Murder at the National Cathedral (audiobook) (abridged) by Margaret Truman

Tedious at best

Originally published as a traditional in 1990
Audiobook published in 1993 by Random House Audio
Read by Rene Auberjonois
Duration: approximately 3 hours.

Abridged.

I have read a number of Margaret Truman's murder mysteries and was pleased to find this one as an audiobook so that I could enjoy it on my drive to work. However, this one was a true departure from her other works that I have read and approached what I was afraid that all of her books would be like when I first started reading them: the pretentious writings of a Washington insider. The murder mystery in and of itself is very simplistic. Truman brings in a vague ecumenical movement called "Word of Peace" and has everyone in the Episcopal/Anglican Church hierarchy express their doubts and fears about the group without going into detail why they should be afraid of it. Truman seems to think that an ongoing, out-in-the-open sexual relationship by an unmarried Bishop is not a big deal - and she would be wrong in that assertion.

Truman's descriptions of church activities and goings on have no natural feel - which is unfortunate because her other books were so much better and somehow managed to "feel" right.

My audiobook version was read by Emmy award-winning actor Rene Auberjonois (from Benson and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine). he did a remarkable job with the many accents required. His female voices even sound like they were read by females! A+ for the reading.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Murder at the National Cathedral.

Overall score for the audiobook: 2 stars out of 5.

Reviewed on October 25, 2006.

Murder in Georgetown by Margaret Truman

Originally published in 1986.

If you didn't already know it, the daughter of our 33rd president is quite the successful mystery writer. All of her books take place in and around the Washington. D.C. area and involve government figures and the temptations involved with power.

In Murder In Georgetown the daughter of a powerful senator with Presidential ambitions is killed in a park after embarrassing her father at a socialite party with her lewd and suggestive dancing. Is it the father, enraged by the threat to his candidacy? Is it a jealous ex-boyfriend? Is it a jealous classmate from her Georgetown University journalism seminar? Reporter Joe Potamos is on the case but is suddenly fired when he gets to close to the answer. Too late - his curiosity drives him on.

This is a decent mystery - the main characters are solid and likable.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Murder in Georgetown.

I rate this book 4 stars out of 5.

Reviewed in 2004.

Murder at the National Gallery (Capital Crime Mysteries) by Margaret Truman

Published in 1997.

Synopsis:

Part of the series that features a murder in many prominent Washington, D.C. buildings, Murder at the National Gallery is all about the intrigues surrounding the opening of an art show featuring Renaissance artist Caravaggio and a "lost" piece of art that was found just in time for the show. Will the murderer be satisfied with just the murder of a member of the Italian diplomatic corps who had a reputation for stealing Italian masterpieces and selling them to foreign buyers? Are the rumors of forged paintings true? Did someone steal a priceless piece of art?

My Review:

Mrs. Truman knows her stuff when it comes to the Washington, D.C. social scene because yes, she is the daughter of Harry Truman.

This is really a decent book. I've read others in this series and found them of varying quality. However, I found the topic interesting and I was introduced to the concept of 'Art Police.' Washington, D.C. has its very own squad to investigate art fraud and robbery.

There are characters that were introduced in other books.

The end of the book was a little...strange. But, overall I give this book '4 stars' out of 5.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Murder at the National Gallery.

Reviewed on August 10, 2004.