FEB/MAR 08 - AudioFile
Truman's Washington mysteries are always well plotted and full of local color. This one involves a senator with presidential ambitions and a murdered wife, a former DA intent on finding the killer, and a lobbying firm with murky secrets. The multiethnic cast of characters—the Asian policeman, the smooth African-American lobbyist are two—present a ripe opportunity for a narrator, and Phil Gigante does most of them well, although a few sound like caricatures. But Gigante gets the self-important, controlling senator just right. He also conveys vocally who the villains are, so the denouement may not be much of a surprise. Truman's series sleuths, Mac and Annabel, participate in this entertaining mystery. J.B.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
A U.S. senator's wife has been murdered, and the suspect list looks like a rogue's gallery—or, more specifically, an entire city block of Washington lobbyists. Fortunately, intrepid detective Charles Chang is on the case, sniffing out the darker side of Capitol Hill influence peddling. Another enrapturing addition to former first daughter Margaret Truman's crime series.
Library Journal
Presidential contender Sen. Lyle Simmons returns home from a political event to discover the bludgeoned body of his wife. While initial suspicion focuses on a vagrant picked up in the vicinity, highly visible lobbyist Jonell Marbury is soon linked to the crime. A second victim was last seen with Jonell, but both murder scenes look like setups to ex-attorneys Mac and Annabel Smith. Retired DA Phil Rotondi, Lyle's longtime friend and college roommate, concurs. Flashbacks to college days reveal that Phil was much closer to the victim than the senator and in possession of information that could focus the murder investigation on Jonell's crooked K Street employer. It could also prove disastrous to the senator, under suspicion himself. This 23rd Capital Crimes novel explores the relationships between special interests and politicians, both equally ruthless. While revelations of political skullduggery are fairly predictable, the book is well plotted and populated with interesting characters. A fine recording, expertly performed by Phil Gigante, elevates a competent mystery to a good listen. The absence of foul language, gore, and explicit material make this book enjoyable for listeners who object to stronger material. Recommended for all mystery collections. [The prolific Truman passed away on January 29, 2008.-Ed.]
—Janet Martin
FEB/ MAR 08 - AudioFile
Truman's Washington mysteries are always well plotted and full of local color. This one involves a senator with presidential ambitions and a murdered wife, a former DA intent on finding the killer, and a lobbying firm with murky secrets. The multiethnic cast of characters—the Asian policeman, the smooth African-American lobbyist are two—present a ripe opportunity for a narrator, and Phil Gigante does most of them well, although a few sound like caricatures. But Gigante gets the self-important, controlling senator just right. He also conveys vocally who the villains are, so the denouement may not be much of a surprise. Truman's series sleuths, Mac and Annabel, participate in this entertaining mystery. J.B.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
