Murder at the Capitol

It's July 4, 1861 and tensions are running high in Washington, DC, as everyone anticipates the first large battle of the Civil War. In Murder at the Capitol by C.M. Gleason, it is expected the battle will take place at Manassas Junction near Bull Run, but Union generals don't think their troops are ready. (Murder at the Capitol will be released by Kensington Publishing Corp. on January 28.)

Young reporter Sophie Gates is headed to the Capitol for a session of the Senate. No sooner does she arrive when she is greeted by Constance Lemagne, a Southern belle living in Washington. Sophie isn't sure if she doesn't trust Constance because of her Southern sympathies or because of her interest in Adam Quinn. 

As they are about to enter the Rotunda, a shout echoes through the room. To their horror, they see a man hanging from a huge construction crane, obviously dead. Sophie sends for Adam Quinn, a close confidante of President Lincoln, to determine if the man hanged himself or was murdered. 

The victim, Pinebar Tufts, worked at the Patent Office and had a note pinned to his coat that read "For My Sins." But Sophie is sure the man was murdered simply because he was still wearing his gloves and it would have been difficult to tie a knot with gloves on. 

When Dr. George Hilton confirms her theory, she desperately wants to assist Adam in the investigation. When another person is murdered a few days later, Adam and Sophie pursue the investigation with extra vigor.

This series is very well written and the historical detail is eye opening. If you have ever been to Washington, DC, and seen the sparkling white marble buildings of the Capitol and the various monuments, you will be shocked by the descriptions of the overall appearance and shabbiness in the middle of the 1800s. The streets are muddy, wild animals roam the land and the White House is shabby and unkempt. A far cry from today's Washington, DC. An excellent series and I look forward to the next book. 

Close Call

A mix-up with cell phones throws Sidney Ellison into the path of a hired killer. In Close Call by Laura DiSilverio, Sidney doesn't realize she has the wrong phone until she receives a call confirming a hit on a Senate candidate. (Close Call will be published in September.)

Paralyzed with fear and the memories of her past political shaming, she decides not to mention the call to anyone. Unfortunately "the client" and the hitman discover their mistake and decide to eliminate Sidney Ellison. This leads to a tragic case of mistaken identity and forces Sidney into the public eye once again.

As a college student fifteen years ago, she was involved in an affair with the Speaker of the House in Washington and suffered through the infamy that caused. Her father, a successful lawyer, had a debilitating stroke as a result of the scandal and her sister was the reporter who broke the story.

She tries to contact the Congressman who is running for Senate, Fidel Montoya, but he recognizes

her name and thinks she is trying to undermine his campaign. Frustrated by his refusal to listen, she soon discovers someone was murdered in her townhouse, execution style.

Chilled to the bone, she learns it was her fiance Jason and Sidney is sure the hit was meant for her - a case of mistaken identify. As she pulls at a thread to try to unravel the murder, more and more strange events begin to occur leading to a startling conclusion.

An excellent mystery with just the right amount of twists and turns.

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