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Ruby Falls
One body. Five suspects. Total darkness.
A tense, claustrophobic historical mystery set almost entirely underground at the onset of the Great Depression about the discovery of a 150-foot waterfall in the middle of a mountain, the unthinkable crime that happens in its caves, and a woman who’s never felt more alive.
In 1928, a Chattanooga man disappears down a hole in the ground and discovers a 150-foot waterfall in the middle of a mountain that he names after his Ruby Falls. Within months, visitors can buy tickets to see the falls for themselves. Ada Smith has been sneaking into the caves at night, entranced by the natural wonders around her and the freedom granted by this new underground world.
But it’s tough timing for a natural wonder. As the country flounders in the Great Depression, a shrewd public relations ploy seems like the only way to save Ruby Falls. A famous mind reader and mystic agrees to launch himself into the Ruby Falls caverns where he will attempt to locate a hidden hatpin using only his psychic abilities. He'll be joined by five his manager, his wife, a guide, a Chattanooga businessman, and a reporter from the Chicago Times. But they’re not alone in the caverns. Ada and another guide, Quinton, have been asked to follow the mind reader’s party at a distance, staying out of sight. They are a safety net, in case of a broken leg or busted flashlights.
One of them will be dead before the end of the day.
Faced with a corpse and the stark reality that one of the people in her midst is a killer, Ada needs to get everyone—the murderer and the innocents—back aboveground before their light runs out.
Ruby Falls is both a unique twist on the locked-room mystery and an exploration of loss and what it means to start over. It’s a heart-racing story of survival and a testament to the threads that bind strangers together. Set against the true story of the discovery of Ruby Falls, the novel also draws on the memoirs of Katie Stabler, a female guide at Wind Caves in South Dakota.
A tense, claustrophobic historical mystery set almost entirely underground at the onset of the Great Depression about the discovery of a 150-foot waterfall in the middle of a mountain, the unthinkable crime that happens in its caves, and a woman who’s never felt more alive.
In 1928, a Chattanooga man disappears down a hole in the ground and discovers a 150-foot waterfall in the middle of a mountain that he names after his Ruby Falls. Within months, visitors can buy tickets to see the falls for themselves. Ada Smith has been sneaking into the caves at night, entranced by the natural wonders around her and the freedom granted by this new underground world.
But it’s tough timing for a natural wonder. As the country flounders in the Great Depression, a shrewd public relations ploy seems like the only way to save Ruby Falls. A famous mind reader and mystic agrees to launch himself into the Ruby Falls caverns where he will attempt to locate a hidden hatpin using only his psychic abilities. He'll be joined by five his manager, his wife, a guide, a Chattanooga businessman, and a reporter from the Chicago Times. But they’re not alone in the caverns. Ada and another guide, Quinton, have been asked to follow the mind reader’s party at a distance, staying out of sight. They are a safety net, in case of a broken leg or busted flashlights.
One of them will be dead before the end of the day.
Faced with a corpse and the stark reality that one of the people in her midst is a killer, Ada needs to get everyone—the murderer and the innocents—back aboveground before their light runs out.
Ruby Falls is both a unique twist on the locked-room mystery and an exploration of loss and what it means to start over. It’s a heart-racing story of survival and a testament to the threads that bind strangers together. Set against the true story of the discovery of Ruby Falls, the novel also draws on the memoirs of Katie Stabler, a female guide at Wind Caves in South Dakota.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2026
About the author
Gin Phillips
7 books573 followersGin Phillips has published seven novels, and her work has been sold in 29 countries. Her newest novel, RUBY FALLS, will be published by Atlantic Crime on March 3, 2026.
Gin’s debut novel, THE WELL AND THE MINE, won the 2009 Barnes & Noble Discover Award. Her novel, FIERCE KINGDOM, was named one of the Best Crime Novels of 2017 by the New York Times Book Review. It was also named one of the best books of the year by NPR, Publishers Weekly, Amazon, and Kirkus Reviews. Gin’s novels also have been named as selections for Indie Next, Book of the Month, and the Junior Library Guild.
Born in Montgomery, Al., Gin graduated from Birmingham-Southern College with a degree in political journalism. After time spent in Ireland, New York, and Washington, D.C., she currently lives with her family (including a wonderfully weird golden mountain doodle) in Birmingham, Al.
Gin’s debut novel, THE WELL AND THE MINE, won the 2009 Barnes & Noble Discover Award. Her novel, FIERCE KINGDOM, was named one of the Best Crime Novels of 2017 by the New York Times Book Review. It was also named one of the best books of the year by NPR, Publishers Weekly, Amazon, and Kirkus Reviews. Gin’s novels also have been named as selections for Indie Next, Book of the Month, and the Junior Library Guild.
Born in Montgomery, Al., Gin graduated from Birmingham-Southern College with a degree in political journalism. After time spent in Ireland, New York, and Washington, D.C., she currently lives with her family (including a wonderfully weird golden mountain doodle) in Birmingham, Al.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ruby Falls is a 150 foot waterfall located in the middle of a mountain. It was discovered by Leo Lambert in 1928 and he named it after his wife, Ruby. It was opened up for tours via an elevator at the start of the Great Depression. Ruby Falls by Gin Phillips is inspired by that story and adds a locked room mystery! To drum up business, Leo arranges for a mind reader to come and find hatpin hidden somewhere in the caves. He's joined by 5 others, including his wife, manager, newspaper man, and two people working for the Falls. Ada who is Ruby's friend, has been secretly exploring the caves. She, along with another guide Quinton, are tasked to secretly follow the group, to make sure they get out safely. It becomes a real situation when one of the group is murdered.
It's historical fiction, a mystery, and a bit of romance all in one. I loved everything about it. I had a feeling before I started reading. I mean, look at the cover! But I wasn't prepared for how the setting and characters would grip me. I'm claustrophobic and would never explore a cave, but I enjoyed my time underground with main character Ada and the rest of the group.
Things start out on the slower side, giving you time to get to know Ada. I immediately identified with her desire to try something that she wanted and that she wasn't expected to do. Her love for the caves grew and that made me enjoy the setting. I could see everything in my mind and it's perfect for the mystery that unfolds.
The characters are unique. We get a few chapters from some of them. The rest are from Ada's point of view. The dialogue is fantastic. I loved watching the story and all the scenes unfold. Switching between the tour group and Ada with Quinton was a great way to build tension.
Any one of the group could have been the killer. You'll likely keep changing your mind until the end. Waiting to see if they make it out adds a survival element that is just perfect. I really didn't want the book to end!
You have to read this! Thank you to Grove Atlantic and Netgalley for the chance to read! All opinions are my own.
It's historical fiction, a mystery, and a bit of romance all in one. I loved everything about it. I had a feeling before I started reading. I mean, look at the cover! But I wasn't prepared for how the setting and characters would grip me. I'm claustrophobic and would never explore a cave, but I enjoyed my time underground with main character Ada and the rest of the group.
Things start out on the slower side, giving you time to get to know Ada. I immediately identified with her desire to try something that she wanted and that she wasn't expected to do. Her love for the caves grew and that made me enjoy the setting. I could see everything in my mind and it's perfect for the mystery that unfolds.
The characters are unique. We get a few chapters from some of them. The rest are from Ada's point of view. The dialogue is fantastic. I loved watching the story and all the scenes unfold. Switching between the tour group and Ada with Quinton was a great way to build tension.
Any one of the group could have been the killer. You'll likely keep changing your mind until the end. Waiting to see if they make it out adds a survival element that is just perfect. I really didn't want the book to end!
You have to read this! Thank you to Grove Atlantic and Netgalley for the chance to read! All opinions are my own.
March 3, 2026
…every person in the world is more astonishing than this waterfall. She sees that. They are, each one of them, a mountain with a thousand rooms inside, some unmappable, and they are not all pleasant, but, God, what creations they are.
In Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1928, a man named Leo Lambert was exploring an unknown section of Lookout Mountain when he discovered a 150-foot waterfall, deep underground. He named it Ruby Falls in honor of his wife and decided to open the cave for tours. He built a castle on the mountain with limestone from the excavation site, where people could come for dinner and dancing, and hoped that this revenue would sustain his family through the Great Depression. This is all real history. And it’s where Ruby Falls begins.
In Gin Phillips’ fictionalized account of that time, we mostly follow Ruby’s best friend, Ada, who has secretly been exploring Lookout Mountain’s caves and passageways on her own at night. Soon her secret spelunking sessions are discovered by one of the guides, Quinton, who recommends her to Leo to help with a mission: Leo has invited a famous mind reader and his acquaintances to Ruby Falls, where the mind reader will attempt to find a hat pin hidden in the cave system. Quinton and Ada will follow the group at a distance as a safety net in case something goes wrong. But no one anticipated that someone would be murdered, deep in the darkness of the caves.
Set almost entirely underground, with only the light of headlamps to guide the way, Ruby Falls is so claustrophobic and full of tension. The concept of a “locked cave mystery,” so to speak, is so original, and Phillips utilizes it so well. But for me, the whodunnit wasn’t the most compelling part of this story: It was the rich characterizations and the immersive hundred-year-old atmosphere that kept me riveted.
I loved that Phillips drew on the real history of Ruby Falls to craft this story, which is not only a mystery, but also a tale of adventure and survival with elements of romance and historical fiction and themes of women’s rights and empowerment. It’s so well-executed, moving among Ada’s point of view and those of the other characters to reveal their secrets and motives, adding to the suspense. The Great Depression looms in the background as both a threat and an opportunity, depending on which character we’re with.
I honestly think I would’ve enjoyed Ruby Falls just as much even if there was no murder mystery aspect. It’s such a fascinating book even outside of that element, from its plotting and pacing to its vivid atmosphere to its complex characters, to the way it draws its inspiration from, and places its characters directly inside, real American history. It’s a book about unexplored caverns, yes - but it’s also a book about the dark, unmapped parts of the human soul. Thank you to Atlantic Crime for the early reading opportunity.
November 13, 2025
Ruby Falls starts off as a strong historical fiction/thriller. We have a interesting time period and very unique setting and a very strong premise. The atmosphere is the best part of this read. It is haunting, suffocating with elements of sensory deprivation slowly eating away at the mental stability of the characters. Eleanore is an unreliable narrator but that is what makes her most intriguing. She is fearless yet anxious and clearly coming apart inside. Though well written the story begins to slow and drag a bit for me. Not so much that I lost interest completely but enough for me to glance ahead and watch chapter length, if that makes sense. The ending almost seemed written by a different author which was unexpected.
Overall it was a well written story that was good not great. If you read books for atmosphere though, this will be the read for you.
Overall it was a well written story that was good not great. If you read books for atmosphere though, this will be the read for you.
September 29, 2025
Thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
Living in north Georgia, I found the premise and setting interesting, but the story and characters did not hold my interest. Fans of historical fiction/romance/mysteries may enjoy this one.
Living in north Georgia, I found the premise and setting interesting, but the story and characters did not hold my interest. Fans of historical fiction/romance/mysteries may enjoy this one.
May 30, 2026
“Ruby Falls ” by Gin Phillips is a claustrophobic, intense and emotional murder mystery set in a real-life location.
1928, Chattanooga, Tennessee: Leo is exploring a deep, dark cave when he stumbles across an underground waterfall. Mysterious and beautiful, he decides to capitalize on the discovery, naming the waterfall, “Ruby Falls”, after his beloved wife and creating underground, guided tours for the public. When a “psychic” wants to use the Falls for a new trick, Leo agrees, knowing it will bring publicity to the Falls during a time of economic struggle. However, when the psychic and his team go underground with the help of a tour guide and two locals who are hiding in the background, it doesn’t go as planned and soon, the group is dealing with the discovery of a dead body, and the fact that one of their own may be a murderer, with no means of escape.
I loved Gin Phillips previous work, “Family Law” and of course, “Fierce Kingdom ”, so I knew to expect a well-formulated, tense plot with unique characters, and that is exactly what I got, plus more.
“Ruby Falls” is a unique locked room mystery, since the locked room component takes places kilometers underground in an isolated cave, but what I didn’t realize is that “Ruby Falls” is an actual place in Tennessee, and some of the characters are based on real people, so there is a historical component to the story as well.
The story is multi-protagonist, narrated by many characters in the novel but most specifically by Ava, Ruby’s best friend, who has been sneaking into the falls for months, to explore. Ava and Quinton, a tour guide, become reluctant spies, hired to keep an eye on the tour while staying out of sight. Every one of the main characters takes a turn at narrating in some capacity, to ensure readers connect with all of the fully-developed characters.
I love the idea of an underground waterfall, and then you add a “psychic” (quotes used intentionally) and an unexpected murder? “Ruby Falls” was an exceptionally unique story that I was captivated with from the start. All of the characters had some level of suspicion, so who actually committed the murder was a true guessing game, until the reveal on the final pages. “Falls” had a satisfying conclusion, with all of the characters’ story lines coming to a complete and just end.
“Falls” was a fascinating read that was engaging, intriguing and actually taught me something, and, as a claustrophobic, it was tense and unsettling. Phillips has delivered another home-run with “Ruby Falls”.
1928, Chattanooga, Tennessee: Leo is exploring a deep, dark cave when he stumbles across an underground waterfall. Mysterious and beautiful, he decides to capitalize on the discovery, naming the waterfall, “Ruby Falls”, after his beloved wife and creating underground, guided tours for the public. When a “psychic” wants to use the Falls for a new trick, Leo agrees, knowing it will bring publicity to the Falls during a time of economic struggle. However, when the psychic and his team go underground with the help of a tour guide and two locals who are hiding in the background, it doesn’t go as planned and soon, the group is dealing with the discovery of a dead body, and the fact that one of their own may be a murderer, with no means of escape.
I loved Gin Phillips previous work, “Family Law” and of course, “Fierce Kingdom ”, so I knew to expect a well-formulated, tense plot with unique characters, and that is exactly what I got, plus more.
“Ruby Falls” is a unique locked room mystery, since the locked room component takes places kilometers underground in an isolated cave, but what I didn’t realize is that “Ruby Falls” is an actual place in Tennessee, and some of the characters are based on real people, so there is a historical component to the story as well.
The story is multi-protagonist, narrated by many characters in the novel but most specifically by Ava, Ruby’s best friend, who has been sneaking into the falls for months, to explore. Ava and Quinton, a tour guide, become reluctant spies, hired to keep an eye on the tour while staying out of sight. Every one of the main characters takes a turn at narrating in some capacity, to ensure readers connect with all of the fully-developed characters.
I love the idea of an underground waterfall, and then you add a “psychic” (quotes used intentionally) and an unexpected murder? “Ruby Falls” was an exceptionally unique story that I was captivated with from the start. All of the characters had some level of suspicion, so who actually committed the murder was a true guessing game, until the reveal on the final pages. “Falls” had a satisfying conclusion, with all of the characters’ story lines coming to a complete and just end.
“Falls” was a fascinating read that was engaging, intriguing and actually taught me something, and, as a claustrophobic, it was tense and unsettling. Phillips has delivered another home-run with “Ruby Falls”.
May 14, 2026
I think ‘Ruby Falls’ by Gin Phillips would make a great movie! It is a murder mystery set inside a fictional cave system in Chattanooga, Tennessee. While the characters involved in the murder are interesting, the real main star is the underground cave system and the art of caving. The author puts the reader inside the system with a realism that can only be from personal experience. Gentler reader, I think those readers with claustrophobia might not enjoy the book as much as I did.
I once visited the Oregon Caves Natural Monument and Preserve, and it is an impressive adventure. I did not know how powerful the feel of being underground in a cave is. The rock eats sound or amplifies it weirdly. You can feel the rock pressing in on you as well. Of course, most tourists want to tour professionally curated caves because they want to see the weird rock formations safely. Caves can be dangerous, but what shocked me was the heaviness of the feel of being inside a cave surrounded by rock. It is an atmosphere I have never felt anywhere else.
This is a link to the Wikipedia page on the Oregon Caves:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_...
I have copied the book blurb:
”One body. Five suspects. Total darkness.
A tense, claustrophobic historical mystery set almost entirely underground at the onset of the Great Depression about the discovery of a 150-foot waterfall in the middle of a mountain, the unthinkable crime that happens in its caves, and a woman who’s never felt more alive.
In 1928, a Chattanooga man disappears down a hole in the ground and discovers a 150-foot waterfall in the middle of a mountain that he names after his wife: Ruby Falls. Within months, visitors can buy tickets to see the falls for themselves. Ada Smith has been sneaking into the caves at night, entranced by the natural wonders around her and the freedom granted by this new underground world.
But it’s tough timing for a natural wonder. As the country flounders in the Great Depression, a shrewd public relations ploy seems like the only way to save Ruby Falls. A famous mind reader and mystic agrees to launch himself into the Ruby Falls caverns where he will attempt to locate a hidden hatpin using only his psychic abilities. He'll be joined by five his manager, his wife, a guide, a Chattanooga businessman, and a reporter from the Chicago Times. But they’re not alone in the caverns. Ada and another guide, Quinton, have been asked to follow the mind reader’s party at a distance, staying out of sight. They are a safety net, in case of a broken leg or busted flashlights.
One of them will be dead before the end of the day.
Faced with a corpse and the stark reality that one of the people in her midst is a killer, Ada needs to get everyone—the murderer and the innocents—back aboveground before their light runs out.
Ruby Falls is both a unique twist on the locked-room mystery and an exploration of loss and what it means to start over. It’s a heart-racing story of survival and a testament to the threads that bind strangers together. Set against the true story of the discovery of Ruby Falls, the novel also draws on the memoirs of Katie Stabler, a female guide at Wind Caves in South Dakota.”
I felt at times the book is overwritten particularly when the main character, the unusual caver and main narrator Ada Smith, is musing or thinking about being in the cave, especially when she becomes exhausted. But this in the end was a minor quibble. In my opinion the characters are not given much depth, but are instead quickly understood stereotypes or are sketches. That doesn’t mean they aren’t interesting, but the book really should be read for their experience of caving. FYI, I can not really understand the appeal of caving for professional cavers or hobby enthusiasts. Even without a mysterious murder, traveling about a cave system would be scary enough for me!
The author has researched the histories of the discoveries of real-life cave systems by entrepreneurs who then tried to create a tourist destination around their discovery. It seems to me many became failed businesses, but still! If you are lucky enough to be driving in an area where there is an opportunity to buy a ticket to go spelunking for a couple of hours, I recommend it. I have never forgotten that intense feeling of being in a cave surrounded by rock whether there were gorgeous structures to see or not.
I once visited the Oregon Caves Natural Monument and Preserve, and it is an impressive adventure. I did not know how powerful the feel of being underground in a cave is. The rock eats sound or amplifies it weirdly. You can feel the rock pressing in on you as well. Of course, most tourists want to tour professionally curated caves because they want to see the weird rock formations safely. Caves can be dangerous, but what shocked me was the heaviness of the feel of being inside a cave surrounded by rock. It is an atmosphere I have never felt anywhere else.
This is a link to the Wikipedia page on the Oregon Caves:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_...
I have copied the book blurb:
”One body. Five suspects. Total darkness.
A tense, claustrophobic historical mystery set almost entirely underground at the onset of the Great Depression about the discovery of a 150-foot waterfall in the middle of a mountain, the unthinkable crime that happens in its caves, and a woman who’s never felt more alive.
In 1928, a Chattanooga man disappears down a hole in the ground and discovers a 150-foot waterfall in the middle of a mountain that he names after his wife: Ruby Falls. Within months, visitors can buy tickets to see the falls for themselves. Ada Smith has been sneaking into the caves at night, entranced by the natural wonders around her and the freedom granted by this new underground world.
But it’s tough timing for a natural wonder. As the country flounders in the Great Depression, a shrewd public relations ploy seems like the only way to save Ruby Falls. A famous mind reader and mystic agrees to launch himself into the Ruby Falls caverns where he will attempt to locate a hidden hatpin using only his psychic abilities. He'll be joined by five his manager, his wife, a guide, a Chattanooga businessman, and a reporter from the Chicago Times. But they’re not alone in the caverns. Ada and another guide, Quinton, have been asked to follow the mind reader’s party at a distance, staying out of sight. They are a safety net, in case of a broken leg or busted flashlights.
One of them will be dead before the end of the day.
Faced with a corpse and the stark reality that one of the people in her midst is a killer, Ada needs to get everyone—the murderer and the innocents—back aboveground before their light runs out.
Ruby Falls is both a unique twist on the locked-room mystery and an exploration of loss and what it means to start over. It’s a heart-racing story of survival and a testament to the threads that bind strangers together. Set against the true story of the discovery of Ruby Falls, the novel also draws on the memoirs of Katie Stabler, a female guide at Wind Caves in South Dakota.”
I felt at times the book is overwritten particularly when the main character, the unusual caver and main narrator Ada Smith, is musing or thinking about being in the cave, especially when she becomes exhausted. But this in the end was a minor quibble. In my opinion the characters are not given much depth, but are instead quickly understood stereotypes or are sketches. That doesn’t mean they aren’t interesting, but the book really should be read for their experience of caving. FYI, I can not really understand the appeal of caving for professional cavers or hobby enthusiasts. Even without a mysterious murder, traveling about a cave system would be scary enough for me!
The author has researched the histories of the discoveries of real-life cave systems by entrepreneurs who then tried to create a tourist destination around their discovery. It seems to me many became failed businesses, but still! If you are lucky enough to be driving in an area where there is an opportunity to buy a ticket to go spelunking for a couple of hours, I recommend it. I have never forgotten that intense feeling of being in a cave surrounded by rock whether there were gorgeous structures to see or not.
May 16, 2026
This is a fun, stylish, and diverting murder mystery taking place in a Tennessee cavern with a plucky protagonist.
March 9, 2026
Gin Phillips is back with a great new story - Ruby Falls - from Atlantic Crime.
“Leo discovers a waterfall deep underground in a cave system. He names them after his wife and builds access to make it a tourist attraction. But it’s the Great Depression and many don’t have money to spare. A publicity stunt brings a mind-reader who’s agreed to go into the cave to find a hat pin hidden by two men usually only their thoughts to guide him. He goes in with the two men, his wife and a reporter. Ada and Quinton, two people with intimate knowledge of the caverns and passages, also follow as backup in case of emergency.
One person will not make it out alive…”
This story is set during the Depression, so no technology - no one is calling on a phone for help. Phillips uses the dark and the passage of time to drive the tension. Will they run out of light and water and supplies? Will they be enveloped in total darkness with a killer?
I love the voice of the female characters. I can hear my Nanny and Mom and aunts clearly in these characters. Nanny said “directly” a lot and they all said “Well” with multiple syllables all the time. It’s probably not a coincidence that my mom grew up in Birmingham where Gin lives.
Gin has written these wonderful women that wanted more that what people expected of them in the 30’s. You will love Ada.
Wild ending - Phillips doesn’t give it away.
This is my 2nd killer-cave book this year. Even though this is a tourist attraction that’s still open, caves are just not for me.
Great story from Gin Phillips. Read it on the beach and not in a cave.
“Leo discovers a waterfall deep underground in a cave system. He names them after his wife and builds access to make it a tourist attraction. But it’s the Great Depression and many don’t have money to spare. A publicity stunt brings a mind-reader who’s agreed to go into the cave to find a hat pin hidden by two men usually only their thoughts to guide him. He goes in with the two men, his wife and a reporter. Ada and Quinton, two people with intimate knowledge of the caverns and passages, also follow as backup in case of emergency.
One person will not make it out alive…”
This story is set during the Depression, so no technology - no one is calling on a phone for help. Phillips uses the dark and the passage of time to drive the tension. Will they run out of light and water and supplies? Will they be enveloped in total darkness with a killer?
I love the voice of the female characters. I can hear my Nanny and Mom and aunts clearly in these characters. Nanny said “directly” a lot and they all said “Well” with multiple syllables all the time. It’s probably not a coincidence that my mom grew up in Birmingham where Gin lives.
Gin has written these wonderful women that wanted more that what people expected of them in the 30’s. You will love Ada.
Wild ending - Phillips doesn’t give it away.
This is my 2nd killer-cave book this year. Even though this is a tourist attraction that’s still open, caves are just not for me.
Great story from Gin Phillips. Read it on the beach and not in a cave.
March 4, 2026
I enjoy historical mystery but this one was very slow-paced. It had an unusual setting - underground caves in which there is a waterfall - and an interesting concept of a psychic going in the caves to prove he can find a hidden item using his psychic abilities alone. He’s accompanied by a small group of observers and all goes well until someone is murdered.
The story started off well with the friendship of two women, Ada and Ruth, and I thought that would be a central element of the novel but it wasn’t. The middle section slowed down and my interest started to wane. It never really recovered.
Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me but fans of slow-burn reads may like it better.
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
The story started off well with the friendship of two women, Ada and Ruth, and I thought that would be a central element of the novel but it wasn’t. The middle section slowed down and my interest started to wane. It never really recovered.
Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me but fans of slow-burn reads may like it better.
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
May 3, 2026
I enjoyed the moody atmosphere of the story, all the more accentuated by its unique setting…but the pace (especially the second half) really dragged, the “mystery”—such as it was—felt contrived, and the ending was disappointingly lackluster (as well as the least imaginative of all the possible alternatives). Some of the writing was surprisingly good, and Ada as a character was quite appealing…but not enough to redeem the novel’s more obvious flaws.
May 7, 2026
Based on a true story of the discovery of the falls and the memoirs of a female guide at Wind Caves in South Dakota. This is an atmospheric tale set in the Depression, around Chattanooga, Tennessee. The female main character is a dreamy but scrappy woman who is no stranger to tragedy, but somehow maintains a hopeful attitude. The murder mystery is unique, in that it involves a group that are on a quest in large, winding caverns.
I recommend the audiobook, narrated by Cassandra Campbell and Jacques Roy, for its ring of authenticity and vintage setting.
I recommend the audiobook, narrated by Cassandra Campbell and Jacques Roy, for its ring of authenticity and vintage setting.
September 28, 2025
In 1928, Ruby Lambert’s husband Leo discovers a massive waterfall inside of Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee. He names it Ruby Falls after his beloved wife.
This amazing discovery attracts visitors from all over the world.
Meanwhile, Ada Smith has been exploring the caves of Lookout Mountain alone at night.
Unfortunately, The Great Depression hits Tennessee hard. Leo and Ruby are struggling to keep their attraction open to the public.
Along comes famous mind-reader Jeremiah Hagathorn. He proposes a publicity stunt that Leo cannot resist.
Someone will hide a hat pin inside Lookout Mountain, and Jeremiah will find it using only his psychic ability.
Jeremiah is accompanied by his wife and three others, including a reporter. Ada and fellow spelunker Quinton are secretly hired to follow the crew in case of an emergency.
A simple publicity stunt turns dangerous and deadly quickly.
Ruby Falls is a unique thriller that takes place underground in darkness. The story also becomes a tale of survival!
Thank you Atlantic Crime Publishers and NetGalley for sending me this ARC.
This amazing discovery attracts visitors from all over the world.
Meanwhile, Ada Smith has been exploring the caves of Lookout Mountain alone at night.
Unfortunately, The Great Depression hits Tennessee hard. Leo and Ruby are struggling to keep their attraction open to the public.
Along comes famous mind-reader Jeremiah Hagathorn. He proposes a publicity stunt that Leo cannot resist.
Someone will hide a hat pin inside Lookout Mountain, and Jeremiah will find it using only his psychic ability.
Jeremiah is accompanied by his wife and three others, including a reporter. Ada and fellow spelunker Quinton are secretly hired to follow the crew in case of an emergency.
A simple publicity stunt turns dangerous and deadly quickly.
Ruby Falls is a unique thriller that takes place underground in darkness. The story also becomes a tale of survival!
Thank you Atlantic Crime Publishers and NetGalley for sending me this ARC.
April 7, 2026
Interesting, but not wildly compelling
December 30, 2025
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this. I was very interested in the idea of a murder mystery inside of the caves of Ruby Falls. I went to Ruby Falls earlier this year, and the setting really was similar to the real place. The setting and how the caves were brought to life were really good. I wished this story had more suspense. There was so much potential for a great, high stakes mystery but this read more like litfic with mystery. That’s not really my thing. I think if you prefer cozy mysteries or a lighter mystery, this is more geared toward you.
All opinions are my own
All opinions are my own
April 6, 2026
This one was just ok. It was slow in spots and none of the characters were really likable so it was hard to care if they made it out of the caves alive. Partially based on a true story, Leo discovers a waterfall inside of an underground cave and names it for his wife Ruby. A few years later, the site is a tourist attraction complete with a grand hotel. But then the depression hits and Leo is desperate to increase sales again so he cooks up a scheme to hide a hat pin inside the caves and have a psychic find it. A team is assembled to lead the "magic man" through the caves so that he can find the pin. The main team consists of the magic man Jeramiah and his wife Editha and manager Tom, a newspaper reporter named Howard, and Morris who is one of the men who hid the pin. They are led by a guide named Tallmadge who was the other man who helped Morris hide the pin. A support team made up of Ada, a widow who roams the caves alone at night, and Quinton, another guide, follow behind in secret, ready to offer assistance in case of an emergency. There is a lot of blustering by Jeramiah and complaining from the group as they traverse the caves. They were allotted 12 hours and at over halfway through Tallmadge is fed up with all of them. The "magic man" has passed the pin twice and not found it and Tallmadge forces them to stop and rest. Tallmadge doubles back and tells Quinton that he is leaving and that Quinton has to guide them. When Quinton and Ada join the group they find that someone killed Howard. Jeramiah is convinced that Tallmadge did it, although what motive he would have is unclear. At first the magic man wants to continue looking for the pin but as they start to run out of light he agrees to be led out of the caves. As they are walking, Ada is running through what happened and what she heard while in the caves. She overheard a conversation between Editha and Howard that sounded like they were former lovers, although it was clear to me that they were siblings. Editha left her family as a young teen to join the circus and never looked back. Jeramiah, jealous that his wife had a past with Howard, one that he didn't know was familial, he killed Howard and blamed it on Tallmadge. Not my favorite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2026
I knew that I had to read Gin Phillip's new book, Ruby Falls, when I saw that it was based on the famous tourist attraction near my home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It tells the story of how Leo Lambert discovered the underground falls and named it after his beloved wife Ruby. This is an amazing and unique take on the locked room mystery. I highly recommend it!
Read this book if you enjoy:
~historical mysteries
~locked room mysteries
~atmospheric settings
~strong FMC
~depression era novels
~Southern settings
~a bit of romance that enhances the storyline
Please read the author's the author's note at the end of the book
to enhance the storyline.
Synopsis:
In 1928, a Chattanooga man disappears down a hole in the ground and discovers a 150-foot waterfall in the middle of a mountain that he names after his Ruby Falls. Within months, visitors can buy tickets to see the falls for themselves. Ada Smith has been sneaking into the caves at night, entranced by the natural wonders around her and the freedom granted by this new underground world.
But it’s tough timing for a natural wonder. As the country flounders in the Great Depression, a shrewd public relations ploy seems like the only way to save Ruby Falls. A famous mind reader and mystic agrees to launch himself into the Ruby Falls caverns where he will attempt to locate a hidden hatpin using only his psychic abilities. He'll be joined by five: his manager, his wife, a guide, a Chattanooga businessman, and a reporter from the Chicago Times. But they’re not alone in the caverns. Ada and another guide, Quinton, have been asked to follow the mind reader’s party at a distance, staying out of sight. They are a safety net, in case of a broken leg or busted flashlights.
One of them will be dead before the end of the day.
Faced with a corpse and the stark reality that one of the people in her midst is a killer, Ada needs to get everyone—the murderer and the innocents—back aboveground before their light runs out.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Crime for the advanced digital copy of the book.
Read this book if you enjoy:
~historical mysteries
~locked room mysteries
~atmospheric settings
~strong FMC
~depression era novels
~Southern settings
~a bit of romance that enhances the storyline
Please read the author's the author's note at the end of the book
to enhance the storyline.
Synopsis:
In 1928, a Chattanooga man disappears down a hole in the ground and discovers a 150-foot waterfall in the middle of a mountain that he names after his Ruby Falls. Within months, visitors can buy tickets to see the falls for themselves. Ada Smith has been sneaking into the caves at night, entranced by the natural wonders around her and the freedom granted by this new underground world.
But it’s tough timing for a natural wonder. As the country flounders in the Great Depression, a shrewd public relations ploy seems like the only way to save Ruby Falls. A famous mind reader and mystic agrees to launch himself into the Ruby Falls caverns where he will attempt to locate a hidden hatpin using only his psychic abilities. He'll be joined by five: his manager, his wife, a guide, a Chattanooga businessman, and a reporter from the Chicago Times. But they’re not alone in the caverns. Ada and another guide, Quinton, have been asked to follow the mind reader’s party at a distance, staying out of sight. They are a safety net, in case of a broken leg or busted flashlights.
One of them will be dead before the end of the day.
Faced with a corpse and the stark reality that one of the people in her midst is a killer, Ada needs to get everyone—the murderer and the innocents—back aboveground before their light runs out.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Crime for the advanced digital copy of the book.
April 4, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up. This was an interesting book in terms of where the story was and what the main focus was meant to be. That being said, I actually had a good time with this-especially since I love Ruby Falls and Lookout Mountain.
Things got a little less interesting for me around halfway through and the ending seemed to meander a bit, however, I still would recommend this pretty highly.
Things got a little less interesting for me around halfway through and the ending seemed to meander a bit, however, I still would recommend this pretty highly.
March 6, 2026
3.5 rounded up. I really enjoyed the skeleton of the story, but I think it sagged too much in the middle to be a full four star.
April 17, 2026
This one isn't bad, exactly, it was just too slow for me. It felt dull. The caves were interesting, atmospheric. The mystery happens very late in the book and then really isn't all that mysterious.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book for review.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book for review.
May 29, 2026
If I had the time I would have read it in one sitting. The plot, the characters, the history, and the writing pulled me in and kept me guessing until the end. One of my favorites so far this year.
March 17, 2026
It’s been forever since I stayed up late to finish a book! This one was great!
May 3, 2026
This is the first historical book I have read in a long time that wasn’t a dual timeline. It was kind of refreshing to stay in the same time period for an entire story. Would recommend
April 14, 2026
2 stars may be a little harsh so I’ll say 2.5.
The writing is ok. I found Ada a compelling enough character. The setting is great. There is simply no suspense.
The writing is ok. I found Ada a compelling enough character. The setting is great. There is simply no suspense.
May 5, 2026
I went to Ruby Falls with my family on vacation in Chattanooga as a kid, and I guess it must have left more of an impression on me than I thought. This is a historical fiction/love story/locked room mystery that felt tight, but not claustrophobic, if you'll pardon the metaphors. Gin Phillips came by Lemuria 8 or so years ago for Tragic Kingdom, and I find of regret not giving that a chance at the time, so maybe I'll go back and revisit it.
March 9, 2026
3.5 stars
When the Great Depression hit near the beginning of the commercialization of Ruby Falls, tourism suffered. To drum it back up, a mind reader is invited to “find” a hatpin hidden among the caverns. He’s accompanied by a small party plus two additional people following the group in secret. When one of the group members is found dead, everyone becomes a suspect. A journey that should have taken half a day turns into a miserably drawn out race against waning supplies.
What a cool concept for a book based on (some) real events. I wouldn’t have predicted that I’d read two books set in caves within a week, and I’m definitely comfortable staying above ground for the foreseeable future. I enjoyed the premise of this book and the development of the relationship between the two characters following the main group in secret. If slow burn atmospheric mysteries are your thing, you’ll likely really enjoy it!
Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC!
When the Great Depression hit near the beginning of the commercialization of Ruby Falls, tourism suffered. To drum it back up, a mind reader is invited to “find” a hatpin hidden among the caverns. He’s accompanied by a small party plus two additional people following the group in secret. When one of the group members is found dead, everyone becomes a suspect. A journey that should have taken half a day turns into a miserably drawn out race against waning supplies.
What a cool concept for a book based on (some) real events. I wouldn’t have predicted that I’d read two books set in caves within a week, and I’m definitely comfortable staying above ground for the foreseeable future. I enjoyed the premise of this book and the development of the relationship between the two characters following the main group in secret. If slow burn atmospheric mysteries are your thing, you’ll likely really enjoy it!
Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC!
March 30, 2026
You won’t just feel the tension from the setting of being down in the caves of Ruby Falls, but also from the atmosphere of the mystery of the characters! Always enjoy reading books set in places I’ve visited! Another great book by Gin Phillips! 3.5⭐️ rounded up…agree with another review I saw that the murder mystery wasn’t even needed for the story.
April 23, 2026
I should have stopped reading this book when I started to get bored by it. It is dark and dreary like a cave. I couldn’t wait to get out of the cave.
Take my advice and don’t bother venturing into the cave.
Take my advice and don’t bother venturing into the cave.
March 22, 2026
In 2017, I read Gin Phillips' novel, FIERCE KINGDOM, which was about a woman and her child trying to survive in a zoo during an active shooter situation. I primarily listened to the audiobook while I was training for a long-distance race. Maybe the fact that I was doing my runs in the predawn hours by myself on the edge of town escalated the tension, but it's certain that Phillips' unique premise and suspenseful writing amped up my heart rate even more than it would have been otherwise.
When I learned that RUBY FALLS is set almost entirely underground, I knew I was in for more adrenaline-fueled reading this time around as I am extremely claustrophobic. Despite sharing that page-turning momentum, it is indeed a very different novel from FIERCE KINGDOM. For one thing, it's a mystery set during the Great Depression. And although the specific premise is not based in historical fact, the setting is very much a real place: a 63-foot waterfall located inside a cave near Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The book opens with a lightly fictionalized account of the waterfall's accidental discovery in 1928 during an excavation by Leo Lambert, who named the falls after his wife. In Phillips' telling, Ruby's good friend, Ada Smith, accompanies a small group on the first guided visit to see the falls. She's fascinated not only by the falls themselves but by the wonders of underground exploration, a hobby she pursues more frequently after the death of her husband.
Leo's dreams of striking it rich by turning the falls into a tourist attraction fall on hard times. It's not easy to launch a major business venture during a global economic depression. So in 1931, he hatches a new plan for a much-needed boost in buzz. He hires a famous mind reader, Professor Jeremiah Hagathorn, to participate in a publicity stunt. Two neutral participants (a local businessman and a cave guide) will hide a ladies' hat pin somewhere in the cave. Then, the next day, the mystic will use his psychic powers to find it somewhere in the extensive cave system surrounding the falls. Joining Hagathorn, along with the guide and the businessman, will be Hagathorn's wife and his manager. Just to ensure the event captures the headlines, Lambert has enlisted a Chicago newspaperman to accompany the group and report on the story.
Unknown to anyone else, however, two additional spelunkers will be tagging along, just out of sight: Ada and a man named Quinton, who accidentally discovered Ada’s pastime. They've agreed to keep their presence a secret and just ensure the group's safety. But when one member of the party turns up dead, they have no choice but to reveal themselves. And then the lanterns start to run out of fuel.
Set largely over the course of a single day and almost entirely within the increasingly oppressive and dangerous cave system, RUBY FALLS is a propulsive read. Ada is the central character, but Phillips offers insights into almost everyone else's backstories and motivations…and reveals the many secrets and lies they carry. This isn't just an exciting mystery, though. It also sheds light (so to speak) on the position of women at this time in history, as well as Ada's mixture of regret and excitement at being childless and able to pursue new kinds of passions.
Whether readers listen to RUBY FALLS in the dark or read it with all the lights on, they'll want to carve out some time to explore this rewarding historical mystery.
Reviewed by Norah Piehl
When I learned that RUBY FALLS is set almost entirely underground, I knew I was in for more adrenaline-fueled reading this time around as I am extremely claustrophobic. Despite sharing that page-turning momentum, it is indeed a very different novel from FIERCE KINGDOM. For one thing, it's a mystery set during the Great Depression. And although the specific premise is not based in historical fact, the setting is very much a real place: a 63-foot waterfall located inside a cave near Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The book opens with a lightly fictionalized account of the waterfall's accidental discovery in 1928 during an excavation by Leo Lambert, who named the falls after his wife. In Phillips' telling, Ruby's good friend, Ada Smith, accompanies a small group on the first guided visit to see the falls. She's fascinated not only by the falls themselves but by the wonders of underground exploration, a hobby she pursues more frequently after the death of her husband.
Leo's dreams of striking it rich by turning the falls into a tourist attraction fall on hard times. It's not easy to launch a major business venture during a global economic depression. So in 1931, he hatches a new plan for a much-needed boost in buzz. He hires a famous mind reader, Professor Jeremiah Hagathorn, to participate in a publicity stunt. Two neutral participants (a local businessman and a cave guide) will hide a ladies' hat pin somewhere in the cave. Then, the next day, the mystic will use his psychic powers to find it somewhere in the extensive cave system surrounding the falls. Joining Hagathorn, along with the guide and the businessman, will be Hagathorn's wife and his manager. Just to ensure the event captures the headlines, Lambert has enlisted a Chicago newspaperman to accompany the group and report on the story.
Unknown to anyone else, however, two additional spelunkers will be tagging along, just out of sight: Ada and a man named Quinton, who accidentally discovered Ada’s pastime. They've agreed to keep their presence a secret and just ensure the group's safety. But when one member of the party turns up dead, they have no choice but to reveal themselves. And then the lanterns start to run out of fuel.
Set largely over the course of a single day and almost entirely within the increasingly oppressive and dangerous cave system, RUBY FALLS is a propulsive read. Ada is the central character, but Phillips offers insights into almost everyone else's backstories and motivations…and reveals the many secrets and lies they carry. This isn't just an exciting mystery, though. It also sheds light (so to speak) on the position of women at this time in history, as well as Ada's mixture of regret and excitement at being childless and able to pursue new kinds of passions.
Whether readers listen to RUBY FALLS in the dark or read it with all the lights on, they'll want to carve out some time to explore this rewarding historical mystery.
Reviewed by Norah Piehl
March 22, 2026
In 2017, I read Gin Phillips' novel, FIERCE KINGDOM, which was about a woman and her child trying to survive in a zoo during an active shooter situation. I primarily listened to the audiobook while I was training for a long-distance race. Maybe the fact that I was doing my runs in the predawn hours by myself on the edge of town escalated the tension, but it's certain that Phillips' unique premise and suspenseful writing amped up my heart rate even more than it would have been otherwise.
When I learned that RUBY FALLS is set almost entirely underground, I knew I was in for more adrenaline-fueled reading this time around as I am extremely claustrophobic. Despite sharing that page-turning momentum, it is indeed a very different novel from FIERCE KINGDOM. For one thing, it's a mystery set during the Great Depression. And although the specific premise is not based in historical fact, the setting is very much a real place: a 63-foot waterfall located inside a cave near Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The book opens with a lightly fictionalized account of the waterfall's accidental discovery in 1928 during an excavation by Leo Lambert, who named the falls after his wife. In Phillips' telling, Ruby's good friend, Ada Smith, accompanies a small group on the first guided visit to see the falls. She's fascinated not only by the falls themselves but by the wonders of underground exploration, a hobby she pursues more frequently after the death of her husband.
Leo's dreams of striking it rich by turning the falls into a tourist attraction fall on hard times. It's not easy to launch a major business venture during a global economic depression. So in 1931, he hatches a new plan for a much-needed boost in buzz. He hires a famous mind reader, Professor Jeremiah Hagathorn, to participate in a publicity stunt. Two neutral participants (a local businessman and a cave guide) will hide a ladies' hat pin somewhere in the cave. Then, the next day, the mystic will use his psychic powers to find it somewhere in the extensive cave system surrounding the falls. Joining Hagathorn, along with the guide and the businessman, will be Hagathorn's wife and his manager. Just to ensure the event captures the headlines, Lambert has enlisted a Chicago newspaperman to accompany the group and report on the story.
Unknown to anyone else, however, two additional spelunkers will be tagging along, just out of sight: Ada and a man named Quinton, who accidentally discovered Ada’s pastime. They've agreed to keep their presence a secret and just ensure the group's safety. But when one member of the party turns up dead, they have no choice but to reveal themselves. And then the lanterns start to run out of fuel.
Set largely over the course of a single day and almost entirely within the increasingly oppressive and dangerous cave system, RUBY FALLS is a propulsive read. Ada is the central character, but Phillips offers insights into almost everyone else's backstories and motivations…and reveals the many secrets and lies they carry. This isn't just an exciting mystery, though. It also sheds light (so to speak) on the position of women at this time in history, as well as Ada's mixture of regret and excitement at being childless and able to pursue new kinds of passions.
Whether readers listen to RUBY FALLS in the dark or read it with all the lights on, they'll want to carve out some time to explore this rewarding historical mystery.
Reviewed by Norah Piehl
When I learned that RUBY FALLS is set almost entirely underground, I knew I was in for more adrenaline-fueled reading this time around as I am extremely claustrophobic. Despite sharing that page-turning momentum, it is indeed a very different novel from FIERCE KINGDOM. For one thing, it's a mystery set during the Great Depression. And although the specific premise is not based in historical fact, the setting is very much a real place: a 63-foot waterfall located inside a cave near Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The book opens with a lightly fictionalized account of the waterfall's accidental discovery in 1928 during an excavation by Leo Lambert, who named the falls after his wife. In Phillips' telling, Ruby's good friend, Ada Smith, accompanies a small group on the first guided visit to see the falls. She's fascinated not only by the falls themselves but by the wonders of underground exploration, a hobby she pursues more frequently after the death of her husband.
Leo's dreams of striking it rich by turning the falls into a tourist attraction fall on hard times. It's not easy to launch a major business venture during a global economic depression. So in 1931, he hatches a new plan for a much-needed boost in buzz. He hires a famous mind reader, Professor Jeremiah Hagathorn, to participate in a publicity stunt. Two neutral participants (a local businessman and a cave guide) will hide a ladies' hat pin somewhere in the cave. Then, the next day, the mystic will use his psychic powers to find it somewhere in the extensive cave system surrounding the falls. Joining Hagathorn, along with the guide and the businessman, will be Hagathorn's wife and his manager. Just to ensure the event captures the headlines, Lambert has enlisted a Chicago newspaperman to accompany the group and report on the story.
Unknown to anyone else, however, two additional spelunkers will be tagging along, just out of sight: Ada and a man named Quinton, who accidentally discovered Ada’s pastime. They've agreed to keep their presence a secret and just ensure the group's safety. But when one member of the party turns up dead, they have no choice but to reveal themselves. And then the lanterns start to run out of fuel.
Set largely over the course of a single day and almost entirely within the increasingly oppressive and dangerous cave system, RUBY FALLS is a propulsive read. Ada is the central character, but Phillips offers insights into almost everyone else's backstories and motivations…and reveals the many secrets and lies they carry. This isn't just an exciting mystery, though. It also sheds light (so to speak) on the position of women at this time in history, as well as Ada's mixture of regret and excitement at being childless and able to pursue new kinds of passions.
Whether readers listen to RUBY FALLS in the dark or read it with all the lights on, they'll want to carve out some time to explore this rewarding historical mystery.
Reviewed by Norah Piehl
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