Pretty In Ink

Table of Contents

 

 

“Karen E. Olson has launched a delightful new series with
The Missing Ink
, featuring tattooist Brett Kavanaugh. Brett is proud that she makes grown men cry. She also makes grown women laugh. I look forward to more adventures for this Las Vegas needle artist.”

—Elaine Viets, author of the Dead-End Jobs Mysteries

“In
The Missing Ink
, Karen E. Olson has penned a winner, full of crisp dialogue, a red-hot setting, and a smart, sassy tattooed protagonist. Viva Las Vegas!”

—Susan McBride, author of the Debutante Dropout Mysteries

“Has it all, with edgy characters and a tight plot.”

—
Mystery Scene

“[A] pleasantly jargon-free themed mystery. . . . Readers need not be conversant with ‘street flash’ or other industry terms to enjoy the setting and follow Brett down a trail of needles and gloves to the dramatic finale.”

“Olson uses the fresh setting of an upscale Las Vegas tattoo shop
. . .
for a fast-moving tale with quirky but affectionately portrayed characters. Although stubborn, Brett never becomes too stupid to live in her determination to solve the mystery. The tension is kept at a high pitch.”

—
Romantic Times

 

 

“Olson excels at plotting—with liberal doses of humor—and Annie grows more fascinating, and more human, with each novel. This one’s a winner from page one.”

—
Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Olson continues a winning streak with her latest Annie Seymour outing.
. . .
This first-rate mystery will not only keep you guessing; it will provide fun and laughter along the way.”

—
Romantic Times
(4 stars)

“Olson
. . .
step[s] up to a new storytelling level.”

—
The Baltimore Sun

“[
Shot Girl
] features the same clever plotting, great local color, and terrific personal touches that have been a hallmark of the series since it began.”

—
Connecticut Post

 

“Karen E. Olson knows this beat like the back of her hand. I really enjoyed
Dead of the Day
.”

—Michael Connelly

“
Dead of the Day
takes the Annie Seymour series to truly impressive territory. Absolutely everything a first-rate crime novel should be.”

—Lee Child

“Karen E. Olson draws on her experiences as a journalist to write an excellent series about Annie Seymour, a salty police reporter in New Haven, Connecticut.
Dead of the Day
is a fun mystery with just enough edge to make it sparkle.”

—
Chicago Sun-Times

“Like an alchemist, Karen E. Olson blends together wildly disparate elements into pure gold.
Dead of the Day
is a delightful dance with the devil—dangerous, dark, and romantic.”

—Reed Farrel Coleman, Shamus Award-winning author of
The James Deans

“A reporter and editor for Connecticut newspapers for twenty years, [Olson] brings a journalist’s eye for detail and immediacy to this series. You’ll want to give yourself an early deadline to read her latest story.”

—
Richmond Times-Dispatch

 

“Annie Seymour, a New Haven journalist who’s not quite as cynical as she thinks she is, is the real thing, an engaging and memorable character with the kind of complicated loyalties that make a series worth reading. Karen E. Olson is the real thing, too, a natural storyteller with a lucid style and a wonderful sense of place.”

—Laura Lippman,
New York Times
bestselling author

“Authentic urban atmosphere, generous wit, and winning characters lift Olson’s second outing.
. . .
Readers are sure to look forward to Annie’s further adventures.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Annie is a believable heroine whose sassy exploits and muddled love life should make for more exciting adventures.”

—
Kirkus Reviews

“Humor enlivens this first-person account.
. . .
This remains a series with considerable potential.”

—
Booklist

“Olson’s characters are her own, and her fast-paced plot and great ending make it a perfect read for patrons who like a bit of humor in their mysteries.”

—
Library Journal

“Olson knows exactly how to blend an appealing heroine, an intricate plot, and inventive humor. Annie’s is a story worth pursuing and a story well worth reading.”

—
Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Humor, plenty of motives, and strong character development make this a fast, fun read.”—Monsters and Critics “Olson’s second mystery hits the mark with setting, plot, and character.
. . .
Her lovably imperfect heroine charms, and the antics of her coworkers and the residents of ‘da neighborhood’ will keep you intrigued and amused.”

—
Romantic Times
(4 stars)

 

“A sharply written and beautifully plotted story.”

—
Chicago Tribune

“Olson writes with a light touch that is the perfect complement for this charming mystery.”

—
Chicago Sun-Times

“In this just-the-facts-ma’am journalism procedural, Karen E. Olson plunges readers into the salty-tongued world of cynical reporter sleuth Annie Seymour. . . . [The story] spins from sinister to slapstick and back in the breadth of a page. Engaging.”

—Denise Hamilton, bestselling author of
Savage Garden

“A boilermaker of a first novel.
. . .
Olson writes with great good humor, but
Sacred Cows
is also a roughhouse tale. Her appealing and intrepid protagonist and well-constructed plot make this book one of the best debut novels of the year.”

—
The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Also by Karen E. Olson

 

Annie Seymour Mysteries

 

Tattoo Shop Mysteries

OBSIDIAN
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First published by Obsidian, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

First Printing, March 2010

Copyright © Karen E. Olson, 2010

eISBN : 978-1-101-18559-9

All rights reserved

OBSIDIAN and logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

 

 

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

 

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

 

 

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

I would like to thank Alison Gaylin, Cheryl Violante, and Angelo Pompano for their help with the manuscript. Brett Wilson and Kevin Martino were invaluable sources, letting me in on all their secrets. The First Offenders (Alison Gaylin, Lori Armstrong, Jeff Shelby, and Anthony Neil Smith) are incredibly supportive, as is the whole FO community. Abram Katz can always be counted on to come up with the perfect poison. Craig Phillips is a fantastic illustrator, and his cover art is spot on. Jack Scovil is agent extraordinaire. My editor, Becky Vinter, with her cheery enthusiasm and eye for detail, helped me push the envelope and make this a better book. Kristen Weber, who started me on this journey, is missed but left me in good hands. Thanks to all the staff at NAL, every bookseller, every reader. Finally, I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the love and support from my wonderful husband, Chris, and daughter, Julia.