I wanted to be a veterinarian ever since I was about six years old when I found that tiny little kitten under a bush in our backyard with no mama in sight. She was mewing so pitifully. I picked her up and took her inside and convinced my mother to let me keep her. Caring for that little kitten and watching her grow up into a beautiful cat changed my life forever. I seemed to have a knack for finding animals that needed my help after that. Looking back, it seems like it was inevitable that I’d become a veterinarian someday.

I lucked into the job of my dreams right after I graduated from vet school six years ago, and I planned to work there forever. That is, until the veterinary hospital where I was working burned to the ground in the Lightning Complex Fire. Fortunately, none of the staff or our patients were harmed in the fire.

So what do you do when the job you’ve loved since vet school suddenly doesn’t exist anymore? Why, pack up all your clothes, put your golden retriever in the back of your SUV, and move to Lake Tahoe for a summer job as a part-time caretaker at a B & B, of course.

So here I am, living in Lake Tahoe. Wow, I never would have seen that coming. I spent so many happy vacations here with my family when I was growing up. When Elizabeth Whitaker asked my mother if she knew anyone that could help out as a temporary caretaker at her rental cottages this summer, my mother thought it would be a perfect opportunity for me. She knew I needed some time to figure out what I’m going to do next with my life.

It sounded like a good idea. I thought it would be nice to take some time off. I haven’t had a vacation in a while. I planned to have lots of fun at the lake this summer. That is, until they found Colin Matthews dead in a creepy little room called the Absinthe Room in a granite tunnel that runs under the property where I’m now living and working.

And he didn’t just die of a heart attack or something. Detective Felton told me that this is now considered a murder investigation.

And somehow I’ve managed to get mixed up in it, and I think I might be on the suspect list. I have no idea how that happened.

Poor Colin. Gillian told me that a lot of people considered him Tahoe City’s Most Eligible Bachelor. I only met him a couple of times, but he was definitely handsome. And very charming. It’s no wonder all the single women were flocking around him on Locals’ Night.

Who on earth could have wanted to kill such a nice guy? It makes no sense.

Tragedy in Tahoe: Rylie Sunderland Mysteries Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: August 2023
Formats: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

Veterinarian Rylie Sunderland thought her future was comfortably mapped out until everything in her life implodes and she becomes a suspect in a murder investigation.

Thirty-two-year-old veterinarian Rylie Sunderland is in trouble. After the veterinary hospital where she worked burns to the ground, Rylie takes a summer job as a part-time caretaker at an old Tahoe estate turned B & B called Whitaker Cottages while she tries to figure out what to do next with her life.

Then, just a few days after she arrives in Lake Tahoe, handsome Tahoe City bakery owner Colin Matthews is found dead in a secret tunnel that runs under the cottages. Detective Mark Felton informs Rylie that they found a note in Colin’s pocket with her name and cell phone number on it.

Rylie’s shocked. She’d only just met Colin. Why and how did he get her cell phone number? Is she now considered a suspect?

With her loving golden retriever Bella by her side and the help of friends both old and new, Rylie works to find the evidence needed to clear her name. As her search continues, she discovers clues to the mystery in unlikely locations around the lake and the list of suspects grows. Will she be able to find the answers she needs before she has to trade in her scrubs for prison garb?

A delightful cozy mystery perfect for fans of Kate Carlisle, Libby Klein, and Vicki Delany.

Meet the author
Rachele Baker is a veterinarian and the author of the Rylie Sunderland cozy mystery series. She’s an active member of Sisters In Crime and Mystery Writers of America. She lives in northern California close to Lake Tahoe and the Napa Valley wine country where the Rylie Sunderland Mysteries take place. Rachele drew on her many years of experience as a practicing veterinarian to develop the main character, Rylie Sunderland. Her own 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. Sign up for Rachele’s monthly e-newsletter to get info about her books, photos from her adventures, news for book lovers, and the opportunity to participate in fun contests and giveaways. You can also visit her website and connect with her online: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, BookBub, and Goodreads.