Color of Lies

A Novel of Cultural and Environmental Conflict

In the Skagit River Valley—gateway to the pristine Pacific Northwest wilderness—vegetation, birds, and people are inexplicably dying. Does the river carry pollutants from illegal waste sites? One elderly bully's spiteful lies have trapped her victims in a toxic web: JoAnne, a former World War II pilot, is wheelchair-bound from a youthful accident involving sinister secrets. Maria, JoAnne's niece and professional pilot, masks the unresolved pain of childhood abandonment. Spencer, a young organic vintner, suspects the rich valley soil has been polluted by undocumented wastes. Russell, a spunky 95-year-old ham radio buff, intercepts curious messages that provide clues to the decades-long cover-up. Lies, even the little white lies told to protect themselves and each other from the past, suddenly conspire against them as the valley's secrets unravel. Threatened with exposure, the perpetrator resorts to more malicious behavior, and her victims must join with the community to stop her and save the valley. All must face difficult truths to halt the accumulation of more than one kind of toxic behavior. This is a story of challenge and triumph over demons both personal and environmental, inviting us to explore with its characters the nature of truth, trust, and accountability.