Book Review: Sacred Cows

Reviewed By: Luke Croll - RAM

[3 stars]

Sacred Cows Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Karen E. Olson
Class/Genre: Mystery Woman Main Character Police Procedural Academic
Series: Annie Seymour # 1
Time Warner, September 2005, 290 pages, 21.95USD

Annie Seymour is a police reporter in New Haven, Connecticut. Woken from sleep early one morning, she finds herself investigating the murder of a female Yale student. Quickly, she is able to discover that the student worked a secret life as an escort girl and soon finds links to important members of the city. However, as she gets deeper into the case, she finds pressure coming down on her from above and soon, it is not only her job that it is danger, but her life as well.

‘Sacred Cows’ is Olson’s first novel and is the first winner of the Sara Ann Freed Memorial Award, an award honouring the late editor of Mysterious Press. Early in the novel, it felt as though Olson had created an excellent first novel, with the requisite elements of mystery, a spunky female reporter, a murder and much more, but as the novel progressed, it became less interesting. The main criminal was being described as a very powerful, evil man, but he actually does very little in the novel itself. His sphere of influence and immense power just did not seem to ring true for me.

Annie Seymour seems a good character and I feel as though she has more stories to tell. Her various relationships and lifestyle would certainly merit further ink being spilt. However, the plot of an intrepid woman reporter falling into danger seems to be becoming somewhat tired. Olson makes a good blend of humour and fun, as well as giving a look at the dark side of life, but ‘Sacred Cows’ would have benefited from having a more real, tangible villain. Nevertheless, I look forward to reading Olson’s next book.

Luke Croll - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Luke Croll - RAM

Luke Croll - Conference interpreter and translator
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