Hello -
My daughter is in college in Washington D.C. and has fallen in love with this city. She has read a couple of books by Brad Meltzer (action/drama) set in D.C. and would love to read other books with D.C. as the backdrop. She likes suspense and action books and also other fiction, especially about young professionals (but not romantic fiction). Her birthday is coming up and any suggestions would be very appreciated. Thank you!!

Margaret Truman writes some excellent, well researched murder mysteries. Father was Harry S. by the way!

If she doesn't mind some grit along with her suspense, something by George Pelecanos would do the trick:

http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/...orgepelecanos/

Note that the DC backdrop here is not the monuments and tourist attractions . . .

James Patterson's Alex Cross series are excellent mysteries set in and around DC area. I have read 4 of them and each one is better than next.

First of the series is "Along Came a Spider."

Hope this helps...
Debi

Another vote for Margaret Truman.

Phyllis Richman, who is/was the restaurant critic for the Wash Post has done a series of culinary mysteries which are lots of fun. Of course, there's always the Exorcist, too, especially if she's at Georgetown!

Pelecanos was the first to enter my mind, too, but MoonGirl is right - this isn't your "tourist" DC...

My wife likes reading culinary fiction books, i actually got into reading them myself they are quite a treat, you could search for Diane mott Davidson culinary fiction, I know that most of them are set in washington dc.
http://wherechefsplay.com/e-store.html

I got Camel Club by David Baldacci for Christmas and enjoyed it. A good conspiracy theory novel that takes place throughout DC and the suburbs.
I also second the James Patterson Alex Cross books.

Absolute Power by David Baldacci is one of my favorites. I don't recall if the whole thing takes place in DC, but a good part of it does at least. One of the more intersting parts of the book involves the complicated relationship between a father and his grown daughter (but the book itself falls squarely in the suspense category).

JOhn Grisham:
Pelican Brief
The Brethren

Wow- thanks so much for all the wonderful suggestions! I'm going to buy several of those suggested above. Many thanks and happy trails! - Jill

Bookmarking as we are going to DC in June and my daughter loves mystery, suspense novels.

These are all great choices. I think Meltzer GETS "his" DC better than the other writers, but all are pretty good.

If you want to get a sense of the "real" DC, the Pelecanos novels are really great. They don't take place in the kinds of locations tourists are likely to end up, but they are definitely reflective of the heart of DC that many residents live.