Karen E. Olson Sacred Cows

Sacred Cows

Karen E. Olson

Mysterious, Sep 2005, $21.95, 304 pp.

ISBN: 0892960221

New Haven Herald police reporter Anne Seymour covers the story of a murdered Yale student Melissa Peabody, whose body was found near a luxury high-rise condo. She quickly learns the coed was a high priced escort in the evening which explains why a student would be by an exclusive locale. Anne Though her editor wants her to not dig any further and the lead homicide detective Tom refuses to cooperate, Anne keeps searches for clues.

Her perseverance continues and soon a second female Eli is found murdered; she too was an escort. Her mom and the university join the chorus of those who want Anne to stop investigating, but the ambitious intrepid journalist continues her quest for the truth.

SACRED COWS is a fabulous journalist who-done-it with a strong police procedural and an academic setting to anchor the tale. The key to the plot is the heroine who keeps on ticking although everyone except a slimy rival reporter wants her off the case and the slimeball only seems to want her around to hit on her even if she can lean her chin on his bald head (think of his view). The support cast is terrific as they seem genuine rounding out a fine investigative tale that fans will fully enjoy.

Harriet Klausner