From Tattoo Shops to Renaissance Faires - Reviews

The world of cozy murder mysteries can transport you to any time and place, give you insight into various occupations, and have you home in time for dinner (you just have to remember to put the book down). Here are two very diverse occupations, but both lead to interesting and entertaining reads and oh, of course, murder.

Driven to Ink by Karen E. Olson

You know right from the start this is going to be an intriguing book when a body is found in the first paragraph.

Las Vegas tattoo artist Brett Kavanaugh loaned her red convertible Mustang to her friends Sylvia Coleman and Bernie Applebaum so they could get married at That’s Amore Drive-Through Wedding Chapel.

The couple goes off on their honeymoon and Brett discovers the body of a Dean Martin Impersonator from That’s Amore in her car trunk the next day. The body has a clip cord from a tattoo machine wrapped around his neck. As it so happens, a clip cord has been stolen from Brett’s business, The Painted Lady, an upscale tattoo shop. Then the newlyweds vanish.

Brett begins to do a little snooping on her own despite the fact that her brother, Tim, is the police investigator. To get to the heart of the case, Brett even gets help from her main competition - Jeff Coleman at Murder Ink. Besides, he is Sylvia’s son.

The reader doesn’t have to be a fan of tattoos to enjoy this fun series. DRIVEN TO INK is the third in this interesting new series, but is a stand alone book.

Author Karen Olson will keep you on ‘pens and needles’ from the time the body is found until the killer is finally caught. In addition, readers get a sneak peak at the end of the book as to what Brett’s up to next in an excerpt of INK FLAMINGOS coming in June 2011.

Karen E. Olson’s website is www.kareneolson.com

Driven to Ink by Karen E. Olson, A Tattoo Shop Mystery, Obsidian, @2010, ISBN: 978-0-451-23157-7, Paperback, 320 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

DEADLY DAGGERS by Joyce and Jim Lavene

Jessie Morton returns to the Renaissance Faire to serve as an apprentice to Daisy the master swordsmith. It’s the summer solstice and Jessie is also there to work on her dissertation for her real job as an assistant professor of history at the University of South Carolina at Columbia.

Jessie is looking forward to spending time with her boyfriend, Chase Manhattan, who serves as bailiff of the Village.

Jessie learns that Master Armorer Daisy is to have a fake duel with Alastair the Great, one of the best-known swordsmen in the modern-day Renaissance world. She also learns that Daisy and Alastair have a past history as lovers.

If things weren’t bad enough, Jessie finds outs Chase’s ex-fiancée and his brother are at the Village. They want Chase to come back home with them. Then the unthinkable happens and Alastair is murdered. Jessie has to find the killer and find a way to keep Chase from going home and back to his ex-fiancée.

For those who love the Renaissance, you will feel you are there again. DEADLY DAGGERS also includes Renaissance recipes and wonderful facts about the event. For those unfamiliar with the festival, this will be an added treat - an intriguing cozy murder mystery and a look at the wonderful world of the Renaissance Faire.

This is the third installment in the Renaissance Faire Mystery series, but it is a stand alone book. The husband and wife writing team of Jim and Joyce Lavene will transport you to another time and place in history while keeping you in suspense until the killer has been caught.

Joyce and Jim Lavene’s website is www.joyceandjimlavene.com

Deadly Daggers by Joyce and Jim Lavene, A Renaissance Faire Mystery, Berkley Prime Crime, @2010, ISBN: 978-0-425-23644-4, Paperback, 304 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.