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In the third part of Phillip Margolin's Washington Trilogy series, private investigator Dana Cutler and attorney Brad Miller team up to address a host of troubles, both old and new. For those who love a lot of action in their mystery novels, this one has it all: serial killers on the loose, a Senate sex scandal, and a plot to blow up a local football stadium on game day. While any of those storylines alone would be enough for the average thriller writer, Margolin (for the most part) handles them deftly and interweaves the components to make a coherent storyline. While the storyline begins with a very interesting escape by a serial killer, the story eventually evolves to the meat and bones of the novel, a plot to blow up an NFL stadium in the midst of a packed game. Intertwined is a subplot in which a senator serving on the Intelligence Committee is compromised by his raunchy sex life (a familiar Washington story pulled from the headlines) and a willingness to accept insidious campaign contributions as he battles for reelection. Brad Miller, who is now a legislative aide to the senator, has plenty to worry about, not only at work but with the recent news of the escape of his former client (serial killer Clarence Little). When more Little-style deaths begin showing up on both sides of the country, the plot begins to come together, and things grow dicey for everyone involved. What the author brings to this thriller, in addition to a wild ride of a plot, is an insider's knowledge of his Washington setting, with spicy tidbits about the Capitol thrown in. His contemporary subject matter and subtle commentary on national security weaknesses add to the overall interest and enjoyment of his story. He also adds a deliciously enjoyable plot twist at the end that brings the subject of terrorism and its opponents full circle in the hunt for its perpetrators. Those who enjoy a good Washington romp, with plenty of side action and some well thought-out developments (such as the killer's escape and copycat murder style) will find plenty to like in CAPITOL MURDER. § Christine Zibas is a freelance writer and former director of publications for a Chicago nonprofit.
Reviewed by Christine Zibas, March 2012
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