Ink Flamingos

Table of Contents

 

“Brett is a funny, clever gal, words that also describe the books in which she appears, which are always entertaining.”

—Spinetingler Magazine

“The latest in the cleverly designed Tattoo Shop Mystery series.”

—Fresh Fiction

“
Driven to Ink
is a breath of fresh air. I felt like I was right there with Brett running through the Venetian, racing through the brightly lit streets of Las Vegas, and smelling the ink of the tattoo parlor. Each character in Karen E. Olson’s cozy leaps off the pages and has such an interesting personality, side stories could be written.
Driven to Ink
is a fun, high-paced mystery that will keep you interested from start to finish.”

—The Romance Readers Connection

“Brett is a no-nonsense heroine who just can’t help but find herself in the thick of things. She is smart, quick-witted, and fits in well with the Las Vegas crowd . . . a great addition to the Tattoo Shop Mysteries.”

—Once Upon a Romance

“A nonstop action amateur sleuth mystery starring a brave, strong heroine who thinks outside the crypt—something needed on this deadly case. The support cast adds humor and suspense (even offstage) to this well-constructed, complex whodunit. With a touch of romance to augment the deep look at another side of Vegas, fans will enjoy the second Tattoo Shop Mystery.”

—The Best Reviews

“It has scandal, intrigue, and an amateur sleuth piecing everything together and saving the day. I would liken Brett to a modern-day Nancy Drew. She isn’t a trained sleuth but seems to find herself figuring out the mystery and tying up the loose ends with a pretty pink bow for the cops.”

—Once Upon a Romance Review

“A quirky mystery with a fun, independent, determined leading lady and a loyal supportive cast of characters, each so different, yet lovable in their own ways. A fast, easy, enjoyable read with an ending that will catch the reader completely by surprise.”

—Lori’s Reading Corner

“Sinful, sexy, witty, and eccentric.”

—
Romantic Times

“Karen 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
Job Mystery series

“In
The Missing Ink,
Karen 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 Mystery series

“[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.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“A fun read. . .. The characters are as quirky as Las Vegas itself. . .. [Brett] is both likable and down-to-earth and will have readers returning for more.”

—The Mystery Reader

“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

“Fun . . . The setup is pure, the setting is flashy . . . and I expect that Brett Kavanaugh will find a devoted following.”

—Gumshoe

“This one has it all with edgy characters and a tight plot.”

—
Mystery Scene

“Ms. Olson walks readers through a multiple-murder mystery, supplying clues at a steady pace.
The Missing Ink
is suspenseful, entertaining from the start, and has a touch of romance that nicely rounds out the story.”

—Darque Reviews

“Features the same smooth writing, insightful character development, and complex plotting as the Annie Seymour books. Brett’s team at The Painted Lady is delightful, an eclectic mix of characters that adds to the fun.”

—Cozy Library (
cozylibrary.com
)

“A winner. . .. Brett is a likable, albeit unusual heroine. I’m looking forward to seeing more of her and her zany cohorts in future books.”

—Fresh Fiction

“An extremely fast, extremely entertaining read. Brett is highly likable. . ..The potential for romance in future tales is sure to keep the series fresh in novels yet to come. . .. Brett’s work is just getting started in Las Vegas, and I can’t wait to find out what happens in her next adventure.”

—The Romance Readers Connection

 

 

“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

“Easily the best one . . . [Olson] step[s] up to a new storytelling level.”

—
Baltimore Sun

“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
.”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Michael Connelly

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

—
New York Times
bestselling author Lee Child

“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.”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Laura Lippman

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

—
Kirkus Reviews

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

—
Library Journal

Tattoo Shop Mysteries

 

Annie Seymour Mysteries

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

 

First Printing, June 2011

Copyright © Karen E. Olson, 2011

All rights reserved

 

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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.

 

 

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eISBN : 978-1-101-51552-5

The plot of this book grew from reading tattoo blogs on the Internet. I am indebted to Bill Cohen of Tattoosday for his friendship and amazing photographs and stories of tattoos and tattooing. Ania Nowak of Aniareads gave me more insight into what it really means to be tattooed and the journey people take when they undergo body modification. Many thanks to Cheryl Violante and Angelo Pompano, my intrepid first readers, for their eagle eyes and undaunting support. Alison Gaylin, Lori Armstrong, Jeff Shelby, Patty Smiley, and Neil Smith are always just an e-mail or phone call away, ready to lend an ear. I hope I’m as helpful to them as they are to me. My agent, Jack Scovil, has stuck with me from the beginning, and I am grateful for his unwavering support and honesty. I must thank Kristen Weber, my former editor, for convincing me to write this series in the first place. When I started, I had no idea how much fun these books would be and how I would love these characters, at the same time growing as a writer, stepping out of my comfort zone and giving me more confidence. I owe that to her. And finally, to Chris and Julia, who have suffered trips to Las Vegas—dining at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon, climbing the rocks at Red Rock Canyon, solving crimes at
CSI: The Experience
at the MGM—and patiently allowed me the time to create this world, you are everything to me.