In mid-May, my husband Danny and I took a road trip up to the Dry Creek area of Sonoma County. Our purpose was to take photos to use for research in my third Nick and Meredith Mystery, With Malice Aforethought. I’d hoped to get lucky and find a shot to use on the cover. This is a particularly remote and wild part of Sonoma. It is populated by wild boars, poison ivy, redwood trees and rattlesnakes. Hillside vineyards accentuate the raw beauty of the area.

Dry Creek Valley--Collier Falls Winery
Dry Creek Valley–Collier Falls Winery

Tourists usually keep to the Dry Creek Valley. This is studded with wineries, well-kept Victorian homes and again, sprawling vineyards. Lake Sonoma caps the valley with an aquatic crown. The lake is a primary water storage for Sonoma County as well as a major recreation area.

Dry Creek Valley Wineries California Map
Dry Creek Valley Wineries California Map

I thought I’d share some of the pictures with you. Let me know what you think–is this place too remote for a mystery?

Lake Sonoma looking NE toward Geysers
Lake Sonoma looking NE toward Geysers
Lake Sonoma Marina
Lake Sonoma Marina