By COREY BUCHANAN

After earning nominations on a few occasions , Wilsonville author Warren Easley has won the Spotted Owl Award , bestowed annually for the best mystery book of the year by a writer in the Pacific Northwest .

“ Getting a prize like this that represents writers in the Northwest meant a lot to me ,” Easley said .

Easley , who has lived in Wilsonville for 26 years , won for the eighth installment of a series on Cal Claxton — who runs a one-man practice out of Dundee . The book titled “ No Witness ” follows Claxton as he tries to solve the murder of a family member of an undocumented immigrant .

The book centers around the theme of immigration and the plight of the group of people known as “ Dreamers ,” who came to the United States as children but do not have citizenship . The U . S . Immigration and Customs Enforcement ’ s aggressive searches for undocumented immigrants loom in the story .

“ The police are stymied because this

Warren Easley ‘ s mystery novel , “ No Witness ,“ explores themes related to immigration .

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is the immigrant community , and they really don ’ t want to talk to the cops . All the undocumented people were scared to death . Since they won ’ t come forward they trust Cal , and he goes forward to solve the case ,” Easley said .

He added : “ In fiction it ’ s all about walking around in someone else ’ s shoes . In this book you ’ re walking around in

shoes you may not have walked in before .”

Easley said his books have a brisk pace and sharp dialogue . The plot also is more than meets the eye , he added .

“ I like stories that are fairly complex . In this book it ’ s not just about the murder . There ’ s something else that was going on in the wine country . There ’ s two mysteries embedded in the book ,” he said .

Easley , who has a doctorate in physical chemistry , began his writing career after he retired in 2002 . It took him 11 years to get his first book deal . Since then , he has won a number of honors for his work . The latest award , Easley said , is fitting because the goal of the series has been to paint a detailed portrait of the Pacific Northwest .

“ My wife says these books are like letters to the Northwest ,” he said .

A committee within the group Friends of Mysteries decides upon the Spotted Owl Award each year . They have yet to officially announce Easley ’ s honor .