Liberal Washing Post reporter Jane Day is writing an article on veteran actress Carla Caldwell, who in the early fifties went face to face with McCarthy and the senator blinked. Now, Carla, known for her activism, is about to be the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honor Award for lifetime achievement. However, at the ceremony, Carla being who she is, criticizes the incumbent president for his attacks on the film industry. Her attack stirs up the conservative element, including JaneÆs lover, talk show host Jerry Knight. However, both her liberal supporters and her conservative detractors are stunned when CarlaÆs murdered corpse is found in the Kennedy center.

The case is assigned to Washington homicide detective A.I. Jones, who turns to his friends, Knight and Day, for some help in obtaining information about the Hollywood crowd. The duo begins to investigate and soon learns a lot about CarlaÆs past, including information that could make them the next two victims.

The third Knight and Day mystery, DEATH WITH HONORS, is a well-written who-done-it that blends DC politics with Hollywood moviedom to form a brisk and exciting tale. Though the culprit seems obvious relatively early in the story, that does not take away from the insiders look into our nationÆs capital. Day is a wonderful character, but Knight could use a bit of toning down when he is off the air (imagine Limbaugh treating his spouse like she is Clinton). Still, this is a good series and anyone who wants a droll political mystery should try this and the previous two novels.

Harriet Klausner