Margaret Truman's Internship in Murder: A Capital Crimes Novel

In Bain's pedestrian third Capital Crimes novel (after 2014's Margaret Truman's Undiplomatic Murder), Washington, D.C., PI Robert Brixton looks into the disappearance of Laura Bennett, an attractive, ambitious 22-year-old intern, who was working for Florida congressman Hal Gannon. Laura's wealthy father, Lucas Bennett, is a major financial supporter of Gannon. Lawyer Mackenzie Smith, a friend of Lucas, tries to contact Laura, but he gets no help from Gannon's office and a strange reaction when he talks to Gannon at a party. When Laura's body turns up in the Public Vault of the Congressional Cemetery, Gannon becomes the chief suspect in Brixton's eyes, if not in those of Superintendent of Detectives Zeke Borgeldt. While Brixton's investigation uncovers no incontrovertible evidence of Gannon's rumored affairs, it does provoke another murder and an attempt on Brixton's life. The political insider edge has worn dull, and Bain brings little suspense to this less than capital tale. Agent: Bob Diforio, D4EO Literary Agency. (Aug.)