Tahoe Deathfall (An Owen McKenna Mystery Thriller)

Well written with lots of action and plot twists. Ending was exciting, tricky and intense. Great book for a beach day or airplane trip.

I didn't think I would like this book started slow but soon picked up. I really enjoyed a nice read

Todd borgw rites a very fast paste book that you just don't want to put down about a girl wanting to hire him to prove her twin sister's death was not an accidenthis girl is willing to pay $20000 For this private investigator to look into hers's death As he investigates different aspects of this girl's life he finds that things seem very cut-and-dry Alex Alex finds things are extremely weird and is told not to investigate after a unique murder and it saved more than one time by his Great Dane spot His girlfriend a bug scientist proves to be extremely helpful not only in her bug science but also in her ability to entertain and befriend the his little girl who's now 14 After a long expensive plane ride alce finds that The grandmother never had biological children that's where things really start to get interesting This grandmother seems to have Had it thumb in everything all loose ends are tied. Murderer caught. And Alec's expensive paid. Friends made great book o look forward to read more in this book series

Not sure what to expect with this one but was not disappointed at all. Spoiler alert.This one starts with the death of a six year old girl. A girl who fell off of a cliff. Some scrub pines broke her fall enough to keep her alive as she hit a ledge. She had broken bones but managed to drag herself to an overhang where she couldn't be seen. Melissa Salazar then died.Nine years later Owen McKenna a PI in Lake Tahoe is inspecting his new office. Clothes make the man. The office makes the business. Owen is 6'6" and over 200 pounds in weight. He's also an ex cop from San Francisco who did a stint in K-9.Spot, his Harlequin Great Dane is with him. Spot is huge and weighs it at 170 pounds. He's also well trained and will attack anyone he views as a threat to Owen or those he's protecting.Owen is in his office when a fourteen year old Jennifer Salazar knocks on the door. Jennifer is extremely intelligent and has already taken her S.A.Ts.three years early. She's already been accepted at Stanford, Caltech, Harvard and M.I.T, she's also worth three hundred and ninety four million dollars. Jennifer wants to hire Owen to find out who murdered her sister Melissa nine years ago.While Owen needs the business he also knows a fourteen year old girl can't hire him. She's not of legal age to sign contracts. If her grandmother, her legal guardian, wanted to hire him that would be okay but not Jennifer. Owen does tell her that he can help out a friend though and he will look into this nine year old case. A case that was ruled accidental death.So begins one pretty damned good read.This one has Owen, Jennifer, Spot, Street who's Owens girlfriend and a forensic entomologist, a Street who will turn out to be the key to the whole case, Glennie who works at the library and is a big help to Owen on a case that's nine years old, a Glennie who'd like to do more than help Owen on a case, Roberto Salazar, Alicia Salazar who's confined to a mental institution, an Alicia who Owen will rescue, an Alicia with quite a story to tell, Helga the housekeeper for the Salazar's, Owens cabin a place he calls home, a place with a ten million dollar view, Owens interest in art, an interest that will reveal much about those involved, Emerald Bay, Cascade Lake, a boat that belongs to the Salazar's, a Jennifer and Owen who use that boat to test out a time line, a Jennifer who thinks someone is in her house, a someone she thinks wants to kill her, a Jennifer who spends time with Street at her condo and Owen's cabin, Mallory a South Lake Tahoe police Captain, a Grandmother Salazar who thinks Jennifer pushed Melissa off that cliff, a Grandmother Salazar with her own agenda, a dog trainer named Ellie Ebsen who's search and rescue dog found Melissa, an Ellie who gave Owen the particulars on the find, a man named Sam Sommers who's the caretaker at the Salazar estate, a Sam who went on vacation and was due back but never showed, a dead body that been dead for quite while and isn't easy to identify, a dead body that will prove to be one giant clue and Owen McKenna doing his best to figure out the whole thing, save a life and bring the murderer to justice.Five Stars well earned.

I wavered between three and four stars and finally settled on four for several reasons.First off, the young teen age girl who comes to Owen McKenna to try and solve the murder of her twin sister 7 years earlier is a very bright girl. In so many books I've read the authors have not done very good jobs trying to recreate the conversations of young teens. Either the dialogue is full of so many cliches which the authors seem to think younger kids use, or else it's just idiotic. I teach middle school kids, and have never heard a single one of them talk as they are portrayed in many books. Instead, Jennifer, the girl in this story, is portrayed as a sort of "genius." As a result, her conversation wasn't peppered with moronic things that authors "think" that age group would say, and neither was she portrayed as some geek who spoke in polysyllabic words and compound sentences which would have driven the reader crazy. I liked her conversations and her "tones."Secondly, the main protagonist, Owen McKenna, has a "love interest" but there was never any sex in this book. I appreciated that. It was a story which carried itself well without the author having to pad it with gratuitous sex scenes to appeal (perhaps) to a wider audience. Somehow, not having to deal with McKenna stripping down to the buff and panting in bed with his lady make me like him a bit better. The relationship was portrayed cleanly.Thirdly, there was no filthy language in this book. I didn't need to read foul language coming from Owen's mouth, and as such, I felt a closer relationship to him. He seemed like quite a decent man, and I had respect for him. I also enjoyed the references to the artwork of Edward Hopper. I was aware of this artist's name and vaguely remembered a few of his paintings, but after reading some of Owen's circumspections on some of the paintings as related to his current case or his life, I looked them up on the internet and gave them another look, and it was like I was seeing them for the first time.As to the story line, it was interesting, and while I was not 100% surprised who the actual murderer turned out to be (it had to be one of only three or four people), it was still a revelation I had not completely expected, and I was guessing until quite near the end of the book. I can't quite say that this was an "edge of the seat" thriller, but in many ways, that was just fine with me. I've read enough grisly, disgusting books where women or men are being stalked and raped, murdered, and dismembered to last me the rest of my life. At this point in time I simply appreciate a good story that keeps me interested, and this book fit the bill.I think the only thing I tended to question in the book was Owen's Great Dane, "Spot." I've owned dozens of dogs over the last 60 years, starting with one at age five. As an adult I trained all my dogs. Not as circus pets, of course, but to be obedient and to respond to many commands. Perhaps Spot was some type of exceptional Great Dane, but generally, that breed simply is not known for being among the brightest of the canines. A few of his feats tended to stretch the imagination, but what the heck. Let's just "go with the flow" and accept that this book is a work of fiction, so we'll let the exceptional Spot slide right along with it.I would definitely recommend this book. In fact, I've already started the second one in the series and have also downloaded the third one.

We are not told how successful Owen McKenna is as a detective, but we do know that he is a man with scruples. When a young girl offers him a cheque for a large amount of money to investigate the death of her sister many years ago, along with a notarised statement of indemnity and a promise of a lot more money in the future, he tells her clearly that he is unable to take her money and she cannot hire him. He does eventually agree to do some investigating for her, but on a purely voluntary basis. His instincts are aroused when he notices her being followed as she leaves his office. Why then does no-one else want him to take on this investigation? Her grandmother insists that the girl has psychological problems, and has suggested throughout the years that Jenny killed her sister herself.The plot is complicated by the possibility that the main suspect may well have killed two of his wives, is another woman in danger? Is Owen in danger from the same person? The grandmother is convinced that Owen is a potential paedophile and demands that he stays away from her granddaughter, threatening to call down the weight of the law upon his head.That Owen is a trustworthy person is laid out for us in his relationships, both personal and professional. He is in a long-term relationship with a woman whose own history makes commitment difficult for her, although Owen is as committed to her as she will let him be. He is obviously trusted by his contact in the Police department, as is evidenced in the phone calls he receives warning him to back off from the investigation as the grandmother is stirring up trouble. He even warns when an arrest warrant is about to be served. Through all of this however, Owen knows that Jenny is in imminent danger and cannot leave it alone. He risks his life many times to save the child, but as the final pieces of the puzzle fall into place, will he be in time or is he just too late? Owen charms people into co-operating with his investigation but doesn't promise anything in return, his professionalism remaining intact.This isn't a straightforward puzzle, the characters do not do what you expect them to and the author keeps us guessing throughout the book. The end, when it comes, is not what the book has led the reader to believe but does not stretch the bounds of credibilty.

The best character in this book was Spot, the Great Dane - he was great in every way!When PI Owen McKenna starts to investigate the possible murder of 14 year old Jennifer'stwin 9 years before, he is hampered by Jenny's German grandmother. This formidable ladynot only threatens Owen with the Police if he doesn't keep away from Jenny, but actuallysays she will have his knees broken! She says Jenny is paranoid about her twin's death andabout being in danger.I found some of the book dragged out. There were many pages when Owen discusses fliesand maggots with his forensic girlfriend, Street, and how they determine the date of a murder victim.I know this is done, but I didn't really need so much information about it. Also, I know nothing aboutmodern art, but if the artist and his one particular painting exist, that Owen mentions over and over again,I think the author should receive commission from him! Owen said the painting helped him solve the puzzles,but it was overdone, in my opinion.I did guess the murderer early on, but not the motive. Overall I enjoyed the book and would read moreadventures of Owen and particularly Spot. Very clever name for a spotted dog!!

I came across this book when I was browsing for a Kindle book.This was free so I gave it a try even though I had never heard of the author.After reading it I immediately purchased the second in the series and am now about to buy the third.Owen McKenna is a very likeable protagonist,as is his girlfriend.Spot the dog is the real star.The sense of place is excellent,and the plot,although a bit unbelievable in places,is fast paced and tense.The violence is not graphic,there is no swearing,and the sex scenes play out behind closed doors.Anyway,two down,thirteen more to go.

Good intro to this PI and his life. A 14 year old girl wants him to investigate the death of her twin sister 9 years ago. Owen along with his entomologist girlfriend and huge dog Spot get caught up in a family and it's secrets.A good read with a touch of humour. One small criticism is for proof-readers to please check that quotation marks are in place when someone is speaking.

A good read for the most part. An interesting story line, genuine characters and the odd touch of humour. Some passages dragged especially the science stuff about maggots. Still, that'll teach me to read at the dinner table. Owen McKenna is a private eye I could follow through a series, no problem.