Behind the story of Larceny at the Library

Colleen J. Shogan is a political scientist by training. She’s worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative staffer in the United States Senate and as a senior executive at the Library of Congress. In addition to her role as Senior Vice President of the White House Historical Association, she’s also the award-winning author of the Washington Whodunnit series. Larceny at the Library is the sixth book in the series.

Love of libraries

Colleen worked for almost twelve years at the Library of Congress in a variety of different management positions. She said sheI’d always wanted to write a contemporary murder mystery set at the Library. “I’m so excited I was able to do it. My exposure to the collections and incredible staff who work there provided me with the creative ideas for the book, but all characters are fictitious!”

Even though the series is set within the world of politics in Washington, D.C., Colleen doesn’t advocate for policy issues. She did, however, have a goal.

“I wanted to make more people aware of the vast resources available at the Library of Congress. I hope that readers enjoy the mystery, but when they finish the book, they decide they want to visit the Library, either in person or online.”

For this book Colleen said she spent a great deal of time in various rooms of the Library of Congress. “I made notes about the specific architectural or artistic details. I desperately wanted the murder to take place in the Librarian’s Ceremonial Office, an ornate room inside the historic Jefferson Building. I focused on that room for a while before I decided how the murder would occur in the book.”

A series with substance

“I like providing readers with some historical facts and substance in my novels. Yes, there’s also humor and certainly the plot of a whodunit. But I try to incorporate knowledge and information, which distinguishes them from the average cozy mystery.”

Colleen noted that in the research for her fourth book, K Street Killing, forced her to do a little real-life storytelling. “I snuck onto the rooftop terrace of a popular, swanky restaurant that lobbyists frequent. I wanted the murder to take place at that location, but I wasn’t sure it was feasible. I had to tell a white lie to gain access to the area, but it was worth it!”

Learn more about Colleen J. Shogan at www.colleenshogan.com