Tahoe Night

Owen McKenna #7

by Todd Borg

When TV talk show host Leah Printner gets pulled into a deadly art forgery, Tahoe Detective Owen McKenna follows the case from Tahoe to New York to Santa Fe to the Sierra foothills. McKenna must unravel a complex scheme where a genius killer has figured out how to make millions off a master artist, murdering anyone who gets in his way...

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller

395 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2009

About the author

Todd Borg and his wife moved from Minnesota to Lake Tahoe in 1990. After his fourth Tahoe novel, he sold his business to write full time.

In addition to winning the Ben Franklin Award for Best Mystery of the Year, Todd Borg's Owen McKenna mysteries have been chosen for Top 5 Mystery lists by the prestigious Library Journal, and by Mystery News Reviewer G. Wedgwood. He's won Best Mystery and Best Thriller honors from the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association and received Best New Fiction accolades from libraries. His novels have also received starred reviews and raves in major trade journals and newspapers across the country.

Todd Borg and his wife live on Lake Tahoe's South Shore.

Series:
* Owen McKenna Mystery

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tahoe based PI Owen McKenna takes another case.

When a TV host is disfigured and her husband killed in an automobile accident, it seemed like things couldn't get any worse for her...until her father disappeared and a stalker showed up.

Owen gets on the case, which takes him into the wonderful world of art fraud. It's the stuff on art fraud that makes this book memorable. The rest is pretty humdrum.

[Katy Glaittli · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was great, he’s really hit his stride with these. Was it the most misogynistic one so far? Yes, but I really don’t think he’s doing it on purpose.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every year while at Tahoe, I read a McKenna mystery and this is this year's choice.

Update: These appealing mysteries feature Spot, aka "his largeness," the wonder harlequin great dane who always manages to nab the bad guy and save the day, and Owen McKenna, retired San Francisco homicide detective who has just the right amount of intelligence, sensitivity, and manly man toughness to keep us female readers captivated. But the real star of the series (and the major reason I read them) is the totally authentic setting of Lake Tahoe, specifically the south shore area. I've been visiting the area for years and I learn something new about the area every time I read a title from this series. Borg is perfect at capturing the actual place names, history, and businesses in the story.

One can't go wrong with reading any of these as they are also filled with lots of action and a dang good mystery plot. This one was a bit better than most and while I suspected the murderer, I was still surprised at the final outcome.

Readers of a good solid whodunit such as ones by Sue Grafton, JA Jance, and Marcia Muller will enjoy these, as will readers of C. J. Box and Craig Larson (Walt Longmire) .

[Carol Gronli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me preface my review with this fact. When an author writes a series of books, whether it's 2 or 99, I try to pick the best of the series to review. I have read all 17 of this author's books on Owen McKenna and this book, Number Seven, is in that list of favorites.

Why? Because human fragility, their insecurities, their fears are on display in this story and the human who is damaged learns to face all that and overcome them. Yes, there is plenty of suspense, plenty of "Awww that doggie is sooo cute!" but overall I had a full Thanksgiving reader's stomach when I finished reading this book. I could sit back and go "Damn - Borg has done it again!" Love when that happens! Thanks Mr Borg. Still waiting on #18....

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leah has a budding career as a TV personality when she is in a car accident leaving her husband dead and her face deformed (as least by her perspective). If that weren't bad enough, she has a stalker and is being hunted by a sniper. Owen is hired by a neighbor to look into what is keeping Leah and her father locked in a house on her property. This investigation leads into the world of art forgery and takes Owen to New York to find out how forged paintings get bought and sold. As usual, Owen is helped by his faithful sidekick, Spot. In this novel, Street is largely missing until the very end because she is at a bug conference. The story gets a little melodramatic in the end, but we learn a lot of interesting facts about art and forgery.

[Holly Kailani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todd Borg is now on my short list of favorite authors

I read more than two hundred books a year, and it takes a lot to impress me. Tahoe Night is the fifth book in this series that I’ve read. Every one so far has been a page turning hit. Sometimes the level of violence is too much for me, but I can’t stop reading. I especially love the inclusion of Spot as a main character. I appreciate that the intimate details of Owen and Street’s love life are kept private. I’m going to stop writing now and buy the next book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Owen McKenna is hired to protect local television personality Leah Printer. What the author has happen to Leah is so horrific that she is a basket case for the duration of the story. This gives McKenna a chance to be the big strong hero and also gives his dog a larger role as her physical and emotional protector. However, the book might have little appeal for readers who do not want to spend an entire book with a woman reduced to shreds by fear and violence. I think the last of this series for me.

[Harvee Lau · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of action with private eye, Owen McKenna, and his Great Dane, Spot. The scene is the art world and the murder and attempted murder connected with it. Leah is in hiding after her dad is killed in their rental cottage in Tahoe. McKenna hides her while trying to solve the mystery of the man's murder. Leah and her father are both skilled artists and the book leads us into the art world, its workings, paints, and Old Masters.

A bit heavy on the art world side so I had to skim through lots of paint and painting explorations to keep the mystery thread going.

[Emily Kammerer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to the previous book in this series the characters and plot are getting more complicated. I really enjoy that he still maintains main characters and there personalities so I can follow with that. Adding different people into each plot creates more of a who dunnit type of mystery. I was continuing to be surprised up until the very end. Todd Borg does a great job of give descriptions of everything so if you are not interested in that it might be a slow read for you but it does not bother me!

[Chrissi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe the best one yet!

I have read the Tahoe books this far in order. I am pacing myself because I know eventually I will run out and that will be very disappointing. This one may be the best one yet, but I have loved each one. I especially love how Spot is one of the main characters, not just an afterthought. I got to meet a spotted great dane at the Aces game in the grassy area last summer and I was so thrilled.

[Terry Retter · Rating 4 out of 5]

With only a couple of significant leaps in logic, this is a good story. Learned more about the art business than I thought would be here. Most of the clues lead you in the right direction but you need to pay attention or you will let yourself go in the wrong direction.

My first Borg novel. I will go back for a second helping.

[nancy flack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life must go on and be cherished.

This is another special tale of life as it is for some of us. Owen as always risks his own life to save another. Can you be strong and recover to be better?.

[Denise Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love his way of writing.....

Good read as usual!!!! I really love reading about our area, Tahoe.....I've told a few others about Todd Borg and his writing....this is my 2nd time thru all his books. Need to read the last 2 books he wrote...

[Andy Plonka · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best part of the later books in this series is that you get treated to a mini lesson in some area. In Tahoe Night it is art forgery.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love his stories! Intriguing. Well done.

[Lbd · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great page turner! and a lesson in art and the black market!

[Virginia Adi · Rating 4 out of 5]

complex and enjoyable story

[Victoria Soltesz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Just to good to put down
If it’s or any of the Owen McKenna books were to be made into a movie Gerard Butler comes to mind as I read

[Staci Pauly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 7 was Bo and my favorite so far.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good mystery that keeps you in suspense until the very end! I love reading these books by Todd Borg for the writing, and for taking place in beautiful Lake Tahoe.

[Bberrystillgmail.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. Well written.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todd Borg has become one of my favorite mystery writers. The stories are so creative and it's easy to fall in love with Spot.

[KayDee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leah Printner was a popular talk show host in Lake Tahoe until an accident killed her husband and scarred her face. After leaving the hospital and going to live with her reclusive father, their landlady calls Owen McKenna for help. She believes someone is stalking the pair but, when Owen tries to contact Leah, he is met with silence. A few hours later, Leah’s father is murdered and she is traumatized knowing she will be the next victim. A curious case awaits McKenna as the killer multiplies into at least two killers and the legendary monster Grendel seems to have a bearing on a truly fascinating case

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tahoe Night is the latest Todd Borg mystery. All his mysterys take place at/around Lake Tahoe. They are very entertaining and quick reads. His character is much like Superman and his side-kick is his great dane Spot. Taodd is a local author (Lake Tahoe) and I met him at the Nevada Women's History Project first annual book fair last November (2008). He will be at the 2nd annual book fair this November (2009). I don't usually read mysterys but I purchased one of his books and have been a Todd Borg fan ever since.

[Cathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Lake Tahoe mystery. I enjoyed this one because it focused more on Owen and the adventure he went on throughout the story rather than Spot so much. Spot was more of a babysitter in this one. I felt like I got to know Owen a little more and his observations are funny, found myself laughing a lot more in this one. I thought the ending wound up all the loose ends nicely as I was wondering where it was all going in the middle of the story regarding the art caper. I learned some things about famous art and the fakes that can be done, and more about Tahoe which I love!

[Elaine Mayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent series and this book just adds to it. Owen McKenna, Private Eye, has another interesting case. This time Spot, his 170-pound Harlequin Great Dane, doesn't rescue him. As usual we learn a little about art, this time Rembrandt. I recommend not only this book, but the entire series.

[Valerie Downs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't get enough!!

These books just keep getting better. I was sure I knew who the culprit was and was I ever wrong. This is terrific book, good plot, and characters I have really come to appreciate.

[edith haskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love these books

Not only do these books have a great plot, but I am actually learning something while being entertained. I learned a lot about Autism in Tahoe Silence and now after reading Tahoe Night, I feel like an art expert. But most of all I just love SPOT!

[Lisa Church Sielen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todd a great writer about Tahoe.

[Gail Jorgensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

another good one by Todd I like the dog spot of course but can't imagine living with a 170 lb dog.