Customer Reviews

Murder in the House: A Novel (Random House Large Print)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kira Albertini I felt that the novel, Murder in the House, by Margaret Truman was quite intriguing. If you find the scandals that engulf our government appealing, then this is the book for you. It deals with the daily life of a senator from California named Paul Latham. A plane goes down carrying the reputable Secretary of State, Jacob Baumann. The crash killed all who were on board. President Joe Scott feels Latham is the best man to fill the position. After Latham is appointed as Secretary of State, he is mysteriously found dead, a suspected suicide. This is a huge blow to our country. Why would this respectable presidential advisor kill himself? Is there more going on than what meets the eye? Something doesn't add up. This novel deals with uncovering what goes on behind closed doors in our nation's capital. There are always cover-ups and behind the scenes action that the general public never gets the privilege to know about. This book gives you, the reader, a chance to become apart of all the action that you otherwise would not even know about. I recommend this book because it is exciting and adventurous. This is a novel, which you will never be able to put down. It gets your heart racing with spine tingling suspense. The book, Murder In The House, by Margaret Truman is terrific and well worth reading.

Easy reading mystery without obscenities or perverse sex, keeps your interest, predictable suspense.

This is the most interesting and exciting of the Margaret Truman mysteries that I have read. Congressman Paul Latham has been nominated by the President to be Secretary of State. Then, he is found lying dead beneath the Statue of Freedom, a pistol clutched in his hand. Rumors swirl about suicide because of impending disclosure of illegal activity with a billionaire supporter or sexual harrasment charges by a secretary. But the medical examiner finds that it is not suicide. It is murder. As suspects are eliminated, the FBI finds that hired killers, members of the Russian mafia, are loose in Washington. But for whom do they work? When suspicion turns to the man controlling the killers, the story becomes intense, as the suspect uses his hired killers to protect himself. All in all, it is a good story, and you get the usual, wonderful insight into Washington.

This entire book felt like the initial set up to an exciting story that never happened. The book read like a high level summary of what could have been a very interesting and exciting murder mystery. This is the first M. Truman book I've read so I'm hoping that given her success this just happens to be one of her weaker efforts.

This is and could be her finest work as of yet. The characters and plot are so skillfully plotted that you might think that she invented this gener herself.

As always, I enjoy Ms. Truman's book, but felt that Mac Smith was not present enough. Give me my Big Mac. Thanks, Joyce K,a faithful fan.

The SYNOPSES all say basically the same thing: Democratic Congressman Paul Latham is an obvious choice for Secretary of State. Then a member of his staff accuses him of sexual harassment and is found dead.

NOT!

Perhaps the first twists and turns of the plot are due to the incorrect book blurbs. Latham is nominated for Secretary of State. He asks MacKenzie Smith (1/2 of the Truman's husband/wife and sometimes detective team) to help him with the confirmation process.

Latham has an impecable reputation. When he is found dead in the pocket park outside of the Rayburn building, an apparent suicide, a newpaper reports that a member of his staff has accused him of sexual harrasment.

Now things get interesting. Smith knows his friend would not commit suicide. And Marge Brazier is missing -- the sexual harrassment charge unconfirmed.

Now the bodies start piling up. Russian trade agreements, an American businessman who wants to make a killing in Russia's new democratic economy, the Russian Mafia, Russians who long for the good old days, and politics as usual -- all feed into the mix. The result is a fast paced story that moves you right along dangling red herrings. While fairly predictable it's still lots of fun.

The mystery is obvious and while the characters are engaging, very little happens besides the crime that sets off the novel. There is plenty of wading through verbose descriptions and conversation however. This book might be welcome as distraction but it is not a rewarding, informative or particularly pleasant read because it is hollow and devoid of meaning or even a challenging plot.

Another of Truman's books that's hard to put down and keeps one guessing to the end. She definitely knows D.C., both inside and out.

However - It might be my age (G) but so many characters are included in her books I have difficulties keeping them all straight - still a good read though.

I'm also not too impressed with the way she starts many of her stories (this one included) with something/someone that has little or absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the story...but I still enjoyed the book.

My suggestion would be to make sure you space out the time between reading Truman's books. If two or more are read back to back, one can see how much alike most of her stories are...only a change in name, location, and "who-dunnit."

Just like each of my reviews of her "Murder In/At ..." books.

The most interesting thing about this book is that Truman really knows her Washington. Otherwise, this quick and easy read is standard formula fare. Her characters are mildly interesting, and this book plays on the Russian mafia as the evil ones. Good book to read at the beach.