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Owen McKenna #3
Tahoe Ice Grave
Early one frigid morning in January, a young man named Thos Kahale walked into the icy waters of Lake Tahoe and died a brutal death. Hired to investigate, Tahoe Detective Owen McKenna learns that the Hawaiian side of the man's family had a secret shrine hidden in a cave in the cliffs of Kauai. Owen flies to Kauai and hears about a long-lost manuscript that Mark Twain left when he visited Kauai in 1866. The manuscript, which would be worth millions, is rumored to have been lost in a hurricane. Owen suspects that it was hidden in the secret shrine. As multiple people die, Owen tracks a vicious killer who looks like a Viking. Owen follows the Viking back to Tahoe and learns of a cave of ice that is sacred to Tahoe's Washoe Indians. Thos, who was half Washoe, may have hidden the manuscript in the Tahoe cave. Only one person, whose identity is unknown, knows the answer. Owen and his Great Dane Spot have to find that person before the Viking does, and they are running out of time as they chase the Viking up a mountain in a blizzard to a cave of ice and a battle to the death.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2002
158 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
Todd Borg
29 books144 followersTodd 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
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
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
May 15, 2018
This a very good mystery series. I just finished the 3rd book in the series. At this time, fifteen have been written. I just looked at the star ratings of upcoming books to read and all rank over 4 stars. They have quite a few reviews.
The series takes place in Lake Tahoe. Owen McKenna was once a detective in San Francisco but now is a P.I. in the Tahoe area. His home is located in the mountains with a beautiful view. He has a Great Dane named Spot who always plays a role in the plots. He is well trained. In this book, it amused me that Owen had a friend take care of Spot for a few day while he flew to Hawaii. When he returned Spot didn't want his dog food but had developed a taste for Danish rolls warmed up in a microwave.
Another important character is Street who is Owen's girlfriend. She is an insect specialist. She is often used in crime investigations. She is intelligent, strong and her own person.
In this book, a character who is about to commit suicide is murdered by a long range rifle. The victim's mother hires Owen to find out who killed her son. A murderer is looking for something and people are getting killed to find the answer.
The characters, the beautiful location and the plots makes this a very good series. It has tense moments at the end as Owen encounters the murderer. It is a series that a person looks forward to reading the next book.
The series takes place in Lake Tahoe. Owen McKenna was once a detective in San Francisco but now is a P.I. in the Tahoe area. His home is located in the mountains with a beautiful view. He has a Great Dane named Spot who always plays a role in the plots. He is well trained. In this book, it amused me that Owen had a friend take care of Spot for a few day while he flew to Hawaii. When he returned Spot didn't want his dog food but had developed a taste for Danish rolls warmed up in a microwave.
Another important character is Street who is Owen's girlfriend. She is an insect specialist. She is often used in crime investigations. She is intelligent, strong and her own person.
In this book, a character who is about to commit suicide is murdered by a long range rifle. The victim's mother hires Owen to find out who killed her son. A murderer is looking for something and people are getting killed to find the answer.
The characters, the beautiful location and the plots makes this a very good series. It has tense moments at the end as Owen encounters the murderer. It is a series that a person looks forward to reading the next book.
August 16, 2022
Some years ago, cursed Hawaiian tiki idols seemed a fairly common danger. They endangered everyone from Greg Brady to Magnum PI.
There are tikis floating around this book, but they don't really figure into anything.
Owen is hired to find out who killed a Hawaiian man as he was committing suicide. It seems the victim had access to a hidden cave containing treasure.
A little more action than most in this series.
There are tikis floating around this book, but they don't really figure into anything.
Owen is hired to find out who killed a Hawaiian man as he was committing suicide. It seems the victim had access to a hidden cave containing treasure.
A little more action than most in this series.
May 30, 2024
Owen’s new case involves a Hawaiian man who was murdered. It appears that someone believed he was in possession of a priceless family heirloom, and is willing to stop at nothing to obtain it. There are a series of horrifying deaths before this dark mystery comes to a close. Spot the Great Dane is one of the best characters.
December 11, 2017
I love this book/series. This is the second time I have read this book, with years in between so that the murderer was not fresh in my memory. I think this book is great I never wanted to put it down. I also enjoyed the fact that it takes place in the Reno/Tahoe area. The author does a great job with details of the area as well as details about other activities and events that are related to in the book. I have fallen in love with the characters Owen, Street, and the amazing dog Spot and I can't wait to pick up the next book.
February 23, 2025
baffling and full of typos and microaggressions but! I did read the whole thing <3
September 7, 2024
4 stars
These Owen McKenna mysteries by Todd Borg are simply presented but interesting with good stories.
Early one frigid morning in January a young man, named Thos Kahale, calmly walked into the icy waters of Lake Tahoe and begins swimming and died a brutal death. Hired to investigate, Owen McKenna learns that the Hawaiian side of the man's family had a secret shrine hidden in a cave in the cliffs of Kauai where the family has hidden special items for generations. Owen Flies to Kauai and hears about a long-lost manuscript that Mark Twain was supposed to have left when he visited Kauai in 1866. Although the manuscript, which would be worth millions, is rumored to have been lost in a hurricane, Owen suspects that it was hidden in the secret shrine. People are dying and Owen believes it is all related and he must track a vicious killer who looks very much like a Viking. Owen follows the Viking back to Tahoe and learns of another cave, this one of ice, that is sacred to Tahoe's Washoe Indians. Thos, who was half Washoe, may have hidden the manuscript in the Tahoe cave. Only one person, whose identity is unknown, knows the answer. Owen and his Great Dane Spot have to find that person before the Viking does, and they are running out of time as they chase the Viking up a mountain in a blizzard to a cave of ice and a battle to the death.
These Owen McKenna mysteries by Todd Borg are simply presented but interesting with good stories.
Early one frigid morning in January a young man, named Thos Kahale, calmly walked into the icy waters of Lake Tahoe and begins swimming and died a brutal death. Hired to investigate, Owen McKenna learns that the Hawaiian side of the man's family had a secret shrine hidden in a cave in the cliffs of Kauai where the family has hidden special items for generations. Owen Flies to Kauai and hears about a long-lost manuscript that Mark Twain was supposed to have left when he visited Kauai in 1866. Although the manuscript, which would be worth millions, is rumored to have been lost in a hurricane, Owen suspects that it was hidden in the secret shrine. People are dying and Owen believes it is all related and he must track a vicious killer who looks very much like a Viking. Owen follows the Viking back to Tahoe and learns of another cave, this one of ice, that is sacred to Tahoe's Washoe Indians. Thos, who was half Washoe, may have hidden the manuscript in the Tahoe cave. Only one person, whose identity is unknown, knows the answer. Owen and his Great Dane Spot have to find that person before the Viking does, and they are running out of time as they chase the Viking up a mountain in a blizzard to a cave of ice and a battle to the death.
May 21, 2018
Good mystery and police/private eye procedural with engaging characters, including a sheriff’s deputy who feeds microwaved breakfast Danishes to Spot the dog because he’s a Great Dane.
Re: characterizations: the author overdoes the protagonist’s physicality, putting him in a superhero category.
Although I figured out who the “mastermind” (as I thought of him) was early on, I was disappointed by the unveiling at the end. There was a mismatch in physical description of the man killed (a muscular Viking w hard arms, footprints good distance apart) versus that of the “mastermind,” who was 8 inches shorter than protagonist (6 ft 6 in).
PS
There were clinkers that stopped me cold. The most glaring were: 1) . . . a perfect “compliment” of vegetables instead of “complement.” 2) . . . pulling on boots and “gators.” At first glance, gators puzzled me but the hint was “boots.” Yeah, I’m being picky but so should editors and authors.
Re: characterizations: the author overdoes the protagonist’s physicality, putting him in a superhero category.
Although I figured out who the “mastermind” (as I thought of him) was early on, I was disappointed by the unveiling at the end. There was a mismatch in physical description of the man killed (a muscular Viking w hard arms, footprints good distance apart) versus that of the “mastermind,” who was 8 inches shorter than protagonist (6 ft 6 in).
PS
There were clinkers that stopped me cold. The most glaring were: 1) . . . a perfect “compliment” of vegetables instead of “complement.” 2) . . . pulling on boots and “gators.” At first glance, gators puzzled me but the hint was “boots.” Yeah, I’m being picky but so should editors and authors.
August 21, 2012
I reported in the reviews of the first and second book in this series (TAHOE DEATHFALL and TAHOE BLOW-UP) that one reason I really enjoy this series is because they take place in our favorite vacation spot, Lake Tahoe, plus the author executes a tight well plotted mystery. (Near the end of the book I was sitting on a beach about 1 mile from Mt Tallac where the action was happening.) And again, this one didn't disappoint as it incorporates all of the familiar locations and landmarks plus adds interesting and well-researched information about Tahoe culture and residents.
Owen McKenna is a PI in South Lake Tahoe and investigates mysteries along with his sidekick Spot, a harlequin great dane, and his girlfriend Street. I'm looking forward to reading the fourth book but am trying to hold off as I prefer reading them while sitting on the Lake Tahoe shore.
Owen McKenna is a PI in South Lake Tahoe and investigates mysteries along with his sidekick Spot, a harlequin great dane, and his girlfriend Street. I'm looking forward to reading the fourth book but am trying to hold off as I prefer reading them while sitting on the Lake Tahoe shore.
July 18, 2023
Thos Kahale, who is half Washoe Indian, is shot in the frigid waters of Lake Tahoe. Though he was attempting suicide, he died before that. His mother hires Owen McKenna, a private investigator, to look into the matter.
Owen learns that a secret shrine, hidden in a cave in the cliffs, was where family members would place items important to them before they passed away. A valuable hand-written manuscript by Mark Twain was supposedly given to one of Thos' ancestors in 1866. Now a killer, who looks like a Viking, is going after that manuscript, which he feels is hidden in the cave. As only 2 people at any given time are allowed to know the location of the secret shrine, the killer has to get the information by killing the family members off, one at a time, usually after he interrogates them.
This is a very informative book about many things related to Lake Tahoe. including a descriptive map. The page-turning story is very unique.
Owen learns that a secret shrine, hidden in a cave in the cliffs, was where family members would place items important to them before they passed away. A valuable hand-written manuscript by Mark Twain was supposedly given to one of Thos' ancestors in 1866. Now a killer, who looks like a Viking, is going after that manuscript, which he feels is hidden in the cave. As only 2 people at any given time are allowed to know the location of the secret shrine, the killer has to get the information by killing the family members off, one at a time, usually after he interrogates them.
This is a very informative book about many things related to Lake Tahoe. including a descriptive map. The page-turning story is very unique.
September 6, 2021
As I said in my review of #2, I like the characters in the Tahoe mysteries. I especially like Owen's relationship with Spot, his great dane. This novel has suspense, murder and intrigue, all the things you want in a mystery. But I was disappointed in the ending. Too many lose ends were left dangling. After several murders, we find out that one of the characters was motivated by money, but we don't know why. We also don't know how he committed the murders or why no one figured out who he was until the very end. I don't want to say too much; it is a mystery after all. But I would have liked to have had more details in the end. I also think the logic breaks down over the course of the novel; the actions of the killer don't make sense by the end.
August 25, 2019
Surprising until the very end! I always guess the endings of books long before the end. Not this one😊 I'm from Sacramento so these books are doubley interesting to me. I've spent most of my life in the areas mentioned in them.
Owen seems to recover a bit too quickly from the massive amounts of injuries he sustains. I'm a fan of super heroes so it works for me. I also love dogs. The other super hero in this series is Owen's dog, Spot.
I definitely recommend this series. They will keep you reading until the end.
Owen seems to recover a bit too quickly from the massive amounts of injuries he sustains. I'm a fan of super heroes so it works for me. I also love dogs. The other super hero in this series is Owen's dog, Spot.
I definitely recommend this series. They will keep you reading until the end.
January 29, 2021
Thos Kahale walks into the icy waters of Lake Tahoe and died a brutal death. Hired to investigate, Tahoe Detective Owen McKenna learns that the Hawaiian side of the man's family had a secret shrine hidden in a cave in the cliffs of Kauai. Owen flies to Kauai and hears about a long-lost manuscript that Mark Twain left when he visited Kauai in 1866. As multiple people die, Owen tracks a vicious killer who looks like a Viking. Lots of action in this story. The plot is interesting with twists and turns. Great characters.
February 24, 2020
A book written about places I know!
This is a book and an author I had not heard of.... found about aboutTodd Borg at book club. This is a "can't-put -it-down mystery and the setting is South Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Virginia City area.
We are new comers to the area so it is interesting to realize I have been to some of the places mentioned in the book- not to say what a gripping plot Borg devised!!
This is a book and an author I had not heard of.... found about aboutTodd Borg at book club. This is a "can't-put -it-down mystery and the setting is South Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Virginia City area.
We are new comers to the area so it is interesting to realize I have been to some of the places mentioned in the book- not to say what a gripping plot Borg devised!!
October 26, 2020
Tahoe Thriller
I love Todd Borg’s novels so much. It’s fun to read and know exactly where he is taking you because I grew up in Tahoe. This novel was much harder to get into and it did not keep my attention until there was more action. Usually the crime solving is just as interesting as the suspense, but it fell flat for me. I still enjoyed the relationship between McKenna and his girlfriend Street, especially his dog Spot.
I love Todd Borg’s novels so much. It’s fun to read and know exactly where he is taking you because I grew up in Tahoe. This novel was much harder to get into and it did not keep my attention until there was more action. Usually the crime solving is just as interesting as the suspense, but it fell flat for me. I still enjoyed the relationship between McKenna and his girlfriend Street, especially his dog Spot.
July 15, 2017
I read the first three Owen McKenna Tahoe murder-mystery series while visiting the Lake Tahoe area.
I love reading books set where I'm traveling, and these novels were light enough for my vacation and engaging enough to not feel like my brain was dying.
The descriptive passages really highlighted what I was experiencing at Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains.
I love reading books set where I'm traveling, and these novels were light enough for my vacation and engaging enough to not feel like my brain was dying.
The descriptive passages really highlighted what I was experiencing at Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains.
June 5, 2018
Amazing thriller. I hated to see it end. Such characters. Alternately touching and suspenseful--plenty of each. The premise around the plot is fascinating and really makes you consider family heritage and tradition. A study in how to build great characters and utilize the settings to the fullest. Loved it. Completely hooked on the series.
October 25, 2024
This author gets better with each book!
The action, descriptions of the land and circumstances is engrossing. I love the variety of characters in this series. Tahoe, and the surrounding area is also a character. It appears to have a life of its own. This was an excellent, quick moving story.
The action, descriptions of the land and circumstances is engrossing. I love the variety of characters in this series. Tahoe, and the surrounding area is also a character. It appears to have a life of its own. This was an excellent, quick moving story.
March 17, 2025
While taking a vacation I needed a book to read while on the plane and I have several in this series and this was next in line. Started and finished while on vacation too. Kept my interest with twists and superior writing. Enjoyed such I will start the next in the series on the way back home as the plane ride is longer.
February 16, 2021
Decency, Character, and Courage Win Again
I like Todd Borg and the moral decency he has instilled into his main characters. Not only are his stories entertaining but they leave you with a small amount of hope for mankind.
I like Todd Borg and the moral decency he has instilled into his main characters. Not only are his stories entertaining but they leave you with a small amount of hope for mankind.
January 12, 2023
I love all of this series. The stories always have a good twist. I love the characters we continue to get to know and they are all based in the Tahoe area where I used to live.
This story really felt like it could be a movie with the "action" that took place.
Thanks, Todd.
This story really felt like it could be a movie with the "action" that took place.
Thanks, Todd.
August 30, 2024
A nice quick read, though the main character is like Superman….i enjoy him talking about places around Lake Tahoe—especially my home town of South Lake Tahoe. Looking forward to the next in the series!
October 3, 2017
Excellent as usual
March 25, 2018
Meh...
October 4, 2018
interesting twists and turns
January 20, 2019
Another great book taking place around Lake Tahoe with a surprise ending.
June 11, 2019
Had suspense & was an enjoyable mystery. The villain was a bit of a surprise. Dialogue could use some work.
September 16, 2019
Interesting book, light read.
October 18, 2022
I’ve read several of Todd Borgs books and they are all great! The little twist at the end is always surprising, they are easy reads which is what I look for! Keep them coming Todd!
October 28, 2022
Aside from the fact that this book was obviously written by a man and contained a lot of sort of superhero moves and other male-only feelings, i did enjoy it. It was a good mystery.
April 28, 2023
Another good book in the series with interesting characters & mysteries to solve.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews