Book Review: Secondhand Smoke

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - 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, 2006, 259 pps.

Crime reporter Annie Seymour just can’t seem to keep herself out of trouble. This time she is awakened by a fire. Prego, the Italian restaurant, in Annie’s neighborhood is burning. Annie rushes past her neighbors Amber and Walter and immediately runs into Vinny DeLucia. Vinny is a good looking private detective that Annie is attracted to but Vinny has a fiancée although he doesn’t seem to give her a whole lot of thought.

When the smoke finally clears it seems there was someone in the restaurant when it burned. Everyone thinks at first that it is Sal the owner of the restaurant but the body is that of a woman. No one seems to know where Sal has disappeared to or if he is all right.

Annie’s father, who now lives in Vegas, flies into town. Sal and Annie’s father have been friends for years. Annie has a million questions to ask her dad but he isn’t forthcoming with many answers.

Karen Olson brings back Annie’s old flame Tom, the policeman, as well as Annie’s mother, and other characters from Sacred Cows. Annie’s reporter buddy Dick Whitfield is back and just about as irritating as before. The FBI gets involved and before long Annie has more than she can handle and so many bits and pieces of the puzzle she has a time getting it all put together.

I am hoping for another Annie Seymour book.

Pat Reid - RAM

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