In the remote mountains of Arizona, Nora Abbott’s husband has just been found dead. These ancient lands hold a murderous secret. A rural town, filled with Native American history, is being torn apart by corporate interests and corruption. Nora Abbott is caught in the middle, struggling to keep her small business from going bankrupt. But when Nora’s womanizing husband is murdered in cold blood, gossiping locals and law enforcement suspect she might be responsible. As allies become enemies and friends become suspects, Nora takes it upon herself to find out who really killed him. But in this unforgiving terrain, the price of truth may be too steep... Height of Deception is the first of the Nora Abbott mysteries. What people are saying about Shannon Baker and HEIGHT OF DECEPTION: ★★★★★ “Height of Deception is the best book I've read this year.” ★★★★★ “I couldn't put the kindle down and stayed up until 3:30AM to finish it.” ★★★★★ “I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend this book and l look forward to the rest of the series.” ★★★★★ “Ms. Baker is an excellent writer, creating real life characters in totally believable circumstances. If you are fans of Sue Grafton or Sara Paretsky, this new series is for you.” ★★★★★ “If you like smart outdoorsy heroines as I do, you'll soon become a fan of Nora Abbott. It's always a special treat when you learn new things while you're being entertained and Height of Deception does both. Five stars!” Recommended for mystery and thriller fans of James Patterson, C.J. Box, and J.D. Robb.

When a chance meeting on a hiking trail leads to a position at a nonprofit in Boulder, Colorado, Nora feels lucky to have a job . . . even after she finds out that the previous financial director has gone missing. With her suspicions of foul play confirmed by her Kachina guardian, Nora doesn't know who to trust in an organization that's rife with deceit and corruption. As she's pulled deeper into a treacherous conspiracy, an unannounced visit from her mother and a reunion with Cole Huntsman have Nora playing tug of war with her own feelings. Fearful for her own life and the safety of those she loves the most, Nora wonders if her new beginning in Boulder will turn out to be a deadly mistake. Praise: "Baker deftly escalates the stakes of her initially straightforward story, which takes a much more serious turn before arriving at its unexpected conclusion." —Publishers Weekly

Nora Abbott risks her career at Loving Earth Trust on a film project to convince Congress to expand the Canyonlands National Park. But someone is desperate to keep the secrets of the land hidden. When her best friend and director of the film is found dead, Nora is convinced it wasn't an accident. Nora's Hopi kachina messenger has vanished and now it looks as though Cole Huntsman, the man she's finally allowed herself to love, has left her, too. As Nora uncovers an unlikely intersection of ancient Hopi legends, a secret polygamist sect, and one of the world's richest men, she is drawn deeper into danger. Her mother's surprising past holds the key to the clash of cultures, but will Nora put all the pieces together in time to prevent disaster? Set in the iconic red rocks of Moab, Utah, Nora races to discover what really lies beyond the stars.