Review: Dead of the Day

Dead of the Day
An Annie Seymour Mystery, Book 3
Karen E. Olson

Published: 06 November, 2007

Signet, mass market paperback, 309p.
ISBN: 9780451222473

April has hit New Haven, Connecticut, bringing with it something less fragrant than May flowers; an unidentified body in the harbor.  The strange fact that there were bee stings on the floater gives New Haven Herald police reporter Annie Seymour an intriguing excuse to put her profile of the new police chief on hold – although the piece does become a lot more interesting when the subject is gunned down.

And this is only the beginning of a killer expose.  As she connects the dots between the John Doe, the police chief, and the city’s struggling immigrant population, Annie draws a line between herself and someone who doesn’t want her to learn the truth. . .or live to report it.

Annie Seymour is a 30 something workaholic journalist who is trying to get on with her journalism while trying to figure out the men in her life.  After trying to make things work with sometime squeeze Vinny DeLucia, Annie now finds herself up to her bangs in trouble as she tries to cope with both Vinny’s apparent desertion and the seedy world of crooked cops and by-line stealing co-workers. Unlike other tough-talking modern women, Annie seems to go from being a hardnosed journalist to behind the eight ball lover with amusing regularity.   In this third instalment, Annie is trying to get the scoop on the new police chief – until his sudden death.  It’s fun to watch Annie deal with Dicky, the journalist that seems to be always trying to one-up her.  Dicky seems to have eyes and ears in places Annie can’t access, and it just chaps her butt that he keeps getting the juicy details.

Ink Flamingos (and the end of a series)

Ink Flamingos
A Tattoo Shop Mystery #4
Karen E. Olson

Back Cover

Dee Carmichael, lead singer of the hot pop sensation, The Flamingos, has been 

one of Brett's most dedicated customers - or was. Allergic to red dye, Dee has 

been discovered  dead in her hotel room with a pink flamingo tattoo and 

surrounded by ink pots and needles - and a tall redhead was seen leaving 

the crime scene.  Now Brett has been branded as the prime suspect. 

This can't be good for business. . . .

Meanwhile, a blog has been showcasing Dee's deadly tattoo. Things get worse 

when 

pictures of Brett start appearing on the blog. Turns out someone isn't merely 

following her, but impersonating her all over town.  Brett must act fast to find 

out who's out to get her before the killer puts the dye in dying once again. . . 

I love Brett Kavanaugh.  She is such a colourful character with her fabulous tattoos, and as a law abiding citizen of Las Vegas it's amazing just how Brett seems to get court up and entangled in so many murders.  If I was her, I'd consider moving to another state!  Just kidding.

This time we find Brett having to deal with not only the death of a client, but a stalker who is taking pleasure in their devious plans to ruin Brett's life.  Who killed her client and made it look like she did it by posting pictures on a blog?  Brett needs the support of her brother, and all of her friends this time as the stalker not only invades her life, but also her home.

With help from her mates at The Painted Lady (minus Ace), and the ever mysterious Jeff, Brett is up to her red eyebrows in danger.  I loved seeing her really have to dig deep and soldier on.  There is such a charming mix of strength and vulnerability in Brett that I think draws readers.  Lets face it, if you didn't love her, you wouldn't keep reading the books.  And while I won't give away who did it, there was a little twist that made it quite a surprise.

I was sad to find out that this is the last of the series as the ending just set up a 5th book so wonderfully.  What happens with Brett and Jeff?  Does anything happen?  I would love to see another book with them trying to start a relationship, with their tattoo parlours, his mother, her family and murder getting in the way.  You could just do so much with it, especially if Dr. Hunk made a return visit trying to talk to Brett after his blink-and-you'll-miss-it performance.  And I really wanted to find out more about the mysterious Jeff as he doesn't really reveal too much about his past.  But sadly, I just don't see it happening so I'll have to use my imagination on that score.

Karen E. Olson has done such a wonderful, fabulous, and marvelous job with this series and I will find it hard not to look for another book in the future.

Newest Arrivals

Just got some more books in the mail, and it feels like Christmas.  I love getting new books :-)  Even though eBooks are popular, there's just something about holding a nice, new book.

In this weeks post was;

• Dark Descendant - Jenna Black
• Ink Flamingos - Karen E. Olson
• Cast in Ruin - Michelle Sagara
• Green-Eyed Envy - Kasey Mackenzie
• Left Hand Magic - Nancy A. Collins
• Sparks - Laura Bickle, and finally
• Wicked As They Come - Delilah S. Dawson

I was supposed to receive Jennifer Estep's Touch of Frost, but someone screwed up and I got Praying to Psalms instead - a "wtf?..." moment for sure.  Seriously, so not even in the ballpark.  So I jumped onto the computer and shot off an email to Book Depository ASAP.  I've had great service from them in the past when there has been a problem with a book, so I expect it to be dealt with quickly and professionally.  But in the meantime, I'm left without a book I was eager to read... ggrrrrr.

Oh well, I'll just have to slow down and take more time to read the books I've already got until then.

Why don't they like us?

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This was the book that started it all off... I was trolling through author Karen E. Olson's blog this morning reading a post about getting copies of her OOP 'Annie Seymour Mysteries' series.  So I went on Amazon, tried to buy a copy and found out that I wasn't eligible....

WHY THE HECK NOT?

It seems truly bizaar that I can't download an copy of a book that's gone out of print.  Seriously, I can order books online from Amazon (US & UK), Book Depository, etc., but not electronic books.  It shouldn't be that much of an issue for people in other countries to download these items.  It's not like they don't charge us enough for it anyway!  Come on Amazon... Australian's read ebooks too.

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