Driven To Ink

Overall, the story is better than the last one.

A few oddities: is Olson trying to make Brett and Jeff a couple? If so, this ground work she is laying is awful. I can't tell what Brett feels for him.

On page 52, Brett thinks "...he wouldn't tease me if he didn't like me, but the whole idea of girls suffering through boys' teasing just because girls think boys like them seemed to be a precursor for women getting into abusive relationships. Oh, he verbally abuses you? He does it only because he likes you; so live with it." I thought this was a great point. Yet later, Brett thinks about a character: "I could see why men would want to protect her. Or overpower her." (page 278). Really? You can understand the urge to protect (mostly a good show more thing) AND you understand the desire to commit violence against women? Quite the mixed message. show less

In this third installment of A Tattoo Shop Mystery, series our meddling tattoo artist and shop owner, Brett Kavanaugh, finds a dead body in the trunk of her car. The body looks an awful lot like Dean Martin. She'd recently loaned her car to friends for their drive-through wedding, and now with the elderly bride and groom missing, all sorts of thoughts--and fears--are running through Brett's mind. Despite her brother's advice that she leave the investigation to the police, Brett, joined by the bride's son, Jeff Coleman, sets out to find her own answers.

Author Karen E. Olson won me over with her Annie Seymour series several years ago and, while I miss Annie's wry humor and grit, I do enjoy spending time with Brett and friends as well. The show more cast of characters is as funny and charming as ever, and it was great to see Brett and her brother, Tim, a detective with the Las Vegas police department, sharing so many scenes. My favorite part was when Tim was stuck on babysitting duty--having to keep Brett out of trouble, which is not an easy thing to do. He and Brett are a lot alike in more ways than one.

The author keeps the reader guessing at just about every turn. I found myself laughing on occasion and turning pages as quickly as I could to find out what would happen next. Driven to Ink was a fast-paced and entertaining read; a great way to spend a summer day. show less

I like this series! It's fun and fast paced. Brett is likeable, although impulsive. If I find a dead body in my trunk, I'm not going to try and find the killer. Well, there'd be no story so thank goodness for my intrepid tattoo artist to entertain me at lunch!

Brett Kavanaugh is a tattoo artist who owns an upscale shop called The Painted Lady in Las Vegas.

She lends her car to Sylvia Coleman and Bernie Applebaum, so they can get married at a drive-in wedding chapel. They're so elderly that she's doubly surprised to find a dead body in the trunk when they return it.

The body belongs to a Dean Martin impersonator who worked at the chapel where the couple were wed, and there's a clip cord from a tattoo machine around it's neck. When she tries to reach Sylvia and Bernie on their honeymoon, they've vanished, and she begins to worry. Did the person who killed the fake Dean Martin hurt her friends, too?

Although her brother Tim, a policeman, warns her not to get involved, she thinks she already is, show more through her car. She's determined to find out how the body got into the trunk, but she doesn't anticipate how much danger she's putting herself into.

The third Tattoo Shop Mystery is a fast-paced story, and a quick enjoyable read. You don't have to have tattoos to enjoy it. show less

Another fun fast read by Karen Olson. I am enjoying getting to know Brett and her friends.

4.5 Stars