Stabbing in the Senate
Washington Whodunit, Book #1
By Colleen J. Shogan
ISBN: 9781603813310
Author website: http://www.colleenshogan.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
Life is good for Kit Marshall. She’s a staffer in D.C. for a popular senator, and she lives with an adoring beagle and a brainy boyfriend with a trust fund. Then, one morning, Kit arrives at the office early and finds her boss, Senator Langsford, impaled by a stainless steel replica of an Army attack helicopter. Panicked, she pulls the weapon out of his chest and instantly becomes the prime suspect in his murder.
Circumstances back Kit’s claim of innocence, but her photograph has gone viral, and the heat won’t be off until the killer is found. Well-loved though the senator was, suspects abound. Langsford had begun to vote with his conscience, which meant he was often at odds with his party. Not only had the senator decided to quash the ambitions of a major military contractor, but his likely successor is a congressman he trounced in the last election. Then there’s the suspiciously dry-eyed Widow Langsford.
Kit’s tabloid infamy horrifies her boyfriend’s upper-crust family, and it could destroy her career. However, she and her free-spirited friend Meg have a more pressing reason to play sleuth. The police are clueless in more ways than one, and Kit worries that the next task on the killer’s agenda will be to end her life.
Book 1 in the Washington Whodunit mystery series.
Review:
Author Colleen J. Shogan has written a wonderful whodunit and started what is bound to be a very entertaining new cozy mystery series. Stabbing in the Senate is a great first novel and a fun first in a series. Her writing style is enjoyable and easy. This is shorter than a lot of cozies, but packs a punch even so. Main character Kit Marshall is interesting and someone I would enjoy knowing. She is a staffer for D.C. Senator Langsford, a popular man on the hill that has taken a different course lately. He has been quite vocal about his changes in beliefs when it comes to voting. Especially an upcoming vote that could have huge repercussions. When Kit comes in to work a bit early to do some work, she finds her boss impaled by a model Army attack helicopter. Kit makes a big mistake as she pulls the murder weapon out hoping to give him first aid. Now her prints are on the murder weapon.
Kit has a great cast of characters surrounding her. Best of course is her waif-like coworker/best friend Meg. There is also her food motivated beagle Clarence and her intelligent boyfriend Doug who is a trust fund baby, whose family is could trace their history back to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Her coworkers are interesting and diverse for sure. Some she thought were not friends, but are and some she thought were friends that aren’t. Gossip on the Hill runs rampant and Kit has her face plastered in all the news. This is not going to be good for her job prospects. Kit and Meg decide they have to find the real killer before Kit is completely blackballed in politics. The two are a fun pair of friends and their exploits are entertaining.
Full of political intrigue, high stakes decision makers, twists and turns and red herrings, Stabbing in the Senate is a wonderful new cozy. The characters are entertaining and the writing is spot on for a great whodunit. I am not really a fan of politics or D.C. in particular, but the way Colleen J. Shogan presented this story drew me in and kept me excited about it. I am sure fans of politics will love this new cozy series, but those like me that don’t, will not be put off. The author somehow writes about the political word in a fresh and exciting style. Anyone that enjoys a well written classic whodunit, will love this book. It bodes well for a continuation of this series and I for one hope it does continue.
