President Truman's only child was successful writer

Her affinity for mystery-novel writing perhaps afforded Daniel her greatest fame, second only to her stint as first daughter. She wrote at least 20 mysteries and came to the genre almost by accident. While working on a history of children who had lived in the White House, she lost interest. An avid reader of mystery novels, Daniel mentioned to her agent that she had an idea for a murder set in the White House.

The concept of a former resident concocting a murder story in that setting was irresistible. "Murder in the White House" was published in 1980.

Her son Clifton had his own wry explanation for his mother's mystery-writing career, noting in his memoir: "My mother seems to have a strong opinion, often bad, of almost everyone in Washington. That's why she writes those murder mysteries; so she can kill them all off, one at a time."

Critical reaction to the first novel was lukewarm at best. "Margaret Truman is not a terrible writer," commented The Times' reviewer. " 'Murder in the White House' exhibits a reasonable though hardly overwhelming command of the language, a fair-to-middling eye for character and an above-average notion of how to plot a mystery. Tolstoy is safe -- so is Agatha Christie -- but Truman has constructed a decent summer amusement."

Readers embraced the book, making it a bestseller, and eagerly anticipated the "Capitol Crimes" series she began churning out.

Utilizing her familiarity with the lofty settings of government power and of the diplomats, politicians and pundits who peopled Washington, she offered entertaining lessons about the federal government.

Reviewing her 1992 "Murder at the Pentagon," critic Charles Champlin wrote in The Times that "the plotting indeed is satisfyingly convoluted and the large-scale resolution worthy of [Robert] Ludlum."

A Washington Post reviewer said that Daniel "writes a lively Washington scene with the sure hand of one who knows her way around the streets, institutions . . . people and politics."

Born Feb. 17, 1924, Mary Margaret Truman was the doting and doted upon daughter of haberdasher Harry Truman and Elizabeth Virginia Wallace Truman. At 4, she began accompanying her father on campaign trips around the state, shaking hands and saying, "How do you do?" When at 8 she asked for an electric train for Christmas, she received a baby grand piano.

She was only 10 when she first moved to Washington, D.C., after her father was elected senator. Uncertain of reelection, the Trumans rented apartments for the six-month annual Senate session, buying a house only after he had won a second term in 1940. She attended the private girls' school Gunston Hall and graduated in 1946 from George Washington University.

Her father died in 1972. Her husband died in 2000, the same year their second son, William, was fatally struck by a car while crossing New York's Park Avenue. Besides son Clifton, she is survived by sons Harrison and Thomas and five grandchildren.

A memorial service is being planned at the Truman Library in Independence.