jeremyanderberg's review
3.0
As a POTUS history nerd, I’ve long been intrigued by Margaret Truman’s writings. As the daughter of a president, she had a unique knowledge of the White House’s—and Washington, DC’s—inner workings. In addition to some biographical work on her parents, she also penned a mystery series called Capital Crimes, which focused on dastardly deeds set in our nation’s capital city. There’s not a recurring character, which almost makes the series easier to digest; it’s sometimes intimidating to jump into a long-running set of books, especially if you’re a completist like me.
Nonetheless, I insisted on starting with Book #1 of Capital Crimes. Though it wasn’t the most tightly-plotted mystery story, Murder in the White House was plenty entertaining for the couple days it took to plow through.
You can’t beat the intrigue of the premise, which really propelled me through the whole thing: in the upstairs of the White House, the Secretary of State is murdered. Given the restricted and highly monitored nature of that space, there’s only so many people who could have done it—is it possible that the president himself is a suspect?
I saw the ending coming, but how Truman got us there was still quite satisfying. There’s enough twists and turns to keep you interested, but not so many as to make your head spin.
Though there seems to be some mystery as to how much Truman actually wrote, I love the idea—no matter how mythic—of Margaret recalling her White House days while tapping away at the typewriter. Since her death in 2008, the series has been taken up by a couple other authors—the latest of which just hit my doorstep (which is what prompted my finding the first in the series).
If you need a fun political romp, Murder in the White House is a great pick.
Nonetheless, I insisted on starting with Book #1 of Capital Crimes. Though it wasn’t the most tightly-plotted mystery story, Murder in the White House was plenty entertaining for the couple days it took to plow through.
You can’t beat the intrigue of the premise, which really propelled me through the whole thing: in the upstairs of the White House, the Secretary of State is murdered. Given the restricted and highly monitored nature of that space, there’s only so many people who could have done it—is it possible that the president himself is a suspect?
I saw the ending coming, but how Truman got us there was still quite satisfying. There’s enough twists and turns to keep you interested, but not so many as to make your head spin.
Though there seems to be some mystery as to how much Truman actually wrote, I love the idea—no matter how mythic—of Margaret recalling her White House days while tapping away at the typewriter. Since her death in 2008, the series has been taken up by a couple other authors—the latest of which just hit my doorstep (which is what prompted my finding the first in the series).
If you need a fun political romp, Murder in the White House is a great pick.
mcmulroy's review against another edition
3.0
I checked this book out of the library when I saw the series was optioned for a tv series. I didn’t realize it was first published 40+ years ago until I was reading it and the characters are out to dinner at a Japanese restaurant and definitions for sushi and sake are given… probably not needed in more current writing.
The book wasn’t riveting but short and entertaining enough. I was pretty sure I knew who the killer was early on but guessed the wrong motive. Quite the Lifetime movie drama at the end.
The book wasn’t riveting but short and entertaining enough. I was pretty sure I knew who the killer was early on but guessed the wrong motive. Quite the Lifetime movie drama at the end.
attytheresa's review against another edition
4.0
Humph. Why have I not devoured this series before? I've owned a paperback of this one - and one or two in the series - for decades! I have a niggling feeling that I acquired them used and never read because I then heard negative reviews on them. Well, silly me for listening and not just reading and making my own judgment, as I usually do. I LOVED this and cannot wait to check out more in the series!
Ron, a young lawyer, is special counsel to President Webster, may or may not be serious about Lynne, the President's daughter, but whatever the relationship (and even Ron isn't sure), everyone considers him the son-in-law-to-be in the Webster family, and thus part of the very narrow inner circle. Also important in the cast of characters are Lan, the Secretary of State and a longtime intimate friend of the Webster family, and Gimbel, general factotum and fixer for the President, also a long time intimate of the President. Lan & Gimbel are privy to information and old secrets of the Webster family, Ron is not.
The story opens as the President and his family arrive back on Air Force One from Paris where the preliminary settlement documents for a controversial new global trade treaty were signed. All the key players meet in the Oval Room to debrief the trip and signing. And the author provides us with important clues as to the relationships and behavior of all the key characters. It is late at night and soon all go their separate ways, including Ron who heads into his office in the West Wing to read some important papers. When he finishes, locks up and heads home, he's stopped and finds himself with the President in the Lincoln Sitting Room on the 2nd floor of the White House, staring at the murdered body of the Secretary of State, who was murdered while making a phone call.
Note: these were written in 1980 - no mobile phones, no internet, no computers, but dictaphone and tapes - but they do not feel dated at all. In part because I think, of the static locale - the White House and the highest reaches of government.
Ron is by Executive Order of the President put in charge of the investigation. Truman does a superb job of tossing you an obvious murderer at the beginning, so obvious that you immediately start looking for clues as to what's really happened. It was an engaging read, with a bit of excitement just as it was a little too much interviewing suspects and reviewing timelines. And at the end, there is a twist or two that you only partially see coming, but absolutely not completely.
The series is called Capital Crimes and I do not believe the same characters appear in each one. I also note that another author has taken over the series and continued it after Margaret Truman's death. And yes, Margaret Truman is President Truman's daughter. She knows of what she writes.
Ron, a young lawyer, is special counsel to President Webster, may or may not be serious about Lynne, the President's daughter, but whatever the relationship (and even Ron isn't sure), everyone considers him the son-in-law-to-be in the Webster family, and thus part of the very narrow inner circle. Also important in the cast of characters are Lan, the Secretary of State and a longtime intimate friend of the Webster family, and Gimbel, general factotum and fixer for the President, also a long time intimate of the President. Lan & Gimbel are privy to information and old secrets of the Webster family, Ron is not.
The story opens as the President and his family arrive back on Air Force One from Paris where the preliminary settlement documents for a controversial new global trade treaty were signed. All the key players meet in the Oval Room to debrief the trip and signing. And the author provides us with important clues as to the relationships and behavior of all the key characters. It is late at night and soon all go their separate ways, including Ron who heads into his office in the West Wing to read some important papers. When he finishes, locks up and heads home, he's stopped and finds himself with the President in the Lincoln Sitting Room on the 2nd floor of the White House, staring at the murdered body of the Secretary of State, who was murdered while making a phone call.
Note: these were written in 1980 - no mobile phones, no internet, no computers, but dictaphone and tapes - but they do not feel dated at all. In part because I think, of the static locale - the White House and the highest reaches of government.
Ron is by Executive Order of the President put in charge of the investigation. Truman does a superb job of tossing you an obvious murderer at the beginning, so obvious that you immediately start looking for clues as to what's really happened. It was an engaging read, with a bit of excitement just as it was a little too much interviewing suspects and reviewing timelines. And at the end, there is a twist or two that you only partially see coming, but absolutely not completely.
The series is called Capital Crimes and I do not believe the same characters appear in each one. I also note that another author has taken over the series and continued it after Margaret Truman's death. And yes, Margaret Truman is President Truman's daughter. She knows of what she writes.
bramsay55's review against another edition
4.0
It had a slow start but became good after the 1st 100 or so pages. Good finish.
daybreak1012's review
4.0
I was surprised how much I like this book! I really had no idea what to expect, but it kept me interested and guessing, right to the very last couple of pages!
thesydda's review
2.0
I find this story a bit boring, and dry, even though there are several scenes that could have been full of emotion. I also wasn't a fan of all the body shaming and sexist comments/ attitudes, though I'm sure many of those were simply the prevailing beliefs when it was written. I bumped it up a star because it's set in DC and there was a bit of behind the scenes info on the white house.
brianlokker's review
3.0
This is a quick read and I enjoyed it, although not as much as some of the other books in the series. The suspense and sense of danger build throughout the story as the investigative team tries to uncover the motive for the murder, which is the key to determining the identity of the killer. The story benefits from Ms. Truman's first-hand knowledge of the White House and of the political realities of Washington. The character development could be stronger, but all in all it's an enjoyable read.
attytheresa's review
4.0
Humph. Why have I not devoured this series before? I've owned a paperback of this one - and one or two in the series - for decades! I have a niggling feeling that I acquired them used and never read because I then heard negative reviews on them. Well, silly me for listening and not just reading and making my own judgment, as I usually do. I LOVED this and cannot wait to check out more in the series!
Ron, a young lawyer, is special counsel to President Webster, may or may not be serious about Lynne, the President's daughter, but whatever the relationship (and even Ron isn't sure), everyone considers him the son-in-law-to-be in the Webster family, and thus part of the very narrow inner circle. Also important in the cast of characters are Lan, the Secretary of State and a longtime intimate friend of the Webster family, and Gimbel, general factotum and fixer for the President, also a long time intimate of the President. Lan & Gimbel are privy to information and old secrets of the Webster family, Ron is not.
The story opens as the President and his family arrive back on Air Force One from Paris where the preliminary settlement documents for a controversial new global trade treaty were signed. All the key players meet in the Oval Room to debrief the trip and signing. And the author provides us with important clues as to the relationships and behavior of all the key characters. It is late at night and soon all go their separate ways, including Ron who heads into his office in the West Wing to read some important papers. When he finishes, locks up and heads home, he's stopped and finds himself with the President in the Lincoln Sitting Room on the 2nd floor of the White House, staring at the murdered body of the Secretary of State, who was murdered while making a phone call.
Note: these were written in 1980 - no mobile phones, no internet, no computers, but dictaphone and tapes - but they do not feel dated at all. In part because I think, of the static locale - the White House and the highest reaches of government.
Ron is by Executive Order of the President put in charge of the investigation. Truman does a superb job of tossing you an obvious murderer at the beginning, so obvious that you immediately start looking for clues as to what's really happened. It was an engaging read, with a bit of excitement just as it was a little too much interviewing suspects and reviewing timelines. And at the end, there is a twist or two that you only partially see coming, but absolutely not completely.
The series is called Capital Crimes and I do not believe the same characters appear in each one. I also note that another author has taken over the series and continued it after Margaret Truman's death. And yes, Margaret Truman is President Truman's daughter. She knows of what she writes.
Ron, a young lawyer, is special counsel to President Webster, may or may not be serious about Lynne, the President's daughter, but whatever the relationship (and even Ron isn't sure), everyone considers him the son-in-law-to-be in the Webster family, and thus part of the very narrow inner circle. Also important in the cast of characters are Lan, the Secretary of State and a longtime intimate friend of the Webster family, and Gimbel, general factotum and fixer for the President, also a long time intimate of the President. Lan & Gimbel are privy to information and old secrets of the Webster family, Ron is not.
The story opens as the President and his family arrive back on Air Force One from Paris where the preliminary settlement documents for a controversial new global trade treaty were signed. All the key players meet in the Oval Room to debrief the trip and signing. And the author provides us with important clues as to the relationships and behavior of all the key characters. It is late at night and soon all go their separate ways, including Ron who heads into his office in the West Wing to read some important papers. When he finishes, locks up and heads home, he's stopped and finds himself with the President in the Lincoln Sitting Room on the 2nd floor of the White House, staring at the murdered body of the Secretary of State, who was murdered while making a phone call.
Note: these were written in 1980 - no mobile phones, no internet, no computers, but dictaphone and tapes - but they do not feel dated at all. In part because I think, of the static locale - the White House and the highest reaches of government.
Ron is by Executive Order of the President put in charge of the investigation. Truman does a superb job of tossing you an obvious murderer at the beginning, so obvious that you immediately start looking for clues as to what's really happened. It was an engaging read, with a bit of excitement just as it was a little too much interviewing suspects and reviewing timelines. And at the end, there is a twist or two that you only partially see coming, but absolutely not completely.
The series is called Capital Crimes and I do not believe the same characters appear in each one. I also note that another author has taken over the series and continued it after Margaret Truman's death. And yes, Margaret Truman is President Truman's daughter. She knows of what she writes.
caecilievestergaard's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0