Murder in the Oval Office

Eleanor Roosevelt #6

by Elliott Roosevelt

An apparent suicide in the Oval Office of the White House leaves a number of unanswered questions and a long list of people who wanted the victim dead, and Eleanor Roosevelt must once again investigate

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery

379 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Elliott Roosevelt (September 23, 1910 – October 27, 1990) was an United States Army Air Forces officer and an author. Roosevelt was a son of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Reviews

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Senator lies dead in the Oval Office. All the windows and doors are locked and bolted from the inside. Suicide?
Murder. And Eleanor Roosevelt is going to prove who and how it was done. She hopes.
The murder part is definite. There are lots of suspects. There's lots of political maneuvering and financial finagling going on.
The locked room is a problem.
The book is a fast, easy read. The White House trivia is interesting. A pool in the White House? Put in by FDR as swimming was his great way to exercise and relax.
These books are always interesting to read.

[♞ Pat Gent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. A lot of "name dropping" by the author - much of it unnecessary, such as the mention of Eisenhower and LBJ, neither of which character has any part of driving the plot forward. Every detail of suit dress and clothing -- I'm sure it was done by the author to draw a "visual picture with words," but it was pretty annoying and unnecessary.

The plot, I'm sure, was scandalous in its day, but it's a nostalgic look at a bygone era, much like Agatha Christie's collective works. I had to wait a while to get this copy from my library loan program. They had to pull it out of the archives - a sure sign that it's not very frequently requested.

It was a light and quick read, with the murderer being pretty obvious about half-way through.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series. The mysteries are good, however I really enjoy all the historical characters in the books that I know, so it makes the story that much more enjoyable.

[The Hobbit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Congressman Winstead Colmer from Alabama is found dead in the locked Oval Office. The death appears to be suicide by a single shot to the head. However, something doesn't seem right to Eleanor Roosevelt. Colmer rarely was invited to the White House. As far as records show, he had never been in the Oval Office. Why would he end his life in a place he had never been? How did he get into the locked office after hours? Why were his finger prints on the gun and trigger, but not on the bullets?
More and more, it looked to Eleanor Roosevelt, the Secret Service, and the DC police chief that Colmer was murdered.
Winstead Colmer had lots of enemies. Head of a congressional committee where he ruled with an iron fist, he failed to support several projects which cost too much. Colmer's brother, who had not spoken to Winstead in years, came to Washington to urge him to support a dam project in their home state of Alabama. The Peaveys, father and son bankers who used mafia-style tactics to get what they wanted, knew more than they should about Colmer. And Winstead's young wife, a former dancer with the famous Sally Rand, disappeared after her husband's funeral? Was she hiding? From whom? And why was her house burglarized three times in two days? What did she have that someone else wanted? And was that someone Colmer's killer? Eleanor Roosevelt's sleuthing answers these questions and uncovers Winstead Colmer's murderer.
Interesting details of everyday life in the White House during FDR's first term.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I more or less figured out the mystery, there was enough characterization and sympathy for many of the people in this story that I enjoyed it thoroughly. Mr. Roosevelt has a way of portraying Eleanor Roosevelt that makes you want to go along with her and figure out in the same way she does what is going on rather than leap ahead to a conclusion based on what you have read. These books are intriguing, and so are the characters and descriptions of the White House in this period of time, and the events that are occurring. There are several instances showing the bigotry of the times, not only with blacks but with Jews and the South as well. Not only that but false pride based on one's education. Education is wonderful, but it will only take you so far, and Mr. Roosevelt does an excellent job of demonstrating that in this book.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

BK six-3.5 stars. When a New Deal congressman fighting bank frauds turns up dead in the Oval Office of the West Wing of the White House with all the windows and doors locked and bolted from the inside after being called away from the White House dinner he was attending, zeal’s or can’t help but get involved with his pretty young wife and the investigation. Lots of red herrings, all gathered in for Justice at the end.

[Arliegh Kovacs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elliott Roosevelt mixes fact and fiction in this delightful mystery where his mother Eleanor investigates a locked-room mystery. The victim is found in the Oval Office. The question is not only whodunit but how they got in and out of the locked room that was bolted from the inside.
So far, this has been my favorite in the series.

[Nancy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good historical mystery featuring Eleanor Roosevelt who helps to solve a murder that occurred in the Oval Office. Lots of historical figures make up the cast of characters in this novel, so for those mystery readers who enjoy some 'realistic characters' in their stories, this is a good one.

[Edie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleanor Roosevelt, with help from The Secret Service and the Washington DC police, solves the murder of a US Congressman which takes place in the White House. You get to meet many people whose names you only know from history books and you get to meet them warts and all.

[Sally Sharamitaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this at a book fair, the only one of the series so far. It caught my eye as I am a great fan of Eleanor (and Franklin) Roosevelt.

[Helenk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading these books getting some background on the country and our government..

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting premise with Eleanor Roosevelt involved in a murder solution.

[Steven Redman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series but this was not the best but still a good story to keep u reading.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy this series for the insight into the White House during the FDR years. The mstery in this offering is okay, although, like many books written during this era, the plotting is slow.

[Hilmi Isa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seorang ahli Kongres Amerika Syarikat,Winstead Colmer,telah didapati mati di dalam pejabat Presiden yang dikunci yang turut dikenali sebagai Oval Office. Apa yang menjadi misterinya adalah walaupun kematiannya seperti umpama Colmer membunuh dirinya sendiri,tetapi,seperti ada yang tidak kena. Mangsa bukan mati kerana membunuh diri,tetapi,telah dibunuh oleh seseorang. Eleanor Roosevelt,isteri kepada presiden Amerika Syarikat,Franklin D. Roosevelt,bertekad mahu menyiasat kes ini.

Murder in the Oval Office,hasil tulisan Elliot Roosevelt ini merupakan sebuah novel yang unik. Penulis menggunakan watak-watak yang sememangnya wujud di dalam dunia sebenar di dalam kisah fiksyen novelnya. Tambah menarik,penulis sendiri sebenarnya merupakan anak lelaki kepada Eleanor dan Franklin D. Roosevelt,presiden Amerika Syarikat yang ke-32! Latar belakang cerita di dalam novel ini juga adalah berdasarkan Amerika Syarikat pada tahun 1930-an dan suasana pada ketika itu. Kemungkinan juga,penulis menjadikan karekter ibunya sebagai watak utama novel sebagai tribute dan tanda penghormatan kepadanya.

Kesimpulannya,novel ini menarik untuk dibaca. Malahan,penamatnya juga adalah sesuatu yang di luar jangkaan saya.

[Ellen Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book and introduced numerous historical figures as characters in the story--Lyndon Johnson, Sam Rayburn, J. Edgar Hoover, Huey Long, Felix Frankfurter, Sally Rand, General MacArthur, Major Dwight Eisenhower, Jean Harlow, Bob Hope, and Bing Crosby to name a few. As in author Roosevelt's other White House Mysteries, his mother First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was involved in investigating and eventually solving the mystery of a murder in the oval office. The story was crafted well and maintained my interest throughout.

[Jean Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typically good, fun, mysterious Elliot R mystery. He intriques me each time wondering how much of the personalities of "real" people is true. This time it was J. Edgar Hoover. Sometimes i think he is putting us on. But it's always fun to speculate.

[Jake From State Farm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this book was really good. There were historical figures such as Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt in the novel. There was a lot of descriptive events that lead to the solution of the death of Mr. Colmer.

[Janene · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Elliott Roosevelt mysteries are wonderful for letting you see into the life of Eleanor Roosevelt and the political times.

[NancyInWI · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the historical aspects of this book. It was a good audiobook for long drives.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to check my records because this book had such similar storie lines to another book. A dead senator, a locked door and a not so grieving widow.

[Gary Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey, this guy can write.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This mystery was a little lacking in the Eleanor factor.She still saves the day, but a lot of diversions to get there.

[Melva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your typical whodunit. Enjoyed having Eleanor Roosevelt as the lead sleuth and all of the historical figures in it.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed that this story seemed to be out of order in the series.

[Cathy]

Light and entertaining with all sorts of Franklin and Eleanor gossip tidbits.