From Publishers Weekly
The spirit of Chandra Levy hovers over Truman's latest Washington, D.C., mystery (Murder on the Potomac, etc.), which, despite a sometimes confusing plot and little suspense until the climax, should be as successful as other recent entries in this durable series. When the body of congressional intern Nadia Zarinski turns up outside the stage door of Ford's Theatre, D.C. police detectives Mo Johnson and Rick Klayman, who happens to be a Lincoln buff, are assigned the case. Nadia worked in the office of Senator Bruce Lerner, ex-husband of Clarise Emerson, head of Ford's Theatre and nominee for chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. Once Clarise determines with Klayman's help that her son, Jeremiah, was the last to see Nadia alive, she appeals to former attorney Mackensie "Mac" Smith to represent him. But there are other suspects as well: theater controller Bernard Crowley; aging, past-his-prime British actor and artistic director Sydney Bancroft; and Senator Lerner himself. Mac and his police cohorts find these ambitious power seekers an unpleasant lot. As usual, the location takes center stage, and the fun lies in seeing how the author uses the national landmark in the service of the drama. In this case, the Lincoln theme pulls the plot threads together and brings weight to the proceedings. The performance may be a bit contrived, but fans will enjoy the show.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-When Washington, DC, police detectives Mo Johnson and Rick Klayman arrive at this famous venue, they find the body of Nadia Zarinski, a congressional intern romantically linked to Senator Bruce Lerner. Fate throws in a twist when the detectives discover that the senator's ex-wife is directing the theater's current production. Their son becomes the number one suspect when the footprint from a pair of shoes he has matches the one found in the alley alongside the deceased. The investigation includes segues into discussions about Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth, and other historical tidbits. Suspects include just about everyone, with the murderer turning out to be someone who is easily overlooked. The best "scene stealing" belongs to Sydney Bancroft, an older, scheming, once-handsome leading man whose better days were long ago but who can't give up the stage. Without the graphic violence or vulgar language sometimes common to this genre, this mystery is lively and interesting.Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Uncomfortably familiar: Nadia's past as an intern (and perhaps more) for a right-wing senator may figure in her murder. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
Former attorney Mackensie Smith is representing the son of old friend Clarise Emerson and Virginia Senator Bruce Lerner in the murder of the senator's intern. However, narrator Richard Allen and Ford's Theatre are the stars of this tightly woven detective story. Allen captures the mood and feel of D.C.'s power-seekers, as well as that of the Metro police detectives trying to determine who the killer is amid diplomatic problems and Truman's long list of suspects. Allen finds unique voices for the bizarre assortment of characters, using accents and carefully controlled pacing and volume. Allen conveys tensions and suspicions in a rich voice that's a joy for listeners. S.C.A. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"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." There's Virginia Senator Lerner himself, rumored to have had a sexual relationship with Nadia - and half the women in D.C. under ninety . . . Clarise Emerson, producer/director of Ford's Theatre and ex-wife of the senator, whose nomination to head the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is now threatened by the scandal . . . Jeremiah Lerner, her aimless, hot-tempered son, said to have been sleeping with Nadia when his famous father wasn't . . . Bernard Crowley, the theatre's comptroller, whose emotions overflow at the mention of the crime . . . faded British stage star Sydney Bancroft, desperate for recognition and a comeback, and armed with damning information about Clarise Emerson . . . and other complex characters from both sides of the footlights.

SYNOPSIS

It was the site of one of the most infamous assassinations in American history. Now bestselling mystery master Margaret Truman premieres a new murder at Ford's Theater￯﾿ﾽone that's hot off today's headlines.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

The spirit of Chandra Levy hovers over Truman's latest Washington, D.C., mystery (Murder on the Potomac, etc.), which, despite a sometimes confusing plot and little suspense until the climax, should be as successful as other recent entries in this durable series. When the body of congressional intern Nadia Zarinski turns up outside the stage door of Ford's Theatre, D.C. police detectives Mo Johnson and Rick Klayman, who happens to be a Lincoln buff, are assigned the case. Nadia worked in the office of Senator Bruce Lerner, ex-husband of Clarise Emerson, head of Ford's Theatre and nominee for chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. Once Clarise determines with Klayman's help that her son, Jeremiah, was the last to see Nadia alive, she appeals to former attorney Mackensie "Mac" Smith to represent him. But there are other suspects as well: theater controller Bernard Crowley; aging, past-his-prime British actor and artistic director Sydney Bancroft; and Senator Lerner himself. Mac and his police cohorts find these ambitious power seekers an unpleasant lot. As usual, the location takes center stage, and the fun lies in seeing how the author uses the national landmark in the service of the drama. In this case, the Lincoln theme pulls the plot threads together and brings weight to the proceedings. The performance may be a bit contrived, but fans will enjoy the show. (Nov. 19)

Library Journal

Nadia Zarinski, an intern linked romantically with Sen. Bruce Lerner, is murdered at Ford's Theatre, Truman's trademark national landmark for this mystery. Lerner's son, Jeremiah, tops Metro Police detectives Rick Klayman and Mo Johnson's suspect list and complicates his mother's (Clarice Emerson) National Endowment for the Arts nomination. Clarice calls on longtime friend attorney Mackenzie Smith to defend him. Theater controller Bernard Crowley and past-prime Shakespearean actor Sydney Bancroft are also suspects. Despite a few difficult-to-distinguish asides, Richard Allen renders an authentic reading of the characters. Highly recommended for all audio mystery collections.-Sandy Glover, West Linn P.L., OR Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Adult/High School-When Washington, DC, police detectives Mo Johnson and Rick Klayman arrive at this famous venue, they find the body of Nadia Zarinski, a congressional intern romantically linked to Senator Bruce Lerner. Fate throws in a twist when the detectives discover that the senator's ex-wife is directing the theater's current production. Their son becomes the number one suspect when the footprint from a pair of shoes he has matches the one found in the alley alongside the deceased. The investigation includes segues into discussions about Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth, and other historical tidbits. Suspects include just about everyone, with the murderer turning out to be someone who is easily overlooked. The best "scene stealing" belongs to Sydney Bancroft, an older, scheming, once-handsome leading man whose better days were long ago but who can't give up the stage. Without the graphic violence or vulgar language sometimes common to this genre, this mystery is lively and interesting.-Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

AudioFile

Former attorney Mackensie Smith is representing the son of old friend Clarise Emerson and Virginia Senator Bruce Lerner in the murder of the senator's intern. However, narrator Richard Allen and Ford's Theatre are the stars of this tightly woven detective story. Allen captures the mood and feel of D.C.'s power-seekers, as well as that of the Metro police detectives trying to determine who the killer is amid diplomatic problems and Truman's long list of suspects. Allen finds unique voices for the bizarre assortment of characters, using accents and carefully controlled pacing and volume. Allen conveys tensions and suspicions in a rich voice that's a joy for listeners. S.C.A. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews