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Capitol Offense
The appointment of Eleanor "Norie" Gorzack to serve out the term of a suddenly deceased senior senator has angered some extremists from her home state, and after two murders, she must find out who wants her dead and why
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1996
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 18, 2020
Good story about women in politics. And about Vietnam and MIAs.....
April 29, 2025
(c)2007 A lot of characters, crime, murder and politics. An interesting read
March 10, 2015
After Senator Mikulski's recent announcement that she's decided to retire, I was surprised to learn from the resulting coverage that she'd also once written a murder mystery. I had to check it out. I'm happy to report that it was an entertaining, quick read with the fun twist that it is based on the author's inside take on life in the U.S. Senate. It's always a bit of a toss-up when high-profile figures write books. Will they be any good? Perhaps Mikulski was aided by the fact that her book is co-authored with Marylouise Oates, aka the wife of former Democratic uber-operative Bob Shrum.
Whatever the cause, her book features memorable if not entirely original characters, most notably her protagonist, a female Senator from a mid-Atlantic state. I thought the most compelling aspect of the book was the way it sensitively took up the subject of Vietnam MIA soldiers as the theme that underlay its plot. Even when bits of the plot turned out to be a bit silly, as is often the case in these types of novels, there was a seriousness and a respectfulness toward the theme that did credit to the author and gave the book a bit of heft. That seems like what will linger, even after the various stock mystery devices fade from memory.
Overall, this book was a page-turner. Probably not enough literary gravitas to make it one for the ages, but I don't think it aspired to that. Instead, just a fun read that will leave the reader with a more detailed understanding of how the Senate operates (albeit one that may be a bit dated, given some of the technological and other advances since the book was written). As novels by high-profile political figures go, I enjoyed it more than Bill Weld's Mackerel by Midnight, though that was not bad either. Somehow, though, this protagonist was a bit more relatable, more flesh-and-blood, less blue blood. She exuded a down-to-earth matter-of-factness, commitment to getting important things done and refusal to be intimidated that was refreshing.
Wonder where she came up with the idea for a character like that? ;)
Whatever the cause, her book features memorable if not entirely original characters, most notably her protagonist, a female Senator from a mid-Atlantic state. I thought the most compelling aspect of the book was the way it sensitively took up the subject of Vietnam MIA soldiers as the theme that underlay its plot. Even when bits of the plot turned out to be a bit silly, as is often the case in these types of novels, there was a seriousness and a respectfulness toward the theme that did credit to the author and gave the book a bit of heft. That seems like what will linger, even after the various stock mystery devices fade from memory.
Overall, this book was a page-turner. Probably not enough literary gravitas to make it one for the ages, but I don't think it aspired to that. Instead, just a fun read that will leave the reader with a more detailed understanding of how the Senate operates (albeit one that may be a bit dated, given some of the technological and other advances since the book was written). As novels by high-profile political figures go, I enjoyed it more than Bill Weld's Mackerel by Midnight, though that was not bad either. Somehow, though, this protagonist was a bit more relatable, more flesh-and-blood, less blue blood. She exuded a down-to-earth matter-of-factness, commitment to getting important things done and refusal to be intimidated that was refreshing.
Wonder where she came up with the idea for a character like that? ;)
July 28, 2012
This book was sent to me out of the blue. I have no idea why.
I tired to investigate to see why and could not figure it out, but I read it, and it was a fairly quick read.
There are good things, and things that require work to elevate this. But without that work and as the book is over 16 years old, it is a few hours of entertainment.
The main character is conflicted. She is appointed to the US Senate when the previous senator dies. Pennsylvania of 16 years ago apparently required that such appointments be temporary and at the next election, there be an election open to all for the vacated seat.
So our Heroine waffles between should she run for the seat or not.
The book is the same. Is it a story about the US Senate and women there, or is it a mystery. It can not make up its mind. Hence a middle of the road rating. If it had given itself over to the full mystery with more red herrings, more suspicious characters, and suspicion on our heroine, it might have elevated itself.
Or if it had delved further into the wheeling and dealing, the party politics, the backroom side of the senate, it would have elevated. Instead we have a 50 something heroine, who dabbles a bit here and there, and then has the MIA vietnam issue, which has greatly faded now, try to become a focus.
Three hours of passive enjoyment for characters that you can't connect with as it is all in first person rendition. But if you want to see the Senate from a women's POV, this may it.
I tired to investigate to see why and could not figure it out, but I read it, and it was a fairly quick read.
There are good things, and things that require work to elevate this. But without that work and as the book is over 16 years old, it is a few hours of entertainment.
The main character is conflicted. She is appointed to the US Senate when the previous senator dies. Pennsylvania of 16 years ago apparently required that such appointments be temporary and at the next election, there be an election open to all for the vacated seat.
So our Heroine waffles between should she run for the seat or not.
The book is the same. Is it a story about the US Senate and women there, or is it a mystery. It can not make up its mind. Hence a middle of the road rating. If it had given itself over to the full mystery with more red herrings, more suspicious characters, and suspicion on our heroine, it might have elevated itself.
Or if it had delved further into the wheeling and dealing, the party politics, the backroom side of the senate, it would have elevated. Instead we have a 50 something heroine, who dabbles a bit here and there, and then has the MIA vietnam issue, which has greatly faded now, try to become a focus.
Three hours of passive enjoyment for characters that you can't connect with as it is all in first person rendition. But if you want to see the Senate from a women's POV, this may it.
October 25, 2011
Enjoyed this, more for the DC and politics side (which is why I was reading it in the first place) than the thriller part - but the fact that I made it through a thriller speaks volumes in and of itself, even though I was left frowning at the end, and not quite sure what happened.
April 5, 2013
Moderately entertaining. Same setting as The The Lost Symbol (Dan Brown), except not mysterious at all. Still, I had no idea that my Senator was a mystery writer, and it was well written and likable, so no regrets!
May 18, 2012
A nice comfortable read for a change.
September 6, 2014
A hunted bedroom sneaks before a surprising jail. Another cook accepts. When will the musical trumpet mess with the heaven? A glance partitions the inserted translator.
October 6, 2014
Good mystery of an appointed senator and how she works with others on the hill. Vietnam vets, MIA's.
Her husband is MIA.
Her husband is MIA.
December 18, 2016
Didn't feel a thing! Sincerely, I won't read this again.
April 14, 2016
Newly appointed female Senator gets involved in MIA investigation -- and murders. OK plot, very poor writing.
January 28, 2018
Somewhat dated but intriguing story of a novice politician appointed to the Senate and how she maneuvered the system to stand up for the truth....sort of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews