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Fiction. Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:When Washington’s splendid Union Station opened its doors in 1908, the glorious structure epitomized capital stylishness. Today, restored and refurbished, the station is again a hub of activity where the world’s most famous and infamous people meet–and often collide. Now, in Margaret Truman’s new Capital Crime novel, this landmark locale becomes the scene of a sensational shooting whose consequences ricochet from seedy bars to the halls of show more Congress.Historic Union Station means nothing to the elderly man speeding south on the last lap of what turns 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, whose terminal destination is probably hell, is Louis Russo, former mob hit man and government informer. Two men are at the station to meet him. One is Richard Marienthal, a young writer whose forthcoming book is based on Russo’s life. The other is the man who kills him.
Russo has returned to help promote Marienthal’s book, which, although no one has been allowed to read it, already has some people shaking in their Gucci boots. The powerful fear the contents will not only expose organized crime’s nefarious business, but also a top-secret assignment abroad that Russo once masterminded for a very-high-profile Capitol Hill client. As news of Russo’s murder rockets from the MPD to the FBI and the CIA, from Congress to the West Wing, the final chapter of the story begins its rapid-fire unfolding.
In addition to the bewildered Marienthal and his worried girlfriend, there is an array of memorable characters: rock-ribbed right-wing Senator Karl Widmer; ruthless New York publisher Pamela Warren; boozy MPD Detective Bret Mullin; shoe-shine virtuoso Joe Jenks; dedicated presidential political adviser Chet Fletcher; and President Adam Parmele himself–not to mention freelance snoops, blow-dried climbers, and a killer or two. There’s no place like the nation’s capital, and as her myriad fans know, Margaret Truman always gets it right. Murder at Union Station is a luxury express, nonstop delight. show less
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Purchased at Truman's summer home in Key West museum. Adrienne and I each purchased one of the mysteries written by President Truman's daughter Margaret. When going though the tour we saw Agatha Christie book by nightstand in a bedroom Margaret used and were told that she and her mom were major Christie fans.
This book was much more interesting as I knew she had a lot of specialized knowledge of life in D.C. and politics. It was weird reading how gossipy and ruthless for power these politicians were. The twists weren't as good as a Christie but the characters were better written. I liked that she included an epilogue with the various people. there might have been a few too many people in the book which kept it confusing to keep it show more straight. A lot of drinking and eating going on and it was so naive that they didn't consider that their phones would be tapped.
I did smile to myself when one character had key lime pie for dessert as it reflected back to the authors years in Key West. show less
This book was much more interesting as I knew she had a lot of specialized knowledge of life in D.C. and politics. It was weird reading how gossipy and ruthless for power these politicians were. The twists weren't as good as a Christie but the characters were better written. I liked that she included an epilogue with the various people. there might have been a few too many people in the book which kept it confusing to keep it show more straight. A lot of drinking and eating going on and it was so naive that they didn't consider that their phones would be tapped.
I did smile to myself when one character had key lime pie for dessert as it reflected back to the authors years in Key West. show less
Murder at Union Station starts with the shooting of a mobster turned government informer at Union Station in Washington. Trying to meet him is Richard Marienthal, a writer who is penning a book about the mobster’s life. When Marienthal begins to dig into why his book subject was shot to death, he begins to find conspiracies leading to the White House and the old Soviet Union and Castro. In the process, Marienthal becomes a target of the killers and has to go on the run.
This novel is a solidly built mystery that is fairly well written. There is enough intrigue to keep the book moving. I also appreciated the brevity of the novel. There was nothing overly spellbinding or dynamic about the novel, and the characterization wasn’t show more especially strong. None of the characters are developed enough to be considered captivating, even the main ones. Still, the novel serves the purpose to entertain, and on that basis is worth reading.
Carl Alves – author of Blood Street show less
This novel is a solidly built mystery that is fairly well written. There is enough intrigue to keep the book moving. I also appreciated the brevity of the novel. There was nothing overly spellbinding or dynamic about the novel, and the characterization wasn’t show more especially strong. None of the characters are developed enough to be considered captivating, even the main ones. Still, the novel serves the purpose to entertain, and on that basis is worth reading.
Carl Alves – author of Blood Street show less
I'm not a mystery fan,and this book didn't change that. My bookclub recently read about the author's father, so I thought I would try one of this series.I'm familiar with DC, so the setting worked for me.
Twists and turns - interesting characters.
not her best work but interesting.
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Author Information
47+ Works 12,714 Members
Mary Margaret Truman, daughter of President Harry S. Truman, was born on February 17, 1924 in Independence, Missouri. She graduated from George Washington University in 1946. She was also known as Margaret Truman or Margaret Daniel. She was an American singer who later became the successful author of a series of murder mysteries and a number of show more works on U.S. First Ladies and First Families, including a biography of her father, President Harry S. Truman. The only child of Harry Truman and First Lady Bess Truman; she was called "Margaret" for most of her life. Truman made her concert debut with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1947 and her first television appearance on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town. She substituted for Edward R. Murrow on Person to Person, and later had her own radio shows (Weekday in the 1950s and Authors in the News in the 1960s). She was active with organizations such as the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation and the Truman Centennial Committee. She published her first book, Souvenir: Margaret Truman's Own Story in 1956. She also wrote a series of mysteries set at historic locations in Washington, D. C. She died on January 29, 2008 following a brief illness. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Murder at Union Station
- Original title
- Murder at Union Station
- Original publication date
- 2004
- People/Characters
- Louis Russo; Richard Marienthal
- Important places
- Washington, D.C., USA
- Dedication
- In memory of William Wallace Daniel.
- First words
- A nasty squall had blown across Pitts Bay earlier in the day, the wind tossing sheets of water against the landmark pink facade of the famed Hamilton Princess Hotel.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"I shall miss him, and so shall this wonderful nation. God Bless America!"
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Statistics
- Members
- 360
- Popularity
- 87,378
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (3.32)
- Languages
- English, French
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 16
- ASINs
- 5
