MURDER AT THE OPERA

MargaretTruman,whoknowswhereallthebodiesareburiedinsidetheBeltway,haswrittenhermostthrillingnovelofsuspenseyet.MurderattheOperafeaturesthepopularcrime-fightingcoupleMacSmithandhiswife,AnnabelReed-Smith,astheynavigatetheglitz,glamour,andgrimethatisWashington,D.C.Itain'tovertillthefatladysings...buttheshowhasn'tevenstartedyetwhenadivaisfounddead.Thesopranoinquestion,apetiteyoungAsianCanadiannamedChariseLee,wasscarcelyastarattheWashingtonNationalOpera.Butwhentheaspiringsingerisstabbedintheheartbackstageduringrehearsals,shesuddenlytakescenterstage.GeorgetownlawprofessorMacSmiththoughthe'djustbecarryingarapierinToscaasafavorforhisbelovedAnnabel,butnowthey'rebothbeingpressuredbythepanickedtheaterboardtounmaskakiller.Providingaccompanimentwillbeformerhomicidedetective,currentP.I.,andeternaloperafanRaymondPawkins.SoontheSmithsfindthemselvesdangerouslyimprovisingamonganexpandingcastofsuspectswithallsortsofscorestosettle.WhattheyuncoverisanincreasinglycomplexcasereachingfarbeyondWashingtontoadarkworldofinformersandterroralertsinIraq,andclimaxingonafatefulnightattheoperaattendedbynoneotherthanthePresidenthimself."FromtheHardcoveredition."