Book Review: Secondhand Smoke

Reviewed By: Cheryl - RAM

Secondhand Smoke     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Karen E. Olson
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character
Series: Annie Seymour # 2
Mysterious Press, September 2006

Reporter Annie Seymour doesn't work nine to five. When she is woken at 6:00 AM on Thanksgiving Day by the smell of smoke, she doesn't go back to bed on realizing that the fire poses no danger to her. She drags on some clothing, grabs her notebook and pencils, and heads off to ask some questions.

The firefighters report that a body is in the burning restaurant, but it is too dangerous to attempt to retrieve it until the fire is put out. It may be the body of the owner, Sal Amato, a popular and influential local businessman and an old friend of Annie's father.

This is a tragedy worthy of a newspaper story, but Annie's questions reveal that there is far more going on than an accidental death in a fire. Exactly what is going on is not obvious, although the complexity of the situation is demonstrated by the number and origin of the people who suddenly arrive in New Haven to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. The sense of a double society - the official authority shadowed by the underworld powers - responding to the same crimes is very strong and rather disturbing.

Annie's tough-girl style and strong but sometimes ambivalent relationship with her community and her family are as gripping as they were in Olson's previous book 'Sacred Cows'. I think the use of strong language to help define Annie's personality is plausible, but is also excessive. Annie's favourite word appeared so frequently that I was tempted to count how often it was used, which distracted me slightly from the story.

Overall this is a very entertaining story with an interesting protagonist and a convincing and fascinating description of a particular segment of American society.

Cheryl - RAM

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