The Blurb
It's the height of campaign season, and instead of relishing newlywed bliss with her husband Doug Hollingsworth, Capitol Hill staffer Kit Marshall is busy with a tough reelection fight for her boss, member of Congress Maeve Dixon. Before Maeve and her staff — Kit included — leave Washington, D.C. to campaign full time in North Carolina, they have one last fundraising engagement.
On the iconic rooftop of a restaurant overlooking the Capitol and the Washington monument, Kit and her best pal Meg do their best to woo wealthy lobbyists for sizable campaign donations. Everyone's enjoying the evening soiree until a powerful K Street tycoon mysteriously tumbles off the rooftop. Even with claims the fall must be suicide, Detective Maggie Glass and Kit aren't so easily convinced foul play isn't at work.
While balancing Doug's mid-life career crisis, Kit must spring into action to discover who killed the notorious Van Parker before Dixon's candidacy sputters, even if it means investigating Meg's handsome new beau, the victim's conniving widow, and a bicycle advocate hell-bent on settling a long-standing grudge. When a threatening note is left on Kit's car, warning her to back off the investigation, she knows she's closing in on the true story of what happened.
Book 4 of the Washington Whodunit series, which began with Stabbing in the Senate.
On the iconic rooftop of a restaurant overlooking the Capitol and the Washington monument, Kit and her best pal Meg do their best to woo wealthy lobbyists for sizable campaign donations. Everyone's enjoying the evening soiree until a powerful K Street tycoon mysteriously tumbles off the rooftop. Even with claims the fall must be suicide, Detective Maggie Glass and Kit aren't so easily convinced foul play isn't at work.
While balancing Doug's mid-life career crisis, Kit must spring into action to discover who killed the notorious Van Parker before Dixon's candidacy sputters, even if it means investigating Meg's handsome new beau, the victim's conniving widow, and a bicycle advocate hell-bent on settling a long-standing grudge. When a threatening note is left on Kit's car, warning her to back off the investigation, she knows she's closing in on the true story of what happened.
Book 4 of the Washington Whodunit series, which began with Stabbing in the Senate.
K Street Killing by Colleen J. Shogan
Series: A Washington Whodunit, #4
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery
Publisher: Camel Press
Release Date: July 15, 2018
Paperback: 242 pages
ISBN-10: 1603816135
ISBN-13: 978-1603816137
eBook File Size: 2707 KB
ASIN: B07DM8B53L
Amazon | B&N
Series: A Washington Whodunit, #4
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery
Publisher: Camel Press
Release Date: July 15, 2018
Paperback: 242 pages
ISBN-10: 1603816135
ISBN-13: 978-1603816137
eBook File Size: 2707 KB
ASIN: B07DM8B53L
Amazon | B&N
The Excerpt
Mack Hackensack’s face appeared on screen. Standing in the middle of a basketball court, he sported a UNC “Champions” polo shirt and wore a whistle around his beefy neck. An image of the American flag with an embroidered “USA” decorated his baseball hat. My politically astute brain churned. Without saying a word, the image conveyed “winner” and “patriot” in a single swoop.
But Coach didn’t stay silent for long. “I’ve always played by the rules. Work hard, play hard. Those are my values. I’m not afraid of making the tough calls or staying late for practice.” Then he walked toward center court, where the national championship trophy rested on a table.
He put his hand on the trophy before speaking again. “When my players do something wrong on the court, the referee calls a personal foul.”
Then the camera shot tightened. “The voters of the seventh district in North Carolina are the referees. Watch closely how my opponent, Maeve Dixon, plays the game.”
The image flashed to a still image of Maeve, standing in front of the Great Wall of China. His voice continued in the background. “While the people of North Carolina were struggling with the economic recession, where was Maeve Dixon? Traveling the world with her liberal colleagues.”
The next photo showed our boss in front of Big Ben. She was smiling for the camera, her brown hair whipping in the wind. “You deserve better than being represented by a member of Congress who treats her job like a vacation,” said the Coach.
“We shouldn’t have tweeted out pictures from her trip to London,” I muttered.
The ad returned to Coach Hackensack next to the trophy. “Voters, there’s only one smart choice.” He pointed to the camera and blew his whistle. “Call a personal foul on Maeve Dixon. Elect me as your next Congressman!”
After putting my head in my hands, I could only manage two words. “Game over.”
The Review
I just read a really good book, y'all — K Street Killing by Colleen J. Shogan, Book Four in the Washington Whodunit series. Let me tell you a little about it.
The Washington Whodunits star Kit Marshall. In K Street Killing, Kit is the chief of staff for Congresswoman Maeve Dixon of North Carolina, who is running for reelection. Kit is under pressure to help the police solve the murder quickly, so that Dixon's opponent can't use it against her in his campaign.
Kit is easy to like and relatable. Her supporting characters — Doug, Meg, Trevor — are well-written and realistic. I love the banter between these characters. Kit has great relationships with them.
The mystery is perplexing — for Kit and company, and for me — and well done. I was impressed by the complexity of the murder plot. I enjoyed the political theme, and all the details about lobbyists. I was intrigued by the "tightrope" Kit must walk between campaign work and her regular congressional office work, to avoid any breach of ethics.
The climax is exciting, with Kit orchestrating the big reveal (as she did in Book 3, Calamity at the Continental Club). I love the final chapter, when the election results are announced, along with some other newsworthy items. The ending is so cozy; it made me smile!
I can't wait for the next Washington Whodunit! I recommend K Street Killing by Colleen J. Shogan, and hereby grant it a rating of Four Kitties. I really enjoyed it!
Four out of five kitties
Note: I received a complimentary copy of K Street Killing, and voluntarily reviewed it.
All opinions shared are 100% my own.
Come back on September 6 for a Guest Post!
The Author
About Colleen J. Shogan
Colleen J. Shogan has been reading mysteries since the age of six. She writes the Washington Whodunit series published by Camel Press and Harlequin.
A political scientist by training, Colleen has taught American politics at Yale, George Mason University, Georgetown, and Penn. She previously worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative staffer in the United States Senate and is currently a senior executive at the Library of Congress, working on great programs such as the National Book Festival.
A political scientist by training, Colleen has taught American politics at Yale, George Mason University, Georgetown, and Penn. She previously worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative staffer in the United States Senate and is currently a senior executive at the Library of Congress, working on great programs such as the National Book Festival.
Colleen won the Next Generation Indie Award for Best Mystery for her first novel, Stabbing in the Senate. She lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband Rob and their beagle mutt Conan.
Visit Colleen on the web at these locations:
The Giveaway
Colleen J. Shogan will award a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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