5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Star is Rising!, Sep 18 2005
By Armchair Interviews - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Sacred Cows: A Mystery (Hardcover)
Few things are as bad as a telephone call in the middle of the night; especially if you've got a huge hangover. But work doesn't wait and police reporter Annie Seymour rushes to a crime scene where a beautiful and naked Yale student has taken a dive from a balcony. Seymour's newspaper doesn't really like covering things that might disparage the university, and the fact that the dead student doubled as an escort, complicates things.
Annie's nose is twitching. She smells a good story but it would be helpful if the incompetent newsroom "boob" Dick Whitfield wasn't shadowing her and if her boyfriend, Tom wasn't doing his job as a police detective by withholding information she needs to follow the story. Then there's the dreamy Frank Sinatra look-alike that seems to be stalking her.
Annie negotiates the labyrinth of inconvenience and begins to uncover a corruption network that may even involve her own attorney mother. When another murder of a Yale student-turned-escort occurs, Annie knows no one is safe, not even her. This could be a story that costs her her job or even her life.
Annie Seymour is a bright, sassy and gutsy lady who likes to do things her way and without any interference from anyone, including boyfriend, boss, co-workers and mother. She has a good sense of purpose and uses snappy self-talk to work out in her head the stupidity of others.
Olson writes a good story with snappy patter and likeable characters. I'm looking forward to the next Annie Seymour outing. I suspect Olson is only going to mature as a writer.
Arnchair Interviews says: Think Janet Evanovich, and you'll have some idea of Olson's style.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A stellar debut, Feb 16 2006
By David Montgomery "Book Critic" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Sacred Cows: A Mystery (Hardcover)
Karen E. Olson's "Sacred Cows" is a standout debut from this veteran journalist. It's the entertaining story of Anne Seymour, a crime reporter in New Haven, Conn., who's working on a juicy story nobody wants her to pursue.
Someone is killing Yale co-eds who just happen to work for a local escort service, and the deaths look like they might be tied-in to a crooked city lawyer who has conveniently gone on the lam, taking with him the investment funds of most of the city's elite.
Olson writes with a light touch that is the perfect compliment for this charming mystery. The engaging Seymour is a wise and witty character who is good at her job and takes no lip from anyone. Here's hoping she returns for another go-round.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Holy cow, I enjoyed it!, Jan 17 2007
By Angy "angyeliz" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Sacred Cows (Mass Market Paperback)
With some of the mixed reviews I wasn't sure if I would like this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. The main character is a tough as nails character who is lacking in manner, and tends to overly use the F word. Over all she is a likable character, with a great plot. I do not agree with the reviewers who stated that this is a Stephanie Plum like character. If you are expecting to read a Janet Evanovich like book, you will be disappointed, but overall this is a good book. I loved the cow sub story, I felt the same way when the cows came to my home town, just what Texas needs...something to make us more country than we already are!