept hoping. I saw three major possibilities for how things would end for the two main characters, and I knew that I wanted one of them and did NOT want the others.
I did get the ending I was hoping for. Because things had been so grim in the second half of the book, the ending was not as happy as I was hoping for, and it even lacked humor or anything lively or bright--but that would have been inappropriate after the serious events of the book, and the ending fit the book well. I liked it. I was just relieved that things happened in the general way I wanted them to, even if it wasn’t very happy. But it was at least a little bit happy--in a quiet, bittersweet way--and there was hope, above all. Perhaps not as much as I was hoping for. But there was the promise of a new day, a new life, freedom, and a future. And I was satisfied. It was wonderful to receive that promise for the characters, after so much sadness and heartbreak. And I really, truly enjoyed everything about the book, even the unexpected pain and sadness.
I find it hard to think of anything I didn’t like about this book! I think there was only one scene or element that I felt was weak--a scene near the end when the characters discuss and sum up the mystery and everything that was going on. I needed that scene and information to finish putting the pieces together and making sense of it all. It was all there, and it worked perfectly, but I didn’t pick up on some things even though I saw most of them by the end. However, the scene wasn’t as strong or excellent because it was mostly conveyed in paragraphs of dialogue. It didn’t feel quite natural, and I wondered if there was a better way to summarize the entire puzzle. But I couldn’t think of a better way, and it was minor in the context of the book. There was nothing else I didn’t like, and the book is excellent.
I have recently discovered the romantic suspense novels of Mary Stewart, and I became a huge fan of the author. I was very excited about Land of Hills and Valleys when the blurb compared this book to Mary Stewart’s novels of a similar genre. I definitely got strong Mary Stewart vibes from the beginning of Land of Hills and Valleys. It is definitely worth comparing to the masterful writing of Mary Stewart, and it has a lot of the same strengths and appeals. But as this book went along, I stopped thinking about Mary Stewart, cause Land of Hills and Valleys has an appeal and character of its own. I love that Elisabeth Grace Foley has her own unique style. She is the only recent author I know of who can authentically and accurately bring a vintage or historical setting to life.
This is definitely my favorite of Miss Foley’s published works so far. I loved several of her wonderful novellas, but so far, they were all tied for my favorite. Land of Hills and Valleys quietly but firmly took the top spot, leaving all the rest in second place. Her writing has always been excellent, but it has only grown better as she’s published more books. This one is her best yet, at least for me. I am looking forward to seeing Miss Foley’s future works!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Westerns, vintage time periods, historical fiction, Mary Stewart, or romantic suspense novels. It will appeal to anyone who loves even just one of those things. I can’t recommend it enough!
I rate this book a full five stars, and I know it will remain one of my favorite books of all time and one of my top few favorites for this year.
February 24, 2024
This is my fourth Foley read and so far, all of them have been five stars. She's such a fantastic writer.
November 7, 2021
With descriptions as solid and stirring as the land itself, Elisabeth Grace Foley sweeps you into this story and immerses you firmly into the world alongside her heroine. Vivid, colorful characters bring this story to life, drawing you in and making you fall in love with them as she twists and turns your heart with each change in the plot.
I always enjoy reading Elisabeth Grace Foley's books and this one was no exception. Enough plot twists to keep you on the edge of your seat, but without cheapening the plot or the characters with needless miscommunications and suspicious actions that have no real bearing on the story. If you like a good historical fiction/western with a more-than-decent romance, pick this one up.
I always enjoy reading Elisabeth Grace Foley's books and this one was no exception. Enough plot twists to keep you on the edge of your seat, but without cheapening the plot or the characters with needless miscommunications and suspicious actions that have no real bearing on the story. If you like a good historical fiction/western with a more-than-decent romance, pick this one up.
March 13, 2023
This is my first time reading a book by Elisabeth, and I was so pleasantly surprised and impressed by it! I binge read 'Land of the Hills and Valleys' in one night - well, actually the wee hours of the morning when I couldn't sleep. Once I started it, I couldn't stop.
One of my favourite parts was the historical setting. Some stories are set in history but unless it's specifically stated, I wouldn't know. But, this book immediately struck me as 1930s (which it is). The characters' manner of speaking, little slang words, descriptions and minor things in the settings all made it so natural and vintage. I absolutely loved that. The whole story was reminiscent of an old western book, not just in setting but in style of writing.
The characters were all great! Lena Campbell was a wonderful MC. She was spunky, feminine, and headstrong, but also sensible! I can't say too much without spoilers, but I loved how reasonable her decisions were. A very strong character, relatable and likeable.
The plot was immersive. I made so many guesses as to who the villain was, but when the reveal actually came about it was not what I expected. The mystery was well written, always keeping me second guessing, and suspecting everyone. It moved quickly enough, especially towards the end that I was at the edge of my seat. But there was a satisfying build up, and I loved the quieter moments that took time painting the scene and helping us get to know the characters.
Overall, I really really liked this book. Everything from the descriptions, the characters, the writing style was enjoyable. I can't wait to read more from this author!
One of my favourite parts was the historical setting. Some stories are set in history but unless it's specifically stated, I wouldn't know. But, this book immediately struck me as 1930s (which it is). The characters' manner of speaking, little slang words, descriptions and minor things in the settings all made it so natural and vintage. I absolutely loved that. The whole story was reminiscent of an old western book, not just in setting but in style of writing.
The characters were all great! Lena Campbell was a wonderful MC. She was spunky, feminine, and headstrong, but also sensible! I can't say too much without spoilers, but I loved how reasonable her decisions were. A very strong character, relatable and likeable.
The plot was immersive. I made so many guesses as to who the villain was, but when the reveal actually came about it was not what I expected. The mystery was well written, always keeping me second guessing, and suspecting everyone. It moved quickly enough, especially towards the end that I was at the edge of my seat. But there was a satisfying build up, and I loved the quieter moments that took time painting the scene and helping us get to know the characters.
Overall, I really really liked this book. Everything from the descriptions, the characters, the writing style was enjoyable. I can't wait to read more from this author!
February 15, 2022
This book takes so many of my favorite things - the west (I literally feel like I just got back from Wyoming -no one, NO ONE, writes about a place like this author(!)) - ranches, mysteries, and just "vintage/retro" vibes and twines them together into the most delightful and pristine package. I seriously have not loved a novel so perfectly in years.
As hinted, this book has deep Mary Stewart vibes, but it's even more, it's an ELISABETH GRACE FOLEY; which means it a read, no, an experience, of the west, of getting to know beautiful, imperfect, but mainly wonderful people, and getting immersed in layers of mystery and relationship.
I could not recommend this book more to ANYONE.
As hinted, this book has deep Mary Stewart vibes, but it's even more, it's an ELISABETH GRACE FOLEY; which means it a read, no, an experience, of the west, of getting to know beautiful, imperfect, but mainly wonderful people, and getting immersed in layers of mystery and relationship.
I could not recommend this book more to ANYONE.
March 12, 2021
DNF for profanity at 30%
I'm sad because I was enjoying the characters and interested in the mystery, but there are some words that are an automatic DNF for me, even for a favorite author and a good story. :(
I'm sad because I was enjoying the characters and interested in the mystery, but there are some words that are an automatic DNF for me, even for a favorite author and a good story. :(
November 17, 2020
Where even to begin? At long last, Elisabeth Grace Foley has released her first full-length novel, and it is splendid. I love this story. I remember this being one of Elisabeth’s writing projects many years ago when I first discovered her original blog (we’re talking even before The Second Sentence here). And, all the hard work, plotting, and brainstorming she has done on this story shine through with an engaging cast of characters who you grow to love even as you wonder who to trust and a mystery that keeps you guessing.
Some of the characters’ roles may seem like tropes of the western mystery genre, but Elisabeth has managed to breathe a new take and dimension into the roles. Lena makes a plucky and relatable heroine as she navigates her new life in Wyoming and the trouble and uncertainty of a mystery no one can seem to solve. The mystery kept me guessing until the great reveal, and, like Lena, I was left uncertain who trust as each character slowly reveals they have not told the entire truth. And the Circle M boys are endearing, hysterical, and loyal fellows who will quickly win you over. I love a good supporting cast. The novel starts at a nice gentle pace but kicks into high gear at the halfway point as Lena is suddenly faced with doubts about those she thought she knew, and everything she holds dear is put at risk.
I don’t want to give too much away, but if you are looking for a cozy mystery to read this winter, you really cannot go wrong with LAND OF HILLS AND VALLEYS. It was one of the first mysteries in a while where I read it and was unable to guess whodunit before it was properly revealed. So, go get your hands on a copy. Also, I apparently love a mystery with courtroom/trial scenes, so if you have any recommendations, please drop them in the comments.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Some of the characters’ roles may seem like tropes of the western mystery genre, but Elisabeth has managed to breathe a new take and dimension into the roles. Lena makes a plucky and relatable heroine as she navigates her new life in Wyoming and the trouble and uncertainty of a mystery no one can seem to solve. The mystery kept me guessing until the great reveal, and, like Lena, I was left uncertain who trust as each character slowly reveals they have not told the entire truth. And the Circle M boys are endearing, hysterical, and loyal fellows who will quickly win you over. I love a good supporting cast. The novel starts at a nice gentle pace but kicks into high gear at the halfway point as Lena is suddenly faced with doubts about those she thought she knew, and everything she holds dear is put at risk.
I don’t want to give too much away, but if you are looking for a cozy mystery to read this winter, you really cannot go wrong with LAND OF HILLS AND VALLEYS. It was one of the first mysteries in a while where I read it and was unable to guess whodunit before it was properly revealed. So, go get your hands on a copy. Also, I apparently love a mystery with courtroom/trial scenes, so if you have any recommendations, please drop them in the comments.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2021
Karen, Lydia and I read this together, and all of us loved it. What's there not to love about a murder mystery set out west? And the romantic tension is top notch.
December 12, 2020
I know I literally just finished reading a Western and said in my review, 'I don't read many Westerns,' but HONESTLY I DON'T READ MANY WESTERNS. THIS IS A FLUKE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME. This one is a mystery/romantic suspense set in Wyoming,* with a bit of inspiration drawn from Mary Stewart's romantic suspense novels -- but actually I thought this was better than Stewart's. Yes, Stewart has some great prose, but her plots aren't always that great and the romance is usually ridiculous and suspicious-side-eye-inducing. Not so with LAND OF HILLS AND VALLEYS. I see Stewart's influence in the quiet nature of the suspense -- at least in the first section -- but the plot held together much more firmly and I actually really appreciated the romance.
I loved a lot of things about how the story is constructed, but particularly the way the first hints of the mystery are introduced as soon as Lena arrives in Severn County to see her grandfather's ranch and then the mystery is allowed to simmer fairly quietly until about the halfway mark. It's not boring at all; it's just a slow burn of unanswered questions as Lena comes to know the people and the land and starts trying to 'do some sleuthing' (Nancy Drew gets a mention!) about the cattle-rustling issue. Not to give too much away, but I thought I knew how things were going to go and happily followed some red herrings. When things fell apart, though, they just KEPT falling apart, and I really didn't know how or if they'd get put back together. Long story short, the mystery aspect is really artfully done here.
I saw someone else say they didn't care for the romance, but I thought it was very well done (again, way better than Stewart...). The (is that a spoiler?? It's kind of in the back cover copy?) I think is handled with a deft touch; it feels very honest, and much more realistic than you get from your average murder mystery. I appreciated it a lot. I also couldn't figure out how it could possibly be resolved!
Also, side note: I could see this being a smashing movie. I sensed some quiet influence from black-and-white movies/Westerns, in a good way, and one scene in particular reminded me of Hitchock's WAIT UNTIL DARK. So if someone could get on with making this into a movie, that'd be awesome.
This book, I like it. I'll have another!
*One of my only complaints is not being quite sure of the era? Is it 1950s? This is a complaint about my own ignorance, though. The other very very slight issue I had was that some of the minor characters had similar names (Tim, Tony) and that threw me slightly -- but at the same time I really liked the minor characters. I liked that, although they stay minor, they have personality; they're not reduced to 'people with whom the main characters banter.' I HATE banter. So thankful there was little to no banter involved here.
Postscript: Why does Lena seem so chill about being in the house alone?? In the dark?? With a murderer around?? I like you, girl, but someone needs to check your head cuz you've been reading either too many Nancy Drews or not enough.
I loved a lot of things about how the story is constructed, but particularly the way the first hints of the mystery are introduced as soon as Lena arrives in Severn County to see her grandfather's ranch and then the mystery is allowed to simmer fairly quietly until about the halfway mark. It's not boring at all; it's just a slow burn of unanswered questions as Lena comes to know the people and the land and starts trying to 'do some sleuthing' (Nancy Drew gets a mention!) about the cattle-rustling issue. Not to give too much away, but I thought I knew how things were going to go and happily followed some red herrings. When things fell apart, though, they just KEPT falling apart, and I really didn't know how or if they'd get put back together. Long story short, the mystery aspect is really artfully done here.
I saw someone else say they didn't care for the romance, but I thought it was very well done (again, way better than Stewart...). The (is that a spoiler?? It's kind of in the back cover copy?) I think is handled with a deft touch; it feels very honest, and much more realistic than you get from your average murder mystery. I appreciated it a lot. I also couldn't figure out how it could possibly be resolved!
Also, side note: I could see this being a smashing movie. I sensed some quiet influence from black-and-white movies/Westerns, in a good way, and one scene in particular reminded me of Hitchock's WAIT UNTIL DARK. So if someone could get on with making this into a movie, that'd be awesome.
This book, I like it. I'll have another!
*One of my only complaints is not being quite sure of the era? Is it 1950s? This is a complaint about my own ignorance, though. The other very very slight issue I had was that some of the minor characters had similar names (Tim, Tony) and that threw me slightly -- but at the same time I really liked the minor characters. I liked that, although they stay minor, they have personality; they're not reduced to 'people with whom the main characters banter.' I HATE banter. So thankful there was little to no banter involved here.
Postscript: Why does Lena seem so chill about being in the house alone?? In the dark?? With a murderer around?? I like you, girl, but someone needs to check your head cuz you've been reading either too many Nancy Drews or not enough.
November 20, 2020
I didn't enjoy Land of Hills and Valleys as much as I had hoped I would, because as it turned out, I didn't like the romance.
But ~Le Aesthetique~ of a Nancy Drew murder mystery in sun-drenched Wyoming in Days Gone By was quite soothing and delightful, and I would definitely be interested in more books in the same vein. :)
But ~Le Aesthetique~ of a Nancy Drew murder mystery in sun-drenched Wyoming in Days Gone By was quite soothing and delightful, and I would definitely be interested in more books in the same vein. :)
April 7, 2023
It’s been a while since I’ve read a mystery (though they have an unshakable place in my heart) and Land of Hills and Valleys did not disappoint. There were twists throughout — some I saw coming, some that completely blew me out of the water — and I binged the last ten chapters or so as the tension really ratcheted up. At its full unraveling, the mystery was delightfully complex but solid.
As good as the mystery was, I appreciated that the characters were not sacrificed to serve it — they all felt complex and real. The MC Lena is plucky but levelheaded, the ranch hands are a great (and sometimes humorous bunch), and Cathy is a solid favorite side character of mine. The Depression era Wyoming setting was another treat. Foley painted it really well and it was just fun. I’m also a sucker for small town drama and with all the secrets (some true secrets, some open secrets that everyone but the MC knows), this really delivered on that promise.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and will be reading more by Foley in the future!
As good as the mystery was, I appreciated that the characters were not sacrificed to serve it — they all felt complex and real. The MC Lena is plucky but levelheaded, the ranch hands are a great (and sometimes humorous bunch), and Cathy is a solid favorite side character of mine. The Depression era Wyoming setting was another treat. Foley painted it really well and it was just fun. I’m also a sucker for small town drama and with all the secrets (some true secrets, some open secrets that everyone but the MC knows), this really delivered on that promise.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and will be reading more by Foley in the future!
November 29, 2020
Clever but chill whodunnit
This is a quiet book, a subdued Mary-Stewart-meets-Agatha-Christie. I liked it. For a murder mystery, it's remarkably tranquil and soothing. It does have moments of intense conflict, but with the assurance that everything will end satisfactorily
Pick this up if you're in the mood for a clever whodunnit without too much intensity. If you like westerns and Mary Stewart-esque heroines, I can't recommend it enough.
This is a quiet book, a subdued Mary-Stewart-meets-Agatha-Christie. I liked it. For a murder mystery, it's remarkably tranquil and soothing. It does have moments of intense conflict, but with the assurance that everything will end satisfactorily
Pick this up if you're in the mood for a clever whodunnit without too much intensity. If you like westerns and Mary Stewart-esque heroines, I can't recommend it enough.
November 12, 2023
A Mystery Full of Twists
This was even better than I was expecting! A complex mystery set in 1930s Wyoming, with all the flavors of the Golden Age mysteries and westerns, complete with a great cast of characters, vivid writing, and an absorbing and suspenseful plot that was completely unpredictable.
It started out with a more relaxed pace, setting the scene and establishing the characters and the mystery, but the second half was breathless and utterly gripping as things heated up and took all those wild twists. I was always reluctant to put it down and only did so because I had to.
FYI, if you like to be aware of these things, the d-word and h-word were used very sparingly by a few characters.
I hope Ms. Foley writes more of these intense, lengthy mysteries!
This was even better than I was expecting! A complex mystery set in 1930s Wyoming, with all the flavors of the Golden Age mysteries and westerns, complete with a great cast of characters, vivid writing, and an absorbing and suspenseful plot that was completely unpredictable.
It started out with a more relaxed pace, setting the scene and establishing the characters and the mystery, but the second half was breathless and utterly gripping as things heated up and took all those wild twists. I was always reluctant to put it down and only did so because I had to.
FYI, if you like to be aware of these things, the d-word and h-word were used very sparingly by a few characters.
I hope Ms. Foley writes more of these intense, lengthy mysteries!
December 28, 2020
This wonderful novel is one of the best things I’ve read this year. The description of the landscape is lyrically beautiful, and the characterisation is excellent (the supporting cast of ranch-hands is particularly appealing).
If you love romantic suspense in the style of Mary Stewart, you will love this. If you love westerns in the style of Louis L’Amour, you will love it too (1930s Wyoming is a little late in history for a western, but the essential elements are present). If you love mysteries in the style of Agatha Christie or Ngaio Marsh, you will love it as well (all the clues regarding the underlying murder mystery are handed to the reader, but so subtly that I confess to having missed them all). And, of course, if you’ve enjoyed the author’s earlier work, this is cut from the same cloth – but the best of her oeuvre so far.
The novel is in two parts: HILLS and VALLEYS. In the first part, the main character, Lena, learns that she has inherited a ranch in Wyoming, due to the unsolved murder of her grandfather (the novel is told entirely from Lena’s point of view). This part of the novel is peacefully pastoral, with birds singing, the sun twinkling through the trees, and the main character finding joy in her ranch and everything that goes with it.
In the second part of the novel, the story turns a corner and the suspense builds. Nothing turns out to have been exactly what it seemed at first glance, and Lena finds that almost everybody has some kind of hidden depths of which she has been oblivious. There is a dramatic courtroom scene, but the tension still keeps rising and rising – so much so that I wound up staying awake until the early hours of the morning to finish the final chapters. Everything is resolved in a way that satisfies the reader, but naturally the “how” must remain secret until you read the book. And the book is certainly very much worth reading! I highly recommend it.
If you love romantic suspense in the style of Mary Stewart, you will love this. If you love westerns in the style of Louis L’Amour, you will love it too (1930s Wyoming is a little late in history for a western, but the essential elements are present). If you love mysteries in the style of Agatha Christie or Ngaio Marsh, you will love it as well (all the clues regarding the underlying murder mystery are handed to the reader, but so subtly that I confess to having missed them all). And, of course, if you’ve enjoyed the author’s earlier work, this is cut from the same cloth – but the best of her oeuvre so far.
The novel is in two parts: HILLS and VALLEYS. In the first part, the main character, Lena, learns that she has inherited a ranch in Wyoming, due to the unsolved murder of her grandfather (the novel is told entirely from Lena’s point of view). This part of the novel is peacefully pastoral, with birds singing, the sun twinkling through the trees, and the main character finding joy in her ranch and everything that goes with it.
In the second part of the novel, the story turns a corner and the suspense builds. Nothing turns out to have been exactly what it seemed at first glance, and Lena finds that almost everybody has some kind of hidden depths of which she has been oblivious. There is a dramatic courtroom scene, but the tension still keeps rising and rising – so much so that I wound up staying awake until the early hours of the morning to finish the final chapters. Everything is resolved in a way that satisfies the reader, but naturally the “how” must remain secret until you read the book. And the book is certainly very much worth reading! I highly recommend it.
March 21, 2025
I enjoyed this quite a bit, but I found it really hard to relate to Lena. Or to...enter into her emotions (idk), because it's not as if you can't connect with and love characters you don't relate to at all. Maybe it was her passiveness in certain areas where I just...wouldn't be passive, myself. I really don't know!
Other than that, like I said, a lovely blend of Western and murder mystery (I grew up on Louis L'Amour, and Silver Canyon was the first of his books I ever read, so this is a combination that feels very homey to me), with this author's usual breathtakingly restrained-yet-beautiful prose and sense of place.
Other than that, like I said, a lovely blend of Western and murder mystery (I grew up on Louis L'Amour, and Silver Canyon was the first of his books I ever read, so this is a combination that feels very homey to me), with this author's usual breathtakingly restrained-yet-beautiful prose and sense of place.
April 27, 2023
This was a fun vintage feeling mystery with a great setting, and memorable characters. I really enjoyed reading this story and being part of the read-along on Instagram.
Content notes: This is some gun play and talk about a muder that happened before the story opened. there are some other moments of mild violence.
While Foley has used ephamisams before in her works, this one did have some minor cussing, which I didn't like. I would be a little harsher about it, but this isn't marketed as Christain fiction.
Content notes: This is some gun play and talk about a muder that happened before the story opened. there are some other moments of mild violence.
While Foley has used ephamisams before in her works, this one did have some minor cussing, which I didn't like. I would be a little harsher about it, but this isn't marketed as Christain fiction.
November 2, 2021
I read this in five and a half days and I'm very proud of myself for making it last that long. The only downside was that it left my head stuck in Wyoming all week. Or maybe that's an upside? I read this sitting in traffic on the way through town, standing beside a bonfire on the beach, in little snatches while cooking dinner, and snuggled under my mountain of blankets at night. And when I wasn't reading I was playing out in my head how the next scenes were going to run (spoiler: they never went anything like how I planned).
I went into this book expecting a mystery and a wild ride. What I was not expecting were calm, delightfully rich scenes where I could relax and enjoy the moment in the first half of the book and then a full-blown court case sequence in the second half. I was delighted!
Note on content: There are a few uses of d**n and h**l (maybe 4-6 uses total), mentions of drinking, injuries, murder by gunshot in the dark (mostly off screen), and one kiss (not described). I could have done without the occasional profanity, but otherwise I found this to be a very clean book.
I went into this book expecting a mystery and a wild ride. What I was not expecting were calm, delightfully rich scenes where I could relax and enjoy the moment in the first half of the book and then a full-blown court case sequence in the second half. I was delighted!
Note on content: There are a few uses of d**n and h**l (maybe 4-6 uses total), mentions of drinking, injuries, murder by gunshot in the dark (mostly off screen), and one kiss (not described). I could have done without the occasional profanity, but otherwise I found this to be a very clean book.
January 17, 2022
Fantastic story.
This is a mystery set on a Depression-era rural Wyoming ranch. So this book is also historical fiction and a Western. I like mysteries and Westerns well enough, but am pretty picky about them and find many that I don't really like all that much. This was definitely NOT the case with Elisabeth Grace Foley as the author. The mystery was full of twists and turns, some clues, but not enough for me to figure out most of it until the end. The Western aspects of the story were a little more subdued, primarily present in the setting, although there were plenty of horses, cattle, cowboys, and guns. The Depression-era setting likewise was spot on. There definitely is some romance present, although it is not a major focus of the story.
The storyline kept moving at a wonderful pace. The author did a great job of focusing on the important scenes, summarizing the in-between, and still giving us plenty of detail and time with all of the characters and setting. There were a few witty quips and a nice literary quote to begin each chapter. There was a spot about halfway through where the plotline took a very sharp turn. I had sort of seen it coming, although not at all the way the author played it out, and it all kind of faltered for me there. I was worried it was going to become only a 4 star book because of that, but no fears, it was only a couple chapters, and then we were back on track again. And even more important, although that plot element didn't really feel "right" to me in the overall feel of the story, it had several very important consequences in the story line, and did need to be there.
Overall verdict: Read it, if you like mysteries, or Westerns, or historical fiction, or indie authors, read it. Oh yeah, did I mention that this book was written by an indie author? It was, and it is one of the rare sparkling gems of the indie publishing world that shines brighter than a lot of the professionally published books out there. I suppose a professional editor could have polished it a bit more, but that level of polishing is beyond my skills as a reader to recognize. This book was one of the best edited indie books that I have read.
This is a mystery set on a Depression-era rural Wyoming ranch. So this book is also historical fiction and a Western. I like mysteries and Westerns well enough, but am pretty picky about them and find many that I don't really like all that much. This was definitely NOT the case with Elisabeth Grace Foley as the author. The mystery was full of twists and turns, some clues, but not enough for me to figure out most of it until the end. The Western aspects of the story were a little more subdued, primarily present in the setting, although there were plenty of horses, cattle, cowboys, and guns. The Depression-era setting likewise was spot on. There definitely is some romance present, although it is not a major focus of the story.
The storyline kept moving at a wonderful pace. The author did a great job of focusing on the important scenes, summarizing the in-between, and still giving us plenty of detail and time with all of the characters and setting. There were a few witty quips and a nice literary quote to begin each chapter. There was a spot about halfway through where the plotline took a very sharp turn. I had sort of seen it coming, although not at all the way the author played it out, and it all kind of faltered for me there. I was worried it was going to become only a 4 star book because of that, but no fears, it was only a couple chapters, and then we were back on track again. And even more important, although that plot element didn't really feel "right" to me in the overall feel of the story, it had several very important consequences in the story line, and did need to be there.
Overall verdict: Read it, if you like mysteries, or Westerns, or historical fiction, or indie authors, read it. Oh yeah, did I mention that this book was written by an indie author? It was, and it is one of the rare sparkling gems of the indie publishing world that shines brighter than a lot of the professionally published books out there. I suppose a professional editor could have polished it a bit more, but that level of polishing is beyond my skills as a reader to recognize. This book was one of the best edited indie books that I have read.
February 5, 2022
Land of Hills and Valleys is a mystery novel with the feel of a Western, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing is spare and evocative with a timeless feel I loved. The story is satisfying and left me happy.
Initially, as I read the dialogue, I had to laugh, just because I was reminded how different the conventions in different styles of fiction can be. These characters don’t talk a great deal, and often they think their questions rather than speak them, because they can sense the other party wouldn’t answer anyway. It’s a strong contrast to the way speculative YA fiction tends to lean heavily on long exchanges of dialogue in order to develop character and show how spunky the protagonist is.
I had a few quibbles (), but it is hard not to have quibbles after reading most mystery novels.
A fun read and one I would recommend.
Initially, as I read the dialogue, I had to laugh, just because I was reminded how different the conventions in different styles of fiction can be. These characters don’t talk a great deal, and often they think their questions rather than speak them, because they can sense the other party wouldn’t answer anyway. It’s a strong contrast to the way speculative YA fiction tends to lean heavily on long exchanges of dialogue in order to develop character and show how spunky the protagonist is.
I had a few quibbles (), but it is hard not to have quibbles after reading most mystery novels.
A fun read and one I would recommend.
November 16, 2020
Review to come !
January 14, 2021
A delightful read!
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