Political Mystery Books

 

Yes, (for the USA) there is an election in just a few days - if you hadn't noticed.  So, to give you something to entertain yourself besides all the ads on television (and everywhere you turn), how about some political mysteries or thrillers to read!?  Here is a listing, only a few of which I have a review, but several I have read and recommend.

White House Chef mysteries by Julie Hyzy

1  State of the Onion  

2  Hail to the Chef (review)

3  Eggsecutive Orders

4  Buffalo West Wing

5  Affairs of Steak (review)

6  Fonduing Fathers

7  Home of the Braised

8  All the President's Menus

9  Foreign Eclairs

White House Gardener Mysteries by Dorothy St.James

1  Flowerbed of State

2  The Scarlet Pepper (review)

3  Oak and Dagger

Margaret Truman  Capital Crimes (31 books)

**written by the only child of President Harry Truman!!

1  Murder in the White House

2  Murder on Capitol Hill

3  Murder in the Supreme Court

4  Murder in the Smithsonian

5  Murder on Embassy Row

6  Murder at the FBI

8  Murder in the CIA

11 Murder at the Pentagon...

24 Murder Inside the Beltway (review)

The Camel Club by David Baldacci

I've read all of these and they are great.

1  The Camel Club

2  The Collectors

3  Stone Cold

4  Divine Justice

5  Hell's Corner (review)

Absolute Power by David Baldacci  (read years ago and became a Baldacci fan.  BTW, book is better than the movie)

The First Family (King & Maxwell #4) by David Baldacci (Excellent political thriller I read years ago)

The President is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton (on my TBR pile)

The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon 

(a classic novel well worth reading today)

Our Kind of Traitor by John LeCarre

The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth  (read many years ago, never forgot - going to reread now!)

The Society by CG Abbot (guest post)

I personally highly recommend!

Jack Ryan Thrillers by Tom Clancy

Back when they were huge hits.  Tom Clancy was the first author to get a $1 million book deal.

1  Hunt for Red October (Movie with Alec Baldwin rocks too!)

2  Patriot Games 

3  Clear and Present Danger 

4  The Sum of All Fears 

5  Cardinal and the Kremlin (follow-on to Red October)

6  The Bear and the Dragon 

7  Red Storm Rising 

8  Red Rabbit 

9  Debt of Honor 

10  Executive Orders 

11 Teeth of the Tiger 

12  Rainbow Six

Moscow Rules (Gabriel Allon #8) by Daniel Silva (read years ago, good book in the Allon series)

The English Girl (Gabriel Allon #13) by Daniel Silva (review)

I hope this list provides entertainment in this political season.  I know I have no doubt missed some, so please leave your suggestions in the comments (go ahead, share those political fiction mystery/thrillers).  These are good to read even after an election (wink).  Enjoy!

Review - Deadly Politics

Maggie Sefton is the New York Times bestselling author of Knitting Mystery series (Berkeley Prime Crime). Her debut knitting mystery, Knit One, Kill Two, was named an Agatha Award finalist in 2005.  But Maggie has ventured into political suspense with a new series set in the treacherous waters of Washington D.C.  Let's take a look at the debut novel.

Author: Maggie Sefton

Copyright: August 2012 (Midnight Ink) 288 pgs

Series: 1st in Molly Mallone series

Sensuality: n/a

Mystery Sub-genre: Political Suspense

Main Characters: Molly Mallone, former Senator's daughter, and a late Senator's widow

Setting: Modern day, Washington DC

Obtained Through: Publisher for an honest review

Ever since her late husband went through the emotional turmoil of D.C. that may have caused his death, Molly Mallone is jaded when it comes to Washington politics.  Molly has moved back to D.C. out of necessity -- believing that she had a job in construction accounting.  The job falls through within minutes of her landing in town.  But her niece Karen Grayson works for Congressman Jackson and knows a Senator who needs an accountant.  Before Molly can catch her breath, John Russell -- the new Independent Senator from Colorado, and Peter Brewster is his chief of staff have hired Molly. 

Karen confides in Molly that she has had an affair with Congressman Jackson's chief of staff, Jed Molinoff.  Karen is killed within hours of having a fight with Jed over breaking off the affair.  Molly was to ride home with Karen and discovers her shot in her car.  A work associate from Jackson's office, Celeste Allard, contacts Molly with suspicions about Jed's searching Karen's desk and computer plus other actions.  Molly gathers clues with Karen's Day-timer, computer files, and emails with Celeste's aid.  Some entries point to a political think tank that influences policy making in finance arenas.  Molly is reunited with former friends and allies in the political scene that help her through her grieving, and give intel as she asks questions.  In the midst of all this, Molly also reconnects with an old high school boyfriend, Danny DiMateo, who is retired from the military now. 

There are sections told from a shadowy figure who  seems to be behind Karen's murder, who even keeps track of Celeste and what she knows.  There are no clues who this shadowy person manipulating events behind the scenes is throughout the story, even at the end. Clearly setting up this theme to continue into the next book.

The personality of Molly is a bit flat, although there is potential to give her more depth.  I liked her okay, but with just a little more from the character I think I could have loved her.  Danny DiMateo, dubbed DD for Damned Dangerous by his military cohorts, is the old high school friend who seems to pick up where he left off all those years ago with Molly.  Samantha Suffolk is another old friend of Molly's who had married an older Senator who passed away, now she leads a bit of a scandalous life.  I look forward to more of her in the next book as she could really be a key character adding lots of flavor.  Eleanor MacKenzie is a formidable woman in Washington social circles who considers Molly a protegee.  Eleanor is another I would like to see more of. Celeste Allard is a friend you want on your side.  I like her character's bravery.

The Washington locale is utilized, but without any real evocative touches.  The restaurants seem to be the most visceral of the setting.  The story moved a little slowly getting started. Plus, obvious keys to Karen's death are never seriously considered after being uncovered.  The author can't have just forgotten about them, so I am betting these will become more important in the next book.  This strategy has its drawbacks because it leaves the book feeling open ended and the reader frustrated without any sense of completion on any level.

I appreciate the premise of this new series taking advantage of the brutal high stakes of politics and the schmoozing while stabbing allies and enemies in the back atmosphere.  I also like the puppet-master behind legislation who is somehow involved in Karen's death.  But the ending could have been handled better and still setup the next book.  Give me some more depth to Molly and I could really be a fan of her.

Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws that has potential and room to improve.

Here is a short video of Maggie Sefton discussing her writing and this new series.