Where to Start with Capital Crimes
Because the Capital Crimes books are designed as standalone political mysteries, you can dive in almost anywhere. However, we recommend two main approaches:
- The Publication Order: Starting with Murder in the White House (1980) lets you experience the series as it evolved, tracking real-world historical shifts in D.C. politics and technology.
- The Mac Smith & Annabel Reed Path: If you prefer recurring protagonists, focus on the novels featuring law professor Mackenzie 'Mac' Smith and art gallery owner Annabel Reed. Their relationship develops across several key entries, beginning with Murder at the Kennedy Center (1989).
The Mac Smith & Annabel Reed Novels
While many books in the series feature independent casts, these twelve novels follow the cases and personal lives of Mac and Annabel:
- Murder at the Kennedy Center (1989)
- Murder at the National Cathedral (1990)
- Murder at the Pentagon (1992)
- Murder on the Potomac (1994)
- Murder at the National Gallery (1996)
- Murder in the House (1997)
- Murder at the Watergate (1998)
- Murder at the Library of Congress (1999)
- Murder in Foggy Bottom (2000)
- Murder in Havana (2001)
- Murder at Ford's Theatre (2002)
- Murder at the Opera (2006)
Who Wrote the Series?
Although the books bear the name of Margaret Truman—daughter of U.S. President Harry S. Truman—the series' authorship has a complex history. Writer Donald Bain was the primary ghostwriter and collaborator on 27 novels during Truman's lifetime, a role he publicly confirmed in 2014. Following Truman's death in 2008, Bain continued writing the series under his own name. After Bain passed away in 2017, thriller author Jon Land took over the continuation, penning Murder on the Metro (2021) and Murder at the CDC (2022). Writer William Harrington also claimed to have ghostwritten for Truman, but this claim was denied by her literary agent.