Tahoe Avalanche

This is the latest in a series of light mysteries, taking place in the Lake Tahoe area. Like the others(all have "Tahoe" in the book title), it is a fairly easy book to read. McKenna, girlfriend Street and his dog, Spot, return to solve the latest murders, all of which occur within the backdrop of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding wilderness area. The beauty of the area comes through loud and clear. The only downside is, like the other books in the series, that the ending is very predictable.

Can an avalanche be used as a murder weapon? When March Carrera is buried in a monster avalanche at Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, Detective Own McKenna is hired by the young man's uncle to inquiry into event. McKenna and an avalanche rescue dog do a search of the slide area and dig up more than they expected as more victims are found embedded in the snow. From the mansions of the upper class to the dark world of Chinese mobsters, McKenna finds himself having to deal with a 140 year-old secret and trying to save another victim of an avalanche doom. "Tahoe Avalanche" is the sixth in a highly recommended series showcasing Todd Borg is a superb storyteller whose previous Own McKenna mysteries have established him as a master of the genre. Now "Tahoe Avalanche" continues to add to his literary legacy which also includes "Tahoe Death"; "Tahoe Blowup"; "Tahoe Ice Grave"; "Tahoe Silence"; and "Tahol Killshot".

This is #6 in the Owen McKenna series and it is THE BEST YET! Every time I read the newest I feel that way, so Todd Borg is definitely on the right track. I really savored this one and I didn't want it to end. Todd keeps you interested in the storyline and you just don't want to put it down. I love his characters-- especially Spot. Who couldn't love that Harlequin Great Dane. I always learn something new in each book so I'm sure Todd is doing his homework. Keep it up-- you never let us down.

It's winter in Tahoe, and the snow storms are lined up one right after another. Then the oddest thing happens; there is an avalanche, and when the snow settles a pickup truck is found at rest impaled atop a tree. Owen McKenna hears about it, but doesn't realize he will soon be asked to find the driver of the truck, the nephew of Bill Esteban. When he and Spot search the area they do find a body, but this one is of a woman. Owen will find the nephew, and the mystery of what happened to these two young people, and who would be insane enough to try and kill these people by setting off an avalanche is off and rolling. Owen is not perfect. He is an ex-cop, so he has instincts about situations and people, but there are times he makes mistakes, which makes him more real for the reader. Spot is his intrepid sidekick, the energetic great dane who accompanies Owen through his inquiries. The cast of characters from the other books in the series are back, including the police of both the California and Nevada sides of Tahoe, Street, Owen's beautiful girlfriend, and Ellie the dog trainer. The story is told so well I could almost picture the characters in my own living room. The avalanche scenes are incredible, cold and suffocating and frightening. You don't have to have read the other mysteries in the series to understand the character relationships, although Borg doesn't spend a lot of time re-explaining them. This was a pleasure to read, thank you Todd!