Bibliography:
Borg, Todd. 2001. Tahoe Deathfall. Thriller Press. ISBN: 1-931296-11-1

Through one of the library listservs I monitor, I received a forwarded e-mail with an invitation to post about a forgotten or obscure book that I felt deserved to be recognized or remembered. The Owen McKenna series was the first that came to mind. Perhaps too new to truly have been forgotten, and slowly coming out of obscurity with a great review from Booklist magazine (Tahoe Silence was selected as one of the best mysteries of last year.) But I still believe that this series and its author deserve wider readership. The set up is like many other such series on the market today: a former cop who had a tragic experience on the job has left the force and set up shop as a private investigator. But McKenna has so much more than that (besides a name that sounds ready made for a tv show, but I digress…). He owns a Harlequin Great Dane named Spot who besides being a great and lovable dog, is also a great tracker and guard dog. Plus I can’t tell you how many times he has intimidated the bad guys with his size and teeth alone. He has an appreciation for fine art, which is nicely woven in to the theme of the story. A great girlfriend named of all things, Street who happens to be a forensic entomologist and while they have a great and faithful relationship, refuses to marry Owen. A great cast of secondary characters, from sheriff deputies to crime journalists. And a wonderful setting which really works, lots of description of the outdoors, the wilderness, and the unique position that Lake Tahoe occupies in the United States landscape.

But I hear you asking, what about the story, the writing? Well, Borg is a master at ratcheting up the suspense level in all his tales and you will find yourself turning the pages to find out what happens next. And his writing which starts out pretty good, is improving with each book he writes. You’ll be happy to know that there are five books already out with a sixth due to be published August 1. For more information, check out www.toddborg.com