Tragedy in Tahoe

Rylie Sunderland Mysteries #1

by Rachele Baker

When veterinarian Rylie Sunderland moves to Lake Tahoe to try to make sense of the mess her life’s become, she suddenly finds herself entangled in a murder investigation - - and she’s one of the suspects….

This suspenseful cozy mystery is perfect for fans of Kate Carlisle, Ellie Alexander, and Lauren Elliott.

After the veterinary hospital where she worked burns to the ground, Rylie packs up the pieces of her life and her golden retriever Bella and moves to Lake Tahoe. Still reeling from losing the only veterinarian job she’s ever had, she takes a summer job to help out a family friend at an old Lake Tahoe estate that’s been converted into a bed and breakfast inn.

But her vision of spending an idyllic summer at the lake is soon shattered when handsome local bakery owner Colin Matthews is found murdered in a secret tunnel that runs under the old Tahoe estate where she’s working. And as if having a murder occur just steps from where she’s living isn’t enough, Rylie’s shocked to find herself in the crosshairs of the detective in charge of the case as one of the suspects in the murder investigation.

With her reputation and her future on the line, Rylie’s determined to clear her name. Her search for answers takes her all over Lake Tahoe where she finds clues in unlikely locations and the list of suspects grows.

Will she be able to find the answers she needs before her dreams for the future are lost forever?

Here’s what readers are saying:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This is a fabulous and well written cozy mystery with murder and a little mayhem. The array of characters are vibrant, colorful, charming, and intriguing.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This is a great read. Very interesting characters. Well written.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A new and brilliant cozy mystery series.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Mystery, murder, beautiful scenery, twists and turns, some surprises too.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I kept turning page after page until I'd suddenly reached the unexpected and climatic conclusion. It's so good.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Lots of suspects and twists galore.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I became so entranced with the allure of intrigue and adventure that I hadn't realized it was hours past my bedtime.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A suspenseful beginning to a new series, there’s no stopping until the last page.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Outstanding characters and a complex mystery.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This mystery is for anyone who loves suspense, twists and turns, lovable characters, and a surprise ending.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The characters will draw you in with you wanting to get to know them better. But you'll be enticed further by the mystery and intrigue of who done it.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I love the characters of Rylie Sunderland and her golden retriever, Bella. The mystery unfolded at a good pace. There were plenty of suspects who had reason and opportunity. Clues were found in unexpected places and some during tense moments. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one.”

Tragedy in Tahoe is the first book in the Rylie Sunderland cozy mystery series featuring Rylie, a 32-year-old female veterinarian, and her loving golden retriever Bella.

You’ll find an eclectic mix of characters in the charming real-life small town of Tahoe City, California, high in the Sierra Nevada mountains on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, a golden retriever with plenty of personality, and a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. If you love intriguing cozy mysteries full of twists and turns, you’ll love this series.

Each book in the series may be read as a stand-alone, but they’re more enjoyable when read in order.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy

304 pages, ebook

Published August 29, 2023

About the author

Rachele Baker is a veterinarian and the author of the Rylie Sunderland cozy mystery series. She lives in northern California close to Lake Tahoe and the Napa Valley wine country where the Rylie Sunderland cozy mystery series takes place. She drew on her many years of experience as a practicing veterinarian to develop the main character for this series, Rylie, who is also a veterinarian. Rachele’s golden retriever Savanna was the inspiration for Rylie’s golden retriever Bella.

In her free time, Rachele enjoys exploring northern California wine country, Lake Tahoe, and areas along the California coast like Mendocino, Monterey, and Big Sur. Some of her favorite things include freshly brewed coffee in the morning, walks in nature, and, of course, golden retrievers.

You can sign up for Rachele’s monthly Cozy Chat e-newsletter (link below) to get info about her books, photos from her adventures, news for book lovers, and the opportunity to participate in fun contests and giveaways.

Connect with Rachele:
Website: https://www.rachelebaker.com/
Monthly Cozy Chat e-newsletter: https://www.rachelebaker.com/newslett...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachele.bake...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelebake...
X: https://x.com/RacheleBakerDVM
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rache...

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Tragedy in Tahoe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Author: Rachele Baker@rachelebakerauthor Fleur de Soleil Books Tragedy in Tahoe is a wildly entertaining start to the Rylie Sunderland Mystery series. Rachele Baker does a fantastic job of setting the scene, making Lake Tahoe feel like your favorite vacation spot. The characters are well-developed, and the mystery will keep you hooked from start to finish. You'll be dying to know what happens next. Rylie Sunderland's summer takes an unexpected turn when she arrives at Whitaker Cottages for a temporary job. What should have been a peaceful getaway turns into a total nightmare when a local bakery owner, Colin Matthews, is found murdered in the underground tunnels. The shocking part: he had Rylie's name and number in his pocket—even though she had never given it to him. Creepy, right? With suspicion looming, Rylie teams up with her new friends, Gillian and Liam, to uncover the truth. As they dig deeper, they not only fight to clear her name but also to save the reputation of Whitaker Cottages. With her loyal Golden Retriever, Bella, by her side, Rylie races against time to solve the mystery before it's too late. Baker keeps the tension high, and the twist at the end is completely mind-blowing. Readers will love the mix of mystery, small-town charm, and engaging characters. The ending leaves just enough intrigue to make you eager for the next book, Vengeance in the Vines. Highly recommended for cozy mystery fans who love a good whodunit. #TragedyInTahoe #RylieSunderlandMystery #CozyMystery #LakeTahoe #MurderMystery #MustRead #BookLovers #Whodunit #PageTurner #MysteryBooks #AmateurSleuth #GoldenRetriever #CrimeFiction #BookSeries #BookLoversUnite #ReadingJourney #ReadersOfInstagram #BookWormLife #ReadMoreBooks #LiteraryAdventures #BibliophileVibes #PageTurnerSociety #WordsAndWonder #NovelNights #bookstagram #bookstagrammer

[Lori Bonkoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good beginning for a new series. Rylie is a veterinarian who is helping out with guest cottages in Tahoe for the summer. When the local bakery owner is found dead in the owner's cottage, Riley and her new friends hope to get to the bottom of who had it in for Colin. There are many possibilities and plenty of suspects. I enjoyed this book and look forward to more books in the series. The story is well written and plotted, the characters likeable, everything you want in a cozy mystery.

[Margaret M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read in a new series

I enjoyed this book. Well written for a first novel. Looking forward to reading more books in the series. The characters are very likeable and smart. Main character makes good decisions and doesn't do dumb things to get herself in trouble. Very refreshing after some other books by other cozy authors. Looking forward to Rylie and her dog Bella solving more mysteries.

[Evelyn B.]

The description of the setting of Lake Tahoe and its surroundings was magnificent. I enjoyed the characters and their interaction. It was a fast read and well written.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great start to a new series. The main character is a veterinarian who takes a part time job at a b& b. Of course, there's a murder! I will definitely pick up the next one in the series

[Phyllis Bernstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun cozy mystery. This is the first book in the series and I loved the plot and characters.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragedy in Tahoe is the first book in the Rylie Sunderland Mystery series by Rachele Baker and Baker sets the stage beautifully and introduces the characters and the area so well that you will feel like you know your way around Lake Tahoe.

In Tragedy in Tahoe main character Rylie Sunderland is going to be spending the summer in Lake Tahoe working part-time as a caretaker for Whitaker Cottages. Rylie's mother and the owner, Elizabeth, are old friends and after the veterinary business that she worked at burned down, Rylie decided to take the summer off and help out at the cottages while she figured out what she wanted to do next regarding work.

After Rylie gets settled and learns her new job responsibilities she attends a gathering, Locals' Night, put on by Gillian and Liam, the other caretakers for the cottages. She gets to meet other business people and friends who live around Lake Tahoe. One of the people she meets is handsome Colin Matthews who owns the Butter Lane Bakery and delivers fresh baked goods to Whitaker Cottages for their continental breakfasts.

Unfortunately before Rylie can get to know Colin better, he is found murdered in the underground tunnels on the property.....and to make matters worse, he had a piece of paper in his pocket with Rylie's name and phone number on it. Rylie had only spoken to Colin briefly and did not give him her phone number. And because her number was in his pocket the local detective Mark Felton has her on the suspect list.

Rylie, along with Gillian and Liam, begin to look in the murder as well....not only to clear Rylie's name but the business has taken a big hit with people cancelling reservations. While doing her own investigating Ryliue does clear up how Colin got her number when she runs into her old college friend, Laurent, and he admits to giving it to him.

Rylie along with her loving Golden Retriever, Bella, and friends do what they can to solve Colin's murder....unfortunately when the killer is revealed, no one would have suspected them ....ever !!!

Readers will fall in love with Tragedy in Tahoe immediately !! You will love the area, the businesses, the people and the storyline and the way that Baker ends the story guarantees that readers will be waiting patiently (hopefully) for the second book, Vengeance in the Vines, to be released to see where the story takes Rylie and Bella........

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous and well written cozey mystery with murder and a little mayhem. The array of characters are vibrant and colorful and of course it wouldn't be a mystery without a deadly perpetrator needed to be found. The characters will draw you in with you wanting to get to know them better. But you'll be enticed further by the mystery and intrigue of who done it. There There is a quiet but troubling history between the local business owners close nit group. Rylie the heroine of this mystery is the new gal in town and when a murder happens on the second night during her summer job at one of Tahoes resorts she's looking for answers while she and her best friend Bella a golden retriever getting reacquainted with the Tahoe she new from visiting when she was younger to the Tahoe of now. You're going to smile as Rylie and Bella a make themselves at home in the resort,Tahoe and the surrounding area. I was so entranced I hadn't realized it was passed my bedtime, Once I started reading and enjoying what I was read I kept turning page after page until I'd suddenly reached the unexpected and climatic conclusion. It's so good. Acquire " Tragedy in Tahoe " book one in the new series ( Rylie Sunderland
Mysteries)today for hours of intriguing and enjoyable entertainment. Kat

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragedy in Tahoe is a strong first fiction novel by veterinarian Rachele Baker. I enjoyed reading a couple of her nonfiction books, so I was not surprised to discover that she creates outstanding characters and a complex mystery in this first book in her cozy mystery. I can't wait to get my hands on the next Rylie Sunderland Mystery.

[Yvonne Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This mystery is for anyone who loves suspense, twists and turns, lovable characters and a surprise ending.

[Cheyenne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book so bad 😭 Seldom do we get stories taking place in Lake Tahoe so I was excited, but then really let down. The writing feels very off and choppy. There is SO much redundancy that I found myself actually shaking my head throughout the book. 80% of the book is dialogue and it’s very dry.

Some scenes would be like:
“Thanks for coming over. We’ll have to do this again sometime.”
“Yes, we will have to.”
“Okay, see you later.”
“See you later.”

I was also disappointed the synopsis made it seem like a practicing veterinarian was the main character. She’s not working at a clinic, she’s taking a summer job as a cabin receptionist. It would’ve been so much cooler, in my opinion, to have her being an active vet in the story. It’s the main reason I picked up the book.

I hate leaving bad reviews but this one just really missed the mark for me, sadly 😓 I almost DNF’ed at 50% but forced myself to finish it

[Wulfwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved It

Rachele Baker paints with words! I love her writing style. Reading Tragedy in Tahoe was one of the most relaxing experiences I had with a mystery. It was like being on a vacation!
I love the characters of Rylie Sunderland and her golden retriever, Bella. Their interactions are part of what gave this story such a relaxing vibe. The other part were the setting descriptions.
The mystery unfolded at a good pace. There were plenty of suspects who had reason and opportunity. Clues were found in unexpected places and some during tense moments. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one.

[Marcia Ditter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read. Very interesting characters. Well written.

[Charles H Weierbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragedy in Tahoe

This book is great for any mystery and dog lover. Especially time to explore a new job and help solve mystery.

[Tracy Condie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in picturesque Lake Tahoe, this series starter does an excellent job of bringing the beauty of this region to life. Rylie finds herself out of her permanent job due to a wildfire and in the middle of a mystery by the second day of her summer temp job as the temporary caretaker at Whitaker Cottages. Colin Matthews, owner of the Butter Lane Bakery, is found dead in the Absinthe Room, a small alcove located off of the underground tunnel one reaches via the secret passage off of the Butler’s Pantry of the main house. Rylie becomes involved because the victim had her name and number on a piece of paper in his pocket, but she never gave him that information. Why did Colin have her information, how did he get it, and what was it he wanted to speak with her about? Both Rylie and Detective Felton would like to know the answer to that question. This story checks all the boxes for a cozy novel. Rylie is quick to make friends with the rental cottage managers Liam and Gillian, who often share information between each other and Detective Felton. The three of them even engage in a little sleuthing on the fly as well as carefully planned scenarios. Word gets out in the local paper that the Whitaker Cottages was the scene of the murder, which means possible bad publicity and canceled reservations, yet another reason for Rylie and her pup Bella to lend a hand with solving the crime. Liam and Gillian introduce Rylie to people whenever possible and I had to chuckle each time Gillian would mention that a one of Liam’s buddies is single. I don’t think Rylie needs any help with finding a possible love interest, especially since Detective (call me Mark) Felton, seems to be happy to share information as well as a picnic while investigating. It was during their trip to Vikingsholm that I found myself taking time to research the location. Vikingsholm is now on my bucket list as a California place of interest. Ms. Baker does a really good job of working in actual locations to her story.
There are many suspects in this story, from Thomas the young groundskeeper, Patrick the owner of the soon to be renovated Tavern Grill, Aidan the hot tempered husband, Blake Cunningham questionable attorney, Steve Randall a general contractor who overpromises and under-delivers, and the list goes on. Rylie’s college friend Laurent, good friend to Colin, makes mention that Colin got involved with things he should have left alone. Red herrings are plentiful and new information is revealed with each new chapter including some really good sounding meals from Tahoe city restaurants and Gillian’s kitchen, even Bella’s dog snacks sounded enticing. With Rylie being a vet, the recipe to the dog treats would be a nice extra to the story either at the end or worked into the story itself. Rylie’s adventures continue in book 2 entitled Vengeance in the Vines.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rylie Sunderland suddenly finds herself out of a job when the veterinary hospital where she worked burns down. Rylie's mother is friends with Elizabeth, the owner of Whitaker Cottages, and as a favor to them, she takes a temporary summer job as a caretaker at Whitaker Cottages. Shortly after her arrival at the cottages, the body of Colin, a young man she had recently met, was found in a secret tunnel on the property. He has Rylie’s phone number in his pocket, and she has no idea why or how he got it, which makes her a possible suspect. To clear her name, she decides to help solve the crime, along with Gillian and Liam, the full-time caretakers of the cottages, and Rylie’s loveable golden retriever, Bella. As clues are discovered and the list of suspects quickly grows, she has her work cut out for her. Can Rylie and her new friends solve the crime?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this cozy mystery book by Rachele Baker because it takes place in Lake Tahoe, a scenic place that I have visited a few times since I live in Northern CA. I like that the main character, Rylie Sunderland, is older (32) and is a veterinarian. She and her lovable golden retriever Bella enjoy getting to know the people in the small town where Rylie will be working for the summer as a temporary part-time caretaker at rental cottages. There are many secondary characters introduced and one of them kills charismatic Butter Lane Bakery owner Colin Matthews soon after Rylie and Bella arrive. Since Colin was murdered near Whitaker Cottages, Rylie wants to discover who the killer is as soon as possible. I thought that this book was well written and I found it entertaining. I look forward to reading future books in this series.

[Tari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked Rylie and the Gallaghers’ characters a lot and who wouldn't love that sweet pup Bella. But the overall writing seemed a little choppy with super short and simple sentences you might read in an upper grade school novel. And poor Rylie was mentioned as “she” more than she was by her name as far as the writing went. Context told me who that referred to, but beginning a chapter with ‘she this or she that’ just seemed weird not seeing it as Rylie did this or Rylie did that.

The case did seem to drag on longer than I'm usually used to with quite a bit of repetition in dialogue. I did enjoy a takedown that Liam got to do, then the showdown was really good and starred sweet Bella. The ending was sort of abrupt and I guess readers find out more in the next book. I doubt I’ll be continuing the series.

[Alicia Kozak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice setting and lots of great sounding good- so much in fact that I was rather surprised this didn't include recipes, what with how much the different meals are described. A veterinarian turned B&B caretaker is definitely a switch, though we don't get much of a sense of Rylie's vet side beyond a couple conversations close to the end. I liked the main characters. Most cozy mysteries feature pets, but Bella the dog remained prominent throughout the story. The mystery was complex, but moved slower due, I think, to several places where there seems to be an excess of "filler" and several times where statements are repeated. A little cliffhanger at the end to lead into the next book. I don't usually read a book thinking about this, but this one I could see being turned into a movie.

[Suzanne Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book at the Malice Domestic convention a couple of weeks ago. I loved the premise (and the cover), so bought the book.

I think the author captured the setting quite nicely, and set up a decent murder mystery with plausible suspects.

Aspects of the dialogue were a bit weak (making it more of a 3 star rating), but honestly for a debut novel in this genre I felt I could let that slide. There is so much to think of when plotting a mystery, and when setting up a series. There is a second book in the series, and I will read that eventually. I bought many books at the conference since there were so many intriguing books, and authors to learn about, so will delve into those first.

[Doris Bernethy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the veterinary clinic where Dr. Rylie Sunderland was employed burned to the ground, she decided to help her friends out for the summer at their resort. Little does she realize she is stepping into dangerous territory Rylie soon doesn't know what or who to trust--or whether she will survive the summer. The story plot is quite intriguing altough I found a lot of errors in grammar that were quite annoying. It is a clean book except there seems to be a lot of alcohol consumption which I didn't like.

I received an ARC to read and review. The opinions expressed above are strictly my own.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminded me a little of Mrs Fletcher

I liked Rylie being so curious about the people she just met and trying to help the police find the killer. I didn’t like how she told her theories to EVERY RANDOM PERSON SHE MET 🤣🤣🤣 I was expecting so many people to attempt to assault and/or murder her before we got to the ending regardless who the actual murderer turned out to be.

Easy read with a few interesting lead characters and enough scattered side characters to make the story move along. The author does an incredible job of describing the scenery and the food be a pastry from the local bakery or fancy pizza.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the golden retriever, Bella, (loved her actually!), the interesting variety of characters, the scenery, and that the main character had no apparent love interest, refreshing for a cozy mystery. I did think the ending was a little abrupt, not developed enough. The author tried leading to her next book, but it seemed forced. There was a scene with an injured fawn, that was dropped. She also switched from the first-person narrative to the third-person narrative throughout the book, which was a little distracting. Overall, it was a great attempt at a first cozy mystery.

[Helen O'Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tragedy in Tahoe

A very enjoyable mystery set in Lake Tahoe. I applaud the author for her thorough knowledge of Lake Tahoe, it's restaurants, beach locations and stores. Which places are dog friendly, etc. I was truly impressed. I only wish that she had explored a little bit of the history behind Fleur du lac. Thank you Rachele Baker. 👏🏻👏🏻🎈

[Nancy Stanger · Rating 3 out of 5]

good story slowed down by overly simple writing

The plot was well interesting and characters were okay, but the dialogue lacked authenticity and felt forced. The writing sometimes felt like it was done by an eighth grader trying to achieve a minimum word count. I’ll try the next book in the series because I enjoyed the story line, but hopefully the writing style is better.

[Janet Feagans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer is not always relaxing

Rylie takes a job as a part time caretaker at a cottage rental in Lake Tahoe. Then a local man, the bakery owner, is murdered. Suddenly, Rylie's quiet summer is over. Why would someone kill Collin? Did it have to do with business or his romantic interests?

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of Tragedy in Tahoe through Goodreads Giveway and I was looking forward to delve into a new cozy mystery author and series. However, it fell flat by the simplistic sentence structure and unrealistic scenarios surrounding the murder. I do believe a middle schooler would enjoy this series. I won’t be following Rylie Sunderlund Mysteries.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rylie Sunderland mystery

This is a first book in a series set in Lake Tahoe at a resort with cabins. There is the murder of a local business man soon after Rylie meets him. The suspect pool is large . I loved the over all process of elimination of the suspects. However I didn't see the murderer.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story set in a beautiful place

I grew up in South Lake Tahoe, so know Tahoe city and the other environs. The author described the area perfectly!!

The story was good…some repeating of things she did felt a tad sophomoric (like describing the treat she gave Bella…over and over).

But I did enjoy it and will continue to read her series!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice first book, but the writing is stilted.

The reading level is very low and the characters movements are documented.

I enjoyed the plot and hope that the writing improves in book two.

I bought a copy and several pages fell out. I have never had that happen to me.