Tahoe Rescue by Todd Borg

 

First Line: Georgia Byron Connor's first thought as she rocketed off the switchback at Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, wasn't about the make or color of the pickup truck that nearly hit her pearlescent orange sports car head-on.

 

Livvy Paar had begun to think that fairy tales really can come true. From working as a waiter and sidewalk busker in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she became the personal secretary of cosmetics tycoon, Georgia Connor. Livvy even worked and lived in Georgia's mansion on the shore of Lake Tahoe.

But that life was shattered when Georgia died in a car accident. Georgia's children immediately began bickering over their inheritance and told Livvy she had to move immediately. Livvy would've done as she'd been ordered if she wasn't so suspicious that Georgia's car accident had been rigged and that Georgia was murdered. Her suspicions led her to private investigator Owen McKenna's door.

 

Much to his surprise, McKenna found himself involved in a mystery involving modern-day pirates who were after a multi-million dollar painting-- a painting so valuable that they were willing to kill anyone who got in their way.

 

But they didn't realize what would happen when they went up against Owen McKenna and his Great Dane, Spot. 

~

Todd Borg's Owen McKenna series never disappoints. When you pick up one of these books-- like the latest Tahoe Rescue-- you're going to find yourself learning nuggets of local history about one of the most beautiful places on the face of the Earth as well as traveling all around Lake Tahoe itself. You're also going to find yourself immersed in a fast-paced mystery that keeps you guessing, and worrying, about one of the best casts of characters in crime fiction.

Todd Borg's characters have all been about diversity before diversity became cool. Owen McKenna is a former San Francisco homicide detective, and he has friends in local law enforcement. He is deeply in love with a scientist named Street and is willing to have their relationship be on her terms. Street is in the process of adopting a deaf child, and readers can become acquainted with life with the hearing impaired as a result. 

 

In Tahoe Rescue, Livvy Paar is a young woman who is all too familiar with depression. She also has one leg shorter than the other and is a strong believer in yoga to help strengthen her muscles. She feels small and powerless, but she's not. Owen discovers that she's really a little steamroller when he takes on her case against his first impressions. 

If I've made this partial cast of characters sound like a poster for diversity, it's not my intention. Through the course of this series, these characters have become a fictional family. It's only when finishing a book like Tahoe Rescue that I realize that, although Livvy had an odd walk and sometimes behaved strangely, none of Owen's friends treated her differently. It is so refreshing to spend time with nice people!

 

Of course, spending time with nice people (and wonderful dogs) isn't the only reason why I love this series. In Tahoe Rescue, I had an interesting mystery involving stolen art to solve and a thrilling escape from the bad guys through the mountains to experience. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series because Owen has a bit of a personal awakening as he helps Livvy Paar. Unfortunately, I have an entire year to wait to see what happens next.

Tahoe Rescue by Todd Borg

ISBN: ‎ 9781931296328

Thriller Press © 2024

Paperback, 320 pages

 

Private Investigator, #22 Owen McKenna

Rating: A-

Source: The author.