Murder at the Opera

September 18, 2006
Bestseller Truman's 22nd D.C. mystery (after 2005's Murder at the Washington Tribune
), one of her strongest, opens with what looks like a simple crime of passion: a promising young Canadian opera singer found dead at the Kennedy Center's Washington National Opera. Criminal lawyer turned law professor Mackensie Smith and retired cop Ray Pawkins both happen to be at the theater when the body is discovered, both there as extras in an upcoming production of Puccini's Tosca
—Mac pressed into service by his wife, Annabel, and Ray involved because of his love of opera. While the two put their talents to solving the case—which turns out to involve corrupt talent agents and international terrorism—Truman widens her scope to reveal a charming supporting cast including fictitious U.S. president Arthur Montgomery. Opera buffs will enjoy the Tosca
anecdotes and occasional glimpses of intelligence gathering in the Middle East lend a timely feel.

November 1, 2006
Truman's mysteries ("Murder at the Washington Tribune") are gentle reads that offer an enormous amount of insider information (naturally, from the daughter of President Harry Truman) about the Washington, DC, institution in which the murder takes place. Here we follow her into the Kennedy Center to watch the behind-the-scenes preparations for the opera "Tosca". One of the extras, or supers (supernumeraries), is Mac Smith, a prominent area attorneyturnedcollege professor. When the body of a promising young singer is found on the set, the show must go on. How Mac and his wife discover the truth behind the young woman's death and save the day makes this a suspenseful page-turner that surprises and delights. If your patrons are looking for a Truman readalike, point them to Mary Jane Clark and Elizabeth Adler. Truman lives in Manhattan.

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2006
The latest Capital Crimes novel begins with a murder--at the opera, naturally--and ends with the unmasking of a killer. Fans of this series may have noticed that the installments are all starting to run together: there's always an inexplicable murder, an assortment of potential suspects, a secret that explains everything, and a couple of shocking revelations near the end of the book. Truman's portrayal of Washington, D.C.'s private side is as interesting as ever, but perhaps a new plot would be a good thing. Recommended for devoted fans only.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)