Murder in Foggy Bottom

Capital Crimes, Book 17

By: Margaret Truman

Narrated by: Alan Sklar

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

In Margaret Truman's latest mystery, the scene opens with an obscure death in Washington's Foggy Bottom, home of the State Department, shifts to mass murder in the downing of aircraft, and then moves on to mayhem in the streets of the new Moscow. Leaving an airport near New York, a D.C.-bound commuter plane falls to earth. At almost the same time, another crash occurs. And then...

Firmly ruling out coincidence, investigators seek means and motive. The means are soon apparent: small-scale weaponry with large-scale impact. Their country of origin? A place where nearly everything - hardware, information, love - can be found for a price. Max Pauling, a State Department investigator, seasoned, good-looking, and hard to fool, quickly takes off on a trail still as warm as the smoking wreckage.

A host of vivid characters people the narrative, including a lovely State Department analyst who finds herself attracted to undercover types; a militia leader in Idaho who leads his people into gunfire; a reporter at odds with his boss but not with a good story; and a secretary of state who loves baseball slightly more than her job.

Fast-paced and informative about flying, food, statecraft, and the violent "wetwork" under the dryly elegant exterior of diplomacy, Margaret Truman's Murder in Foggy Bottom is another winner in the Capital Crimes series.

©2002 Margaret Truman (P)2005 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"A first-rate mystery writer drawing on an I-was-there expertise that makes the Washington scene clang with credibility." ( Los Angeles Times Book Review)
"She can write suspense with the best of them" (Larry King)

Great book, okay narration

I've read most of Margaret Truman's books and this one is just a good as the others. It could be happening in real life today and her insight of the inner workings of the government make it even more interesting.
This is my first time listening to one of her books. Alan Sklar's voice just didn't have enough range for me. Many of the characters sounded similar. I noticed my attention wandering and I would even lose track of who was speaking.
I will continue to read Margaret Truman but I'll stick to reading them to myself.

Weak story and silly vocals

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Sklar is a great reader usually. This was not a good performance. Story was very weak and really didn't add up logically or believably.

What was most disappointing about Margaret Truman’s story?

She thinks she knows about Washington, but throws in monument names and restaurant names to add flavor but it comes across as forced. No mystery to this story at all.

What didn’t you like about Alan Sklar’s performance?

He's better in non-fiction. Does not do female voices well.

What character would you cut from Murder in Foggy Bottom?

All of them. And the writer too.

Any additional comments?

Can I get my money back??

Captivating

If you could sum up Murder in Foggy Bottom in three words, what would they be?

Missiles, Russians, FBI

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, the comparison between the two sources of information about the missiles had me going for a while. Good plot and sub-plots.

Have you listened to any of Alan Sklar’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, never. Not a bad job.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reaction just liked the book. Great detail makes you be part of what's going on.

POLITICAL INTRIGUE

Margaret Truman was the daughter of Harry Truman. Harry Truman was the 34th president of the United States, in office from 1945 to 1953. Her mysteries take place in Washington, D.C.

This book centers on a terrorist attack, and the mysteries surrounding what group was responsible. I found it interesting, and rather surprising, that the book was copyrighted in 2000, the year before the attacks on the World Trade Center towers in New York City. To avoid "spoilers" I won't make any additional comment about that.

There is a fairly large cast of characters, since several government agencies are involved in finding the perpetrators of the attack. I had no trouble keeping track of the characters.

If you have read and enjoyed other Margaret Truman mysteries, I believe you will enjoy this one. Mac and Annabelle Smith make an "appearance" in this book (they were main characters in some other Truman books), but are not the main characters.

The plot kept me guessing until the last few chapters. I got involved in the story, and often found it difficult to stop listening, even though it was bed time, or meal time, or time to do something else. I was interested and entertained and that's what I wanted from this book.

Narrator Alan Sklar does a good, if not outstanding, job. His character voices are not as distinctive as some other narrators I have heard. However, I had no trouble figuring out which character was speaking.

Be aware that a "hate group" has a role in this novel. There are some brief speeches by the leader of this group which include ideas and language that reflect their beliefs. I believe these speeches are not to sensationalize, but to clarify.

A spellbinding story, tense and tinwly

Wow! A compelling story that pulled me in and never let go. The vivid descriptions and insider details are first rate and taken to the next level by a terrific audio performance. I highly recommend this book as well as others in the Capitol Crimes series, and anything - even a phone book - if read by Alan Sklar.