"Darkness in the Redwoods" will go On Sale June 3,2026

SYNOPSIS OF DARKNESS IN THE REDWOODS

During a dark, rainy, winter on Northern California's rural redwood coast, a judge's  visiting 20-year-old granddaughter goes missing. Inspector Kevin Valken and his Native American partner, Detective Naomi Marren, work the case and cross paths with scoundrels, a vengeful armed felon, and a mysterious villain who takes one shoe from each victim.  Valken's a troubled soul, grappling with bad dreams and unresolved grief since a drunk driver killed his wife and daughter. Marren's sensible, balanced and a sharpshooter, but she's disturbed by a sleazy rogue sergeant and her sadness about missing and murdered indigenous people.  

THE SETTING FOR DARKNESS IN THE REDWOODS

This murder mystery takes place in the town of North Valley. The town, all the characters, incidents and events are fictitious. Residents and lovers of beautiful Humboldt County may place North Valley between Arcata and Trinidad,  but its topography and locations, such as the Westcliff Overlook or the Valley Cafe, are made up. The names of many Humboldt County places are genuine, to add authenticity. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental and exists in the reader's or my imagination.