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Maggie Blackthorne #3
Desolation Ridge
When a small town in the Pacific Northwest is rocked by a shocking murder, Maggie Blackthorne hunts a killer still lurking in the surrounding forest.
After a state trooper is killed under mysterious circumstances, Oregon State Police sergeant Maggie Blackthorne is assigned to the case. The investigation takes her to Desolation Ridge in the Umatilla National Forest, where the suspect is reported to be hiding out with a possible hostage.
It’s late fall. Daylight is scarce, and there is a fierce chill in the air. To make matters worse, a deadly cougar has been spotted nearby.
But as Maggie and her partner Hollis trudge on, uncovering clues and dealing with their own tense past, one thing is clear:
Somewhere amongst these towering pines, a murderer is watching them.
After a state trooper is killed under mysterious circumstances, Oregon State Police sergeant Maggie Blackthorne is assigned to the case. The investigation takes her to Desolation Ridge in the Umatilla National Forest, where the suspect is reported to be hiding out with a possible hostage.
It’s late fall. Daylight is scarce, and there is a fierce chill in the air. To make matters worse, a deadly cougar has been spotted nearby.
But as Maggie and her partner Hollis trudge on, uncovering clues and dealing with their own tense past, one thing is clear:
Somewhere amongst these towering pines, a murderer is watching them.
- GenresMystery
339 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2022
268 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
LaVonne Griffin-Valade
7 books33 followersLaVonne Griffin-Valade was born and raised in the high desert country along the John Day River of eastern Oregon. It’s a vast and luminous landscape made up of wind-sculpted fossil beds, pine and juniper forests, grasslands, indigo mountains, and river-fed valleys—a place that stoked her imagination and inspired her to become a lifetime writer of short stories, essays, poetry, and novels.
LaVonne has carried her love of language, story, and imagery wherever life has taken her, whether it was the eastern Oregon high desert, the islands of Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa, Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, New York, Washington D.C., or western Oregon’s green, lush Willamette Valley. She has participated in dozens of classes and workshops offered by fiction writers, poets, memoirists, and essayists including John Beer, David Biespiel, Emily Chenoweth, Paul Collins, Martha Gies, Karen Karbo, Nam Le, Michael McGregor, Tom Spanbauer, Kim Stafford, Lidia Yuknavitch, and Leni Zumas.
Along the way LaVonne earned a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities (English/writing focus) from Western Oregon State University and was an elementary school teacher for a time. Switching gears, she worked with homeless and runaway youth for several years connecting them with shelter and providing life skills training. She went on to earn a Masters of Public Administration from Portland State University while working for the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in Portland, Oregon where she trained educators in educational equity and penned various professional articles.
In her penultimate career change, LaVonne became a government performance auditor in the Multnomah County Auditor’s Office in Portland, first as a staff auditor for eight years and then as the elected Multnomah County Auditor. She then ended her long auditing career as the elected Auditor of the City of Portland. After leaving office, she pursued an MFA in fiction writing from Portland State University and graduated in 2017.
LaVonne’s debut novel, DEAD POINT, featuring Oregon State Police Sgt. Maggie Blackthorne, was released by Severn River Publishing on June 15, 2021. The release date for Book #2 of the Maggie Blackthorne saga, MURDERERS CREEK, is November 23, 2021.
LaVonne’s personal essays have appeared in Oregon Humanities Magazine, and her short story “Eureka” was published in the 2019 Clackamas Literary Review. Based on an excerpt of DEAD POINT, she was a finalist for the 2018 Fellowship for Emerging Writers at Fishtrap’s Writing and the West.
LaVonne lives in Portland, Oregon and works as a fulltime writer.
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LaVonne has carried her love of language, story, and imagery wherever life has taken her, whether it was the eastern Oregon high desert, the islands of Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa, Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, New York, Washington D.C., or western Oregon’s green, lush Willamette Valley. She has participated in dozens of classes and workshops offered by fiction writers, poets, memoirists, and essayists including John Beer, David Biespiel, Emily Chenoweth, Paul Collins, Martha Gies, Karen Karbo, Nam Le, Michael McGregor, Tom Spanbauer, Kim Stafford, Lidia Yuknavitch, and Leni Zumas.
Along the way LaVonne earned a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities (English/writing focus) from Western Oregon State University and was an elementary school teacher for a time. Switching gears, she worked with homeless and runaway youth for several years connecting them with shelter and providing life skills training. She went on to earn a Masters of Public Administration from Portland State University while working for the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in Portland, Oregon where she trained educators in educational equity and penned various professional articles.
In her penultimate career change, LaVonne became a government performance auditor in the Multnomah County Auditor’s Office in Portland, first as a staff auditor for eight years and then as the elected Multnomah County Auditor. She then ended her long auditing career as the elected Auditor of the City of Portland. After leaving office, she pursued an MFA in fiction writing from Portland State University and graduated in 2017.
LaVonne’s debut novel, DEAD POINT, featuring Oregon State Police Sgt. Maggie Blackthorne, was released by Severn River Publishing on June 15, 2021. The release date for Book #2 of the Maggie Blackthorne saga, MURDERERS CREEK, is November 23, 2021.
LaVonne’s personal essays have appeared in Oregon Humanities Magazine, and her short story “Eureka” was published in the 2019 Clackamas Literary Review. Based on an excerpt of DEAD POINT, she was a finalist for the 2018 Fellowship for Emerging Writers at Fishtrap’s Writing and the West.
LaVonne lives in Portland, Oregon and works as a fulltime writer.
Click FOLLOW for instant notification of new releases.
Join her mailing list for bonus content and book updates: https://bit.ly/Griffin-Valade
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 5, 2022
Maggie Blackthorne is back in Desolation Ridge by LaVonne Griffin-Valade. This is the third book in this series set in Oregon. It all starts with a simple domestic violence that evolves into a murder and then it is a wild chase with many complications and some developments that wasn't really expected. I have been mildly interested in this series but it gets better for every new book I read and it's a bit different from many others set in a rural small town environment. The dialogue and setting is wonderful and the the way Oregon state police is spread thin is interesting. I do recommend that you try this series and thank @severnriverpublishing @SvrnRvrPublish @NetGalley @netgalley for giving me this advance copy and #LaVonneGriffinValade for writing it.
May 22, 2022
Outstanding book in a great series! The series just keeps getting better!
Maggie Blackthorne is growing and more comfortable with herself. Fast paced Maggie and Hollis are after an abuser who then shot a deputy. They chase into the beautiful high country of Eastern Oregon. Love the characters, the scenes and the music references(lots of time to listen to good music traveling around the huge rural county). The music is artists I had not heard of but were all very good. I finally took the time to break from the book to listen to the music references in this book - highly recommended! Enjoy the book.
Maggie Blackthorne is growing and more comfortable with herself. Fast paced Maggie and Hollis are after an abuser who then shot a deputy. They chase into the beautiful high country of Eastern Oregon. Love the characters, the scenes and the music references(lots of time to listen to good music traveling around the huge rural county). The music is artists I had not heard of but were all very good. I finally took the time to break from the book to listen to the music references in this book - highly recommended! Enjoy the book.
May 16, 2022
Maggie and Holly have their hands full with the murder of their colleague, the murder of an abusive boyfriend, anti-government extremists, child pornography, the FBI, and Maggie's pregnancy.
Fascinating characters in a superbly written, action-packed novel you will find hard to put down.
Highly Recommended.
Fascinating characters in a superbly written, action-packed novel you will find hard to put down.
Highly Recommended.
April 1, 2022
This third book in the Maggie Blackthorne series is filled with action, and some twists that I didn’t see coming. Having read the previous books, I can’t remember them taking me on a real emotional rollercoaster ride like Desolation Ridge. Along with Maggie, Hollis and the rest of the crew, a new group of characters are introduced who are like icebergs, only a minor amount is visible. While reading the first two books provides a great backstory for this latest book, it could also be read as a stand-alone story. Of course, should you opt to read it as a stand-alone, I’ll bet you will be reading the first two in short order. I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and chose to provide my review.
October 3, 2022
At the start of the story it moved fast for me. I loved the intensity and the mystery surrounding what was happening with the deputy. The call to arms from Maggie’s team pushed the book along. The entertainment from the book was great, but somewhere along the line after the third chapter the book stalled. Once Maggie and Hollis where in the car discussing strategy, the story seemed to be all over the place. There were a number of characters dropped in at this point and the sharing their background, I was confused.
February 22, 2026
This was a gripping continuation of the Maggie Blackthorne series, one of the strongest books so far. The rugged Pacific Northwest setting adds tension from the very beginning, and the isolaton of the forest almost becomes a character itself and I love personification, although it might not quite reach that point.
What I still love about this series is Maggie. She feels so believable, competent, and she just seems to know how to go about detecting. The suspense builds steadily, which made it feel more realistic and unsettling. By the end of the book, the story comes together in a way that was very satisfying and didn't leave me with a ton of unanswered questions.
I thought the story was strong, the mystery believable, and the character development very well-done. This was easily my favorite of the series so far.
What I still love about this series is Maggie. She feels so believable, competent, and she just seems to know how to go about detecting. The suspense builds steadily, which made it feel more realistic and unsettling. By the end of the book, the story comes together in a way that was very satisfying and didn't leave me with a ton of unanswered questions.
I thought the story was strong, the mystery believable, and the character development very well-done. This was easily my favorite of the series so far.
June 3, 2024
Too politically loaded!
I've enjoyed the storyline and want to keep on reading but simply can't understand why this author feels the need to overload her readers with her personal political biases.
I am an avid reader of thriller / crime novels. There are some outstanding authors who I follow and I couldn't tell you from reading their books what their political leanings are. I love these authors, their characters - good and bad - and their engaging stories. I'm not distracted by contentious content and persistent virtue signalling.
Unfortunately I won't be reading any more about Maggie. I'll hold out for more J.D. Robb, Angela Marsens, C.R. Chandler, Steven Henry and similar apolitical authors.
I've enjoyed the storyline and want to keep on reading but simply can't understand why this author feels the need to overload her readers with her personal political biases.
I am an avid reader of thriller / crime novels. There are some outstanding authors who I follow and I couldn't tell you from reading their books what their political leanings are. I love these authors, their characters - good and bad - and their engaging stories. I'm not distracted by contentious content and persistent virtue signalling.
Unfortunately I won't be reading any more about Maggie. I'll hold out for more J.D. Robb, Angela Marsens, C.R. Chandler, Steven Henry and similar apolitical authors.
May 31, 2022
339 pages
4 stars
Sergeant Maggie Blackthorne runs a very small police force in the Pacific Northwest of Washington State. When one of her officers reports to a domestic situation, he is shot and later dies.
Maggie and her partner Trooper Hollis “Holly” swing into action. A neighbor reports that the woman was badly beaten and an inspection of the house shows a large quantity of blood. But the man and woman involved in the domestic are gone, as is the man’s orange International Scout.
A witness suggests that the escaped man liked to go “mudding.” Basically, running his Scout around in deep mud. The police then head to the hills. At an old abandoned Forestry and Wildlife station, they find the man inside - shot dead.
They find the battered woman, a girl of eighteen, clutching a gun while sleeping in the back of the Scout.
Finding the girl and with the help of the perpetrator leads the police to make extensive connections. The trail leads to Idaho and California. Survivalists, anti-government types, the FBI and sexual abuse all play a part in this book.
The book moved along at a nice speed. The characters were well drawn and likable - well, most of them. I liked Maggie and her love interest. Holly was a great character. The book was well written and plotted. It held my interest. I will look for more by this author.
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn River Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
4 stars
Sergeant Maggie Blackthorne runs a very small police force in the Pacific Northwest of Washington State. When one of her officers reports to a domestic situation, he is shot and later dies.
Maggie and her partner Trooper Hollis “Holly” swing into action. A neighbor reports that the woman was badly beaten and an inspection of the house shows a large quantity of blood. But the man and woman involved in the domestic are gone, as is the man’s orange International Scout.
A witness suggests that the escaped man liked to go “mudding.” Basically, running his Scout around in deep mud. The police then head to the hills. At an old abandoned Forestry and Wildlife station, they find the man inside - shot dead.
They find the battered woman, a girl of eighteen, clutching a gun while sleeping in the back of the Scout.
Finding the girl and with the help of the perpetrator leads the police to make extensive connections. The trail leads to Idaho and California. Survivalists, anti-government types, the FBI and sexual abuse all play a part in this book.
The book moved along at a nice speed. The characters were well drawn and likable - well, most of them. I liked Maggie and her love interest. Holly was a great character. The book was well written and plotted. It held my interest. I will look for more by this author.
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn River Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
June 22, 2022
A meticulous police procedural as they hunt for a killer. Oregon State Police Sgt. Maggie Blackthorne is called to the scene of a domestic violence call. One of her troopers had been sent on the call, but he was shot and is fighting for his life. The killer is gone along with the woman he attacked…and the chase is on. Maggie is engaged to Duncan McKay and four months pregnant. This does not slow her down as they need to find the woman before she ends up dead; if she is not already dead. In the meantime, Maggie calls in forensics, a homicide detective and her remaining department members to locate the couple in this wild mountainous area. There is added fear as a cougar has been seen in the area and is all the more dangerous as it has been stalking the members of a tree thinning project. After locating the killer, this doesn’t solve the problem of the missing woman. Is she already dead or lost somewhere in the wilderness? A fascinating mystery with a shocking revelation in the ending. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)
June 22, 2022
This was a good story bogged down by too much landscape detail and overly offensive language. All of the secondary characters were much more likable than Maggie, our heroine. Her partner Hollis, her fiancé Duncan, her friends and colleagues, Ray and Al, all were well-written and likable characters. Even Mark, her fellow officer, who was shot and died on the way to the hospital, was a decent guy that Maggie didn’t treat well when he was alive. Admittedly, her pregnancy had begun to foster some sympathy, and make her a little more likable to me, until she had to go and ruin it by talking to Duncan about letting their child choose his or her own sex. I don’t understand why the author felt the need to insert her political opinion in an otherwise good story, but that and Maggie’s trashy mouth, which by that point had become extremely annoying and distracting, left me not wanting to finish the book. I would have stopped right then if not for my commitment to SRP Mystery and Thriller Books to review the book. I have given my voluntary and honest opinion.
June 21, 2022
3rd book featuring Sergeant Maggie Blackthorne.
Time is getting closer to the Maggie’s upcoming wedding, chilly mornings, all is quiet and well. A cougar is spotted at a worksite, and making people nervous, Maggie sends a state trooper out to investigate. Before the trooper gets there a domestic violence report is made and as the trooper is closest, they get detoured and the others are on their way. Domestic dispute ends up killing the trooper before back up arrives, and the man and woman take off to the hills. Next day the man gets found killed – once Maggie and Hollis start digging deeper into the murdered man’s live they find more than they bargained for.
Secrets, power, … this story has it all, and a surprised ending, did not see that one coming!
A great book in the series, you can definitely read it on its own, but better if you grab the previous ones first.
Thank you to Severn River Publishing for an Advance Review Copy in exchange for my opinion
Time is getting closer to the Maggie’s upcoming wedding, chilly mornings, all is quiet and well. A cougar is spotted at a worksite, and making people nervous, Maggie sends a state trooper out to investigate. Before the trooper gets there a domestic violence report is made and as the trooper is closest, they get detoured and the others are on their way. Domestic dispute ends up killing the trooper before back up arrives, and the man and woman take off to the hills. Next day the man gets found killed – once Maggie and Hollis start digging deeper into the murdered man’s live they find more than they bargained for.
Secrets, power, … this story has it all, and a surprised ending, did not see that one coming!
A great book in the series, you can definitely read it on its own, but better if you grab the previous ones first.
Thank you to Severn River Publishing for an Advance Review Copy in exchange for my opinion
July 24, 2023
I like the Maggie Blackthorne character and have read them in order. However, I'm disappointed in this particular book because apparently the author wants her readers to know her personal politics and has written them into the story. For example, Maggie doesn't want to know the gender of her unborn child or to "make a thing out of it being either. Because someday the kid might decide they're not." Ugh. Then there are complaints made about "gun rights" and "right-wing causes."
I read this type of fiction to be entertained. I don't care what the author's politics are, and I don't care to hear about them. We are inundated with politics all day, every day. If I want to read a political book, I'll purchase one.
I already own the fourth book in this series and may read it at some point. But I won't be buying any more.
I read this type of fiction to be entertained. I don't care what the author's politics are, and I don't care to hear about them. We are inundated with politics all day, every day. If I want to read a political book, I'll purchase one.
I already own the fourth book in this series and may read it at some point. But I won't be buying any more.
June 22, 2022
I did not read the previous books in the series and enjoyed reading Desolation Ridge. Maggie is a woman that wonders about her human condition and the fact that she does not follow the traditional path. She deeply cares for her team, and for the law she has to maintain in her county, although faced with a resource shortage. The investigation of a murder case ends leading up to a much broader one, full of dark issues, such as child abuse and right-side militants. The description of nature, people, and other sites is beautifully done.
However, I'd like the story to be a little more fast-paced than it is. An enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
However, I'd like the story to be a little more fast-paced than it is. An enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
March 22, 2023
I think that this series keeps getting better (and it's good that the Pacific Northwest has a reputation for extremist groups as it provides fodder for many storylines). Maggie Blackthorne is pregnant and a little touchy about the sudden concern her male colleagues exhibit for her well-being (and the best line in the book is when she stated that she had the right to choose and she choose to have the baby!). There are plenty of twists in this story--though Maggie's off-hand acknowledgment that things were starting to seem like a bad movie is a good reminder that sometimes coincidences do happen in fiction and real life.
Thanks to Severn River Publishing for access to an ARC on NetGalley.
Thanks to Severn River Publishing for access to an ARC on NetGalley.
March 15, 2023
Are the people who read this stuff okay? Why are you putting yourselves through this?
I could ramble about the boring plot, characters so bland and indistinguishable they feel like props, but the worst thing here is the WRITING. This isn't even writing at a third grade level. It's writing at a robotic level. This entire book feels like reading a business email. Just the most stiff, uninspired words ever put to paper. No narrative flourish, no descriptive paragraphs. I've read academic articles about economics with more life to them.
PLEASE read other books. There's so much good fiction out there.
I could ramble about the boring plot, characters so bland and indistinguishable they feel like props, but the worst thing here is the WRITING. This isn't even writing at a third grade level. It's writing at a robotic level. This entire book feels like reading a business email. Just the most stiff, uninspired words ever put to paper. No narrative flourish, no descriptive paragraphs. I've read academic articles about economics with more life to them.
PLEASE read other books. There's so much good fiction out there.
February 3, 2023
Desolation Ridge (Maggie Blackthorne Book 3), my third enjoyable mystery read from author LaVonne Griffin-Valade. Well-written with a captivating storyline & intriguing characters that you learn more about & get more invested into with every book written. “I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I'll definitely be reading more from this author and look forward to the next book in the series, Poison Spring (Maggie Blackthorne Book 4). (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
May 31, 2022
Desolation Ridge by LaVonne Griffin-Valade is the first book I've read by this author. Even though I haven't read the prior books in the series, I did not feel I missed out on anything.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters. The storyline was intriguing and held my interest. There was a good mystery, and I liked the location and scenery. I will read more from this author.
#DesolationRidge #NetGalley @SvrnRvrPublish
I enjoyed getting to know the characters. The storyline was intriguing and held my interest. There was a good mystery, and I liked the location and scenery. I will read more from this author.
#DesolationRidge #NetGalley @SvrnRvrPublish
June 20, 2022
When a member of their team is killed, State Troopers Maggie and Hollis won’t stop until they unravel a big knot of crime. This multi-layered mystery had me reading long into the night. Expertly crafted with well developed characters, a twisty complex plot and a beautiful setting. I am enjoying this series and am looking forward to more from these characters. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.
June 20, 2022
This third book in the Maggie Blackthorne series begins with Maggie and her team investigating the death of one of their own. Their investigation quickly turns to finding the person responsible for killing the accused cop killer. This is a very good police procedural. The investigation is interesting and presents a number of potential suspects and varied avenues of investigation. The series gets better with each new installment.
June 21, 2022
Domestic abuse and murder
A trooper gets killed while confronting a man beating up his girlfriend. Maggie and her team are devastated In their quest to find the killer who has run away with his girlfriend, they find his dead body. Will Maggie be able to save the girl and what dark secrets will she discover. The fast paced action and the strategy to find the murderer had me hooked. I liked the fluidity of the story line and it's originality and unpredictability.
A trooper gets killed while confronting a man beating up his girlfriend. Maggie and her team are devastated In their quest to find the killer who has run away with his girlfriend, they find his dead body. Will Maggie be able to save the girl and what dark secrets will she discover. The fast paced action and the strategy to find the murderer had me hooked. I liked the fluidity of the story line and it's originality and unpredictability.
June 21, 2022
I enjoyed this latest Maggie Blackthorne mystery. Maggie is planning her wedding when one of her officers is killed. She heads back to the forest to hunt down the killer. This story kept me interested as Maggie and her partner, Hollis, narrow down the clues and their list of suspects. The characters are relatable with flaws anyone might have with an engaging plotline with plenty of action. I would highly recommend it. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
May 27, 2022
Maggie Blackthorne, four-months pregnant, getting married in a couple of weeks, is on the hunt for a murderer. Too many characters introduced in the first several chapters made for confusion and re-reading. However, the pace did pick up and I became totally engrossed with Maggie’s search for a killer. I received an ARC from NetGalley, and the opinions expressed are my own.
June 21, 2022
Fantastic series! The descriptive writing of the John Day area in Oregon will literally take your breath away. Maggie is a strong and well developed character that you love reading about her on the job and at home. Great suspenseful storyline that will pull you in from the first murder to the startling finish. My highest recommendation.
June 9, 2022
I am enjoying this series. This is book three. Oregon State Police sergeant Maggie Blackthorne is juggling being pregnant, an up coming wedding, and finding the person who killed her prime suspect in a cop killing. Good mystery
June 19, 2022
State police Maggie Blackthorne is pregnant and is searching for a murder. A police officer is shot and killed and the murderer is on the run. Suspenseful and entertaining. A good novel that keeps your interest.
June 22, 2022
This book, the third in the series, was a twisty, emotional one. There are quite a few leads for Maggie and Hollis to follow, leaving you unsure of what the bigger picture was. I liked that, I enjoyed not figuring it all out as I was reading.
Another great addition to the series.
Another great addition to the series.
July 10, 2024
5 Stars
5 stars for Desolation Ridge (Maggie Black throne Book 3). Loving Maggie more as I read each new book. The mysteries are intriguing and love the characters and their interactions. Most profound is the descriptions of the local landscape.
5 stars for Desolation Ridge (Maggie Black throne Book 3). Loving Maggie more as I read each new book. The mysteries are intriguing and love the characters and their interactions. Most profound is the descriptions of the local landscape.
June 22, 2022
Police Sargent Maggie is assigned to solve a mysterious murder. She’s an awesome strong character that will get the job done if possible. Binge reading worthy. Don’t miss out once it’s released.
July 6, 2022
great book and series, looking forward to the next...
August 15, 2022
Excellent
I really like the storyline and characters. It was an exciting read. Kept me engaged all through the book. Thanks for a great 👍 book
I really like the storyline and characters. It was an exciting read. Kept me engaged all through the book. Thanks for a great 👍 book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews