Novel set in the first half of the 20th Century HUNGARY
Ten Great Books Set in WASHINGTON STATE
11th July 2026
Ten great books set in Washington State
Washington State, the Evergreen State, is a captivating region in the Pacific Northwest known for its profound geographical diversity. The Cascade Range divides the state, separating the lush, temperate rainforests and vibrant Puget Sound coastline in the west from the expansive, semi-arid plains in the east.
Home to iconic landmarks like Mount Rainier and the bustling, innovative hub of Seattle, the State is a global leader in technology, aerospace, and agriculture. Beyond its economic prowess, it offers a rich tapestry of Indigenous history, majestic volcanic landscapes, and a commitment to environmental preservation, making it a unique intersection of natural beauty and modern industry.
Here are ten of our favourite books set ib the state.
Widow’s Island by L A Larkin – SEATTLE, WASHINGTON STATE
Her heart beats fast in her chest as she cautiously opens the front door and takes in the smashed plates on the kitchen floor and upended furniture. She follows the trail of red droplets on the floor, knowing what she’s about to find. Knowing that something terrible has happened…
Stephanie Miller is an average working mom. She isn’t perfect, but when her war hero husband dies and her work puts her in news headlines, her past is laid bare for all to see. Determined to make a new life for herself and teenage daughter, Amy, she fears it’s only a matter of time before the biggest mistake of her life is revealed.
As Stephanie and Amy take refuge on a remote island in Washington, it feels like they’re learning how to live again. But then they come home to graffiti on their garage door, there’s no escaping the hate online, and Stephanie is sure somebody is watching from the shadows outside their house.
When one of Stephanie’s close friends is murdered in her own home, she knows her worst fears have come true. Someone knows the truth. And she must become the fighter her husband always knew her to be if she is to protect her daughter, and everything left in the world that she loves.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford – SEATTLE
1986, The Panama Hotel The old Seattle landmark has been boarded up for decades, but now the new owner has made a startling discovery in the basement: personal belongings stored away by Japanese families sent to interment camps during the Second World War. Among the fascinated crowd gathering outside the hotel, stands Henry Lee, and, as the owner unfurls a distinctive parasol, he is flooded by memories of his childhood. He wonders if by some miracle, in amongst the boxes of dusty treasures, lies a link to the Okabe family, and the girl he lost his young heart to, so many years ago.
The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber – WASHINGTON STATE
From the minute she sees the Rose Harbour Inn, Jo Marie Barlow knows that this is the place that will help her find the peace she craves. And if the inn can comfort her, surely it can offer the same refuge to her first two guests.
Joshua Weaver has come home to care for his ailing stepfather. The two have never seen eye to eye, but a long-lost acquaintance proves to him that forgiveness is not out of reach and love can bloom in the unlikeliest places.
Abby Kinkaid left Cedar Cover twenty years ago after a devastating accident. But as she reconnects with family and old friends, she realises that she needs to let the past go if she is to embrace her future.
The Violets of March by Sarah Jio – BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
This novel is a story within a story. Set in the present day Emily Wilson, divorceé leaves NYC to reside with her Aunt Bee on Bainbridge Island, in order to sort herself out and take stock.
The second story revolves around her discovery of Esther’s diary from the 1940s, a woman who was married with a child, yet who was in love with someone else. Emily is on a quest to find out more about Esther and about her own family.
Hard Cold Winter by Glen Erik Hamilton – SEATTLE
When an old crony of Van Shaw’s late grandfather calls in a favor, he embarks on a journey deep into the remote forest of the Olympic Mountains in search of a missing girl tied to his own criminal past.
Discovering a brutal murder scene, Van finds himself caught between a billionaire businessman on the one side and vicious gangsters on the other.
In an attempt to survive Van will have to face some of the toughest questions of his life, not least over his relationship with his iron willed girlfriend, Luce. But with the clock ticking, a desperate Van may just need every ally he can get, especially as someone prepares to unleash a firestorm on Seattle that could burn them all to ashes.
Three Days in Seattle by Debra Burroughs – SEATTLE
A Novel of Romance and Suspense – L.A. photographer Kate McAllister is lured to Seattle by the news of her sister’s suspicious disappearance, not realizing someone wants her dead. On the flight to Seattle she connects with a ruggedly-handsome man who offers to help her, but she wonders if she can trust him. Or is this perfect stranger too good to be true? Two detectives, one experienced and by-the-book, the other a bumbling rookie, are hot on the case, with the help of Kate’s intriguing new friend. Will they be able to stop the vengeful killer before Kate and her sister wind up dead?
Where’d you go, Bernadette by Maria Semple – SEATTLE
Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she’s a fearlessly opinionated partner: to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she’s a disgrace: to design mavens, she’s a revolutionary architect, and to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, Mom.
Then Bernadette disappears. It began when Bee aced her report card and claimed her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. But Bernadette’s intensifying allergy to Seattle–and people in general–has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands. A trip to the end of the earth is problematic.
All Fired Up by Carmine Valentine – ORCAS ISLAND
On an island in the Pacific Northwest, a mystery draws them in.
When Marianne and Jack meet on the ferry to Orcas Island, it couldn’t be more awkward—for Marianne, that is. Jack has no problem with a woman landing on top of him. It’s a case of opposites attract. But they each have their reasons not to get involved.
Marianne, having accepted a dare from her Barefoot by Moonlight writers’ group, has returned to stay in her hometown on this Pacific Northwest Island. And she’s had nothing but trouble since. Her sister is hiding something from her, and a threatening note tied to her front gate is accusing her of having “traitor in her blood.”
Jack’s plan is to check out the property left to him by his grandfather and then ‘get off this rock’ as fast as possible and back to his Special Operations unit.
But on this small island, avoiding each other isn’t to be.
When an old tale of stolen jewels resurfaces, revealing a dangerous secret kept by both of their grandfathers, it will take Marianne and Jack together to uncover the truth before one of them gets hurt. But solving the mystery means working out an arrangement. Jack needs a place to stay. Marianne has rooms to spare.
In close quarters, it’s soon apparent that solving the mystery might be easier than trying not to fall for each other as they realize that they both long for the same thing.
A web of secrets, hidden pasts, and romantic tension up until the very end with vivid details of the Pacific Northwest woven in.
Before She Wakes by Ed James – SEATTLE
She opens her eyes and focuses on the room around her. Everything is in place, yet something isn’t right. She walks towards her daughter’s room, calling her name, as she does every morning. But this morning is different. This morning there is no response, Marissa’s daughter has vanished.
Single mother Marissa Bukowski stands in her daughter’s untidy room. Olivia’s phone is still charging at the wall and her clothes are still hanging in her closet. The mirror above her daughter’s desk is cracked and a message written in red ink reads ‘Never Forget’.
As FBI special agent Max Carter is called in to investigate, he delves into the lives of Marissa and her quiet, studious teenage daughter, and soon discovers that Olivia has been lying to her mother. Not only did she have a secret boyfriend, but she had also been talking to her guidance counsellor in the weeks before she disappeared. What was so big that Olivia couldn’t tell?
When a blood test reveals that Marissa was drugged the night Olivia went missing, Carter turns his sights towards Marissa’s estranged husband, only to find that he too has vanished without trace. And when he uncovers a family secret that could put the teenager’s life in danger, it’s clear that time is running out for Marissa’s beloved daughter. Can he discover the truth about Olivia’s family and find her before it’s too late?
You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes – BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
Joe is done with the cities. He’s done with the muck and the posers, done with Love. Now, he’s saying hello to nature, to simple pleasures on a cozy island in the Pacific Northwest. For the first time in a long time, he can just breathe.
He gets a job at the local library–he does know a thing or two about books–and that’s where he meets her: Mary Kay DiMarco. Librarian. Joe won’t meddle, he will not obsess. He’ll win her the old-fashioned way . . . by providing a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand. Over time, they’ll both heal their wounds and begin their happily ever after in this sleepy town.
The trouble is . . . Mary Kay already has a life. She’s a mother. She’s a friend. She’s . . . busy.
True love can only triumph if both people are willing to make room for the real thing. Joe cleared his decks. He’s ready. And hopefully, with his encouragement and undying support, Mary Kay will do the right thing and make room for him.
Enjoy our selection of great books set in Washington State, If we’ve missed any of your favourites, just add them in Comments below.
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