We chat with author Laura Griffin about Thunderbird Ranch, which sees a prominent Texas family’s celebration ends in murder and local law enforcement discovers they are keeping dark secrets in this tense new suspense novel.
Hi, Laura! Welcome back! What have you been up to since we last spoke in 2022 for the release of Midnight Dunes?
I’ve been busy writing! Since we last talked, I’ve written six more thrillers, including four stand-alone books and two in the Texas Murder Files series. It’s been a lot of fun.
Your latest novel, Thunderbird Ranch, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Family reunion ends in murder.
What can readers expect?
It’s part thriller, part family drama, part locked-room mystery. I pitched the story to my editor as Knives Out set on a Texas ranch.
Where did the inspiration for Thunderbird Ranch come from?
It all started with Faye McCann, a fifth-generation rancher who is trying to keep her business alive. I had her personality in my head when I sat down to write and I could picture her so vividly. Faye has big opinions – people call her a boss mare –and she’s at the center of this messy, volatile family. She brings everyone together for a family reunion that goes sideways when someone turns up murdered.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing Ridley, who is impulsive and unpredictable and never does what people want her to do. Also, I enjoyed writing Kate Graham, the detective who shows up to the ranch to investigate and quickly figures out that everyone is lying to her. She has to untangle all the stories and motives and figure out what really happened.
Can you share some insight into your plotting process for Thunderbird Ranch?
I started with the characters and built the story around them. It was fun to open the story through the eyes of Lilian, who comes to the ranch to meet her boyfriend’s family for the first time. You feel her nerves as she meets everyone, and you see this family from an outsider’s perspective. And just when she is easing in, everything goes to hell.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
One challenge was using a dual timeline, going back and forth between what happens right before the murder and what happens after. I chose to use a non-linear narrative because I wanted to keep some secrets until the very end of the story.
What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned when it comes to writing and publishing since the release of your debut?
Writing is a marathon, not a sprint! You have to hang in there and keep digging deep for the next story that you want to tell and figure out how to tell it in the most compelling way. Even after 30 books, it doesn’t get easier, but that’s what I love about it!
What’s next for you?
I’m writing a wilderness thriller set in Colorado. It’s been such an adventure!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up soon? Any you’ve got your eye on that are releasing in 2027?
I’m loving Karin Slaughter’s new North Falls series, and I look forward to reading book #3.
