Author Ramona Baillie is ready to shake up the genre of crime fiction. In her gripping debut, she presents a breakneck psychological thriller driven by complex characters and moral conflict. The Darkest Green hit shelves on July 22. Here’s what to know before picking up your copy!
Introducing Ramona Baillie
Ramona Baillie is a seasoned writer and creative professional with a sharp eye for life’s grittier edges. Born in Westmount and raised in Pointe-Aux-Trembles — then one of Montreal’s roughest neighborhoods — her childhood played out against a backdrop of gangs, BB guns, and street-level crime. By age nine, she was navigating dangers most adults never face, from attempted abductions to daily fights. Those early experiences gave her a crash course in resilience, street smarts, and human complexity — all of which now shape her distinctive narrative voice.
Professionally, Ramona has built an impressive 30-year career in the staffing and HR industry, earning an Honorary Life Award from the Human Resources Professionals Association for her outstanding contributions. She has served on corporate and nonprofit boards and brings a strong leadership mindset to her creative projects.
As a playwright, screenwriter, and producer, Ramona has had six of her plays performed across Canada, and her film scripts have garnered awards internationally, with productions in Canada, Europe, and the U.S. She’s also spent time in the vibrant arts scene of South Beach, Florida, before settling in Toronto, where she now lives with her husband.
About The Darkest Green
Trigger Warning: This book contains depictions of human trafficking, graphic violence, and murder. Please exercise personal care while reading.
He remembered when people were drawn to him because of his face. When he was handsome, even men tended to want to be near him. All he had to do to get laid was smile at any woman in the room. Now he couldn’t smile. Now he wore a two-faced mask. The left side a reminder of the power beauty elicited, and the right side a cruel reminder of his sins. Deep scars forced the eye to droop and pulled his lips down to a half-grimace, creating the illusion of a Freddy Krueger mask. No, not a mask; the real thing.
— Ramona Baillie, The Darkest Green
The Darkest Green by Ramona Baillie is a striking debut that takes readers on an enthralling ride through Houston’s crime-riddled underbelly.
When his former employer dies, reclusive accountant Gabriel Douglas unexpectedly inherits controlling shares in an exclusive nightclub, thrusting him back into the world of crime he barely escaped alive. Infuriated by this snub, the club owner’s merciless heir, Luke Verde, is determined to destroy Gabriel and take back what’s rightfully his. Meanwhile, Tessa Begley, recently orphaned by her mother’s death, is searching for the father she’s never known. When her path collides with Gabriel’s, she’s drawn into Verde’s criminal empire. As the stakes ratchet up, Gabriel, Luke, and Tessa find themselves entangled in a web of love, lies, and betrayal. The ensuing power struggle will exact a deadly price.
What to Expect
In The Darkest Green, Ramona Baillie offers a fresh take on crime fiction that fans of Gillian Flynn and Don Winslow will devour. This gritty psychological suspense novel doesn’t shy away from tackling real-world topics like human trafficking. Instead, it embraces a raw perspective on organized crime and violent power struggles, as reflected by the characters’ twisted motivations, morals, and worldviews:
‘They’re not innocent. They’d sell themselves if they thought it would make them celebrities.’
— Ramona Baillie, The Darkest Green
Though enrapturing, the fast-paced plot and high-stakes crime drama at the center of this story aren’t its only hooks. Ultimately, it’s the protagonists who drive the narrative forward. When faced with the unthinkable, Baillie’s morally complex cast of characters makes dire decisions that shape the story in unpredictable and irreversible ways. Bolstered by the intrigue of ethical ambiguity, their arcs are designed for maximal reader investment. Baillie’s antiheroes, swathed in shades of gray, promise a pulse-pounding reading experience:
Luke put his feet up and lit another cigarette. Looking at the cigarette, he said in a gentle voice, ‘Why do you think I would ever wanna involve you in my business? You’re a parasite. You only survive because I let you, because I choose to be your host. And now, the feast is over.’
— Ramona Baillie, The Darkest Green
Final Thoughts
Ramona Baillie’s The Darkest Green fuses unfiltered violence, psychological depth, and non-stop tension to craft a layered crime drama unlike anything readers have seen before. Emotionally evocative and endlessly immersive, it dares to explore the intricate, real-life power dynamics at play in the struggle for survival.
If you’re on the hunt for a captivating crime thriller, The Darkest Green delivers exactly that! Purchase your copy today on Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or Amazon.
To learn about another incredible up-and-coming author, check out our interview with Ray Chan!
Find The Darkest Green and more riveting reads on our Mystery/Thriller bookshelf on Bookshelf.org.
