Murder at the Library of Congress (The Capital Crimes Series) [Mass Market Paperback]

Margaret Truman (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Capital Crimes Series | Publication Date: October 30, 2001

In the depths of the U.S. Library of Congress toil thousands of researchers, chasing down obsessions, breakthroughs, and new contributions to human wisdom. But when amateur D.C. sleuth Annabel Reed-Smith enters this stately American institution, she discovers a hornet’s nest of intrigue and murder.

After a renowned scholar is bludgeoned to death among the scholarly stacks, an ambitious TV reporter links the case to the heist of a Spanish painting from a Miami museum and a killing in Mexico City. Annabel suspects that buried in the Library are secrets some people will do anything to keep silent–the secret of a rich man’s ambition, a researcher’s disappearance, and a mysterious diary of Christopher Columbus’s journey written five hundred years ago. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The theft from a private museum in Miami of a painting by 19th-century artist Fernando Reyes of Columbus offering his book of privileges to Ferdinand and Isabella sets off the action in this latest Washington, D.C.-insider tale from Truman (Murder at the Watergate, 1998, etc.). The bulk of the novel, however, unfolds at the nation's venerated reference institution. Gallery owner and former attorney Annabel Reed-Smith was looking forward to two months of research for her lead article of a special issue of the Library of Congress publication Civilization to be devoted to Columbus. Rumors have persisted for centuries about a possible second diary of the voyage to the New World written by Bartolom? de Las Casas, the explorer's confidant and friend. Annabel's work takes on greater urgency when she comes upon the dead body of pompous Las Casas expert and LC employee Michele Paul in the cubicle next to hers. Back in Miami, journalist Lucianne Huston is assigned to cover the art theft, during which a guard was killed. When she learns of Paul's murder, the reporter suspects a connection between the two crimes, as does Annabel, who discovers that another Las Casas expert disappeared about eight years ago. Meanwhile, the day-to-day operation of the Library proceeds full-tilt as Cale Broadhurst, the current Librarian, has his hands full dealing with Huston and the rest of the press, not to mention members of Congress. Truman shows readers the art theft at the start of the book, so the mystery centers around who killed Paul and how his demise is connected to the art heist. A clue to the murderer is tipped clumsily; the discovery of the killer's identity comes as something of an anticlimax, but the fun of the book is getting to it. The Library is the real star, and D.C., as always in Truman's mysteries, proves fertile ground for intrigue. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

The murder of a Hispanic scholar at the Library of Congress just might concern a long-lost diary of Christopher Columbus.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (October 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449001954
• ISBN-13: 978-0449001950
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 0.8 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #455,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the best in the series, December 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Murder at the Library of Congress (Hardcover)

Murder at the Library of Congress is definitely not Truman's best work in the capital crimes series. Annabel Reed-Smith is commissioned to write an article on Colombus at LC. With a couple of murders thrown in the mix - one new and one 8 years old, she gets a bit side-tracked. Truman does keep the reader engaged, following an art thief on a cross-country trek, as well as interesting descriptions of LC. However, the plot around Annabel is without its usual punch. And, for fans of husband Mac, he is sadly in a much more backstage role. In fact, the aggressive news reporter does most of the crime solving for Annabel and Mac. Overall, an okay read, but not her best.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A workmanlike novel by an experienced mystery writer., January 1, 2000

By 

E. Bukowsky "booklover10" (NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Murder at the Library of Congress (Hardcover)

Truman, in her latest "Capital Crimes" novel, delves into the world of scholarly skullduggery and murder at the Library of Congress. As usual, Truman has researched the background of her plot with care. This mystery deals with a diary and a map that was purportedly written by a friend of Christopher Columbus. The diary and map could possibly shed some light on the accomplishments or perhaps the evil deeds of Christopher Columbus during his trips to the New World. Annabel Reed-Smith, a former lawyer who is also an art expert, happens to be doing research in the Hispanic section of the library when a murder occurs. Naturally, she becomes embroiled in the investigation of the murder. The writing style is breezy and casual and Truman works out the plot in a competent, albeit unexciting, fashion. She may not be flashy, but Truman writes light mysteries that are easy to take.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good concept, June 6, 2005

By 

Patrick Myers "Jazzy" (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder at the Library of Congress (The Capital Crimes Series) (Mass Market Paperback)

Murder at the Library of Congress by Margaret Truman is one of the Capital Crimes novel series. Annabel Lee, an ex-lawyer and a new art gallery owner, is invited to do an article over the long-lost Las Casas diaries in a magazine. Annabel, deciding to do the article, goes to the Library of Congress where she meets with Consuela, head of the Hispanic and Portuguese division, to find all the materials she needs to write the article. In between researching, she meets and interviews Michele Paul, a rude historian who has been trying to find the Las Casas diaries for years. His murder later that night puts a bump in Annabel Lee's plan to interview him some more and creates a whole new oppurtunity to investigate Paul's murder.

Truman's mystery novel is not one of mystery, as the plot shows indirectly who the murderer is and why this person murdered Michele Paul. Although not surprising, it is a let down at the end of the book when you find out that the person you were expecting murdered Michele Paul, really did murder him. Another thing that was destroyed in this book was word play. Whenever Truman used a popular saying that virtually everybody knows, she added either after or before the character said it "As the saying goes." Although not important, it makes the story a little less real and choppier as well. One good thing, however, is that the characters Truman used may not be like regular people, but are interesting and they keep you reading to see what happens to them in the end. The concept of the whole story is thrilling as well.

Truman made some mistakes that were costly to the book's storyline and appeal, but that was fixed with interesting and complex characters. As a whole the book was good, but not one to be remembered as a classic.