Customer Reviews

Murder in Georgetown - an Eleanor Roosevelt mystery

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First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt learns from the newspaper that the police arrested Senator Long staffer Jessica Dee for killing her married lover Sergeant Peavy. Evidence clearly points towards Jessica firing a bullet into the head of the naked body of Peavy, a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve after he had sex. As she has done before, Eleanor takes an interest in the investigation because her memo to Kingfish led to Jessica joining the charismatic senator's staff.

Calling her friend, police Lieutenant Edward Kennelly, Eleanor joins the investigation. However, by 1935, the President finds his administration battling with Congress over various social issues such as Social Security. Knowing he needs to stay squeaky clean, Franklin warns Eleanor not to embarrass him by crossing any questionable lines when she makes her inquiries into the Jessica case. The case turns more complex as two more murders occur. Eleanor believes that if they do not act quickly, the true killer, will escape.

The fun of MURDER IN GEORGETOWN lies in author Elliot Roosevelt's ability to provide insight into numerous historical figures, especially that of his parents. The who-done-it is very simplistic but entertaining. Historical mystery buffs will enjoy seeing the interrelationships of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, their personal staff, and several famous people such as Joseph Kennedy and Huey Long. It is that insider's glimpse that makes Mr. Roosevelt's Eleanor mysteries so enthralling.

Harriet Klausner

I've enjoyed reading Elliot Roosevelt's murder mysteries as an easy, enjoyable read in between tackling the 600 plus page novels by other authors. You can put your mind back into the 1930's and 40's, and get an interesting look (albeit fictional) into some of the famous names from the era. 'Murder in Georgetown' was more of the same, with Eleanor meeting with the Marx brothers, J. Edgar, Joe Kennedy, and others. However, the content of this book seemed to take an alarming change from previous books in the series. Is this really one of the late Elliot's unpublished manuscripts, or an attempt by a 'ghost' writer to continue the series? There is too much of a sexual content present, with repeated references to sex, stripping, lovemaking, etc. I lost count on how many times the author used the phrase "empty seminal vesicles" during the book. While the style and content may fit well into books by other authors, it seemed out of place in a Roosevelt mystery. I'm no prude by any stretch of the imagination, but Eleanor, please, clean up your act! P.S. The date typo (1945) near the end of the book was also a sloppy oversight by the editor.

This novel is packed with family references. Rumors, bootleggers, bank fraud, love affairs and murder all combined to make this a wonderful read. Reality blends so well with the fictional murder that it leaves the reader wondering what is the truth. The main plot is excellent but it is the political tidbets which spice up the story. Before I read this book I had no idea some American cultures ate dirt and that it was good for you. Put it on your summer reading list.

This was a very interesting look at the First Lady and how she helped solve a murder of a very prominent member of the Federal Reserve Board. She enlisted the help of the Secret Service and Joe Kennedy. It led her down a path of deceit and theft. I found the book to be very interesting and the First Lady Eleanor to be portrayed as a formidable person to deal with. I don't think you would want to be on her bad side. Interesting facts about the White House and President in this book as well.