What do you think?
Rate this book
Capital Crimes #2
Murder on Capitol Hill
A senator’s death sends shock waves through Washington, DC, in this mystery by the New York Times–bestselling author and presidential daughter. Sen. Cale Caldwell and his blue-blooded wife maintained a far-reaching and powerful grip on Capitol Hill society, but not powerful enough to save him from foul play. The influential senator’s life is cut short in brutal fashion at a glamorous reception held in his honor. It happens just two short years after tragedy struck the Caldwell family in the form of the unsolved murder of his niece, but when attorney Lydia James suggests a connection, she’s shut down, and fast. Who stands to benefit from the Caldwells’ tragedies, and James’s silence—the senator’s political rivals, the media, or perhaps even the family’s closest allies? “A dazzling series.” —The Atlanta Journal-Constitution “Murder on Capitol Hill proves that the author is much more than a one-term mystery writer . . . All the insider’s knowledge and gossip that made Murder in the White House so captivating.” —Booklist “Truman has settled firmly into a career of writing murder mysteries, all evoking brilliantly the Washington she knows so well.” —The Houston Post
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1981
368 people are currently reading
881 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Truman
87 books265 followersMary Margaret Truman Daniel was an American classical soprano, actress, journalist, radio and television personality, writer, and New York socialite. She was the only child of President Harry Truman and First Lady Bess Truman. While her father was president during the years 1945 to 1953, Margaret regularly accompanied him on campaign trips, such as the 1948 countrywide whistle-stop campaign lasting several weeks. She also appeared at important White House and political events during those years, being a favorite with the media.
After graduating from George Washington University in 1946, she embarked on a career as a coloratura soprano, beginning with a concert appearance with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1947. She appeared in concerts with orchestras throughout the United States and in recitals throughout the U.S. through 1956. She made recordings for RCA Victor, and made television appearances on programs like What's My Line? and The Bell Telephone Hour.
In 1957, one year after her marriage, Truman abandoned her singing career to pursue a career as a journalist and radio personality, when she became the co-host of the program Weekday with Mike Wallace. She also wrote articles as an independent journalist, for a variety of publications in the 1960s and 1970s. She later became the successful author of a series of murder mysteries, and a number of works on U.S. First Ladies and First Families, including well-received biographies of her father, President Harry S. Truman and mother Bess Truman.
She was married to journalist Clifton Daniel, managing editor of The New York Times. The couple had four sons, and were prominent New York socialites who often hosted events for the New York elite.
After graduating from George Washington University in 1946, she embarked on a career as a coloratura soprano, beginning with a concert appearance with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1947. She appeared in concerts with orchestras throughout the United States and in recitals throughout the U.S. through 1956. She made recordings for RCA Victor, and made television appearances on programs like What's My Line? and The Bell Telephone Hour.
In 1957, one year after her marriage, Truman abandoned her singing career to pursue a career as a journalist and radio personality, when she became the co-host of the program Weekday with Mike Wallace. She also wrote articles as an independent journalist, for a variety of publications in the 1960s and 1970s. She later became the successful author of a series of murder mysteries, and a number of works on U.S. First Ladies and First Families, including well-received biographies of her father, President Harry S. Truman and mother Bess Truman.
She was married to journalist Clifton Daniel, managing editor of The New York Times. The couple had four sons, and were prominent New York socialites who often hosted events for the New York elite.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
August 27, 2016
I have read a few other of Margaret Truman's mysteries but this second entry in the series had somehow escaped me until now. Well done and now I can cross Washington D.C. off my Read-the-USA mystery challenge :)
December 3, 2011
The review on the back cover said," A good old fashioned mystery." I can't add anything to that. A+
April 18, 2017
I found this book at a second hand bookstore in a mall here in Cebu. I have read books of Margaret Truman before and they were similar to this one. They were all about politicians in DC. I think these kind of stories are Margaret Truman's specialty. By the way, Margaret Truman is the daughter of former US President Harry S. Truman. Just so you know. :)
What is in this story?
A dead senator. A lot of suspects. A shady religious cult who is accused of brainwashing its members to keep them. A female defense lawyer as a protagonist. A very nosy radio announcer. An unsolved murder that might or may not be related to the case but the victim was related to the senator. Add in a few more people with their own motives and agendas. All these make for a very chaotic and big mess. The only way to solve the case is to check each possible angle without dismissing any single thing, no matter how tiny that might have any relevance or shed light to the case.
Margaret Truman's insider knowledge of DC is shining through here. No one does it like her. The classic question of who has done it lives in every page. It seemed like everyone could be a suspect but the real culprit is never ever obvious. You have to read the whole book to find out and be astonished in the revelation. This is definitely one of those mind-boggling crime mysteries I have read. The suspect I had in mind was not the real killer. If there were clues as to who has done it, they were so subtle that even I, a self-proclaimed mystery, thriller and suspense junkie had missed them. Which means, the author is at the top of her game. I am happy to be told that my hunch was wrong. I love that the story is so unpredictable. The best thing about mysteries is to never know what's coming. To surprise and to bewilder both the suspicious and the unsuspecting reader.
I give the book 4/5 video tapes. This is a classic case of leave no stone un-turned. The puzzle has to be solved by connecting the pieces one at a time. Unraveling the secrets bit by bit. This is one good old-fashioned mystery in its finest. This story reminds me why I was so drawn into this genre. I think most of the books I have read is composed of 50% of this genre. When YA was not yet the thing, this was my default setting for stories to read. It was like second nature to me to hunt for these kind of stories. I live for these kind of stories.
I admire people who demand the truth, even if they are annoying.
- Margaret Truman, Murder on Capitol Hill -
What is in this story?
A dead senator. A lot of suspects. A shady religious cult who is accused of brainwashing its members to keep them. A female defense lawyer as a protagonist. A very nosy radio announcer. An unsolved murder that might or may not be related to the case but the victim was related to the senator. Add in a few more people with their own motives and agendas. All these make for a very chaotic and big mess. The only way to solve the case is to check each possible angle without dismissing any single thing, no matter how tiny that might have any relevance or shed light to the case.
Margaret Truman's insider knowledge of DC is shining through here. No one does it like her. The classic question of who has done it lives in every page. It seemed like everyone could be a suspect but the real culprit is never ever obvious. You have to read the whole book to find out and be astonished in the revelation. This is definitely one of those mind-boggling crime mysteries I have read. The suspect I had in mind was not the real killer. If there were clues as to who has done it, they were so subtle that even I, a self-proclaimed mystery, thriller and suspense junkie had missed them. Which means, the author is at the top of her game. I am happy to be told that my hunch was wrong. I love that the story is so unpredictable. The best thing about mysteries is to never know what's coming. To surprise and to bewilder both the suspicious and the unsuspecting reader.
I give the book 4/5 video tapes. This is a classic case of leave no stone un-turned. The puzzle has to be solved by connecting the pieces one at a time. Unraveling the secrets bit by bit. This is one good old-fashioned mystery in its finest. This story reminds me why I was so drawn into this genre. I think most of the books I have read is composed of 50% of this genre. When YA was not yet the thing, this was my default setting for stories to read. It was like second nature to me to hunt for these kind of stories. I live for these kind of stories.
I admire people who demand the truth, even if they are annoying.
- Margaret Truman, Murder on Capitol Hill -
September 1, 2015
Very good book.
Will be reading all the books written by Margaret Truman. Even forty years ago our elected officials didn't work for the people, murders, brain washing and family dynamics.
Will be reading all the books written by Margaret Truman. Even forty years ago our elected officials didn't work for the people, murders, brain washing and family dynamics.
February 7, 2019
Interesting read! Fun mystery. Since we are from the area....it is nice to know all the landmarks!
January 7, 2013
"Jason DeFlaunce"? SERIOUSLY???
Why did I do this to myself. Seriously, that's about 2 hours of my life I'll never get back. I could have spent that time staring at the back of the bus seats, it would have been better for me. This book, which was worse even than Murder at Union Station, is probably the biggest steamiest pile of crap I've ever read, and I've read Elsie Dinsmore. The characters are absurd, the plot completely unbelievable, the dialog stilted, the love scene -- gosh, the love scene is the worst I've ever read.
Why did I do this to myself. Seriously, that's about 2 hours of my life I'll never get back. I could have spent that time staring at the back of the bus seats, it would have been better for me. This book, which was worse even than Murder at Union Station, is probably the biggest steamiest pile of crap I've ever read, and I've read Elsie Dinsmore. The characters are absurd, the plot completely unbelievable, the dialog stilted, the love scene -- gosh, the love scene is the worst I've ever read.
April 3, 2014
Another decent political mystery from Margaret Truman, who certainly used her White House knowledge to portray a gritty Washington reality. It reads like a thriller, with plenty of twists and turns. While the murderer was pretty obvious from the get go, the motive kept me guessing right until the end.
April 9, 2019
I read another of her books, Murder at the Opera and enjoyed it. I realize that this was written in 1981 by someone born in the 1920s, but I found the sexism in this book REALLY off-putting. Murder at the Opera was written in 2006, and it was her 22nd book. I'd recommend sticking to her later books.
December 15, 2022
One of Truman’s better mysteries. The ultimate unraveling is twisted (and not totally convincing), but the path getting there is interesting and well paced. The weakest element of the novel is the Utah political side story that is unconvincing.
April 3, 2016
OK, I'm hooked. Good series. Good author.
January 12, 2023
The Majority Leader Cale Caldwell of the US Senate is murdered in the larger of the Senate Dining Rooms during a reception in his honor hosted by his wife, Veronica. It was by an ice pick behind a screen near the table with the decimated shrimp tree (I for one was very happy it happened after the shrimp had been devoured - the description was a thing of beauty not to go to waste). With 200 possible witnesses/suspects, the MPD is overwhelmed and of course the Senate must convene a special committee to investigate and hire a special counsel. Oh how apt was it to read this mystery set in 1979 or 1980 after spending a week watching the chaos in the House while McCarthy gave away the store over 15 votes to become its Majority Leader?!
At the center of this murder mystery is Lydia James, a 40 year old former criminal defense lawyer now heading a successful firm specializing in FCC licensing, who is asked by the widow to be special counsel to the Senate committee - and no relation or connection to NYS current AG, Letitia James but I kept envisioning her as Letitia because for a 40 year old woman attorney to be that successful in 1980 she had to be one of the best attorneys out there. It wasn't until 1973 that law schools started admitting more than half a dozen to a dozen women to its classes. Just the numbers of women in law were miniscule in those days, though more numerous than the number of women in the Senate - I believe that Sen. Nancy Kassebaum, R - Kas, was the only woman in the Senante at the time this book was written in 1980. I applaud Truman for making our special counsel a woman.
It provided a wonderful backdrop to show how women lawyers were considered and treated generally, mostly in subtle but very accurate ways. I was not yet a lawyer -- didn't go to law school until 1982 -- but I worked in law firms and know it well because it was still happening when I began to practice law.
The mystery is reasonably complex though I figured out a good deal of it. Events of the time were a clear influence - there's a religious cult (this was 2 years after the Jonestown Massacre), references to the Jean Harris murder trial, and a damaging videotape that was first missing then kept changing hands -- all of course pulled from major events of the 1970s. I was instantly back in 1980 - with no answering machines, land lines and payphones, library research and xerox copies, a metallic blue Buick Skylark with speakers mounted in the rear deck, Flair pens, the Early American decorating style, and most of all the frequent way the (male) senators and the MPD chief refer to Lydia as a girl, the casual sexual invitations addressed to her. the lack of respect. I did find myself occasionally chafing at her response or placid acceptance -- and then I remembered how you just picked your battles and kept on with your job when it was just words. That was the world and Truman depicted it well.
My critique is mostly that Lydia talked way too freely to her lover about the murder and her investigation to the point that I felt she violated the Professional Code of Ethics as a lawyer. But then who was her client? The Senate? No, the People of the US. So maybe she wasn't.
At the center of this murder mystery is Lydia James, a 40 year old former criminal defense lawyer now heading a successful firm specializing in FCC licensing, who is asked by the widow to be special counsel to the Senate committee - and no relation or connection to NYS current AG, Letitia James but I kept envisioning her as Letitia because for a 40 year old woman attorney to be that successful in 1980 she had to be one of the best attorneys out there. It wasn't until 1973 that law schools started admitting more than half a dozen to a dozen women to its classes. Just the numbers of women in law were miniscule in those days, though more numerous than the number of women in the Senate - I believe that Sen. Nancy Kassebaum, R - Kas, was the only woman in the Senante at the time this book was written in 1980. I applaud Truman for making our special counsel a woman.
It provided a wonderful backdrop to show how women lawyers were considered and treated generally, mostly in subtle but very accurate ways. I was not yet a lawyer -- didn't go to law school until 1982 -- but I worked in law firms and know it well because it was still happening when I began to practice law.
The mystery is reasonably complex though I figured out a good deal of it. Events of the time were a clear influence - there's a religious cult (this was 2 years after the Jonestown Massacre), references to the Jean Harris murder trial, and a damaging videotape that was first missing then kept changing hands -- all of course pulled from major events of the 1970s. I was instantly back in 1980 - with no answering machines, land lines and payphones, library research and xerox copies, a metallic blue Buick Skylark with speakers mounted in the rear deck, Flair pens, the Early American decorating style, and most of all the frequent way the (male) senators and the MPD chief refer to Lydia as a girl, the casual sexual invitations addressed to her. the lack of respect. I did find myself occasionally chafing at her response or placid acceptance -- and then I remembered how you just picked your battles and kept on with your job when it was just words. That was the world and Truman depicted it well.
My critique is mostly that Lydia talked way too freely to her lover about the murder and her investigation to the point that I felt she violated the Professional Code of Ethics as a lawyer. But then who was her client? The Senate? No, the People of the US. So maybe she wasn't.
February 5, 2020
This was an okay mystery--I really became interested in the character of Lydia James--but it ended up having a convoluted, non-credible, almost ridiculous plot. In addition to the poor resolution of the plot, the things that really struck me were: (1) the senator from Utah is described as a hard-drinking, philandering man. This is not credible, as almost all the senators from Utah have been members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes known as the Mormons (which is what the author calls us). Latter-day Saints do not drink alcohol and do live the law of chastity. While some Latter-day Saints have violated these commandments, a candidate who was revealed as a drinker and philanderer is highly unlikely to be elected from Utah or to have a long political career as a representative from Utah. (2) That same senator from Utah was working to get a missile system based in Utah. Historically, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the federal government was trying to get the MX missile system based in Utah. It was initially well-received, at least in one county (Beaver County), but support fell off considerably after the First Presidency of the Church opposed it on environmental grounds and because of the Church's basic opposition to war and nuclear weapons. (See The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “First Presidency Statement on Basin of MX Missile,” Ensign, June 1981, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...) Daniel's book was published in 1981, so the author would not have known about the opposition to the MX missile in Utah, but it had been strongly opposed in Nevada and it seems non-credible that a Utah senator would have sought it for his state--although I could be wrong about that. That plot element was dropped without resolution so who knows how it would have turned out? Anyway, the book wasn't worth it in general; these things just made it irritating, as well.
April 9, 2020
This is the second book in the Capital Crimes series. I enjoyed this book even more than the first one in the series. The twist and turns of this mystery kept me turning the pages quickly. I also enjoy the fact that so far it has been not a police detective or a private eye that have investigated the case. The desire to know the truth and not let a murderer go free pushed them to find the truth.
A Virginia Senator dies at a party thrown in his honor. His wife, a patron of the arts, ask her friend, Lydia, to be special counsel to the Senate investigation into his death. Problem is that family members and plenty of senators on the committee just want to appear to looking for the truth. Lydia takes her role seriously and feels it is the committee's responsibility to find the killer by working in cooperation with the police. Police would appreciate it if Lydia would just stay out of their way. They found their killer-- the senator's first born son who has belonged to a religious cult for a few years. Cannot blame the police since the son confessed to murdering his father and a woman that was raised as his sister a few years previously. Lydia does not believe he is the murderer. It does not satisfy all the rumors flying around and the other family members rush to accept one of their own is a killer. Lydia I is no dummy. She knows the answers are out there and even at the risk of alienating her grieving friend, Lydia wants to catch the real killer, that is if she does not end up dead first.
Powerful families that have a ling history in politics can have a great deal of influence in politics. Gossip, scandal and power is what makes the politics in the nation's capital an exciting arena to be involved. Some people are so powerful they can rise above gossip or squash a scandal but they cannot in the long run hide from the truth. This story was full of all the harshness of politics and it made this mystery a highly entertaining read. Definitely a book worth checking out and it makes me eager to read the next book in the series.
A Virginia Senator dies at a party thrown in his honor. His wife, a patron of the arts, ask her friend, Lydia, to be special counsel to the Senate investigation into his death. Problem is that family members and plenty of senators on the committee just want to appear to looking for the truth. Lydia takes her role seriously and feels it is the committee's responsibility to find the killer by working in cooperation with the police. Police would appreciate it if Lydia would just stay out of their way. They found their killer-- the senator's first born son who has belonged to a religious cult for a few years. Cannot blame the police since the son confessed to murdering his father and a woman that was raised as his sister a few years previously. Lydia does not believe he is the murderer. It does not satisfy all the rumors flying around and the other family members rush to accept one of their own is a killer. Lydia I is no dummy. She knows the answers are out there and even at the risk of alienating her grieving friend, Lydia wants to catch the real killer, that is if she does not end up dead first.
Powerful families that have a ling history in politics can have a great deal of influence in politics. Gossip, scandal and power is what makes the politics in the nation's capital an exciting arena to be involved. Some people are so powerful they can rise above gossip or squash a scandal but they cannot in the long run hide from the truth. This story was full of all the harshness of politics and it made this mystery a highly entertaining read. Definitely a book worth checking out and it makes me eager to read the next book in the series.
February 7, 2017
This is the second book in the Margaret Truman mystery series; however, I use the word "series" loosely. It appears that they are stand alone books, so I don't think you need to read them in order. This particular book starts with a senator being killed at a party to honor him. We also find out that his niece, who his family raised, was murdered two years previously, and the murder has gone unsolved. The senator's wife asks an attorney friend of hers, Lydia, to head the senate investigation committee that is looking into the senator's murder. When Lydia mentions that maybe the two murders are connected, she is pushed aside and almost forced from the committee, even by the senator's wife. Lydia finds there are many secrets involving unseemly love affairs, cult memberships, and a squirrely radio host. Lydia has an investigative team to help her, but it's difficult to say if they are truly there to help or to spy on her progress. She also has her love interest to listen and support her. She is not going to give up, and she is not going to let others steer her away from the truth. I liked the characters and the story line.
July 11, 2023
Very interesting early 80s take on a murder mystery written by the late President Truman's daughter. I have not read Murder in the White House but am sure it is equally good. This one is beautifully researched and expresses the atmosphere of political Washington D.C. very well. The reader does not figure out the killer ahead of time and the twists bring about many questions in one's mind.
Lydia has a legal background and presently works on the Hill, but also has close ties with several Congressmen and their families as well as others. When Congressman Cale Caldwell is murdered in a room full of people she is concerned about this new tragedy befalling the Caldwell family. When Cale's wife Veronica takes her husband's seat in Congress and asks Lydia to head up a commission to investigate her husband's murder, things get complicated. Margaret Truman's inside views of life in D.C. bring about interesting developments. The book also tackles the subject of religious cults and mind control to a certain degree as well as graft and corruption in the government. Well done.
Lydia has a legal background and presently works on the Hill, but also has close ties with several Congressmen and their families as well as others. When Congressman Cale Caldwell is murdered in a room full of people she is concerned about this new tragedy befalling the Caldwell family. When Cale's wife Veronica takes her husband's seat in Congress and asks Lydia to head up a commission to investigate her husband's murder, things get complicated. Margaret Truman's inside views of life in D.C. bring about interesting developments. The book also tackles the subject of religious cults and mind control to a certain degree as well as graft and corruption in the government. Well done.
August 28, 2020
"It's bad, Cale. These cults and their hold over their followers. They're a real threat. There should be more investigations--"
"It's touchy," Cale said. "Start messing with religion, or what purports to be a religious group and you run the risk of being called intolerant, messing with constitutional rights...hey, you're a lawyer, you know all about it." Pg. 114
"There's nothing more we can do, Jason, and you'll have to understand that. My father, sad to say, has lost his grip on reality. He knew he was very ill, and that acute knowledge of mortality did strange things to his mind. He had the need to set the record straight, as he put it, to make amends for what he considered the sins of his friends, his family, his own life. Very sad, but not unusual. Think of all the celebrities who write their autobiographies once they pass the wrong side of fifty. That was all my father was doing, writing his life story." Pg. 232
I feel like this excuse is overused when their is little to no evidence.
"It's touchy," Cale said. "Start messing with religion, or what purports to be a religious group and you run the risk of being called intolerant, messing with constitutional rights...hey, you're a lawyer, you know all about it." Pg. 114
"There's nothing more we can do, Jason, and you'll have to understand that. My father, sad to say, has lost his grip on reality. He knew he was very ill, and that acute knowledge of mortality did strange things to his mind. He had the need to set the record straight, as he put it, to make amends for what he considered the sins of his friends, his family, his own life. Very sad, but not unusual. Think of all the celebrities who write their autobiographies once they pass the wrong side of fifty. That was all my father was doing, writing his life story." Pg. 232
I feel like this excuse is overused when their is little to no evidence.
March 13, 2021
This is the second book in a series, but other than the author and city in which the two stories are set, neither has anything to do with the other.
Murder on Capitol Hill was, in a word ... boring. It was written in the early 1980s by an author obsessed with the Kennedy administration and conspiracy theory. There is a slight bit of action at the beginning when the actual murder takes place, another scene of activity around 60% and then again for the final 10%. The rest is just ... talking. All the men were sleaze buckets, the women naive.
Murder on Capitol Hill was, in a word ... boring. It was written in the early 1980s by an author obsessed with the Kennedy administration and conspiracy theory. There is a slight bit of action at the beginning when the actual murder takes place, another scene of activity around 60% and then again for the final 10%. The rest is just ... talking. All the men were sleaze buckets, the women naive.
March 23, 2021
I like Margaret Truman's writing style, so I've been reading a number of her books in this Washington insider series. It's fun to think some of her ideas probably came from watching the goings on in D.C. when her father was president. She weaves a good mystery, usually lots of suspects, as in this case, with the true "villain" not disclosed until near the end. I liked the twists and turns, showcasing many possible killers until the kind of surprising ending. The "tape" wasn't what I expected. I also liked her understated romance scenes.
November 9, 2020
This series of murder mysteries is something I look for when I'm in a store full of old things, including books with tattered covers.
I know, I could buy them all on the internet, but that's not as fun.
The daughter of President Harry Truman offers intimate knowledge of the comings and goings in our nation's capitol. In many ways, not that much has changed. The books are an enjoyable read.
I know, I could buy them all on the internet, but that's not as fun.
The daughter of President Harry Truman offers intimate knowledge of the comings and goings in our nation's capitol. In many ways, not that much has changed. The books are an enjoyable read.
December 17, 2024
This book will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. So much going on....lies, tapping apartments for information and a family trying to hold on to their power. Secrets, clandestine meetings, tapes, letters the whole works. At times with Lydia, the main character I thought she would get killed but things changed at the end. You will hold your breath a couple of times.....and to think this really happens in Washington!
October 24, 2017
An excellent read
I enjoy politics and have an interest in cults. Combine the two with a mystery and you have Murder on Capitol Hill. It's well put together,,and the mystery itself is quite well thought out. It's not quite the page-turner Murder in the White House is, but it's still a great read.
I enjoy politics and have an interest in cults. Combine the two with a mystery and you have Murder on Capitol Hill. It's well put together,,and the mystery itself is quite well thought out. It's not quite the page-turner Murder in the White House is, but it's still a great read.
June 16, 2020
Actually a 3.5. This was an light weight mystery that nevertheless held my interest. There is no doubt that the author was very knowledgeable about the Washington political scene. Most of her characters tended to be either good or bad but a few of the major players did show both dark and light sides. Kind of a summer beach read.
June 10, 2021
The Senate Majority leader, Cale Caldwell, is murdered at a party being thrown in his honor. His wife Veronica, is chosen by the governor of their state to replace him in the Senate. Lydia James is selected as special counsel to a Senate committee investigating the Senator's murder. It seems no one wants her to actually discover the truth.
August 8, 2024
Good, but there were a couple of slight gaps in the story-telling that I had to keep checking I didn’t miss something… And there were a lot of typos in this edition (entirely wrong names and wrong words, never mind the pagination issues), though thankfully a reader before me caught and corrected them.
But other than that it’s a fine mystery. Remember when we didn’t have cell phones and GPS..? 😆
But other than that it’s a fine mystery. Remember when we didn’t have cell phones and GPS..? 😆
November 4, 2024
There's not as much a D.C. atmosphere in this one as the last one I read (Murder at the Smithsonian) and the sexism grates a bit. I got tired of the boyfriend constantly trying to talk Lydia into bed. Because you never get to know the murder victims before they're killed, it feels like you're getting a biased view of them. Everything is hearsay.
February 11, 2026
Will Definitely Hold Your Interest
I found this to be well written—much like I do most of the other Truman mysteries. However, I also found myself having to reread some chapters in order to keep straight the characters and their individual roles. I was particularly mindful of the final chapters and needing to go slower in order to follow the final wrap-up/ending of the story. All in all it had a relatively acceptable conclusion.
I found this to be well written—much like I do most of the other Truman mysteries. However, I also found myself having to reread some chapters in order to keep straight the characters and their individual roles. I was particularly mindful of the final chapters and needing to go slower in order to follow the final wrap-up/ending of the story. All in all it had a relatively acceptable conclusion.
April 11, 2018
This book was definitely better than the first book in the series. A little more going on to hold your interest. The pace moved a little faster and it was, for me, more exciting than Murder in the White House.
December 15, 2017
Great story
This the second one I've read of Margaret Truman's stories and the keep getting better. I loved the story line and the characters were really well written. I plan on reading all her other ones, because she writes such good stories.
This the second one I've read of Margaret Truman's stories and the keep getting better. I loved the story line and the characters were really well written. I plan on reading all her other ones, because she writes such good stories.
November 21, 2017
This was a very good read, I could not put it down. Again Miss Truman hands done . A great job with her writing. m . Truman as a. Author is great.
I have read other books that she has written. I have e joyed all the books of hers that I have read
I have read other books that she has written. I have e joyed all the books of hers that I have read
February 25, 2018
Classy & Suspenseful
This book reads like a Murder She Wrote episode. There is a classiness to the writing that I enjoy. I'm sorry it has taken me so many years to read this series of books. It was worth the wait.
This book reads like a Murder She Wrote episode. There is a classiness to the writing that I enjoy. I'm sorry it has taken me so many years to read this series of books. It was worth the wait.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews