Murder in the Smithsonian
By Margaret Truman
The
Smithsonian museums are filled with fascinating artifacts, so many displayed
and so many hidden in private storage. On
a visit you might encounter moon rocks, the Hope Diamond, a fossilized skeleton
of a Tyrannosaurus rex, ancient mummies, or in this mystery novel you might see
a featured artifact that’s used to commit murder. With all the people who visit the museum, or who
attend glittering Smithsonian events, the opportunity for intrigue tugs at the
imagination. And why murder? Was it a robbery attempt of a priceless
antiquity gone wrong? Or was the victim
a target for some sinister reason? Who
better to author this D.C. mystery, than a talented U.S. President’s daughter?
The
police detective called to the scene is under intense pressure to solve this
case quickly. He’s being second guessed
by members of the Smithsonian Institution, prominent political figures, the
media, and a very distraught victim’s fiancé.
He’s not one to be rushed though. According to the Smithsonian Institute, their
goal is to better predict the future by examining the past. Just as the museum scientists and librarians scrupulously
preserve, catalogue, and organize exhibit artifacts, our detective does the
same in gathering his clues, examining this murder to predict how he’ll catch a
killer.
This
author cleverly weaves in interesting history and little known facts about the
Smithsonian. Tracking the past of the murder
weapon we’re led to London, and then follow the trail to Scotland and an
ancient Scottish castle. By the time we’re
back in D.C., the clues are adding up.
First
daughter Margaret Truman was ten years old when her father was elected Senator
and served for seven years. The family
split their time between D.C. and Missouri.
She was a college student, majoring in History, when her father was
sworn in as Vice President. Less than
three months later, he was President. A
very talented writer, Margaret’s first book was a memoir of her Missouri
childhood and her years at the White House.
The New York Herald Tribune's
book review section called it "a gracefully written tale of an average
American girl drawn by chance into the White House." She went on to write biographies, and a dozen
murder mysteries that came to be known as the Capital Crimes Series. These murders are scattered all over D.C. in
many distinguished places including the White House. Margaret Truman said, “I love books. I really, really love
them. There's something special about bringing people and books together.”
Thereby hangs a
tale . . . .
