Tahoe Heat

Owen McKenna #8

by Todd Borg

Young bio-tech genius Ryan Lear has a Silicon Valley company with a high-altitude research lab on a mountain above Lake Tahoe. When they make an amazing discovery worth a fortune, Ryan's business partners are murdered and someone plots to take over his company. Detective Owen McKenna tracks a vicious killer but can't figure out his identity. The only clue is that the killer is connected to a wild Mustang named Heat, a horse that is lost and roaming the forests of the Tahoe Basin...

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller, Thriller

390 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2010

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

[Robin]

Always enjoy the latest exploits of tough-guy PI Owen McKenna; his girlfriend, the smart and savvy Street; and Spot, the wonder Harlequin great dane; and of course, the Lake Tahoe setting is always front and center. I love reading these when sitting in our favorite Fallen Leaf campsite or on the south shore beaches.

Readers of Sue Grafton, JA Jance, and Lee Child will enjoy these.

[Sandy Weir]

The mystery horse was a delightful stroke on the canvas of this work. Additionally I liked the newish character, Maria (quirky and secure). I worry that Owen is acquiring super powers (as when he is bashed in the head, axed in the arm and stuck to a tree, injures his leg, and continues at brisk athletic pace to get the bad guy? That said, I have to admit I like the dialogue going on in his head as he works to makes sense of events, facts and suggestions. And veneer of beautiful Sierra scenes carefully seals a delightful read!

[M]

My husband and I are big fans of Todd Borg's books. We love how Todd intertwines the Tahoe area into the storyline. We have been in the Reno/Tahoe area for almost 20 years now and the references to the local places are quite accurate. You can imagine yourself standing right there next to the characters. Tahoe Heat is, in our opinion, his best book yet! Thank you Todd. We are looking forward to your next one!

[Celia Barry]

I love this mystery series set in Lake Tahoe. It's not remarkable writing but it's very satisfying reading. For anyone who loves Lake Tahoe and has spent a little bit of time at the lake, you'll recognize many of the settings in this series and learn about other places you'd like to explore.

[Addison Public Library]

PI Owen McKenna receives a call from a very frightened Ryan Lear. Lear is a whiz kid Silicon Valley business owner who has had his life threatened. One of his friends has also died under suspicious circumstances and another friend is missing. Owen and his Great Dane, Spot, must delve into the past as well as the current rivalries among the Silicon Valley millionaires to find a clue to the crimes.

KD 11-16

Check out this book today!

[Greg Hashagen]

Tahoe Heat

I'm really enjoying the see books and as I read them they are getting better and better. I'm from Auburn so I love all the local references. Owen, Street and Diamond remind me of Spencer, Hawk and Spencer's girlfriend. I recommend these books highly - thoroughly good reads!!

[Theresa]

Ryan is a mega-rich CEO of a bioresearch company whose two partners have disappeared. He is terrified for not only himself but his little sister (the most likeable new character). He is neurotic and hires Owen to find out who is behind the disappearances and the threats being made to him. Also in the story is a wild mustang who people spot but cannot catch. Another murder occurs to a neighbor who leaves a clue as to his killer. Owen spends the better part of the novel trying to figure out the meaning. While I liked the book, it felt disjointed. The violence against the woman dating the investor in Ryan's company, the mustang, the drunks in the woods, the horse riding all felt disconnected even though they were tied together in the end.

[Barbara]

Owen, Lake Tahoe, Private Investigator is hired by a wealthy silicon valley sort (Ryan) to investigate murder and disappearance of his close friends. Ryan thinks he is the main and final target but doesn't quite know why. The action takes place at Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas. There is a tremendous amount of action and perhaps a bit too much violence for my taste but I did basically enjoy this mystery thriller!

[Donna Ransdell]

Captivating!

Another great thriller with Owen, Spot and Street and a host of other familiar characters. Enjoyed the new characters as well. As always, I was not able to put the story down!

[Marjorie]

Another good Tahoe read from Todd Borg! And it involves a horse this time, a mustang. These books are great escape reads and i always learn something. I also enjoy looking at the map of Lake Tahoe and the area to follow along where the action is taking place in the books!

[Kurt F]

great read!

Well written
Consistent tension thru out the story.
Enjoyed sharing w family.
Loved look8ng up the locations where the action was occurring and planning to visit next time I visit family there

[Emily Kammerer]

I enjoyed this book as much as I have enjoyed his other books.! I did do some skimming on the portions about the bio tech company because it was over my head! Otherwise good character descriptions and likable characters! It was a fairly quick read for me!

[Judy A. Kuhl]

Always a learning experience.

Nothing is ever simple and straightforward in these novels. There are many interesting diversions to entertain the reader. Piano tuning is an interesting skill that is difficult. Incredible story.

[Virginia Adi]

fascinating premise and good story.

[Elizabeth Harris]

Another suspenseful Owen McKenna novel with a surprise ending.

[Lynn Guest]

Todd Berg writes great modern day mystery stores set in Tahoe.

[Terri Stanfield]

Another good one

I liked it...I’m becoming a bit obsessed with this series. And I love Lake Tahoe so much! On to the next one in the series!

[Barbara]

I've enjoyed this one the most in the series so far. Who knew piano tuning was so technical?

[Jennifer]

I love the series and this one is one of my favorites. I couldn't put it down.

[Staci Pauly]

I really liked the personality of the 6 year older sister Lily.

[Merrill]

Good page-turner. It's hard to not dive right in to the next in the series!

[Karen]

Held me from beginning to end and I've never been able to predict the outcome of one of his books yet! I also love the fact that his stories take place in the Lake Tahoe area as well as surrounding "downhill" areas of which I am somewhat familiar. I will always recommend Todd Borg books.

[Cathie]

Another good one from Mr. Borg, but not one of his best in my opinion. Seems to be very similar to another one I read as far as keeping victims in a house for protection, thugs after them, exceptionally rich ~I know it's a Tahoe story ~ people involved. And considering it is called "Tahoe Heat" the horse it references shows up very little in the story. Still a good writer and I will read more of his!

[Elaine Mayes]

Do you like Sue Grafton? How about William G. Tapply (the Brady Coyne series)? Then you should be reading Todd Borg's novels. The characters are sharply written and interesting. You'll learn about topics like art and origami and mustang horses and biotech. You'll meet Spot the harlequin Great Dane and his owner Owen McKenna. Well written books with muscle and heart.

[Valerie Downs]

Love it!

I know it's very cliche but the books just get better and better. I loved this book, learning more about the Washoe tribe and their history. I also enjoyed the way the characters go about getting the job done. I'm all for happy endings and Mr. Borg's books always leave me feeling better and smiling. Great read.

[Marcia]

The 8th in the Owen McKenna mystery series. A great read! 0wen tackles another mystery at Lake Tahoe with his dog Spot.

[JoAnn Ainsworth]

The beginning and end were terrific. Felt I was in school in the middle. Didn’t need lectures. I flipped through a number of pages. Still I enjoyed it

[judy]

Was seriously enjoying this book then, unfortunately, I came to the end. Twists are not required. In fact, this book shows me that they can be very detrimental.

[David Adam]

Great Book really kept me going.

[Lisa Church Sielen]

Love reading anything about Tahoe.