Overdoses in Olympia

Capital City Murders, Book 1

By: Troy Lambert, Stuart Gustafson

Narrated by: Joseph L Stevenson

Nick O’Flannigan thought he was just starting out on a freelance photography assignment.

But when he arrives in Olympia, he learns that there have been two overdoses in hospitals in the last week, both seemingly connected. With his keen eye for detail, he notices something in the photos that no one else sees.

But how will he, an out of town photographer and amateur sleuth, get that information to the right authorities before another patient dies?

“A good whodunnit read.” (John Hussar)

You won’t find the answer until the very end of this powerful pause-resister of a travel mystery. If you love Jack McEvoy, you’ll love this debut in the Capital City Murders series.

©2019 Troy Lambert (P)2020 Troy Lambert

Site-Seeing and Murders In Olympia

Overdoses in Olympia is a short book and first book in the Capital City Murders series. The story starts with a crime of a patient who died of an overdose. Nick O'Flannigan is not introduced until the second chapter.

Nick O'Flannigan is a photographer who has a contract to visit all 50 capitals. One of the interesting thing about this book, it does describe the uniqueness of Olympia, good food, and sight-seeing if one have never been to Olympia. He get involved in the headline that a second patient has died in the same hospital of the first victim. As any good photographer, Nick has an eye for details but he would need to insert himself in to the case.

How Nick inserted himself into the case is like a slight of hand for the newspaper editor and police not being aware that they just picked up a passenger. It is interesting just for the listeners to hear it happens.

The information about Nick is limited in the story. The listeners/readers won't know how he became a photographer when Nick does have the height to be a basketball player and that he is a red head. If it was for the additional information about Nick's and his humble beginning, I would have thought that the listeners/readers would get to know Nick as he travels to all 50 capitals.

It is a good short story. I would be interested to find out how much information would be given to Nick in the second book.

The narrator, Joseph L Stevenson did a pretty good job for a short and simple story. Good voice for the characters.

I was given this audiobook by the author. I have decided to write an unbiased review for this book. I was not compensated or influenced in any way on writing this review.

Photographs and Murder

This premise is good but the execution rather dry and drawn our. We have Nick a Freelance photographer who just got a contract to photograph all 50 states Capitols. Because he is so observant, he spots minutely item in a photograph in Newspaper and contacts that paper. Now only because of this ability he pushes to be involved and eventually, again because of his ability Murder is solved. Narrator seems to be a First time narrator, because he Nesitates, starts and stops, and there is a Very much Lack of emotion in the voicing. ​This story could use more character and less descriptions.

An Entertaining Mystery

The first book in the Capital City Murders, the series is based on the travels of photographer and amateur detective, Nick O'Flannigan, as he visits each US capital city to take pictures for a magazine. Olympia is his first stop, and he showcases his sleuthing skills as he recognizes a tattoo on the latest overdose victim that is shown in the story of a local newspaper and he follows up on his on discovery. Although his initial suspicions don't  pan out, he continues to help the authorities with his keen eye and attention to detail. The story was interesting and nicely  narrated and I enjoyed listening to it. I would like definitely like to continue the series.


I received a free Audible copy via StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving me review.

Baskerville Book Reviews

Overdoses in Olympia is an odd example of a mystery. The mystery feels like it’s competing with the protagonist to be front and center at the start. After that, it starts to feel like a subplot while you live a day in the life of uninteresting protagonist as he takes pictures.

The summary says you won’t be able to solve the mystery until the end, which is likely true. It really doesn’t give you enough to work with if you want to actually solve it as you read (or listen). There was one small details I noticed early on that had me paying more attention to the details to see if I could figure it out. It was all for naught as there seriously wasn’t much to go on.

I think the character interaction dialogue leaves something to be desired. Though maybe it’s intended to be written less like a book and more like two people having a natural conversation.

Overall, the narration was good. I did get sick of the narrator mispronouncing prescription over and over. “Perscription” isn’t a word. I truly can’t stand narrators who mispronounce basic English words.

NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.

Enjoyable listening

I enjoyed listening to this book. Short but had a good story line. Will listen to the next book.