Murder at the Opera
A Capital Crimes Novel
By Margaret Truman Thorndike Press, Large Print Edition (2006)
ISBN 10: 0-7862-9005-6
ISBN 13: 978-0-7862-9005-5
Genre: Mystery
Reviewed by Auggie Moore - April 21, 2008
Murder at the Opera is the 22nd installment in Margaret Truman Capital Crimes series, and it is as fresh and lively as the first book in the series. In addition to presenting a well-plotted mystery, this book also provides the reader with a short course on Tosca, an opera by Puccini, which serves as the backdrop for this suspenseful tale of murder and deceit.
It all begins with the murder of Charise Lee, an up-and-coming Canadian opera star, who was in Washington to participate in the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program. She is stabbed to death while at the Kennedy Center's WNO (Washington National Opera), during a rehearsal for an up-coming production of Tosca. Retired homicide detective, Ray Pawkins, and ex-criminal lawyer, Mac Smith, are both on the scene when the murder occurs, having snagged roles as extras. In short ordered they are both prodded into investigating the murder by Mac's wife Annabel who just happens to serve on the Opera House's board. In the process of their investigation, the two men stumble into a possible threat of international terrorism and a gaggle of smarmy talent agents. Their investigation leads to the reopening of a cold-case and, as you'd expect in a Capital Crimes, you'll also find the book filled with a plethora of 'inside the beltway' insights that will delight Truman's fans.
Full of red-herrings, opera trivia, and a lively cast of characters, Murder at the Opera is a nice relaxing read that will challenge you to solve the mystery before our intrepid detectives do, without overly taking your brain cells. With summer coming up, this would make a great beach or pool book, as well as a great waiting to catch your plane, train, or bus book.
Related Reviews:
Murder on K Street, by Margaret Truman.
In this, the 23rd installment in the Capital Crimes series, former DA Philip Rotondi is called out of retirement to track down the killer of Jeanette Simmons, the wife of an U.S. Senator with his eyes firmly set upon becoming President Simmons. (Large Print)
Break No Bones, by Kathy Reichs.
In this, the ninth book in the Temperance Brennan series, we find Tempe up to her hips in corpses as she leads an archaeological field school on a barrier island off the coast of Charleston, SC. While she expected to find primitive remains there - she never expected that her team of students would begin to uncover the recently murdered. (Large Print)
