I talked more generally about politically themed reading during our last Federal election but I thought it worth having a look at how politicians themselves are treated in crime fiction. Perhaps it won’t surprise too many of you that, for the most part, they’re either murdered horribly or depicted as completely corrupt.
Anthony Gilbert‘s series of ten mystery novels written in the 1920′s and 30′s featuring Scott Egerton, a rising British political leader (and one of the few politicians in crime fiction who is both brilliant and not at all corrupt), came to my attention when I was at University. It wasn’t easy to introduce genre fiction into my high-brow studies but I was writing about women who had been forced by convention (or the need for cash) to write as men, and Gilbert is one of several pseudonyms used by Lucy Beatrice Malleson. In 1932′s The Body on the Beam Egerton investigates the death of a woman of..er…uncertain reputation…whose body is found hanged. A man is quickly arrested for the crime but Egerton thinks it’s all a bit too easy and goes on to trap the real criminal. (Gilbert/Malleson went on to create the character of fat, uncouth lawyer Arthur G Crook who appeared in around 50 novels up until Malleson’s death in 1973)
Bartholomew Gill’s McGarr and the Politician’s Wife is the first novel of what became a long running series featuring Peter McGarr who is Chief Superintendent of Detectives for the Irish Garda. In this story the discovery of a body at a yacht club leads police to investigate a politician of dubious credibility and his promiscuous wife and tackles issues such as the impact of the IRA on local politics. The book was originally published in 1977 though was later republished in 2000 as McGarr and the Politician but I don’t know if this later version makes any substantial changes to the story to account for the altered political environment.
John Maddox Roberts’ historical series set in ancient Rome features a Senator, Decuis Caecilius Metellus (the Younger), as its amateur investigator and the cases often involve his political colleagues. In The Sacrilege a secret female-only ceremony is infiltrated by a corrupt politician who dresses as a woman and when a series of murders follows this Decuis starts investigating and, as always, uncovers a massive conspiracy that threatens the Repbulic of Rome. I must say when I read about ancient Roman politics (or watch it) I think our modern-day politicians get off lightly 
Politicians are heavily featured in Australian author Shane Maloney‘s series following the adventures of Murray Whelan, aide, advisor and fixit man as well as reluctant amateur sleuth. In The Brush Off Murray’s boss has scored the job of Minister for the Arts so when an artist is found dead Murray’s first job is to ensure no fallout reaches his boss. He discovers political cover-ups, abuse of power, fraudulent use of public money (all before breakfast). Maloney’s writing is a treat and having spent some time doing similar jobs to Murray’s I think he depicts that particular environment beautifully.
Robin Spano’s Dead Politician Society opens with the murder of a local politician in Toronto, Canada. Surely I can’t be the the only reader who happily inserted a particularly annoying politician of my own acquaintance in the mental images running through my head during that sequence. As part of its investigation into the case the Toronto police insert a young policewoman into a political group active at the university to identify whether or not any of its members are responsible for the death.
In Alan Glynn’s Winterland the crime part of the story almost plays a secondary role to its political elements. Set in present-day Ireland as the economic prosperity of the previous decade turns sour, the book opens with the death of two men on the same evening. As only one of the deaths is thought to be murder so police are not involved but a victim’s relative delves into the matter and uncovers the seedier side of Irish politics. Larry Bolger, son of a politician himself, is being groomed to take a shot at becoming the country’s political leader. His desire for the job, and the desire of his connections to make sure he gets it, are at the heart of this compelling story.
One of the surprising things I learned as I toddled around the internet looking up the titles of books half-remembered for this post, is that American TV news anchor Jim Lehrer (who has been, rather inexplicably, appearing daily on Australia’s foreign language TV channel for the past couple of decades) has written a swag of mystery novels including seven books featuring a character called one-eyed Mack who is the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma. Has anyone read any of these and are they any good?
Do you have a favourite politician in crime fiction? They don’t have to be dead or corrupt
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Kerrie at Mysteries in Paradise is hosting the crime fiction alphabet meme which requires the posting of an article relating to the letter of the week. Do join in the fun by reading the posts and/or contributing one of your own. You don’t have to write every week.
