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Valley of Shadows Hardcover – September 20, 2022

by Rudy Ruiz (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 140 ratings
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Winner of the Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Book of Fiction
A New York Times Book Review Paperback Row Selection

A visionary neo-Western blend of magical realism, mystery, and horror, Valley of Shadows sheds light on the dark past of injustice, isolation, and suffering along the US-Mexico border.

Solitario Cisneros thought his life was over long ago. He lost his wife, his family, even his country in the late 1870s when the Rio Grande shifted course, stranding the Mexican town of Olvido on the Texas side of the border. He’d made his brooding peace with retiring his gun and badge, hiding out on his ranch, and communing with horses and ghosts. But when a gruesome string of murders and kidnappings ravages the town, pushing its volatile mix of Anglo, Mexican, and Apache settlers to the brink of self-destruction, he feels reluctantly compelled to confront both life, and the much more likely possibility of death, yet again.

As Solitario struggles to overcome not only the evil forces that threaten the town but also his own inner demons, he finds an unlikely source of inspiration and support in Onawa, a gifted and enchanting Apache-Mexican seer who champions his cause, daring him to open his heart and question his destiny.

As we follow Solitario and Onawa into the desert, we join them in facing haunting questions about the human condition that are as relevant today as they were back then: Can we rewrite our own history and shape our own future? What does it mean to belong to a place, or for a place to belong to a people? And, as lonely and defeated as we might feel, are we ever truly alone?

Through luminous prose and soul-searching reflections, Rudy Ruiz transports readers to a distant time and a remote place where the immortal forces of good and evil dance amidst the shadows of magic and mountains.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    296 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Blackstone Pub
  4. Publication date
    September 20, 2022
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.25 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1982604646
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1982604646
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

Valley of Shadows

Valley of Shadows

Valley of Shadows

Valley of Shadows

Editorial Reviews

Review

Ruiz offers an engrossing blend of historical fiction, ghost story, and mystery...He employs elements of magic realism to haunting effect, and the depictions of human cruelty and injustice are unflinching...This has its rewards.

--"Publishers Weekly"

Ruiz's engaging tale, peppered generously with Spanish words and smoldering with racial tension and classism, is immersive and atmospheric and features an interesting cast of characters with rich backstories. Ruiz deftly combines elements of romance, historical mystery, horror, and magical realism to deliver a richly satisfying adventure.

--"Booklist (starred review)"

Rudy Ruiz's Valley of Shadows haunts with its trenchant historical accuracy woven dazzlingly with magical real elements that make this borderland Western horror leap off the page. Indeed, this powerful story wriggled into my heart and gut, like a snake seeking shelter in the scorched desert earth. Unsettling and uplifting, both. Filled with ghosts both literal and metaphorical in a desolate place overflowing with unforgettable characters whose stories are woven by a masterful storyteller, Ruiz's Valley of Shadows is searing, incisive, and, at times, utterly terrifying.

--"Jennifer Givhan, author of River Woman, River Demon"

About the Author

Rudy Ruiz is an award-winning author. His novel, The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez, received two Gold Medals at the 2021 International Latino Book Awards. It was also a finalist for the Western Writers of America Silver Spur Award for Best Contemporary Novel. His short-story collection Seven for the Revolution captured four International Latino Book Awards, including the Mariposa Prize for Best First Book. In 2017, he garnered the Gulf Coast Prize in Fiction. A bilingual native of the US-Mexico border, he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at Harvard and now resides in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife and children. Visit his website at RudyRuiz.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Blackstone Pub; Unabridged edition (September 20, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1982604646
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1982604646
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.64 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.25 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 140 ratings

About the author

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Rudy Ruiz

Rudy Ruiz

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Award-winning author Rudy Ruiz was born and raised on the border. His most recent novel, "Valley of Shadows," was released September 2022 by Blackstone Publishing. It received a starred review from ALA Booklist and was named one of the Best Horror Novels of the year by LitHub’s CrimeReads. It also garnered the prestigious Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Book of Fiction. His previous novel, "The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez," won International Latino Book Awards for Best Latino-Focused Fiction Book and Best Audio Book. It was also a Finalist for the Western Writers of America Silver Spur Award for Best Contemporary Novel. His short story collection, "Seven for the Revolution," won four International Latino Book Awards. In 2017, he received the Gulf Coast Prize in Fiction. His stories have appeared in Notre Dame Review, The Ninth Letter, New Texas, and BorderSenses. He lives in San Antonio with his wife and children. Learn more at www.rudyruiz.com.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
140 global ratings
Really enjoyed this! Great mix of history and mystery.
5 Stars
Really enjoyed this! Great mix of history and mystery.
Great book! Picked it up on a whim, found it to be a great mix of history and mystery as someone with fond memories of growing up in Texas. It was hard to put down -- couldn't help but to read it quickly. The characters are super well-written and interesting, Rudy Ruiz gives an interesting take on a style and form with a lot of history. Highly recommend.
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Top reviews from the United States

Katie Z.
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2024
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It was engaging from the very beginning and it kept me guessing all the way through. I like that.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Good story
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
I heard him interviewed, and appreciated the idea of a western with Mexican-Americans and Apache in major roles. I was curious and wary of the magical part of the story, but it worked, this is no superhero story. Thanks for a book I couldn’t put down.
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Victoria Costello
5.0 out of 5 stars Horror and heartfelt struggles tell a powerful story
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2023
Verified Purchase
Rudy Ruiz’s Valley of Shadows has more death and horror in its 300 odd pages than anything you’re likely to find outside a war novel. As a rule, I shy away blood-soaked horror and thrillers. But I have to say, this many leveled, and finely crafted story and characters grabbed me and just wouldn’t let go.

Valley of Shadows is a gruesome whodunnit with a reluctant, noble but flawed and dejected hero, Solitario, searching for a band of ritualistic murderers, who by the novel’s midpoint have already slaughtered a dozen men, women, and children. Leaving this reader, like Solitario, desperate to keep them from killing again, and yet clueless about who they are and how they go about selecting their victims. This mystery begins with a gut punch prologue and remains unsolved until a shocking perpetrator and motive are revealed on the last few pages.

Along the way, Ruiz seamlessly weaves three other vital threads into his story: first, the treacherous, lesser-known history of the southern border as defined by the Rio Grande, with relentless three-way hostilities raging between Mexicans, Texans, and Apache. A second subplot, which then supplies a motive for the main crime plotline, is a rich vein of romance with a pair of lost loves, both involving the love-cursed Solitario, one from his past; the other his present day crime-solving partner.

The third, essential thread in Ruiz’s story is my favorite; the novel's otherworldly cast of characters, including a parade of personable ghosts, two living bruja (Mexican witches), and the magic, mythology and medicine of Aztec and Apache indigenous traditions. This thread gives Ruiz a stage to display his masterful, delicately parsed use of magic realism. These flourishes of supernatural intervention sometimes thwart the evil doers, but, equally important, they carry the hurts and heartfelt desires of his characters. The bittersweet conclusion of Ruiz's story feels entirely right. I highly recommend Valley of the Shadows for fans and newcomers to both horror and magic realism.
4 people found this helpful
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Rumblesink
5.0 out of 5 stars Unique and moving
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2023
Verified Purchase
An absorbing mystery, told in a spare and poetic voice. I thoroughly en-joyed this book and I will look for more from this author!
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Olivia F.
3.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars - intriguing historical horror/mystery
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2022
VALLEY OF SHADOWS is an intriguing historical horror/mystery that takes place in a bordertown on the Texas/Mexico border in 1883. After a series of horrific murders and missing children grip the town, Solitario is approached to help them solve the crimes - with the possibility of taking over as sheriff on the table. Solitario is unable to just walk away, but he has stayed away from being sheriff on purpose. Being able to see ghosts and knowing that time is running out for some of the victims, Solitario begins to investigate the case along with Onawa, a seer.

This was an intriguing read with some horror and mystery elements that keep the reader guessing. The beginning takes a bit to get into as there are quite a few characters appearing here and there, and unexpected elements while the reader gets their footing. The plot moves quickly though, which keeps the case and mystery flowing. The ghosts and mystical elements were really fascinating and certainly made this a unique story. This is an interesting time in history, and I would have liked more explanation about some of these elements. For the most part, this felt like it could have been during varied times in history, which would work for people who are more into mystery/horror instead of the historical elements.

Overall, VALLEY OF SHADOWS is a unique horror/mystery that will work well for people who like an immersive and surprising read. Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
One person found this helpful
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zhirsr
4.0 out of 5 stars Great characters
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2023
The main characters are worth the read. They are complex and interesting. Would love to see more books with them. I thought secondary character motivation was questionable. Story line was not my favorite.
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Fred
5.0 out of 5 stars Really enjoyed this! Great mix of history and mystery.
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2022
Verified Purchase
Great book! Picked it up on a whim, found it to be a great mix of history and mystery as someone with fond memories of growing up in Texas. It was hard to put down -- couldn't help but to read it quickly. The characters are super well-written and interesting, Rudy Ruiz gives an interesting take on a style and form with a lot of history. Highly recommend.
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Fred
5.0 out of 5 stars Really enjoyed this! Great mix of history and mystery.
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2022
Great book! Picked it up on a whim, found it to be a great mix of history and mystery as someone with fond memories of growing up in Texas. It was hard to put down -- couldn't help but to read it quickly. The characters are super well-written and interesting, Rudy Ruiz gives an interesting take on a style and form with a lot of history. Highly recommend.
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10 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Read! Highly Recommend
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2022
Verified Purchase
This book makes history accessible, and touches on a lot of themes and issues that are still present today. Highly recommend to anyone interested in learning more about the border, or who's interested in a good mystery
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Read! Highly Recommend
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2022
This book makes history accessible, and touches on a lot of themes and issues that are still present today. Highly recommend to anyone interested in learning more about the border, or who's interested in a good mystery
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5 people found this helpful
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