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** The doctors who are scamming Medicaid in ''The Attending Physician'' and the AmoralAttorney in ''Three is No Justice'' seem to honestly believe their claims that they haven't done anything that should expose them to shame or the legal system.
to:
** The doctors who are scamming Medicaid in ''The Attending Physician'' and the AmoralAttorney in ''Three ''There is No Justice'' seem to honestly believe their claims that they haven't done anything that should expose them to shame or the legal system.
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* BreakTheHaughty: ''Unexpected Developments'' puts smarmy CorruptCorporateExecutive Walter Wellenstein through a well-deserved ringer. Mere days after he's appointed as ambassador to France, he's disgraced when a plane he's been marketing while knowing that it is flawed crashes in the middle of a Paris air show after Wellenstein forcefully insisted on showing it off there. He's painted as the villain for the media by his successor as CEO and longtime rival and is forced to resign his ambassadorship and admit that he bribed a congressman to try and cover up an earlier plane crash [[AmbiguousSituation where the defective plane killed or injured three schoolchildren]]. He then finds himself being completely shut out by the political establishment he hobnobs with, becomes a murder suspect, and [[spoiler:is nearly murdered himself under terrifying circumstances that make him collapse in a faint after the police rescue him. He's last mentioned as begging his rival for a job, which is unlikely to be successful.]] By the end of the book, he's a self-pitying wreck, and no one is the least bit sorry for him.
to:
* BreakTheHaughty: ''Unexpected Developments'' puts smarmy CorruptCorporateExecutive Walter Wellenstein through a well-deserved ringer. Mere days after he's appointed as ambassador to France, he's disgraced when a plane he's been marketing while knowing that it is flawed crashes in the middle of a Paris air show after Wellenstein forcefully insisted on showing it off there. He's painted as the villain for the media by his successor as CEO and longtime rival and is forced to resign his ambassadorship and admit that he bribed a congressman to try and cover up an earlier plane crash [[AmbiguousSituation where the defective plane killed or injured three schoolchildren]].schoolchildren. He then finds himself being completely shut out by the political establishment he hobnobs with, becomes a murder suspect, and [[spoiler:is nearly murdered himself under terrifying circumstances that make him collapse in a faint after the police rescue him. He's last mentioned as begging his rival for a job, which is unlikely to be successful.]] By the end of the book, he's a self-pitying wreck, and no one is the least bit sorry for him.
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--> '''Captain Ursula Richmond:''' [[spoiler:Then he should have chosen a girl friend who didn't know to the penny how much a lieutenant colonel makes.]]
to:
--> '''Captain Ursula Richmond:''' [[spoiler:Then he should have chosen a girl friend who didn't know to the penny how much a lieutenant colonel makes.]]]]
* UnmanlySecret: In ''Murder Out of Commission'', adventurous Congressman Tony Martinelli is visibly embarrassed when his wife tells his friends that Tony gardens for fun.
* UnmanlySecret: In ''Murder Out of Commission'', adventurous Congressman Tony Martinelli is visibly embarrassed when his wife tells his friends that Tony gardens for fun.
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* RankUp: in ''Murder Sunny Side Up'', Ben ends up being made the head of a congressional hearing when the original chairman is poisoned.
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* NeverASelfMadeWoman: Elise, the only prominent female member of Congress in the series, first assumed her seat after her husband died of a heart attack and was later re-elected.
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* PosthumousCharacter: Elise's late husband is frequently mentioned but died of a heart attack years ago.
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* SomeoneToRememberHimBy: In ''There is No Justice'', the mistress of the second murder victim is revealed to be pregnant with his child at the end of the book.
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* MarriedToTheJob: Ben has few interests or hobbies outside of work, reelection, and spending time with his sister and her family. One of the antagonists in ''The Attending Physician'' briefly suggests [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain using this to accuse him of being gay, while expressing confidence this would sink Ben's political career.]]
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* PoliticallyIncorrectHero: Ben's fellow Democratic congressman Tony Martinelli is a staunch proponent of many admirable principles and positions. However, his reaction to the revelations about Supreme Court nominee Coleman Ives being a serial adulterer leaves something to be desired, when he says that at least it proves Ives isn't gay.
--> '''Tony''': [W]ho wants a f*ggot on the Court?
--> '''Tony''': [W]ho wants a f*ggot on the Court?
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* ReasonableAuthorityFigure:
** Congressman Ben Safford and his office mates (Elise Hollenbach, Val Oakes, Lamar Flecker, and Tony Martinelli) are hard-working and fair-minded when it comes to investigations and hearings.
--> 'When a Hollenbach position collided with a moral principle, it was the position that went.''
** Whoever gets assigned to investigate the murder in each book is almost invariably willing to comfort powerful people, smart at assessing evidence, and humble enough to listen to skilled {{Amateur Sleuth}}s.
** In ''The Attending Physician,'' newly minted HEW secretary Joseph Buckley is quite fair-minded and quick-thinking.
--> '''Congressman Tony Martinelli:''' So far Buckley's ben smart enough to take coaching from a regional director and to dodge a [sleazy proposal] thrown at him by some lobbyist. That's not bad going for a rookie.
** Prior to ''Unexpected Developments'', court martial board member Major Kruger argued for the admission of crucial evidence that was unjustly excluded due to a majority vote. He's also open with Ben while discussing the proceedings and is willing to acknowledge areas in which his expertise is limited.
** ''Unexpected Developments'' also features Undersecretary of Defense Preston Goodrich, who ultimately proves to be a shrewd man who is willing to risk his career for the sake of justice.
** Congressman Ben Safford and his office mates (Elise Hollenbach, Val Oakes, Lamar Flecker, and Tony Martinelli) are hard-working and fair-minded when it comes to investigations and hearings.
--> 'When a Hollenbach position collided with a moral principle, it was the position that went.''
** Whoever gets assigned to investigate the murder in each book is almost invariably willing to comfort powerful people, smart at assessing evidence, and humble enough to listen to skilled {{Amateur Sleuth}}s.
** In ''The Attending Physician,'' newly minted HEW secretary Joseph Buckley is quite fair-minded and quick-thinking.
--> '''Congressman Tony Martinelli:''' So far Buckley's ben smart enough to take coaching from a regional director and to dodge a [sleazy proposal] thrown at him by some lobbyist. That's not bad going for a rookie.
** Prior to ''Unexpected Developments'', court martial board member Major Kruger argued for the admission of crucial evidence that was unjustly excluded due to a majority vote. He's also open with Ben while discussing the proceedings and is willing to acknowledge areas in which his expertise is limited.
** ''Unexpected Developments'' also features Undersecretary of Defense Preston Goodrich, who ultimately proves to be a shrewd man who is willing to risk his career for the sake of justice.
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* {{Nephewism}}: In ''Murder Out of Commission,'' Abby Carr's aunt and uncle primarily raised her after her mother died and her father refused to give up his career as a globetrotting scientist. Surprisingly, Abby and her father still have a close relationship.
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* AmoralAttorney in ''Three is No Justice'' seem to honestly believe their claims that they haven't done anything that should expose them to shame or the legal system.
to:
* AmoralAttorney in ''Three AmoralAttorney: ''There is No Justice'' seem to honestly believe their claims that they haven't done anything that should expose them to shame or features a Supreme Court nominee with some skeletons in his closet. Specifically, in the legal system.past, he [[spoiler:secretly represented both sides during high stakes court cases, filing the paperwork for one side under his wife's name]].
Changed line(s) 27 (click to see context) from:
* BelievingTheirOwnLies: The doctors who are scamming Medicaid in ''The Attending Physician'' and the AmoralAttorney in ''Three is No Justice'' seem to honestly believe their claims that they haven't done anything that should expose them to shame or the legal system.
to:
* BelievingTheirOwnLies: BelievingTheirOwnLies:
** The doctors who are scamming Medicaid in ''The Attending Physician'' and the AmoralAttorney in ''Three is No Justice'' seem to honestly believe their claims that they haven't done anything that should expose them to shame or the legalsystem.system.
** In ''Unexpected Developments'', on some level, Walter Wellenmeister honestly believes he's a victimized man who is letting himself be sacrificed to protect his friend, the president, from any scandal. In reality, he's a CorruptCorporateExecutive who is only avoiding real punishment for some major crimes due to his high-level connections.
* BreakTheHaughty: ''Unexpected Developments'' puts smarmy CorruptCorporateExecutive Walter Wellenstein through a well-deserved ringer. Mere days after he's appointed as ambassador to France, he's disgraced when a plane he's been marketing while knowing that it is flawed crashes in the middle of a Paris air show after Wellenstein forcefully insisted on showing it off there. He's painted as the villain for the media by his successor as CEO and longtime rival and is forced to resign his ambassadorship and admit that he bribed a congressman to try and cover up an earlier plane crash [[AmbiguousSituation where the defective plane killed or injured three schoolchildren]]. He then finds himself being completely shut out by the political establishment he hobnobs with, becomes a murder suspect, and [[spoiler:is nearly murdered himself under terrifying circumstances that make him collapse in a faint after the police rescue him. He's last mentioned as begging his rival for a job, which is unlikely to be successful.]] By the end of the book, he's a self-pitying wreck, and no one is the least bit sorry for him.
** The doctors who are scamming Medicaid in ''The Attending Physician'' and the AmoralAttorney in ''Three is No Justice'' seem to honestly believe their claims that they haven't done anything that should expose them to shame or the legal
** In ''Unexpected Developments'', on some level, Walter Wellenmeister honestly believes he's a victimized man who is letting himself be sacrificed to protect his friend, the president, from any scandal. In reality, he's a CorruptCorporateExecutive who is only avoiding real punishment for some major crimes due to his high-level connections.
* BreakTheHaughty: ''Unexpected Developments'' puts smarmy CorruptCorporateExecutive Walter Wellenstein through a well-deserved ringer. Mere days after he's appointed as ambassador to France, he's disgraced when a plane he's been marketing while knowing that it is flawed crashes in the middle of a Paris air show after Wellenstein forcefully insisted on showing it off there. He's painted as the villain for the media by his successor as CEO and longtime rival and is forced to resign his ambassadorship and admit that he bribed a congressman to try and cover up an earlier plane crash [[AmbiguousSituation where the defective plane killed or injured three schoolchildren]]. He then finds himself being completely shut out by the political establishment he hobnobs with, becomes a murder suspect, and [[spoiler:is nearly murdered himself under terrifying circumstances that make him collapse in a faint after the police rescue him. He's last mentioned as begging his rival for a job, which is unlikely to be successful.]] By the end of the book, he's a self-pitying wreck, and no one is the least bit sorry for him.
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* DisappearedDad: In ''Epitaph for a Lobbyist'', Shirley Knapp's ex-husband hasn't had any role in his kids' lives since Shirley left him while pregnant with their younger child. He mentions that he didn't even know whether the younger child was a boy or a girl until over a decade later. He does seem to regret his absence and has some PapaWolf moments when he thinks his daughter is in danger.
to:
* DisappearedDad: DisappearedDad:
** In ''Epitaph for a Lobbyist'', Shirley Knapp's ex-husband hasn't had any role in his kids' lives since Shirley left him while pregnant with their younger child. He mentions that he didn't even know whether the younger child was a boy or a girl until over a decade later. He does seem to regret his absence and has some PapaWolf moments when he thinks his daughter is indanger.danger.
** In ''Unexpected Developments,'' Lieutenant Colonel Yates is divorced from his wife and is completely uninterested in having anything to do with their children.
** In ''Epitaph for a Lobbyist'', Shirley Knapp's ex-husband hasn't had any role in his kids' lives since Shirley left him while pregnant with their younger child. He mentions that he didn't even know whether the younger child was a boy or a girl until over a decade later. He does seem to regret his absence and has some PapaWolf moments when he thinks his daughter is in
** In ''Unexpected Developments,'' Lieutenant Colonel Yates is divorced from his wife and is completely uninterested in having anything to do with their children.
* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: ''The Attending Physician'' features several corrupt, arrogant, greedy doctors who have been getting away with scamming Medicaid. They spend most of the book on the verge of panic due to documents about their crimes being leaked to people who sue them, putting their medical insurance (and their ability to operate professionally) in jeopardy.
* MoodWhiplash: In ''Unexpected Developments,'' Ben (and quite a few other characters) go from being impressed and inspired by an airshow to horrified within a few sentences when one of the planes crashes due to a design flaw, killing the pilot.
* MoodWhiplash: In ''Unexpected Developments,'' Ben (and quite a few other characters) go from being impressed and inspired by an airshow to horrified within a few sentences when one of the planes crashes due to a design flaw, killing the pilot.
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* TheStoolPigeon: In ''The Attending Physician'', Dr. Costello is quick to go crawling to the government for an immunity deal once it becomes clear that he's in real danger of losing his medical insurance if he loses an impending malpractice suit. He spends several days smugly spilling his guts about the countless acts of corruption he's involved with. By the time he wraps up, Ben and his colleagues loathe Costello with a passion.
to:
* TheStoolPigeon: In ''The Attending Physician'', Dr. Costello is quick to go crawling to the government for an immunity deal once it becomes clear that he's in real danger of losing his medical insurance if he loses an impending malpractice suit. He spends several days smugly spilling his guts about the countless acts of corruption he's involved with. By the time he wraps up, Ben and his colleagues loathe Costello with a passion.passion.
* SuspiciousSpending: While it isn't emphasized until after TheReveal, in ''Unexpected Developments'', [[spoiler:the corrupt Lieutenant Colonel Yates spends quite a bit on his playboy lifestyle.]]
--> '''Captain Ursula Richmond:''' [[spoiler:[H]e spent money like water.]]
--> '''Congressman Val Oakes:''' [[spoiler:He was a womanizer. He was trying to impress you.]]
--> '''Captain Ursula Richmond:''' [[spoiler:Then he should have chosen a girl friend who didn't know to the penny how much a lieutenant colonel makes.]]
* SuspiciousSpending: While it isn't emphasized until after TheReveal, in ''Unexpected Developments'', [[spoiler:the corrupt Lieutenant Colonel Yates spends quite a bit on his playboy lifestyle.]]
--> '''Captain Ursula Richmond:''' [[spoiler:[H]e spent money like water.]]
--> '''Congressman Val Oakes:''' [[spoiler:He was a womanizer. He was trying to impress you.]]
--> '''Captain Ursula Richmond:''' [[spoiler:Then he should have chosen a girl friend who didn't know to the penny how much a lieutenant colonel makes.]]
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* HypocriticalHumor: In ''The Attending Physician'', the local =AMA=] representative rants about how his insurance agent is obsessed with money and profits.
to:
* HypocriticalHumor: In ''The Attending Physician'', the local =AMA=] [=AMA=] representative rants about how his insurance agent is obsessed with money and profits.
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* OneDialogueTwoConversations: In ''Unexpected Developments'', a member of a court-martial board that adjudicated the aftermath of a plane crash is found dead with an envelope with a Saudi embassy postmark (the dead pilot is a Saudi trainee) and a lot of money inside. Safford has a brief, cryptic conversation with the Saudi ambassador about the envelope. Later, it turns out the Saudis never bribed the officer and that their previous conversation was filled with misunderstandings due to the prickly nature of the affair, making both men too careful with their words. The Saudi ambassador thought he was being used as a scapegoat and was agreeing to help the American government save face in exchange for future concessions. Safford thought that the ambassador was admitting to the whole affair and saying that the American government couldn't afford to make a big fuss about it.
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--> '''Charlene:''' [[spoiler:Because the way the [=HEW=] mails the information out, nobody can make had or tail of it. I pruned.]]
to:
--> '''Charlene:''' [[spoiler:Because the way the [=HEW=] mails the information out, nobody can make had head or tail of it. I pruned.]]
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* GovernmentProcedural: The seven novels involve various government scandals (a contentious Supreme Court nomination, congressional hearings into Medicaid fraud, etc.) with a congressman as the AmateurSleuth.
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* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate: In ''The Attending Physician'', eight doctors in Ben's hometown (one of them a PosthumousCharacter) have spent years billing for nonexistent operations, making patients get unnecessary operations and examinations, and diagnosing unnecessary drug prescriptions.
to:
* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate: In ''The Attending Physician'', eight doctors in Ben's hometown (one of them a PosthumousCharacter) have spent years billing for nonexistent operations, making patients get unnecessary operations and examinations, and diagnosing unnecessary drug prescriptions. Between them, they've cheated the government out of over a million dollars without a hint of remorse.
Changed line(s) 44 (click to see context) from:
* NeverOneMurder: Murderers in the series tend to commit additional murders to cover their tracks (although in ''[[spoiler:Epitaph for a Lobbyist]]'', the second and third victims who are targeted by the killer both survive). Between them, they've cheated the government out of over a million dollars without a hint of remorse.
to:
* NeverOneMurder: Murderers in the series tend to commit additional murders to cover their tracks (although in ''[[spoiler:Epitaph for a Lobbyist]]'', the second and third victims who are targeted by the killer both survive). Between them, they've cheated the government out of over a million dollars without a hint of remorse.
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* BelievingTheirOwnLies: The doctors who are scamming Medicaid in ''The Attending Physician'' and the AmoralAttorney in ''Three is No Justice'' seem to honestly believe their claims that they haven't done anything that should expose them to shame or the legal system.
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