Another waterfall along the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River, just a short 40-minute drive from Seattle is Twin Falls. Forget about solving all these crimes; the signal triumph here is (spoiler) the heroine’s survival. My recommendation for this is to go for a late afternoon or evening hike (depending on when you come and how much daylight we have). Another option is to come on a weekday, which will still be busy but not quite so intense. You can also go for a weekend later in the fall if the snow holds off. Where is Comet Falls? Like the other Mount Rainier-based waterfalls listed here, Myrtle Falls is about a 2-hour-and-30-minute drive from Seattle, which will feel like nothing after a long day of exploring the mountain! Comet Falls Just beyond that, you’ll see yet another beautiful waterfall and then just under a half mile later you’ll cross another creek flowing into the creek on your left. Look right here for a view of gorgeous Bloucher Falls. Bloucher Falls

Christine Falls - Hiking Waterfalls Washington Christine Falls - Hiking Waterfalls Washington

It’s not the dead that seem strange to Quirke. It’s the living. One night, after a few drinks at an office party, Quirke shuffles down into the morgue where he works and finds his brother-in-law, Malachy, altering a file he has no business even reading. Odd enough in itself to find Malachy there, but the next morning, when the haze has lifted, it looks an awful lot like his brother-in-law, the esteemed doctor, was in fact tampering with a corpse—and concealing the cause of death. The Comet and Christine Falls Trail is a great hot weather hike in Mount Rainier National Park that rewards a bit of a sweat with two impressive waterfalls. With a couple of impressive 300-foot drops bookended by multiple smaller cascades, the falls are a perfect place to cool off during your hike.A dark, ambitious crime novel . . . It's going to make more than a few readers flip the book over to look at the author photo to make sure Banville's really pulling the strings.” — Newsday Considered to be less known than some others on this list, it’s a great place to picnic and find a little tranquility among blooming rhododendrons. Try Piper’s Creek for a shot at catching the endangered fish work their upstream magic, or just wandering through the endless winding paths, embracing the charm of the kind waters. Granite Falls

Christine Falls (Quirke, book 1) by Benjamin Black Christine Falls (Quirke, book 1) by Benjamin Black

About halfway to the falls, there’s a small area with a viewpoint and some benches where you can either take a rest or turn around. Here you’ll cross the creek on a single log bridge. This bridge is not high, but it is narrow and goes over rushing water. There’s a single log handrail you can use to help you across. If it’s icy, use extreme caution!It’s perfect for a casual day of waterfall-watching followed by lunch at a nearby deli. Carkeek Park If you are considering continuing up the trail beyond Comet Falls to Van Trump Park (which has excellent wildflowers in season), plan on the end of July or early August. Head up towards Bridal Veil Falls (you can continue on to Lake Serene later if you wish) and hike for another 0.5 miles up many stairs.

Christine Falls: The First Quirke Mystery (Quirke Mysteries

From the more family-friendly or beginner-minded waterfall seeker, look no further than BoeingCreek in Shoreview Park. Poole's pale gull's eye glittered vengefully. He had a way of grinding his lower jaw from side to side. Mount Rainier’s endless sights continue with Christine Falls, a stop boasting easy-to-get-to views that’ll charm even the most seasoned outdoorsman. The road between the Nisqually Entrance and Paradise (a little hamlet where a lot of tourist activity is at) crossed over Van Trump Creek between the upper and lower tiers of this waterfall.

Starting at the trailhead for Lake Serene, you’ll head out on a relatively uphill trail for about 1.5 miles before you reach a break in the trail. A more challenging and involved hike, this stop is one for those who take their waterfall sightseeing seriously, but it’s certainly worth the payoff of catching rainbows in the spray at the waterfall’s base. Christine Falls While Christine Falls can be viewed from the road year-round, the trail to the lower viewpoint is snow covered and hazardous during the winter. There’s really only one way up to Comet Falls, although there are a couple of extensions you can do to add distance to your hike and get truly off the beaten path, which is kind of a hard thing to accomplish in a place as popular as Mount Rainier National Park.