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Washington Whodunit #2
Homicide in the House
A Capitol Crime
DC staffer Kit Marshall has a brand-new job working for freshman congresswoman Maeve Dixon. But a government shutdown has just been announced, wreaking havoc on the Hill. Then Kit’s boss is caught standing over the corpse of Jack Drysdale, a staffer she’d publicly argued with the day before. The murder weapon? The Speaker’s gavel, which Dixon was taking care of at the time of the murder.
To save her job, Kit must clear her boss’s name—and quickly. Dixon’s career may be over if the police declare her a suspect or if an anonymous blogger known as Hill Rat breaks the story. Solving this murder will test Kit’s courage and all her fledgling powers of deduction as she roams a spooky, sparsely populated Capitol Hill looking for clues and sounding out suspects.
DC staffer Kit Marshall has a brand-new job working for freshman congresswoman Maeve Dixon. But a government shutdown has just been announced, wreaking havoc on the Hill. Then Kit’s boss is caught standing over the corpse of Jack Drysdale, a staffer she’d publicly argued with the day before. The murder weapon? The Speaker’s gavel, which Dixon was taking care of at the time of the murder.
To save her job, Kit must clear her boss’s name—and quickly. Dixon’s career may be over if the police declare her a suspect or if an anonymous blogger known as Hill Rat breaks the story. Solving this murder will test Kit’s courage and all her fledgling powers of deduction as she roams a spooky, sparsely populated Capitol Hill looking for clues and sounding out suspects.
282 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
16 people are currently reading
938 people want to read
About the author
Colleen J. Shogan
9 books632 followersColleen Shogan has been reading mysteries since the age of six. She conceived of the plot of “Stabbing in the Senate” one morning while taking a walk in her suburban Washington, D.C. neighborhood. Her Washington Whodunit series is published by Camel Press, with "Stabbing in the Senate" making its debut in 2015. In April 2016, "Stabbing in the Senate" won first place in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards for the Mystery Category. Her sequel was "Homicide in the House" followed by "Calamity at the Continental Club."
A political scientist by training, Colleen has taught American politics at Yale, George Mason University, Georgetown, and Penn. She previously worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative staffer in the United States Senate and as the Deputy Director of the Congressional Research Service. She's now a senior executive at the Library of Congress, working on terrific programs such as the National Book Festival. Colleen lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband Rob and their beagle mutt Conan.
Photo credit: Glen Fuhrmeister, GF Photography
A political scientist by training, Colleen has taught American politics at Yale, George Mason University, Georgetown, and Penn. She previously worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative staffer in the United States Senate and as the Deputy Director of the Congressional Research Service. She's now a senior executive at the Library of Congress, working on terrific programs such as the National Book Festival. Colleen lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband Rob and their beagle mutt Conan.
Photo credit: Glen Fuhrmeister, GF Photography
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 6, 2016
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I absolutely loved this whodunit that could have been ripped from the headlines!
The government has shutdown because they can’t reach a budget agreement. Our protagonist Kit Marshall is now working for new congresswoman Maeve Dixon and trying to guide both her and her inexperienced and incompetent chief of staff (Kit’s supervisor) through the murky ways of Washington. Congressional staff is cut to the bare minimum so the buildings and connecting tunnels are pretty empty these days. When Maeve Dixon contacts Kit early one morning shouting she needs help and Kit needs to come right away, Kit never imagined she would find her boss standing over a dead body. A staffer that Dixon blew up at the day before. The evidence all points to the congresswoman but Kit smells a set up. She just needs to figure who gains by the staffer’s death and Dixon’s incarceration and of course do all the other work because her boss is a fool who has no idea what he is doing. Hopefully Maeve Dixon’s seat will not be in jeopardy when Kit figures everything out.
I like Kit, she is smart, thinks before she jumps, and she know Washington. She is much more confident in this story. Kit lives with her boyfriend and they have an adorable pepperoni loving dog named Clarence. He has a big funny part in this story.
I also admire Maeve Dixon, she is not only a new congresswoman, but she is also a Gulf War Veteran, still serving her country. She tries to stay on track to help bring an end to the government shutdown even when her colleagues shut her out because she is a suspect. She has an enormous weight upon her shoulders and handles it so well, even asking Kit to stop investigating because it puts her in danger.
Again all the characters and situations had those feelings of reality. You can tell the author has been a real part in the Washington political scene and has researched what she did not know diligently.
I do enjoy stories like these with the political twists. We also see cozy mysteries do not always have to be set in small towns. Great characters, chilling twists and action filled moments almost had smoke coming out of my Kindle Fire. I read the story all in one sitting and was actually sorry it had to end.
Book 1, Stabbing in the Senate was an excellent start to this series but Colleen J. Shogan has topped herself with this one. I am so excited to see what she has planned for Kit next!
I absolutely loved this whodunit that could have been ripped from the headlines!
The government has shutdown because they can’t reach a budget agreement. Our protagonist Kit Marshall is now working for new congresswoman Maeve Dixon and trying to guide both her and her inexperienced and incompetent chief of staff (Kit’s supervisor) through the murky ways of Washington. Congressional staff is cut to the bare minimum so the buildings and connecting tunnels are pretty empty these days. When Maeve Dixon contacts Kit early one morning shouting she needs help and Kit needs to come right away, Kit never imagined she would find her boss standing over a dead body. A staffer that Dixon blew up at the day before. The evidence all points to the congresswoman but Kit smells a set up. She just needs to figure who gains by the staffer’s death and Dixon’s incarceration and of course do all the other work because her boss is a fool who has no idea what he is doing. Hopefully Maeve Dixon’s seat will not be in jeopardy when Kit figures everything out.
I like Kit, she is smart, thinks before she jumps, and she know Washington. She is much more confident in this story. Kit lives with her boyfriend and they have an adorable pepperoni loving dog named Clarence. He has a big funny part in this story.
I also admire Maeve Dixon, she is not only a new congresswoman, but she is also a Gulf War Veteran, still serving her country. She tries to stay on track to help bring an end to the government shutdown even when her colleagues shut her out because she is a suspect. She has an enormous weight upon her shoulders and handles it so well, even asking Kit to stop investigating because it puts her in danger.
Again all the characters and situations had those feelings of reality. You can tell the author has been a real part in the Washington political scene and has researched what she did not know diligently.
I do enjoy stories like these with the political twists. We also see cozy mysteries do not always have to be set in small towns. Great characters, chilling twists and action filled moments almost had smoke coming out of my Kindle Fire. I read the story all in one sitting and was actually sorry it had to end.
Book 1, Stabbing in the Senate was an excellent start to this series but Colleen J. Shogan has topped herself with this one. I am so excited to see what she has planned for Kit next!
August 1, 2016
I love the cool cover created by Sabrina Sun for Homicide in the House by Colleen J Shogan.
Homicide in the House by Colleen J Shogan has so many elements that relate to our current political climate, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. Government shutdown. Political machinations. All decisions are compromised. Give to get. It’s not selling out your soul when you bend…not break. Representatives park themselves and build a kingdom. I could get on a rant, but let’s talk about the book.
Even though Homicide in the House by Colleen J Shogan is the second book in the Washington Wodunit series, I don’t feel my reading suffered from not having read Stabbing in the Senate first, where Kit was accused of murdering her boss. Will dead bodies follow her through Capitol Hill?
Right off, I like Representative Maeve Dixon and Kit, her right hand. When Maeve is suspected of murder, it is time for Kit to put her thinking cap on and begin her own investigation. Colleen kept me guessing who amongst the suspects was the guilty party.
Homicide in the House by Colleen J Shogan meets all the requirements for a cozy mystery: an amateur sleuth and her trusty friends. Some lovable and not so lovable characters along with a critter and easy reading and I would vote yes to adding this to your reading list.
I received a copy of Homicide in the House by Colleen J Shogan in return for an honest review.
To see more visit fundinmental
Homicide in the House by Colleen J Shogan has so many elements that relate to our current political climate, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. Government shutdown. Political machinations. All decisions are compromised. Give to get. It’s not selling out your soul when you bend…not break. Representatives park themselves and build a kingdom. I could get on a rant, but let’s talk about the book.
Even though Homicide in the House by Colleen J Shogan is the second book in the Washington Wodunit series, I don’t feel my reading suffered from not having read Stabbing in the Senate first, where Kit was accused of murdering her boss. Will dead bodies follow her through Capitol Hill?
Right off, I like Representative Maeve Dixon and Kit, her right hand. When Maeve is suspected of murder, it is time for Kit to put her thinking cap on and begin her own investigation. Colleen kept me guessing who amongst the suspects was the guilty party.
Homicide in the House by Colleen J Shogan meets all the requirements for a cozy mystery: an amateur sleuth and her trusty friends. Some lovable and not so lovable characters along with a critter and easy reading and I would vote yes to adding this to your reading list.
I received a copy of Homicide in the House by Colleen J Shogan in return for an honest review.
To see more visit fundinmental
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November 30, 2018Miniseries: A Washington Whodunit
October 23, 2016
Homicide in the House is the second book by Colleen J. Shogan in her Washington Whodunit series. Kit Marshall has found herself a new position as a legislative director for Representative Maeve Dixon from the state of North Carolina. After her previous position for a Senator in the Senate is ended due to the murder of the Senator, Kit Marshall now faces helping her new boss ride out the pending Government Shutdown. Representative Dixon is doing all she can to remain in good standing since she faces reelection in nine months. With the government facing a shut down the Representative’s office is left to be run by Kit and Dan, Representative Dixon’s Chief of Staff. Helping Rep. Dixon keep a positive image is stressful enough for Kit but is made even more so since Dan is a greenhorn when it comes to what his job entails and must turn to Kit for advice on what he should do. However when Jack Drydale, the Speaker of House’s top aide and one of Washington’s top political employees, is found dead with Rep. Dixon standing over his body, Kit’s job becomes even more stressful. With Kit being well known for helping the Washington police find the killer of her former boss, she is asked by Rep. Dixon to help clear her name or her career may suddenly come to an end. As if this isn’t enough to deal with, Kit’s beagle, Clarence, is entered into the competition for Washington Hill’s top dog.
I found this second book as enjoyable to read as the first. The return of not just Kit but many of the characters found in the first book helps make the reader feel at home. The plot was well developed and provided much knowledge of the workings within the House of Representatives. Where will Kit show up in Colleen Shogan’s next book.
I found this second book as enjoyable to read as the first. The return of not just Kit but many of the characters found in the first book helps make the reader feel at home. The plot was well developed and provided much knowledge of the workings within the House of Representatives. Where will Kit show up in Colleen Shogan’s next book.
August 5, 2016
Colleen Shogan has done it again in Book 2 of the Washington Whodunit series. By the way if you haven’t read Stabbing in the Senate (Book 1) please read it first. Although you do not have to read the first book in order to read this one I think it does help to be familiar with some of the characters and their backstories (although Shogan does a good job of giving a refresher in this book). In Homicide in the House, Kit Marshall has to solve another murder but this time her boss, a member of the House of Representatives, is considered the prime suspect rather than the victim. Like any good mystery writer Shogan had me guessing who the culprit was and yet again I did not see it coming. I found myself getting as antsy as Kit was as the investigation progressed. This is a testament to Shogan’s strength as a writer. She actually gets you in the head of the protagonist where you experience the same feelings and anxieties that Kit does. It was also great to get reacquainted with old characters from the first book like Meg, Doug, Trevor, and Clarence the dog. If you like politics and mysteries you should read this book. I wonder where Kit’s detective skills will take her next. She started in the Senate and then went to the House. Where to next? The White House? The Supreme Court? Or maybe it’s a locked room mystery where she has to solve a murder during a conference committee. Wherever it is I can’t wait for Book Three to find out.
August 28, 2016
Great read---couldn't put it down!
October 31, 2021
Synopsis: Kit Marshall has bounced back from her first brush with the law, when she was suspected of murdering her senator boss. Now she is working for a freshman congresswoman, Maeve Dixon, a young Gulf War veteran representing North Carolina. Early one morning Representative Dixon is caught standing over the corpse of Jack Drysdale, the Speaker of the House's top staffer, a man she argued with in front of the press the day before. The murder weapon was the Speaker's gavel. This item was entrusted to Dixon at the time, leading the police to believe they've found their killer. To save her job, Kit must clear her boss's name, and quickly. Solving this murder will test Kit's courage and all her fledgling powers of deduction as she roams a spooky, sparsely populated Capitol Hill looking for clues and sounding out suspects.
Review: Kit Marshall is a fun MC. She has smarts, an inquisitive mind, and humor. Her side kicks are great foils for her and help her solve the crimes. The writing and pacing are decent. This is a very enjoyable series.
Review: Kit Marshall is a fun MC. She has smarts, an inquisitive mind, and humor. Her side kicks are great foils for her and help her solve the crimes. The writing and pacing are decent. This is a very enjoyable series.
July 31, 2023
Essentially if you read Shogan’s first mystery,
Stabbing in the Senate
, this is a repeat. It has a slightly different setting-the House of Representatives vs the Senate, and how the murder takes place. But the same main characters are part of the story.
I was interested in seeing if Shogan’s writing improved with practice or was her first book representative of her writing. She relies on much the same style and techniques-naming characters from the pantheon of recognized detectives. The relationships between characters seemed either forced or stilted.
For a quick summer read, this is an OK read. For something which will stimulate your gray cells, read some other mystery. (One redeeming part of the book is that she names several places to eat. If you are going to DC, this might be a decent guide to those kinds of establishments.)
For more of my thoughts and notes, please see my book blog.
I was interested in seeing if Shogan’s writing improved with practice or was her first book representative of her writing. She relies on much the same style and techniques-naming characters from the pantheon of recognized detectives. The relationships between characters seemed either forced or stilted.
For a quick summer read, this is an OK read. For something which will stimulate your gray cells, read some other mystery. (One redeeming part of the book is that she names several places to eat. If you are going to DC, this might be a decent guide to those kinds of establishments.)
For more of my thoughts and notes, please see my book blog.
January 2, 2018
Although I don't normally enjoy reading stories that involves politics I had the greatest time reading this book and could not put it down. The characters are very well developed and the story was easy to follow. I recommend reading this mistery and finding out who is the real killer of Jack Drysdale. I am eager to read the first book of this collection "Stabbing in the Senate" and read more books from this author.
May 7, 2025
Truly wanted to like this book because the first half was engaging and the premise is unique, but the second half was all kinds of hard to get into. Mediocre and unimpressive twist, weird pacing, an extremely odd conclusion… I’d give some of her other books a chance, though. Her writing style is decent and “cozy” political mystery is a trope that I love.
September 4, 2019
I loved this book as much as I did the first. She keeps her own personal politics out of it while painting a very real picture of Congress. She is a true professional to be able to brush past some hot issues for an extremely well who-done-it
July 17, 2018
Great book, I loved all 3 in the series. I cant wait to get the 4th book in the series. Great story .
September 14, 2018
In this second in the series, Kit Marshall's new boss, Rep. Maeve Dixon, finds the body of the Speaker's top staffer and becomes the prime suspect in his murder.
February 25, 2020
Not especially interesting or engaging, but it did pass the time on a 5hr flight.
October 21, 2020
I am so happy I discovered this series!
April 7, 2022
A bit of discomfort for me personally with some of the plot, but otherwise quite enjoyable. I look forward to reading the next installment.
April 20, 2022
I think this is what's called a "cozy" - not a type that I generally enjoy - but some of the parts about the life of a congressional staffer were sorta interesting
May 29, 2023
Audio - a fun series
April 13, 2024
Enjoyable mystery set in present day DC.
June 12, 2024
Painfully bad writing. This woman cannot write to save her life.
June 19, 2016
http://openbooksociety.com/article/ho...
Homicide in the House (Washington Whodunit #2)
Author: Colleen J. Shogan
ISBN13: 9781603813334
Author website: http://www.colleenshogan.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
Kit Marshall has bounced back from her first brush with the law, when she was suspected of murdering her senator boss. Now she is working for a freshman congresswoman, Maeve Dixon, a young Gulf War veteran representing North Carolina. It’s February, and Kit is feeling out of sorts. A government shutdown has just been announced, wreaking havoc on the Hill, and Dan, Dixon’s chief of staff and Kit’s supervisor, is an inexperienced lightweight flying blind. Then there’s Kit’s distracted live-in boyfriend, Doug, who doesn’t seem any closer to popping the question. Kit’s best friend Meg is up to her eyeballs with her new beau and oversight committee job, and Clarence the beagle mix will certainly not win Capitol Canine if Meg has to campaign for him all by herself. Bad as things are now, they are about to get much worse. Early one morning Representative Dixon is caught standing over the corpse of Jack Drysdale, the Speaker of the House’s top staffer, a man she argued with in front of the press the day before. The murder weapon was the Speaker’s gavel. This item was entrusted to Dixon at the time, leading the police to believe they’ve found their killer. To save her job, Kit must clear her boss’s name, and quickly. Dixon’s career may be over if the police declare her a suspect or an anonymous blogger known as Hill Rat breaks the story. Solving this murder will test Kit’s courage and all her fledgling powers of deduction as she roams a spooky, sparsely populated Capitol Hill looking for clues and sounding out suspects. Book 2 of the Washington Whodunit series, which began with Stabbing in the Senate.
Review:
Homicide in the House is a true page turner, stay up all night, read in one sitting follow up to Stabbing in the Senate. Once again author Colleen J. Shogan has made DC politics entertaining and truly enthralling. A big accomplishment since I do not care one bit about it normally. In the second installment, Kit Marshall has gone from the Senate to the House. And while she escaped not only prison, but unemployment, the House seems to hold its own dangers. Protagonist Kit is working for freshman congresswoman Maeve Dixon. Maeve is a straight shooter, representing North Carolina, who also happens to be a Gulf War Veteran. As Kit tries to settle into her new position, the House is in disarray due to a government shutdown. When murder again intrudes on Kit’s life, she has no choice but to find answers and the real killer.
Kit enjoys working for Maeve Dixon, but not so much her supervisor Dan, who seems to be in over his head. When Representative Dixon is found standing over the dead body of Jack Drysdale, things really look bleak. Not only is Dixon caught there, but just the day before she was seen arguing with Drysdale who was the Speaker of the House’s top staffer. And the murder weapon just happens to have been seen by all in the hands of Dixon the day before. Kit worries she may have to once again find a new employer as it looks like Dixon is the prime suspect and her career is ready to implode.
Homicide in the House is filled with great characters, secrets of the House, political intrigue, some laugh out loud moments and a wonderful mystery. Seriously well-written and a perfect whodunit. I was kept guessing until the end. I love the interaction between Kit and her best friend Meg. The extra fun of Clarence, Kit’s beagle mix, was icing on the cake for me. A sneaky anonymous blogger makes things even more interesting, as Hill Rat seems to spill secrets about the murder that Kit and the police wish stayed hidden. With the government shutdown, Kit is doing double duty – trying to solve the murder before her boss is arrested and keep the office running with just her and ineffectual Dan staffing it.
I think Homicide in the House is even better than the first in this Washington Whodunit series. I love Kit as the protagonist and she is surrounded by well-developed and interesting characters. The setting would not normally be my cup of tea, but author Colleen J. Shogan brings “The Hill” and Washington to life with such flair and color that I truly get immersed in it and end up loving it. Even if you did not read the first in this series (you really should) you will be able to follow this one and thoroughly enjoy it as well. The whodunit is well plotted and intriguing. The characters are believable and real even if the action is far removed for me. The humor and wit really elevate this read. I recommend it to cozy lovers that enjoy political subterfuge and those that do not. If you are looking for a great, can’t put it down book, look no further than Homicide in the House.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Homicide in the House (Washington Whodunit #2)
Author: Colleen J. Shogan
ISBN13: 9781603813334
Author website: http://www.colleenshogan.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
Kit Marshall has bounced back from her first brush with the law, when she was suspected of murdering her senator boss. Now she is working for a freshman congresswoman, Maeve Dixon, a young Gulf War veteran representing North Carolina. It’s February, and Kit is feeling out of sorts. A government shutdown has just been announced, wreaking havoc on the Hill, and Dan, Dixon’s chief of staff and Kit’s supervisor, is an inexperienced lightweight flying blind. Then there’s Kit’s distracted live-in boyfriend, Doug, who doesn’t seem any closer to popping the question. Kit’s best friend Meg is up to her eyeballs with her new beau and oversight committee job, and Clarence the beagle mix will certainly not win Capitol Canine if Meg has to campaign for him all by herself. Bad as things are now, they are about to get much worse. Early one morning Representative Dixon is caught standing over the corpse of Jack Drysdale, the Speaker of the House’s top staffer, a man she argued with in front of the press the day before. The murder weapon was the Speaker’s gavel. This item was entrusted to Dixon at the time, leading the police to believe they’ve found their killer. To save her job, Kit must clear her boss’s name, and quickly. Dixon’s career may be over if the police declare her a suspect or an anonymous blogger known as Hill Rat breaks the story. Solving this murder will test Kit’s courage and all her fledgling powers of deduction as she roams a spooky, sparsely populated Capitol Hill looking for clues and sounding out suspects. Book 2 of the Washington Whodunit series, which began with Stabbing in the Senate.
Review:
Homicide in the House is a true page turner, stay up all night, read in one sitting follow up to Stabbing in the Senate. Once again author Colleen J. Shogan has made DC politics entertaining and truly enthralling. A big accomplishment since I do not care one bit about it normally. In the second installment, Kit Marshall has gone from the Senate to the House. And while she escaped not only prison, but unemployment, the House seems to hold its own dangers. Protagonist Kit is working for freshman congresswoman Maeve Dixon. Maeve is a straight shooter, representing North Carolina, who also happens to be a Gulf War Veteran. As Kit tries to settle into her new position, the House is in disarray due to a government shutdown. When murder again intrudes on Kit’s life, she has no choice but to find answers and the real killer.
Kit enjoys working for Maeve Dixon, but not so much her supervisor Dan, who seems to be in over his head. When Representative Dixon is found standing over the dead body of Jack Drysdale, things really look bleak. Not only is Dixon caught there, but just the day before she was seen arguing with Drysdale who was the Speaker of the House’s top staffer. And the murder weapon just happens to have been seen by all in the hands of Dixon the day before. Kit worries she may have to once again find a new employer as it looks like Dixon is the prime suspect and her career is ready to implode.
Homicide in the House is filled with great characters, secrets of the House, political intrigue, some laugh out loud moments and a wonderful mystery. Seriously well-written and a perfect whodunit. I was kept guessing until the end. I love the interaction between Kit and her best friend Meg. The extra fun of Clarence, Kit’s beagle mix, was icing on the cake for me. A sneaky anonymous blogger makes things even more interesting, as Hill Rat seems to spill secrets about the murder that Kit and the police wish stayed hidden. With the government shutdown, Kit is doing double duty – trying to solve the murder before her boss is arrested and keep the office running with just her and ineffectual Dan staffing it.
I think Homicide in the House is even better than the first in this Washington Whodunit series. I love Kit as the protagonist and she is surrounded by well-developed and interesting characters. The setting would not normally be my cup of tea, but author Colleen J. Shogan brings “The Hill” and Washington to life with such flair and color that I truly get immersed in it and end up loving it. Even if you did not read the first in this series (you really should) you will be able to follow this one and thoroughly enjoy it as well. The whodunit is well plotted and intriguing. The characters are believable and real even if the action is far removed for me. The humor and wit really elevate this read. I recommend it to cozy lovers that enjoy political subterfuge and those that do not. If you are looking for a great, can’t put it down book, look no further than Homicide in the House.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
June 15, 2016
Homicide in the House is the second book in the Washington Whodunit series by Colleen Shogan. I did not read the first one, Stabbing in the Senate, but I had not problem with the story. The protagonist, Kit Marshall, works for a freshman congresswoman, Maeve Dixon, a young Gulf War veteran representing North Carolina. Her immediate boss, chief of staff Dan is incompetent and clueless. This leaves Kit running point for the office and privy to the comings and goings. The government has shut down and the government is trying to come up with a solution, staffing is limited and the pressure is on. When Maeve Dixon does not immediately agree with the Speaker of the House's solution, she is involved in a rather public argument with his chief of staff Jack Drysdale. The next day Representative Dixon is found standing over the dead body of Jack Drysdale. The Speaker's gavel, recently handled by Maeve Dixon, was identified as the murder weapon. Dixon is the main suspect due to the fact that she found the body, had last handled the murder weapon and had been witnessed in the heated argument with Drysdale. To keep her job, as well as believing that Maeve is innocent, Kit seeks to clear her of wrongdoing. Can Kit find the evidence to clear her boss of this murder? While all this is going on, "Hill Rat" an anonlymous blogger who had too much inside information about Capital Hill, quickly publishes the news that Maeve Dixon is the prime suspect in the murder.
The other characters in the story add a lot to the plot and entertainment of the book. Meg, her best friend, assisted in solving the last murder that Kit was actually suspected of, and she is able to give her some information about Drysdale and his office that Kit investigates. We learn about Kit and her flirty personality as well as a little about her personal life. Kit's boyfriend, Doug, also gives her a hand although reluctantly. He is a college professor who is rather staid, but is a good influence on Kit. The most entertaining of characters is Clarence, the mixed breed beagle belonging to Kit and Doug. Not only does he win the "Capitol Canine" contest, but he wreaks havoc at the ceremony and eventually helps solve the case. The plot was tightly woven with numerous twists and turns that leave the reader guessing while turning pages to find out what happens next.
I loved the descriptions of the Capitol and government buildings. It was like you were actually there seeing them. The descriptions of the running of government, meetings, trade-offs, and various job descriptions gave this book a true to life feel as well as teaching a few things along the way. Everything that was done in the story was totally believable. Her knowledge of the congress shines. She has done her research, turned her talent into a great book set in Washington, D.C. This book is fast-paced, well-written, fun to read, and has an unanticipated murderer. The plot was tightly woven with numerous twists and turns that leave the reader guessing. I highly recommend this book for cozy mystery readers as well as those who appreciate political intrigue.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an unbiased review. https://carlalovestoread.wordpress.com/
The other characters in the story add a lot to the plot and entertainment of the book. Meg, her best friend, assisted in solving the last murder that Kit was actually suspected of, and she is able to give her some information about Drysdale and his office that Kit investigates. We learn about Kit and her flirty personality as well as a little about her personal life. Kit's boyfriend, Doug, also gives her a hand although reluctantly. He is a college professor who is rather staid, but is a good influence on Kit. The most entertaining of characters is Clarence, the mixed breed beagle belonging to Kit and Doug. Not only does he win the "Capitol Canine" contest, but he wreaks havoc at the ceremony and eventually helps solve the case. The plot was tightly woven with numerous twists and turns that leave the reader guessing while turning pages to find out what happens next.
I loved the descriptions of the Capitol and government buildings. It was like you were actually there seeing them. The descriptions of the running of government, meetings, trade-offs, and various job descriptions gave this book a true to life feel as well as teaching a few things along the way. Everything that was done in the story was totally believable. Her knowledge of the congress shines. She has done her research, turned her talent into a great book set in Washington, D.C. This book is fast-paced, well-written, fun to read, and has an unanticipated murderer. The plot was tightly woven with numerous twists and turns that leave the reader guessing. I highly recommend this book for cozy mystery readers as well as those who appreciate political intrigue.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an unbiased review. https://carlalovestoread.wordpress.com/
February 8, 2017
Homicide in the House, an amazing cozy mystery novel, is Book Two in the Washington Whodunit series. (The first book in the series, Stabbing in the Senate, is highly recommended also — four stars!) [Note: It's possible to read Homicide in the House as a stand-alone. Author Colleen J. Shogan has included little snippets from Stabbing in the Senate so that new readers aren't lost. This means, however, that some of these snippets are somewhat spoiler-y, so if you plan to read both books, I urge you to start with Stabbing in the Senate.]
The main characters are Kit Marshall, who is Legislative Director for Rep. Maeve Dixon (freshman Democrat from NC), Kit's live-in boyfriend Doug Hollingsworth, Kit's and Doug's dog Clarence, Kit's BFF Meg Peters, and Detective O'Halloran. The story is told by Kit in first person. All of the characters are realistic and believable. The action takes place during a government shutdown.
I am really looking forward to the next book in the Washington Whodunit series. I am wondering what the title will be. Smackdown at the Smithsonian? Whupping at the White House?
Homicide in the House is amazing. I was hooked from the first sentence, and read it in only two days. I recommend Homicide in the House to all fans of cozy mysteries. I think it will particularly appeal to anyone who prefers fictional political shenanigans over the real ones in the news lately.
I loved Homicide in the House by Colleen J. Shogan, and award it my highest rating of Five Stars!
Note: I received a complimentary copy of Homicide in the House in exchange for my honest review. All opinions shared are 100% my own.
Originally published on my blog Jane Reads
The main characters are Kit Marshall, who is Legislative Director for Rep. Maeve Dixon (freshman Democrat from NC), Kit's live-in boyfriend Doug Hollingsworth, Kit's and Doug's dog Clarence, Kit's BFF Meg Peters, and Detective O'Halloran. The story is told by Kit in first person. All of the characters are realistic and believable. The action takes place during a government shutdown.
The shutdown was no vacation for the office of Maeve Dixon. In fact, it was precisely the opposite. It gave Maeve the opportunity to show her constituents, and maybe the whole country , that she was a rising star in American politics. My job was to make sure she was front and center when every important decision and deal transpired.Because of events in Stabbing in the Senate, Kit has acquired a reputation as a sleuth, and the necessary skills. She puts these skills to use as she solves the Homicide in the House, with the help of her friends.
Did Kay Scarpetta have to deal with such a lack of focus amongst her band of faithful crime-solving helpers? I doubted it. Since I was no Scarpetta, I waited patiently for my comrade to elaborate.Homicide in the House is a fast-paced fun read, with an original concept. Author Colleen J. Shogan's education and work experience ensure that the details are factual, and fascinating to readers without inside-the-Beltway knowledge. There are plot twists every so often to keep the readers on their toes. The suspense at the end of the book — WOW! What a climax! I love the part that Clarence plays in the climax, as well as providing some comic relief earlier.
I am really looking forward to the next book in the Washington Whodunit series. I am wondering what the title will be. Smackdown at the Smithsonian? Whupping at the White House?
Homicide in the House is amazing. I was hooked from the first sentence, and read it in only two days. I recommend Homicide in the House to all fans of cozy mysteries. I think it will particularly appeal to anyone who prefers fictional political shenanigans over the real ones in the news lately.
I loved Homicide in the House by Colleen J. Shogan, and award it my highest rating of Five Stars!
Note: I received a complimentary copy of Homicide in the House in exchange for my honest review. All opinions shared are 100% my own.
Originally published on my blog Jane Reads
June 10, 2016
Homicide in the House is the second book in the Washington Whodunit series by Colleen Shogan. The protagonist, Kit Marshall, works for a freshman congresswoman, Maeve Dixon, a young Gulf War veteran representing North Carolina. I’ve visited Washington DC twice, but I’ve never seen the interior of any government buildings. I felt the author did a really nice job of describing the settings providing a vicarious tour complete with a relatively comprehensive overview of the inner workings of the government and surrounding. The government is on “shutdown” so staffing is limited, so tempers are rising and a number of areas and supports are unavailable to employees. Kit's supervisor and Dixon's chief of staff, Dan, is an inexperienced and clueless. The day after an extremely heated argument, witnessed by many, Representative Dixon is found standing over the body of Jack Drysdale, the Speaker of the House's top staffer. The Speaker's gavel, recently handled by Maeve Dixon, was the murder weapon. It is immediately assumed that Dixon killed him. Hill Rat, an anonymous blogger, released the news to the public. To keep her job, Kit seeks to clear Dixon of wrongdoing. Her friend and fellow sleuth, Meg, is too overwhelmed to provide the support Kit needs. Kit's beagle, Clarence, was in the Capitol canine contest, but Kit was too busy to garner support and couldn’t figure out how he was getting a large number of votes. The plot was tightly woven with numerous twists and turns that leave the reader guessing while turning pages to find out what happens next. Colleen writes with clarity. Her knowledge of the congress shines. She has done her research, turned her talent into one of the best books I’ve read set in Washington, D.C. This book is fast-paced, well-written, fun to read, and has an unanticipated murderer. I highly recommend this book for cozy mystery readers as well as individuals who appreciate political intrigue. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, and I hope I am fortunate enough to get to review it as well.
Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed in this review are my own.
Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed in this review are my own.
June 16, 2016
Colleen Shogan has done it again! 5 stars to Homicide in the House. I enjoy this series so much because of the wonderful characters and storyline. I love how the author describes Washington DC and the ins and outs of our government. I have not had the pleasure of visiting DC but really want to after reading this series. The author does a great job making her characters believable.
Kit Marshall is now working for freshman congresswoman, Maeve Dixon. Dixon is a Gulf War Veteran representing North Carolina. Kit is excited to be back after being the number one suspect in the death of her Senate boss. That brush with the law should have tempered her investigative talents but we all know Kit and she is not about to let anyone innocent go to jail. Just her luck her new boss is found standing over the dead body of Jack Drysdale, the Speaker of the House's top staffer with the murder weapon in hand. And to rub more salt in the wound Dixon was seen arguing with him the day before!!! Kit now has to investigate and find out who really killed Drysdale before she looses another boss. With everything else going on, the government shutdown, her boyfriend no closer to proposing, and best friend sidelined by Clarence and her new beau Kit has an uphill battle to clear Dixon on her own.
This book is full of twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat. It is full of excitement and fast paced action and intrigue. A must read!
Kit Marshall is now working for freshman congresswoman, Maeve Dixon. Dixon is a Gulf War Veteran representing North Carolina. Kit is excited to be back after being the number one suspect in the death of her Senate boss. That brush with the law should have tempered her investigative talents but we all know Kit and she is not about to let anyone innocent go to jail. Just her luck her new boss is found standing over the dead body of Jack Drysdale, the Speaker of the House's top staffer with the murder weapon in hand. And to rub more salt in the wound Dixon was seen arguing with him the day before!!! Kit now has to investigate and find out who really killed Drysdale before she looses another boss. With everything else going on, the government shutdown, her boyfriend no closer to proposing, and best friend sidelined by Clarence and her new beau Kit has an uphill battle to clear Dixon on her own.
This book is full of twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat. It is full of excitement and fast paced action and intrigue. A must read!
August 2, 2016
A fantastic installment to the Washington Whodunit Mystery series!
When I read book one in this series, STABBING IN THE SENATE, I wasn’t sure what I would think of it. I read and review cozy mysteries. No way could a series set in Washington DC’s high power world of politics be cozy. However, author Colleen J. Shogan proved you can have a traditional mystery without limiting yourself to a small town. With roughly 95% of cozy guidelines followed, the Washington Whodunit Mysteries can and will be enjoyed by fans of the mystery genre.
HOMICIDE IN THE HOUSE is an exciting whodunit that made turning each page a thrill. Starting with a government shutdown, and dealing with murder, politics, personal agendas, and relationships, this second installment in the series is an action filled, suspenseful read, that will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to the exciting reveal!
This is a great series to start now since it’s only two books in. Read STABBING IN THE SENATE and HOMICIDE IN THE HOUSE back to back. You’ll be anxiously awaiting book three as much as I am!
When I read book one in this series, STABBING IN THE SENATE, I wasn’t sure what I would think of it. I read and review cozy mysteries. No way could a series set in Washington DC’s high power world of politics be cozy. However, author Colleen J. Shogan proved you can have a traditional mystery without limiting yourself to a small town. With roughly 95% of cozy guidelines followed, the Washington Whodunit Mysteries can and will be enjoyed by fans of the mystery genre.
HOMICIDE IN THE HOUSE is an exciting whodunit that made turning each page a thrill. Starting with a government shutdown, and dealing with murder, politics, personal agendas, and relationships, this second installment in the series is an action filled, suspenseful read, that will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to the exciting reveal!
This is a great series to start now since it’s only two books in. Read STABBING IN THE SENATE and HOMICIDE IN THE HOUSE back to back. You’ll be anxiously awaiting book three as much as I am!
April 7, 2019
I had the pleasure of hearing Ms. Shogan speak at a bookstore in Pittsburgh recently and was able to briefly chat with her when having my books signed. I was already planning that I was going to be reading some "smart" books. I have read both the first and second books of this new series this past week. The story-line in both books is very good AND you get to learn some of the lesser known workings of the the Senate (book 1) and the House (book 2), which was quite interesting.
My favorite by far is the second book, Homicide in the House. This, for me, was based solely on the "feeling" of the dialogue. In the first book, I found the protagonist, Kit, to sound quite immature for her age, and the position she held. But I have learned to wait until the second book before I confirm what would be considered negative judgments. I am very happy that I did. The dialogue improved greatly in the second book (both internal and external) Now, I can't wait for the third book!
My favorite by far is the second book, Homicide in the House. This, for me, was based solely on the "feeling" of the dialogue. In the first book, I found the protagonist, Kit, to sound quite immature for her age, and the position she held. But I have learned to wait until the second book before I confirm what would be considered negative judgments. I am very happy that I did. The dialogue improved greatly in the second book (both internal and external) Now, I can't wait for the third book!
July 30, 2016
Homicide in the House is the second in Colleen Shogan’s political series. I found the story easy to follow and immediately engaging as Kit Marshall works for freshman Congresswoman Maeve Dixon. When the government goes into shutdown mode and man is found murdered with the blame going to Maeve, Kit must solve the mystery. I enjoyed learning about the inner workings of the Congress even down to explaining which is the best cafeteria for staffers. Even though this cozy mystery is not set in a small town, the small political community has a wonderful collection of cozy elements. I enjoyed Homicide in the House and can’t wait to read the first book in the series, Stabbing in the Senate.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2016
This is the first book that I have read by this author and Homicide in the House is the second book in the Washington Whodunit series by Colleen Shogan. That being said, I had no issue following the story without having read the first book in the series. This story has lots of twists and turns and will keep you guessing throughout as to who the murderer is. This was a great story, and kept me interested. I will be looking for a copy of the previous book in the series and looking forward to the next book in the series,as well.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
June 14, 2016
4.5/5.0
Book two of the “Washington Whodunit” series, “Homicide in the House” is a chick-lit mystery combining the ups and downs of a long-term relationship with the mystery of who killed the Speaker’s aide.
Read full review in the 2016 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Book two of the “Washington Whodunit” series, “Homicide in the House” is a chick-lit mystery combining the ups and downs of a long-term relationship with the mystery of who killed the Speaker’s aide.
Read full review in the 2016 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
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