The Solar Deception

A Digger Doyle Mystery

Published Copy

Genres

Political Fiction, Lesbian Mystery, Suspense, Women Sleuths, Environmental Fiction, Political Intrigue, and Novels

Trigger Warnings

Suicide

Type of Ending

Series

Second or higher in series

Series Read Order

Reading prior books is recommended, but not required

Author Prefers A Review On

Goodreads or Amazon

Reader Spots Remaining

Number of days to read

Publication Date

Jul 6, 2026

Page Length

286 pages

Available Formats

ePub and PDF

The Solar Deception

A Digger Doyle Mystery

Published Copy

Blurb

Clean energy. Dirty politics. Deadly secrets.

Fresh from exposing political corruption, investigative reporter Digger Doyle has traded newsroom deadlines for a job inside New Mexico's state government. Her first assignment seems simple: look into a high-profile solar energy project.

But something doesn't add up.

Following a trail of money, secrets, and political deception from the ancient ruins of Chaco Canyon to the halls of power in Santa Fe, Digger uncovers a conspiracy to destroy a man's political career. The deeper she digs, the more dangerous the truth becomes—and someone will do whatever it takes to keep it buried. The stakes are high as Digger finds herself and her wife in a dangerous game, where her personal life becomes entangled in the web of political vendettas.

Set against the striking landscapes of the American Southwest, The Solar Deception is a fast-paced political mystery featuring a determined lesbian sleuth, high-stakes intrigue, and twists that expose the human cost of greed and ambition.

Awards

Winner, SouthWest Writers Contest

Finalist, 2024 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards

Details

Genres

Political Fiction, Lesbian Mystery, Suspense, Women Sleuths, Environmental Fiction, Political Intrigue, and Novels

Trigger Warnings

Suicide

Type of Ending

Series

Second or higher in series

Series Read Order

Reading prior books is recommended, but not required

Author Prefers A Review On

Goodreads or Amazon

Reader Spots Remaining

Number of days to read

Publication Date

Jul 6, 2026

Page Length

286 pages

Available Formats

ePub and PDF

Author

Rosalie Rayburn is a journalist and author who has lived in many countries including the USA, UK, Ireland, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Portugal. She earned a bachelors’s degree in Sociology from Trinity College Dublin and started her newspaper career freelancing for the Irish Times and Irish Independent. Travels took her to Norway where she was news editor for the English language Saga Weekly and contributed to the trade magazine Norwegian Oil Review. Returning to the US, she spent 18 years as a staff writer for the Albuquerque Journal; during which she covered business, local government, energy and telecommunications.

She had six short stories broadcast by Radio Telefis Eireann in Ireland, authored a business guidebook “Living and Working in Saudi Arabia” published by How To Books Ltd., UK, and translated the Norwegian memoir “Norsemen Follow the Trail” published by Dreyer Bok, Stavanger, Norway.

Now retired, Rayburn divides her time between the US and Portugal where she contributes to the lifestyle magazine “Portugal Living” and writes a blog about relocating to and living in Portugal.