Customer Reviews

Murder on K Street: A Capital Crimes Novel (Capital Crimes Series)

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In "Murder on K Street," Margaret Truman explores the world of the power brokers in our nation's capital. She focuses, in particular, on the lobbyists who raise influence peddling to a fine art. Truman informs us that "there are more than thirty-five thousand registered lobbyists in Washington, and more than enough special interest cash for all." Lobbyists are known as "the fourth branch of government" because of their ability to affect legislative decisions.

One of the most charismatic men in Washington is Senator Lyle Simmons. He has good looks, charm, and plenty of money to help him in a possible run for the presidency. His plans are temporarily derailed, however, when he enters his lavish home only to find the body of his bludgeoned wife, Jeannette, sprawled on the floor. His reaction to this tragedy appears strangely cold-blooded. Is the senator merely in shock or does he no longer care about a wife who turned to alcohol for comfort when her marriage went sour?

Lyle's best friend from college is Phil Rotondi, a former United States Attorney who himself has been the victim of tragedy. Phil is a man of unquestioned integrity; he can always be relied upon to remain loyal and discreet. Although the police are doing everything they can to solve Jeannette's murder, Phil launches an informal inquiry of his own. As he digs deeper into the circumstances surrounding the crime, he discovers a tangled web of greed, deceit, and betrayal.

In the past, Mac and Annabel Smith have been front and center in Truman's Capital Crimes novels, but this time, they play a supporting role. Mac, an eminent criminal defense attorney, steps in to assist an acquaintance who is wrongly accused of killing Mrs. Simmons. In addition, Mac serves as a sounding board for Phil, who is conflicted about his relationship with Lyle. There are a number of intriguing secondary characters who add spice to the narrative. Marlene, Jeannette's unbalanced sister, is a jealous woman whose behavior is wildly unpredictable. Lyle's troubled and weak-willed son works for an unscrupulous lobbying firm and his rebellious daughter opposes everything her father stands for. Jonell Marbury, an African-American who works with Neil, loves the high salary and perks of lobbying but is extremely uncomfortable with the underhanded tactics that his boss employs to obtain important clients.

Truman, to her credit, avoids explicit gore, profanity, and histrionics in this morality tale about arrogant politicians and venal lobbyists who cut corners and skirt the boundaries of the law. The author skillfully combines a number of disparate elements that give the novel added resonance. She uses flashbacks to provide insight into the personalities of Phil and Lyle back when they were young men competing for the same woman. There is a touch of romance, intrigue, and a compelling murder mystery to hold the reader's attention as well as an involving subplot about the painful conflicts that divide dysfunctional families. "K Street" lacks the razzle-dazzle and fancy twists and turns that are de rigueur in contemporary thrillers. Instead, it is a timely look at the ways in which unscrupulous public officials betray the people whom they are sworn to serve.

Illinois senator Lyle Simmons arrives home from a fund-raising dinner to find his wife dead. First he calls his son, Neil. Second he calls his friend, former DA Philip Rotondi. Third he calls 9-1-1.

Detective Chang has the senator at the top of the suspect list. Polly, the senator's estranged daughter, isn't helping one bit either. Polly is making her loud voice heard as she tells anyone who will listen that there's no need to look further than the senator for the killer.

Phil comes out of retirement to help Lyle out. He gets help with the case by Mac and Annabel Smith, a couple of former attorneys.

**** Mac Smith and his wife, Annebel Reed-Smith, have become pretty popular in the mystery genre. This political mystery shows why. I believe the character development of the senator, and a couple of others, could have been better. Yet, all-in-all, this story is well worth your time and money. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

This is Truman's 23rd Capital Crimes novel so one may perhaps forgive her for offering what seemed to this listener to be a retreaded material. There's little to surprise in the story line but pleasure to be found in the reading by actor/director/producer Phil Gigante. His voice is deep, resonant, falls easily upon ears as he moves easily between characters.

Our story opens with senior Senator Lyle Simmons returning home after a fundraiser. His homecoming is a shocking one as he finds his wife, Jeanette, brutally murdered. Does he call 911? Of course, not. He immediately contacts his friend and attorney, former District Attorney Philip Rotondi. After all, Simmons has presidential aspirations, and a murdered wife isn't an asset in most campaigns.

Rotondi lost Jeanette to Simmons during college years and also knows that the Simmons marriage, well, while it may have been made in heaven, it was hell on earth.

Now, toss in a daughter with no love for dear old dad Simmons and a passel of devious lobbyists at work, and there you have it.

Easy listening - fair to middlin' story line.

- Gail Cooke

I have read several of the Capital Crimes Novels by Margaret Truman and consider this one high on the list with Murder at Library of Congress and Murder at Ford Theatre. Lots of action, drama, suspense and surprise ending.

I really enjoyed this book, I have read all of Margaret Trumans book, I am now going to read Murder Inside the Beltway. It is very fascinating stories.

Some years back we started reading this series when it first became available. I probably disagree with my wife on this one, but I did not find it as enjoyable to read as the earlier books in the series. Perhaps it is just being tired of the political scene as well as the change character focus.

Reviewed by Knevits Stephens

Lyle Simmons is the senator. He is married to Jeanette and they have two children. He is best friends with Philip Rotondi. Jeanette Simmons is married to the senator. She is known to have drunk alcohol a lot the last two years and to not lock the doors of her home. She was said to hate politics and politicians.

Son Neil Simmons is married with two boys. He is the president of a lobby firm.Daughter Polly Simmons is a peace activist living in California. She has been estranged from her family for years because of Senator Simmons.

Philip Rotondi is a former Baltimore prosecutor with a bad leg. He and Lyle were college roommates and he had dated Jeanette before she ended up with Lyle.

Jonell Marbury works for Neil Simmons and is the last one to have seen Jeanette Simmons alive.

Senator Lyle Simmons comes home from a speech one night. He notices the alarm is not on, which Jeanette usually didn't set. He goes in to the kitchen to see the mail from the day. He finds Jeanette on the floor with blood all over. Her head had been bashed in by a blunt object. Lyle calls his staff first, then his son, then 911 to report Jeanette dead.

Philip Rotondi comes to town to help his friend Lyle all he can, even though he is now retired. Then daughter Polly comes to town and starts accusing her father of killing her mother even though Lyle has witnesses to his alibi.

Then another woman turns up dead .This make Rotondi see he may be able to crack the case if he uses his old prosecution skills. Then if his suspicions are right he might have answers he needs from his own past.

I thought this was a good mystery but was a little hard to get through all of the political things. I really liked the characters and the plot behind the story. After you get into the book it is hard to put it down.

Armchair Interviews says: A mystery surrounded by a lot of political action.

I have enjoyed Margaret Truman's Capital Crimes series for years. This one looks in to the role Lobbys play in framing Congressional Bills that are supposed to be for the public good but end up costing the tax payer more. A good fast read with a pretty predictable ending.,

I Loved the book, I enjoyed these books by Truman long ago, I'm glad I got back to reading them again.

This is another great Who Dunit from one of murder mystery's finest authors. Keeps you wanting to read to the next page to find out all of the plot twists and turns and to see if anyone else gets "knocked off" before they find out who was behind the main murder. This is Ms. Truman's 23rd murder mystery novel in 27 years, and it's amazing how she was able to keep coming up with new material and places in which to murder who next victim. Looking forward to reading the crowning achievement in the series, and it is only appropriate that her children dedicated the last novel to her, upon her death in January 2008, just as the last book was set to be released.