Customer Reviews

Murder in the Smithsonian (Capital Crime Mysteries)

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

 

 

Margaret Truman writes mysteries that capitalize on her terrific knowledge of Washington, DC, and impress me by moving right along to a solution. The plots can be a bit intricate, but that's part of the fun. In this story, Dr. Lewis Tunney, a historian, is murdered spectacularly on the balcony above the famous Focault pendulum in the National Museum of American History, during a gala attended by the Vice President of the United States. Captain Mac Hanrahan of the Washington police has the task, filled with political pressure, of solving the murder. He finds that Tunney had learned a devastating secret, and was murdered before he could reveal it. Hanrahan's task is complicated by the arrival in the United States of strong-willed Heather McBean, the Scottish fiance of Tunney. She sets out independently to find who murdered Tunney. But the murderer proceeds to kill others who might know Tunney's secret, and Heather finds herself stalked by the murderer. It all makes an enjoyable story.

The dialogue in this book was somewhat better than that in Murder in the Supreme Court, but the characters were flat, the exposition was blaring, and the collusion required for the plot to work was pretty unbelievable, even for fiction.

I enjoy Truman's books and recently made a list of those I've missed along the way which led me to this earlier work. I liked the characters so much I didn't want this book to end. Her books always enliven history as well as offer a murder to be solved. This particular story would make a good movie as it includes jewels, castles, London, and White House venues.

Another fascinating book by Margaret Truman.Another well constructed international plot! She obviously know the Smithonian, the world of international art dealers and Museum curators. and she does give the impression of having been in London and Edimburgh. it bring back memories. well researched

This is the first book I have read by Truman and guess it will be my last. I was very disappointed in it. I had heard such rave reviews. The book was very confusing to me. To many people involved and to much detail about places, to many murders and all by same people, in to many countries. I stayed lost a big part of the time. That may be due to my lack of smarts, but I was still lost. Sorry. Mrs. Truman.

Margaret Truman just can't write bad mysteries. With her history of actually living in the White House, she has more knowledge of the ins and outs of the beltway and surrounding areas. Just perhaps the ghosts of administrations past haunt Washington D.C. and she has been able to channel that intrigue into her many books. If you spend a day with one of her books, you'll want to read them all.

I bought this book specifically to enhance a future visit to DC I plan for my family. My grand daughter and I are reading it (I bought two copies). The writing is first rate. I don't think Margaret Truman got the credit she deserved for her writing skills. The story is great, too. I plan to read all her books set in DC.

I really enjoy B movies. My friends and I have a whole series of absolutely awful movies that are so bad they wrap right around to being brilliant. Murder in the Smithsonian falls into this category.

Having spent a few years in the D.C. area, I greatly enjoyed reading about spots I had seen and visited, and enjoyed the quaint dialog and characters. But some of the concepts and scenes are so downright terrible that I applaud the author. My favorite example, from the Detective Captain Hanrehan enticing the damsel in distress to have dinner at his house:

"In all modesty, Miss McBean, there isn't a better cook in Washington than yours truly, and when the going gets tough, as it is now, I cook. I guess it relaxes me, makes me think I'm something I'm not and puts decent food in my cop's delicate stomach. Look, I'm not some lecherous old guy chasing pretty Scottish lassies. I'm a cop who likes to cook. What do you say?"

Who wouldn't agree to that? Or to this book? Absolutely hilarious!