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Spot's Page

In the grand tradition of detective novels, protagonists often have a sidekick. Sherlock Holmes had Dr. Watson, Travis McGee had Meyer, Spenser had Hawk.

Owen McKenna has Spot!  

(Unfortunately, Spot will never hold still for a photo.  So we've included some pictures of Spot's cousins who look like him.  The dog on the left is "Pockets."  You can find out about him at dakotacom.net.)

A Harlequin Great Dane with dozens of polka dots, Spot doesn’t have the intellectual power of the more traditional detective sidekicks. In fact, as Owen often thinks, Spot isn’t even the smartest dog out there. But he more than makes up for it with his enthusiasm and size.

SPOT SPECS                                            

AKC Registered Name: Spot  

(The picture at right is "Remo", a relative of Spot who looks just like him.  Although  Spot is a bit larger and has more spots.  "Remo" is another dog you can read about at dakotacom.net.)

Spot's Nickname: "Your Largeness" or "His Largeness"

Height: 34" at the shoulder, 6’4" on his hind legs.

Weight: 170

Eye Color: Brown with a few yellow flecks.

Hair Color: Bright white with a zillion black spots.

Favorite Pastime: Eating

Favorite Food: Fillet Mignon with Worcestershire sauce.

Favorite Beer:  Any beer

Best Trick: He can be ridden like a horse if you weigh 110 pounds or less.

Second Best Trick: He can balance popcorn on his nose and then snatch it out of the air.

While Spot is gentle and lovable and will do almost anything for a pet, he is a formidable ally in Owen’s pursuit of bad guys. In the first two novels in the series, TAHOE DEATHFALL and TAHOE BLOWUP, Spot is not only helpful throughout the cases, but at the climax… look out. Spot comes through in critical ways that will surprise you. (Sorry, but you’ll have to read the books to find out.)

Of course, the Owen McKenna books are more than just dog stories. Each one gives serious treatment to a range of other issues. And Spot is still only the sidekick. Nevertheless, the early readers have made it clear: Spot Rocks. (Eventually there will be T-shirts and sweatshirts available with a small "Spot Rocks" logo on them.) The logo will be something like this running Dane, only with "Spot Rocks" underneath.

How important is Spot? In reading this you will learn a secret that is revealed nowhere else. You may recall that when Clinton ran for office in 1992 they had a sign at campaign headquarters that read, "It’s the Economy, Stupid!" to remind them of its importance. Well, tacked to the wall above Todd’s writing desk is a piece of paper with the words, "It’s the Dog, Stupid!"

That tells you how important Spot is to the Owen McKenna Mystery Thrillers.

This is the view off Owen's deck, looking straight across toward Emerald Bay. (Which is about 15 miles away as the crow flies and hence too far to see without binoculars.)  This is Spot's favorite place to lounge. Of course, that is partly because this is where Owen has the barbecue.  You never know when there may be an extra Polish sausage!

Speaking of "Mystery Thrillers," you may be wondering what’s the difference between a mystery and a thriller and how can a book be both? And furthermore, what does Spot have to do with it?

In the most common usage, a mystery refers to a story that begins with a death and the identity of the killer isn’t solved until the end. (A "whodunit.") A thriller may or may not contain elements of a mystery, but has as one of its primary plot characteristics a great deal of action. ("A howdunit and will-he-get-away-with-it!") (Sometimes publishers have a book with a lot of internal, psychological action which they call psychological thrillers.)  The Owen McKenna books have a lot of physical action sequences and also contain the classic elements of a mystery. Hence the Mystery Thriller appellation.

Now, where does Spot come in? He provides much of the thrilling action. In TAHOE DEATHFALL, he works as a police dog doing building searches and suspect intimidation. In TAHOE BLOWUP, he performs search and rescue, and again helps control suspects. And, of course, in both novels Spot’s heroics at the climaxes are crucial. In TAHOE ICE GRAVE he performs a critical role in a chase through a blizzard. And in TAHOE KILLSHOT he literally catches the killer.

The following are some of Spot’s favorite links:

dakotacom.net

danesonline.com

akcgreatdanes

k9tactics.com