In the latest Capital Crimes novel, a prominent senator (and potential presidential candidate)comes home to find his wife lying dead on the floor of their house. The list of possible suspects, of course, is lengthy and includes numerous prominent names. Detective Charles Chang (his name chosen, apparently, so the author can make Charlie Chan jokes) must work his way through the suspect list to uncover the culprit. This long-running series has always depended on its Washington, D.C., setting for its appeal, and it doesn't hurt that the author's name is Truman (although it's long been rumored that the actual writer is someone else, the prime suspect being noted ghostwriter Donald Bain). What often gets overlooked, except perhaps by devoted fans, is the fact that the series boasts sharply drawn characters and solid plotting. Chang, for example, seems to fall into the Columbo stereotype, but he puts his own agreeable stamp on the notion of relentlessly pursuing the truth. A worthy entry in a deservedly popular series.--Pitt, David Copyright 2007 Booklist

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, Southern Pines P.L., NC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Truman?s 23rd Capital Crimes novel (after 2006?s Murder at the Opera) offers little suspense and even less insight into the wheelings and dealings of contemporary Washington, D.C. One day, U.S. Senator Lyle Simmons, a presidential aspirant, arrives home to find his wife, Jeanette, murdered in their foyer. As the police investigate, fissures in the public facade of the Simmons?s marriage appear, and Simmons?s oldest friend, retired detective Phil Rotondi, who lost Jeanette to Simmons during college, wrestles with whether he should share all he knows about the politician with the authorities. Frequent flashbacks to those college days disrupt any narrative flow, and the florid and uninspired writing ("Washington! Was there any other place in the world with as much intrigue on a daily basis, and with so much at stake?") won?t lead readers to confuse this mediocre thriller with the Machiavellian plotting of writers mining similar ground such as David Baldacci. (Oct.) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.