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Murder at the CDC by Margaret Truman | Book Review

Margaret Truman passed away and Jon Land took up writing this series. This is the first book in the series I have read so I honestly can’t compare how she wrote to how he writes. However, remember this is her character and series. I will say that I enjoyed this book and it can certainly be read as a standalone.
Murder at the CDC by Margaret Truman | Book Reviewfive-stars
Murder at the CDC by Margaret Truman, Jon Land
Series: Capital Crimes #32
Genres: Mystery, Thriller

Murder and intrigue on the steps of the United States capital building pulls Robert Brixton into his most personal case yet!

2002: A military transport on a secret run to dispose of its deadly contents vanishes without a trace.

The present: A mass shooting on the steps of the Capitol nearly claims the life of Robert Brixton's grandson.

No stranger to high-stakes investigations, Brixton embarks on a trail to uncover the motive behind the shooting. On the way he finds himself probing the attempted murder of the daughter his best friend, who works at the Washington offices of the CDC.

The connection between the mass shooting and Alexandra's poisoning lies in that long-lost military transport that has been recovered by forces determined to change America forever. Those forces are led by radical separatist leader Deacon Frank Wilhyte, whose goal is nothing short of bringing on a second Civil War.

Brixton joins forces with Kelly Lofton, a former Baltimore homicide detective. She has her own reasons for wanting to find the truth behind the shooting on the Capitol steps, and is the only person with the direct knowledge Brixton needs. But chasing the truth places them in the cross-hairs of both Wilhyte's legions and his Washington enablers.

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Review

Robert Brixton has built a strong bond with lawyer Mackensie Smith over the years, so when Smith asks him to discreetly investigate whether a young woman might be his illegitimate daughter, Brixton approaches the situation with caution. After meeting her, he’s convinced of the connection but remains wary of revealing too much too soon. However, his focus shifts abruptly when a shooting outside the Capitol involves his grandson’s classroom. Unable to reach the teen, Brixton rushes to the scene, where he teams up with Kelly Luftus from the US Capitol Police’s Protective Services. Luftus suspects a link to the shooter and begins following leads, while Brixton pieces together troubling information from his grandson.

Before they can make sense of the chaos, Smith calls in distress—his daughter has been rushed to Walter Reed after an apparent poisoning. As Brixton and Luftus dig deeper, they uncover a disturbing pattern: multiple students at the school have recently died from poisoning. Meanwhile, in a secret Colorado facility, a man is cultivating what he believes to be the most lethal toxin ever created, planning to unleash it with catastrophic consequences.

As Brixton and Luftus race to connect the dots, the tension escalates, leading to a high-stakes confrontation that could determine the fate of thousands. Land expertly maintains the gripping intensity that made this series a standout.

Meet the Author

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About Jon Land

Jon Land is an American author of thriller novels and a screenwriter. He graduated from Brown University in 1979 Phi Beta Kappa and Magna cum Laude. He often bases his novels and scripts on extensive travel and research as well as a twenty-five year career in martial arts. He is an associate member of the US Special Forces and is an emeritus board member the International Thriller Writers. John currently lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Website | Goodreads

About Margaret Truman

Mary Margaret Truman Daniel was an American classical soprano, actress, journalist, radio and television personality, writer, and New York socialite. She was the only child of President Harry Truman and First Lady Bess Truman. While her father was president during the years 1945 to 1953, Margaret regularly accompanied him on campaign trips, such as the 1948 countrywide whistle-stop campaign lasting several weeks. She also appeared at important White House and political events during those years, being a favorite with the media.

After graduating from George Washington University in 1946, she embarked on a career as a coloratura soprano, beginning with a concert appearance with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1947. She appeared in concerts with orchestras throughout the United States and in recitals throughout the U.S. through 1956. She made recordings for RCA Victor, and made television appearances on programs like What’s My Line? and The Bell Telephone Hour.

In 1957, one year after her marriage, Truman abandoned her singing career to pursue a career as a journalist and radio personality, when she became the co-host of the program Weekday with Mike Wallace. She also wrote articles as an independent journalist, for a variety of publications in the 1960s and 1970s. She later became the successful author of a series of murder mysteries, and a number of works on U.S. First Ladies and First Families, including well-received biographies of her father, President Harry S. Truman and mother Bess Truman.

She was married to journalist Clifton Daniel, managing editor of The New York Times. The couple had four sons, and were prominent New York socialites who often hosted events for the New York elite.

Goodreads | Amazon

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