Capital Crimes

Who better to write a political thriller than the daughter of a president? Margaret Truman's first book in the Capital Crimes series, Murder in the White House, takes readers on a whirlwind journey through the public halls of power and the private corridors of the White House. When the Secretary of State is found murdered in the Lincoln bedroom, Ron Fairbanks, special counsel to the president and secret suitor of presidential daughter Lynne, is appointed to head the investigation. The investigation leads Fairbanks headlong into the secrets of not only the Secretary of State, but the President, the First Lady, and his beloved Lynne. When the young attorney realizes the position he's in, torn between his job, his loyalty, his love, and uncovering the truth, he must make gut-wrenching choices, which lead to a surprise that no one could have foreseen. Margaret Truman used her first-hand Washington political knowledge to create Capital Crimes, a riveting twenty-five book series of political mysteries set in and around the landmarks of the capital city; from Foggy Bottom to Embassy Row to the Smithsonian. There are some recurring characters, but the series can be read out of sequence. Capital Crimes is Truman's most popular series, with several titles spending time on the New York Times Bestsellers List. Released in 1980, this novel quickly became a bestseller, as well as a Book-of-the-Month Club alternate selection. The book also forms the basis for the 1997 movie Murder at 1600 starring Wesley Snipes, Diane Lane, and Alan Alda.

A senator's death sends shock waves through Washington, DC, in this mystery by the New York Times–bestselling author and presidential daughter. Senator Cale Caldwell and his blue-blooded wife maintained a far-reaching and powerful grip on Capitol Hill society, but not powerful enough to save him from foul play. The influential senator's life is cut short in brutal fashion at a glamorous reception held in his honor. It happens just two short years after tragedy struck the Caldwell family in the form of the unsolved murder of his niece, but when attorney Lydia James suggests a connection, she's shut down, and fast. Who stands to benefit from the Caldwells' tragedies, and James' silence-the senator's political rivals, the media, or perhaps even the family's closest allies?

Justice must be served when a chief clerk is killed in this mystery by the New York Times–bestselling author. When Clarence Sutherland, Chief Clerk of the Supreme Court, is found dead, Lieutenant Martin Teller of the DC police and Susanna Pincher of the Justice Department are pulled together to find the killer. It turns out that Sutherland had a lot of confidential information on important people, and any one of them could be responsible for his death. But one startling clue seems to implicate the high court itself: Sutherland was found slumped over in the Chief Justice's chair. Did the clerk know something that the top judge, and perhaps even the president himself, didn't want revealed? Teller and Pincher intend to find out . . . From the daughter of President Harry Truman, an expert at depicting the details of life inside the beltway, Murder in the Supreme Court provides an intriguing peek into the world of Washington's powerful justice system.

Take yourself on a journey into the world of international art dealers and museum curators, European castles and the White House. Margaret Truman's Murder in the Smithsonian tangles readers in an international plot that spans continents and governments. When Dr. Lewis Tunney, a brilliant historian, is boldly murdered during a posh black-tie affair at the Smithsonian Museum, Washington is set spinning with intrigue. DC Police Captain Mac Hanrahan takes over the case, but the more he uncovers, the more deeply he becomes entangled in the web of secrets, lies, and revenge. From the deceased Tunney's strong-willed fiancé, Heather McBean, to the congressmen with secrets to hide, Hanrahan finds himself under increasing pressure from all sides. He must do whatever he can to protect his government and Heather McBean. Murder in the Smithsonian is the fourth volume in Trumans beloved Capital Crimes series, in which Truman enlivens history with her first-hand knowledge as the daughter of a US president. The twenty-five Capital Crimes novels, published between 1980 and 2011, all revolve around Washington, DC and its landmarks. The Smithsonians museums, with their quirky staff, forensic scientists, and sometimes-spooky exhibits are the perfect setting for a thrilling political crime novel.

British Ambassador to the US Geoffrey James is a shady sort, prone to womanizing and taking financial advantage of his contacts. When he drops dead at his own gala party, everyone suspects the ambassador's Iranian valet, Nuri Hafez-who has conveniently disappeared. But Washington Metro's Captain Sal Morizio and his fellow officer, Connie Lake, are convinced there's something far more sinister going on. The Associated Press raved that Murder on Embassy Row moved Margaret Truman, daughter of President Harry Truman, into "the international spy genre." This engrossing and exotic tale of mystery suspense will keep readers guessing as they enjoy a look inside the world of politics, diplomacy, and espionage.

If there's one organization you don't want to mess with, it's the FBI. But agents Ross Lizenby and Christine Saksis are about to rush headlong into a showdown with their own employer… Special Agent George Pritchard was murdered on the FBI's own shooting range; his body found hanging behind a target during a public tour of the facility. Because of the embarrassment, the FBI had to launch an investigation-but when Lizenby and Saksis are brought in on the case; they begin to suspect that the agency's heart is not really in it. Now they must navigate the roadblocks that keep getting thrown in their way, and determine whether their ultimate loyalty is to the agency, or to the truth.

When the corpse of a young woman is found floating down Washington's C&O Canal, everyone is shocked to learn the victim is none other than Valerie Frolich-a senator's daughter, Georgetown graduate, and a rising star in the cutthroat world of investigative journalism. Washington Post reporter Joe Potamos is good at unearthing the skeletons in the nation's capital, so when he's assigned the Frolich story, he immediately senses this case is rife with secrets. As he digs further to uncover the truth about Valerie's death, it soon becomes apparent someone wanted the young, beautiful reporter dead. And when Joe's search reveals an evil labyrinth of intrigue involving murder, bribery, kidnapping, and even international espionage, he'll have to race to find Valerie's killer-before his own life is snuffed out.

Margaret Truman brings us into the corridors of Washington power as only she can, where the end too often justifies the means, where good people are destroyed by those for whom the only goal is survival... whatever the cost...in Monument to Murder. Times are tough in Savannah for former cop and current PI Robert Brixton, so when he agrees to take on a 20 year-old murder case, he figures he's got nothing to lose. It's not long before the trail leads him deep into the corrupt underbelly of Savannah's power elite, and right into the lap of a secret government organization that's been offing "troublesome" politicians for decades. The cold case heats up when he joins forces with former attorneys Mackensie and Annabel Lee Smith to investigate the organization and the murders they committed in the name of patriotism. With what he knows, Brixton can bring down Washington D.C.'s leading social hostess, if not the administration itself. But can he outwit an organization that is hell-bent on keeping its secrets-secrets that go all the way back to the assassinations of Jack and Bobby Kennedy?

Laura is a young intern in Washington, D.C., working for handsome and likable Congressman Hal Gannon. Laura falls for the charming Gannon, but when she catches a stewardess at Gannon's apartment, she vows to destroy him. Private investigator Robert Brixton is a former cop who has also worked for the FBI. When Laura goes missing, Brixton is hired by Laura's family to gain insight into the case that the police might have missed. Brixton tracks down rumors about Gannon-a staunchly moral "family advocate" according to his political position, but a womanizer according to gossip-but the congressman vehemently denies having anything untoward to do with Laura. Then Laura is found dead in the congressional cemetery, and many more questions are raised…

These three political thrillers by the acclaimed author-and daughter of President Harry Truman-offer an insider's look into the dangerous shadows of D.C. Murder in the Supreme Court When Clarence Sutherland, Chief Clerk of the Supreme Court, is found dead, Lieutenant Martin Teller of the Washington Police and Susanna Pincher of the Justice Department are pulled together to find the killer. Murder on Embassy Road When a British Ambassador drops dead at his own gala, everyone suspects his Iranian valet-who has suddenly disappeared. But knowing the Ambassador's reputation for womanizing and shady financial deals, Washington Metro's Captain Sal Morizio digs deeper. Murder at the FBI FBI Agents Ross Lizenby and Christine Saksis are in a showdown with their own Bureau when they investigate the murder of a fellow agent at the J. Edgar Hoover Building. While the higher-ups want the case closed quickly, the trail leads to disturbing secrets among them.