Murder in Foggy Bottom/Murder at Ford's Theatre/Murder at Union Station

by Margaret Truman

Murder in Foggy Bottom: When a man is found stabbed to death in the trendy D.C. Foggy Bottom neighborhood, it is major news. But within forty-eight hours the nation is gripped by a fear that leaves this comparatively small crime in the dark. Three passenger planes are shot out of the sky. No one can guess the truth: that the epicenter of the terrorist outbreak is Washington D.C.... and a dead man behind a park bench in a place called Foggy Bottom. Murder at Ford's Theatre: The body of Nadia Zarinski, an attractive young woman who worked for Senator Bruce Lerner - and who volunteered at Ford's - is discovered in the alley behind the theatre. Soon a pair of mismatched cops - young, studious Rick Klayman and gregarious veteran Moses "Mo" Johnson - start digging into the victim's life, and find themselves confronting an increasing cast of suspects. Murder at the Union Station: Historic Union Station means nothing to the elderly man speeding south on the last lap of what will turn out to be a one-way journey from Tel Aviv to D.C. ? on a train that will soon land him at Gate A-8 and, moments later, at St. Peter's Gate. This weary traveler is Louis Russo, former mob hit man and government informer. Two men are at the station to meet him. One is Richard Marienthal, whose forthcoming book is based on Russo's life. The other is the man who?ll kill him.

Audio CD

First published January 29, 2009

About the author

Mary Margaret Truman Daniel was an American classical soprano, actress, journalist, radio and television personality, writer, and New York socialite. She was the only child of President Harry Truman and First Lady Bess Truman. While her father was president during the years 1945 to 1953, Margaret regularly accompanied him on campaign trips, such as the 1948 countrywide whistle-stop campaign lasting several weeks. She also appeared at important White House and political events during those years, being a favorite with the media.
After graduating from George Washington University in 1946, she embarked on a career as a coloratura soprano, beginning with a concert appearance with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1947. She appeared in concerts with orchestras throughout the United States and in recitals throughout the U.S. through 1956. She made recordings for RCA Victor, and made television appearances on programs like What's My Line? and The Bell Telephone Hour.
In 1957, one year after her marriage, Truman abandoned her singing career to pursue a career as a journalist and radio personality, when she became the co-host of the program Weekday with Mike Wallace. She also wrote articles as an independent journalist, for a variety of publications in the 1960s and 1970s. She later became the successful author of a series of murder mysteries, and a number of works on U.S. First Ladies and First Families, including well-received biographies of her father, President Harry S. Truman and mother Bess Truman.
She was married to journalist Clifton Daniel, managing editor of The New York Times. The couple had four sons, and were prominent New York socialites who often hosted events for the New York elite.

Reviews

[Lucy]

This review is based on the audio version of Murder at Foggy Bottom. Standard mystery / thriller. The most interesting aspect of this book is the timing - one year before 9/11. Three commuter planes have just fallen from the sky at about the same time. Terrorists are suspected. No one would dare publish that plot line today.

[Todd Stanley]

Way too many characters for such a short story.

[Katy]

Okay, I really didn't think I'd like this, but I decided to give it a go anyway. I liked it! Maybe I was in the mood for a quick, easy to read mystery...government infiltration of a militant group's headquarters, arms buying from the Russian mafia, domestic terrorism. (These are NOT things I look for in a mystery, but it worked here.) I think though she summed it up well when one of the characters said there would always be domestic terrorism, and sometimes we would get it wrong; yet all of us must do what we can to fight it as well.

A note: I am a West Virginian, so I got quite excited when Truman used a town located in WV (whose name is actually Gauley Bridge!!). Not sure what to expect, especially in light that people have a stereotypical image of people and places here, I was careful to notice what she wrote. It was more accurate than most writers, and for that I am happy. But still there were some stereotypes in this story as well.

[Joyce]

Great episode. Three commercial commuter flights were shot out of the sky on takeoff from different parts of the US. Because they were Russian SAM's first international terrorism was suspected, then a known white supremist group was thought to be involved. Anyway, great book, won't say anymore, just read it.

[Ann Adams]

I only read the Murder at Union Station.
The ending was not exactly quality writing---a wrap up that was weak.