Wilderness Justice

Josie Strong: A Dark Road Suspense #2

by Todd Borg

From the author of the bestselling Tahoe Mystery series...

It was a brutal demand from the California Bureau of Investigation to medieval weapons expert Professor Josie Strong. Your 14-year-old daughter was picked up on a smuggling charge. Never mind whether she was framed. We’re going to send her to prison unless you help us find a twisted killer who is hiding in the Yosemite wilderness.



With no other options, Josie is forced to team up with a former student and professional hacker to find the missing killer. Instead, she finds evidence of a conspiracy and cover-up, and she and her daughter Samantha will be lucky to escape alive...

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2024

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

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining book … it really is a YA book (young adult) but a good read for an adult too.

[Tom Deal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todd Borg: Josie Strong book #2

With new characters and locations in the DARK ROAD SUSPENSE SERIES, veteran Lake Tahoe writer TODD BORG has given himself license to use new dialogue and character development styles. In the second of four new books, "WILDERNESS JUSTICE", he stretches his well-known writer's chops with bizarre problems and a long overdue focus on the victims of crimes. His two main characters, a UCLA professor and her sharp 14-year old daughter don't run from trouble, they jump sideways and employ innovated medieval weapons with deadly force. Sympathy for the pair grows as the villains become ever more deserving of what they receive from the pair and their unapologetic perspective. Each new volume is a tense but family-friendly page turner, with volumes three and four coming in September and October. They are also sure to be refreshing and worthwhile adventures in mystery writing.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a longtime fan of Todd Borg's Owen McKenna series set in the gorgeous Lake Tahoe area, I've begun reading this new series with great interest. Wilderness Justice is the second in this series featuring medieval weapons expert Professor Josie Strong and her teenage daughter, Samantha.

Having visited Yosemite National Park where much of the book is set, I liked watching the out-of-shape professor try to navigate the terrain. As the series progresses, I wouldn't be surprised if her fitness level greatly improves.

Unlike all the other books by Borg that I've read, I had trouble suspending my disbelief in Wilderness Justice. I just couldn't believe that Josie could be quite so naive when she's faced with a seemingly impossible task, or that she would be asked to do it in the first place. In addition, there's a big plot twist that didn't surprise me at all. In fact, I kept waiting for it to happen. Perhaps I have trouble believing in Josie's naivete because (1) my working life consisted of dealing with the public in all its psychological manifestations, and (2) I've read too much crime fiction. Who knows?

What I do know is that I still liked this book because I enjoyed the character development. I like the way the relationship between mother and daughter is getting closer and deeper. Josie's former student, Cumberland Durand, is a great addition to the cast, and working with Josie and Samantha is changing him, too. There's even a new character, Ralph Ellison, whom I hope to see more of. This series is bringing Josie out of her academic ivory tower and teaching her new things. (Want to learn how to avoid electronic surveillance? You'll find some good tips here.) I have the third book waiting for me, and I look forward to seeing what Josie gets herself into next.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

First of all I am a fan of Todd Borg books. His Tahoe series is great. I was uncertain about a new series, but goodness, this Dark Road Suspense series is super. The characters are fascinating and the story weaves quite a tale. There aren't any slow spots in the book. I've read the first two and preordered the next two which, thankfully, will be out soon.

[Amber Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that because I listened to this from an audible reader is what made me snot really care for it. The narrator had one tone for all the characters and it wasn’t my favorite. A narrator can really make or break a book and even though I finished it I wish I would have read it instead of listened to it. The story wasn’t bad, though very predictable.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book #2 of a new mystery series by Todd Borg. I have always enjoyed his books and enjoyed his twist and turn plots. If I could have I would have rated it a 4.5. I enjoyed the character development as well as their interactions. Will go on to read the 3rd book when I finish my current Kindle read.

[Lisa Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastical

I read this book to the end because I was engaged with the characters. The unbelievable situations were hard to take. Will I read more books about Josie Strong, Samantha, Cumberland, Ellison, and Unknown? Probably.

[Judi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one better than the first; maybe the characters are growing on me. While I thought it was full of situations that were cleverly resolved, I still did not care for all the violent action. On the other hand, perhaps certain characters deserved it.

[Victoria Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wilderness Justice

Interesting premise. Very likeable and believable characters.
Main characters showed development from first novel in this series.
Good description of action scenes. Will definitely read more books in this series.

[Linda Prtmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Suspense!

I loved this book, just the right amount of mystery, suspense and a touching family story. Highly recommend, you will enjoy!

[Linda Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

So different from his other books , but I really loved the storyline. And he had a dog as always. Not as fun as Spot, but good .

[SHARON ATKINSON · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't want to put the book down - kept you on your toes. Looking forward to reading the rest in the series.

[Jerry Sechrist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Todd Borg, one of my favorite authors.
I've read all of his books and will continue to do so.

[Julia Glessner · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like reading books in a series. I read the first in this series and struggled with everything about it, but decided to give the second one a try. I didn’t even finish it.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too unbelievable, I love his Tahoe mysteries. this is my second Josie Strong book, the first was hard to believe and this one is impossible to believe any of it. Sorry but stick to Tahoe.

[Margaret Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

great reading

An excellent book fast pace you did not
want to put the book down
Kudos for another great read !!!