the time it was about thunderbird ranch

Posted November 9, 2026 by Stacee in Interviews | 0 Comments

I’ve been reading Laura Griffin books for a while now and when I got the chance to interview her for her upcoming release Thunderbird Road, I couldn’t say yes fast enough.

before we get to Laura’s answers, let’s check out the book.

Title: Thunderbird Ranch
Author: Laura Griffin
Pages: 384
Publisher: Berkley
Pub Date: November 10, 2026
Find it: PRH | Bookshop | Goodreads

Synopsis: 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.

sounds good, right?

1. Please give the elevator pitch for Thunderbird Ranch.

A family reunion at a Texas ranch goes sideways when one of the guests turns up murdered. The detective investigating figures out that everyone has a motive and a secret to hide. Think Knives Out set on a Texas ranch!

2. Which came first: the plot line or the characters?

The spark for Thunderbird Ranch is Faye. She is confident and has big opinions—people call her a boss mare. But beneath the surface her life is falling apart. The story is about what happens to Faye and her family when everyone is pushed to extremes.

3. Why do you love Kate and why should readers root for her?

I love that Kate is a straight shooter. She sees through lies and manipulations and makes it her mission to get at the truth. Kate is stubborn and tenacious, and—unlike Faye—she thinks Southern charm is overrated.

4. Were there any weird things you googled while researching?

Axe throwing. How far? How hard? How could you do someone serious damage?

5. Without spoilers, which scene was your favorite to write?

I always love writing the action climax when everything comes together. I love the “ah hah!” moments when you get a chance to make all the pieces fall into place. Even as the author, sometimes that doesn’t happen until the moment the words hit the page.

Speed(ish) round:

1. You find out you’re being published for the first time. Describe the next 5 minutes.

In my case there were whoops of joy! That whole first day, I kept thinking it wasn’t real, that I’d imagined the call. I don’t think I truly believed it until I held the finished book in my hands for the first time.

2. Which 3 things would you take to a desert island?

A firestarter, a tarp (have I watched too much Survivor?) and a big fat copy of the latest book by Stephen King or Lucy Foley.

3. You can only read one book for the rest of your life.

I can’t overthink this. In the Woods by Tana French. The minute I finished it I wanted to read it all over again.

4. What is the one thing about publishing you wish someone would have told you?

Passion is everything and opinions are subjective. Write the book you have burning inside you and it will find its readers.

5. You wake up and discover that you are Bella in Twilight. You know how it plays out. What do you do differently?

Not a thing. I’d want the whole adventure, with all the highs and lows.

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Laura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty books and novellas. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award. Laura got her start in journalism before venturing into the world of suspense fiction. Laura lives in Austin, Texas, where she is working on her next novel.