Murder at the Opera

Capital Crimes #22

by Margaret Truman

A diva is dead. The soprano in question, Charise Lee, was scarcely a star at the Washington National Opera, but when the aspiring singer is stabbed in the heart backstage during rehearsals, she suddenly takes center stage. Now the crime-fighting couple Mac Smith and his beloved wife, Annabel, are being pressured by the panicked theater board to unmask a killer. What they uncover is an increasingly complex case reaching far beyond Washington to a dark world of informers and terror alerts in Iraq, and climaxing on a fateful night at the opera attended by none other than the president himself.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Thriller, Murder Mystery

381 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 31, 2006

About the author

Mary 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.

Reviews

[Tina Demas Broccolo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this book would be great and it started off pretty strong and interesting. It really had such potential and it was terrible! There were so many story lines that could have tied in to a great ending and it really just fizzled out. The last few chapters were particularly terrible and the ending was really atrocious. I wouldn't recommend it.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good entry in the Capitol Crimes series. I always enjoy it when Mac and Annabel are involved. This one was interesting learning about the opera.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many characters and plot points to keep track of in this book, and when the murder(s) finally were solved you realized that the only ones investigating them were the police - even though the recurring Truman characters of Mac & Annabel Smith (former attorneys) would be expected to have a strong hand in the solving of the murders. The cases were "solved" when the murderers confessed for reasons that are not made clear in the story, and now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not even sure all of the murders were actually solved. Some connections between the various characters and story lines are never explained, or if they are I missed it because I was lost trying to sort things out. I'm not sure what to make of this one, since I'm sure I've read some of this series a long time ago and enjoyed those, but for me this one was not satisfying. I picked it up because I thought I would enjoy the opera angle, and that part was very interesting, but the other elements were too confusing to me. I will most likely try some others though to see what I make of them.

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars. It was too long, too overly complicated. Mysteries don't need to be 400 pages and this one definitely didn't. It had three plots, yes they eventually dovetailed but at least one was not needed, if not two of them.

The main plot is Charise Lee, an opera student is killed at the D.C. Opera house and Mac Smith and his wife Annabel who are involved in the opera scene (both former lawyers) get swept up in it because the opera committee thinks the police need a hand. Also in this is Pawkins a former homicide detective turned PI in retirement, also a complete opera lover.

In the back ground we have a spy thriller thing going on in the Middle East that literally was the most boring thing ever with a bunch of side characters you couldn't care about because not enough time is given to them.

Then you have the missing songs written by Mozart-Hayden that went missing in D.C. after being 'discovered' at a yard sale in England and been sent to a DC university for authentication and the owner was murdered like 6 years before.

Mac and Annabel do zero detecting and they're the main pov characters. The two cops were pretty stereotypical (especially the older overweight African American one) and then the PI who starts out as a nice guy opera loving detective becomes a misogynistic jerk by the end. Don't get me started on the ending. It did something imo a mystery should never do.

Also it was SO repetitive. How many times was she going to tell us what a supernumerary was in opera? At least once a chapter apparently.

It was eye rolling in that everyone instantly fell in love with opera. I was fine with Pawkins and Annabel loving it and then Mac falling for it but literally every character was already in love with opera and those who didn't heard it once and couldn't get enough. Really? Does that match anyone's opera experience?

Even worse was the body shaming in this. Countless times we heard the slight Asian murder victim was too thin to be an opera singer. Opera singers need to be fat. On the other hand the cop is also constantly body shamed for being fat. I'm like okay yeah enough with this.

I haven't read others in the series though I was tempted. I looked through and it seems they only interconnect because they're in D.C. from blurbs they appear to be different characters. That said after listening to the audio book of this, I don't think i'll be looking for others.

[Anne Hawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read any of Margaret Truman's mysteries for a long time and was pleasantly surprised at this one. I picked it out because I am studying opera with my 10 year old granddaughter whom I homeschool and I was looking for something that would give a feel for how an opera was staged.

This book deals with a young soprano who is killed in the first chapter and it veers off to a terrorist cell and an 8 year murder in which a manuscript disappeared. The manuscript was alleged to be a composition in which Mozart an Handel corroborated. The various threads do come together and the mystery is summed up in the last chapter.

I enjoyed the background on the Opera and the Opera Ball and what has to happen when the President appears at a social function. It was fascinating to see what goes on behind a simple appearance at a ball or a trip to a restaurant entails.

[theejheider · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started promising, like any other book in the world. We follow plenty of people in the story. A couple who were former defense attorneys, a retired detective, a talent manager, two active-duty detectives and an intelligence officer. A lot of characters to keep up with but the author did a great job to hook you to every single one of them and their story lines.

I read the first half and it was good, then out of nowhere another story line popped out that I had no freaking idea what the hell was going on. It threw me off a little bit. It was so random but I got intrigued.

I learned so much about operas, but I wasn’t sure whether if they were real or not. It was hard to separate an opera fact to pseudo fact, considering I don’t know anything about operas. But I did enjoy the the whole opera aspect of the book.

There were so many things happening but it wasn't overwhelming. It was very interesting how the author connected everything in the end. The problem I have with this book is it lacked an intense factor, a “wow” factor and it felt like the story was dragged just to throw a couple of more mysteries on top on an ongoing one. It was an underwhelming finish but overall a solid read. 3 stars!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed listening to this murder mystery/espionage story. The reader did an excellent job with the inflections, voices, and even used some voice modification for sounding as if he were on the TV or radio.

[Crosky · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was 2.5 stars because I managed to finish it. It started out promising, but then the plot spread, introducing more characters, drifting from the actual murder and investigation. I may try Truman's nonfiction next instead of another murder mystery.

[Vannessa Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Georgetown law professor Mac Smith and his wife Annabel learn that former homicide detective, current P.I., and eternal opera fan Raymond Pawkins, might be involved with six year old murder of a professor who found the lost Mozart-Haydn string masterpieces and whose murder was never solved. But how is the murder of the professor tied to the murder of an up and coming soprano Charise Lee who was murdered just a few days ago?

Author Truman’s fans will experience her enjoyment in writing the story through her excitement and passion. Phil Gigante is great at mimicking the dialects of the various cultures portrayed in the story. Gigante’s enjoyment in reading the story comes through in his excitement of the characters and enjoyment of the story.

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is quite possible the most poorly written book I have ever read! Given that, for anyone who has every worked for Washington National Opera, they will get a kick out of it. Lots of direct references to people and places and lots of absurdly inaccurate references. Super quick read and good for a laugh.

[Lorraine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very flat stereotypes for characters. Pathetically predictable. The terrorist side plot was very unimaginative and boring; giving it narrative space did nothing for the story except make it longer.
Good thing it was an audio book and I could multi-task, otherwise it would have been a waste of time.

[Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the opera so I have to read this one! I wasn't that impressed with the book. Not even I spout about opera as much as some of these characters. It was a bit much. And I just didn't like how the various cases were mixed together.

[TJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gave up on it about 130 pages. The banality of writing and the story finally drove me over the edge

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

"What bothers me, Ray, is that Grimes doesn't live like a man who's sitting on a million dollars' worth of rare manuscripts. He, his wife, and two kids live in university-subsidized housing, nothing fancy. He drives a beat-up old care. HIs bank account gives him maybe a couple of months of living expenses. No savings, aside from a self-funded pension plan at the university. If he murdered Musinski to get his hands on those scores, what the hell did he do with them?"



~~The Kennedy Center Opera House is shown in the foreground of the photograph above. It's a picturesque view. So imagine the dismay of the Opera community when the body of a young woman, apparently murdered, is found in a neglected corner of the stage during a rehearsal for an upcoming production. Turns out the victim is a young soprano singer from Canada, who came to Washington D.C. on a visa to enroll in the Young Artist Program. Police detectives Sylvia Johnson and Willie Portelain are tasked with solving the murder. But since both the reputation of their opera house and international young artist program are at stake, the Opera Board hires their own PI to back up the police in the investigation. Mac and Annabel Smith also get involved. Sound messy? It is. Who in the world would want a young woman dead? Read to find out.

First two sentences: "Mac, you must do it."
"No."

Vital statistics: Author's home: Manhattan, New York
Year written: 2006
Length: 319 pages
Setting: present day (2006) Washington D.C.
Genre: thriller/mystery with a strong dose of love for all things opera
Read if: You also love all things opera

My two cents: I just couldn't get into this one. There were so many different viewpoints--the Smiths, the police detectives, and Raymond Pawkins--a retired detective turned PI. None of the characters were fleshed out into 3D personalities, and were relegated to stereotypes in most cases instead. There also wasn't much of a mystery to solve. The pieces fell together with little to no sleuthing involved. My final complaint is that there were three different storyline threads that only loosely connected. Given 1.5 stars or a rating of "Below Average". And the only reason I rated it that highly is because its the holidays. :) Not recommended.

Example quotes: The young musician had become silent and sullen during the ride in the patrol car and refused to answer questions posed by the desk sergeant, including giving his name. The only thing he would say was "I'm a Canadian citizen. I want a lawyer."
"Sure, son," the dour sergeant said. "The Mounties will be here any minute to rescue you."

~~Like most Americans, Johnson's exposure to opera was nonexistent, aside from those occasional snippets that managed to slip into the public vocabulary. She closed her eyes and allowed the sheer power and beauty of the singer's voice to penetrate her senses.

~~"Ray Pawkins got a couple of tickets to the opera last night for Sylvia Johnson and Willie Portelain. I had to pull the two of them out of the Kennedy Center early when the fax came in from New York. I'd like to buy them a couple of tickets so they can enjoy the whole show."
"Willie Portelain at the opera?" Morris said with a chuckle.
"He said he liked it. I owe them."
"Sure, go ahead. I'll hide it under--under continuing education."

Further reading: A synapse of Tosca , the opera that so entranced Willie, from the Metropolitan Opera website. https://www.metopera.org/discover/syn...

[Alger Smythe-Hopkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

During her father's term as president Margaret Truman launched a career as an operatic soprano, and attracting quietly enthusiastic reviews. This held true until 1950 when the Washington Post music critic wrote a mild pan of her voice and acting ability, leading the president-father to write the critic a letter threatening to push in his nose.
Understanding that I risk the ghost of old Harry S, I will review this book by observing that his daughter's attempt at writing a murder mystery about the opera doesn't sing any better than she did. She remains flat a good deal of the time, and still cannot write with anything approaching professional finish.
This is one of those books where you can just glimpse at what the author planned to do, just enough to feel very sorry that they didn't even come close to the vision. So what went wrong?
Granting that Truman was in her 80s when she drafted this story, and then she handed it off to one of her many indifferent ghostwriters, and how much bother should she go to when she already had a twenty-two volume series behind her with excited reviews for every one? Let's just say that there is a sad irony to the preface thanking her editor, when that editor allowed massive blocks of repetition and digression slip into the final draft. Let us also not forget that by 2006 Truman had long abandoned Washington DC for New York City, then Chicago, and so her Washington DC was a distant memory. To make the novel sound current there are frequent mentions of chic restaurants and 'gentrified' neighborhoods, but they all cluster around the K street axis between the White House and Georgetown. Most of the action in this novel happens in the tight four block area between the Kennedy Center and the Watergate, when it isn't happening in the strangely expansive Takoma Park rehearsal space, about which I had any number of laugh out loud moments. As a former resident of TP I can tell you that the place is not a 'funky little suburban enclave', neither is the proper approach to the WNO rehearsal space at the corner of Cedar and Eastern Ave up 16th Street. I complained in an earlier review of a Truman murder book that the series was strangely missing Black characters in a city more than half African-American, well turns out including them is worse from every angle. Also, just what the hell was going on with the descriptions of the ladies? The more professional detective in the murder case is openly ogled by passers by as she is walking about, sexually harassed by her grotesque caricature of a partner, takes pride in being offered a photo spread in Playboy, and revels in all of it. Meanwhile the annoying husband in the duo at the lead of this book revels in the constant comments about his smoking hot wife when he isn't grabbing a little nooner himself. But most painful of all, there is the out of nowhere/pointless throwaway/yet obligatory, Islamic Terrorist post-9/11 subplot to be ashamed of.
This book is a shambles and the conclusion is chaotic..
So, heigh ho, the fat lady sang, and don't bother with this one.

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in Washington, DC, with the murder of a young student in a prestigious Opera program with the Washington National Opera, this mystery has cold cases, terrorist sub-plots, good cops and dirty cops, and the amateur meddling sleuths that have been the rage forever (or at least since Agatha Christie). I didn't enjoy this book. I thought the author was kissing up to Washington, DC for some reason I couldn't comprehend (Is that her fan base? DC locals? Or wannabe tourists to DC? Who cares? Not I.) I didn't want to read about unlikely, unbelievable, and unpleasant links to terrorist networks. The "bad guys" were apparent way too early on. Why so many descriptions of what the characters are eating in DC restaurants - BORING. (Was the author getting special privileges for advertising within her story lines?). CLICHE dialogue. Cliche prose. Ugh. No, I did not enjoy this book. One of a whole series of mystery novels by this author set in DC, it is my last. I have better things to do with my time.

[Ann Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Margaret Truman brings back the dynamic Washington, DC duo Mac and Annabel Smith to solve a few mysteries. The reader is transported to the world of opera and the behind the scenes process required to launch a new production in conjunction with an annual fundraiser. Annabel is a volunteer on the national opera planning committee and recruits Mac as a “super” in the new production. Chaos insures when a young Canadian soprano is found murdered on the opera stage set.

Three mysteries parallel the story with the primary mystery focused on the murder of the opera soprano. The second mystery revolves around valuable missing musical compositions and a 6 year old murder. The third mystery is a plot by terrorists to murder the President of the United States and high ranking governmental officials.

Overall, this is an enjoyable mystery with very likable characters and the glamorous Washington, DC National Opera scene as the highlight. A lot is going on in the story but there are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader’s interest!

[Susan Homan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at the Opera

Murder at the Opera is another book by Margaret Truman that will keep you turning the pages. I love that her books are set in the DC area. I live close enough that I know many of the landmarks she talks about, which may make it more interesting to me. This one had a lot of twists and turns, and some characters that will surprise you. Possible dirty cops, two lawyers that no longer practice law, an opera, a fundraising ball for the opera, presidents visit, secret service. Really all things DC! This book kept me turning the pages, and there were definitely a few twists that I did not see coming, although I did figure out a couple on my own.

[Laura Beasley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but not as much as some of her others. The story had too many different things going on and the way she tied them all together just was not smooth. The story progressed and then when she is trying to bring it all together it happened to quickly and some didn't even make sense. The story takes place in Washington DC and some of the same characters as in other books which I enjoy. Mac and his wife Annabel. She has joined the opera league and gets Mac to be an extra in the upcoming opera. Then one of the opera singers is murdeted, a plot to killing influential politicians is uncovered and an old murder case is reopened.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this typical murder mystery very much, partially because it took place in Washington, DC where I work and have spent much time. This was the first book I had read by Margaret Truman and I was able to forget very quickly that she wasn't the president's daughter and become absorbed in the story. (Side note - I recently read Murder on Capitol Hill which she wrote in 1981 and didn't enjoy it nearly as much. The book seemed dated and sexist. You can read my review on Murder on Capitol Hill here on Goodreads.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plenty of red herrings in this one. The person I thought was the villain, almost from the beginning of the book, turned out to actually BE a villain -- just not a murderer. I didn't suspect the identity of the murderer until it was revealed, late in the plot; and there was a twist at the Opera Ball that I SHOULD have foreseen, but didn't.

Another excellent mystery from Margaret Truman and/or her ghostwriters.

[Mary Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story but it was not the best Truman has written. There was a sub-plot that received very little attention. The attack on high ranking government officials was not very detailed, so the reader just had to remember there was something else involving the main character’s demise. I did like the characters.
I felt like I was in Washington and more so the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center.

[Janet Balliet]

Annabel gets Mac a Super (extra) part in an opera. She is on the board. A young singer is murdered & hidden in a storage room. Metro police & a retired detective search for clues. Everything swirls around lost Mozart music & a terrorist threat. in the end the murderer is murdered & the music was taken & sold by the retired detective. There is no proof & Macv & Annabel can't do anything about the music lost to the world.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. This was my first Margaret Truman, and she didn't win me over. It was okay, but not gripping. Murder in the setting of an opera production interlaced with capitol intrigue and homeland security. The best thing about it on audio was the impressive voice work from Phil Gigante-- truly outstanding in that respect.

[Doris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is another is the series of Mac Smith written by Margaret Truman.I like how she uses her knowledge of Washington DC for the background of events. This story takes place post 9/11 and adds that modern twist of terrorism to the plot. There was an unexpected twist in the story which I ejoyed. Her books have always been interesting and it was nice to find one I hadn't read.

[Hal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the tutorial on a Puccini opera and a fun and quick reading murder mystery. The ending was not to my liking but it did tie things together to a point.

Margaret Truman's books are a formula and a successful one. They also always seem to offer some historical and or political knowledge which adds to the enjoyment.

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

A young diva who was to star at the Washington National Opera is found murdered. Her murder is the beginning of a major terrorist plot aimed at killing political figures in the US. This sounds like an interesting plot for a great story.
It wasn't.
The story was dull and predictable. I think if I was more interested in opera I would have enjoyed the book more

[grundoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last we've seen of Mackenzie and Annabel Smith? As primary characters, ostensibly so, yet no real indication... and not a particularly strong finish, though nice to introduce a different part of D.C. (well, bordering Takoma Park, MD anyway) for a change.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plucky protagonist couple resurfaces, does plucky crime fighting. Bonus sketchy journalist. Fake news! Fake murders! OK done. I'm a little over this series (super tired of the central power couple) but I've come this far, so I'll finish it out.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing. Very interesting until the end which rushed together a couple of narratives. Story opens with the murder of a young opera student at the Kennedy in DC and involves the husband and wife Smiths, lawyer and antiques dealer.