Thunderbird Ranch by Laura Griffin
Publication Date: November 10th 2026 by Berkley
Pages: 384
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★★
My
Thoughts:
Lillian and Will are traveling to his family’s Texas
ranch to celebrate his mother Faye’s birthday. Will believes Faye is still
grieving the loss of his father, but from the moment they arrive, she doesn’t
seem much like a sad widow to Lillian.
Faye has big news about the future of the ranch and
shocks everyone by announcing her engagement to neighboring rancher Cal Truitt,
a man the entire family despises. Her children are shocked and completely
opposed to the match. But before they can come to terms with the announcement,
Cal is found murdered. He was a vile man, so there’s no shortage of suspects.
Detective Kate Graham is assigned to the case, and it
quickly becomes clear that something isn’t right. With the sheriff pressuring
her to produce quick results, Kate begins to wonder if she’s being set up to
take the fall when things inevitably go wrong.
The story is told from three perspectives: Lillian, Faye,
and Kate. Kate works to piece together the truth while managing the unrealistic
demands of her boss. Both Lillian and Faye’s POV sort of muddied the waters
because neither were entirely forthcoming and I wondered at their motivations. I
was surprised at how it all came together, but I loved it!
Filled with family secrets, shady characters, and an
unexpected twist, Thunderbird Ranch was a page-turning mystery that kept
me guessing until the very end!
4 Stars
Book Description:
When a prominent Texas family’s celebration ends in murder, local law enforcement discovers they are keeping dark secrets in this tense new suspense novel from USA Today bestselling author Laura Griffin.
Cal Truitt is dead, no one knows who killed him, and everyone is a suspect.
Perhaps it’s his bride-to-be, ranching heiress Faye McCann, who’s facing a midlife crisis after falling into deep debt and being forced to convert her property into a posh retreat. Or maybe it’s one of her three children—who all despised Cal and were summoned to the ranch by Faye to learn some long-buried family secrets.
Lilian Lasko is new blood, but she has some secrets of her own. She sees her boyfriend's family, with their bitter rivalries and resentments, through the eyes of a wary outsider. Lilian is eager to please, but by the night’s end, she’s running through a creek bed, covered in blood.
Only one person knows the the killer.
Detective Kate Graham is determined to unravel the family’s toxic manipulations and lies to reveal Cal Truitt’s murderer. But with a family that hates and loves one another with equal fervor, Kate’s pursuit of justice becomes more complicated and dangerous with each passing hour.
