Murder in the Smithsonian

In a mystery replete with "nonstop action and a brilliantly evocative setting," a noted historian is murdered at the National Museum of Art ( Booklist).   Dr. Lewis Tunney, a brilliant historian who had stumbled onto an international art scandal, was brutally murdered in front of two hundred guests at an elegant party at the Smithsonian.   Taking the case, DC police Cpt. Mac Hanrahan begins to uncover a web of secrets, lies, and revenge surrounding the historian's killing. From the deceased Tunney's strong-willed fiancée, Heather McBean, to the congressmen with secrets to hide, Hanrahan finds himself unsure who to believe. Soon after, two more murders add to the intrigue.   Murder in the Smithsonian is the fourth volume in Margaret Truman's beloved Capital Crimes series, in which Truman enlivens history with her first-hand knowledge as the daughter of US President Harry S. Truman. Each of the novels revolve around Washington, DC, and its landmarks. The Smithsonian's museums, with their quirky staff, forensic scientists, and sometimes-spooky exhibits are the perfect setting for a thrilling political crime novel.   "Truman's novels of Washington will continue to entertain both mystery and Washington buffs." — The Washington Post