What do you think?
Rate this book
Butch Karp #23
Outrage
Robert K. Tanenbaum’s electrifying new thriller, District Attorney Butch Karp battles a failure of the system, a police detective desperate to solve a case for his own ends, and a homicidal maniac who will stop at nothing to protect the truth. Months after a brutal double homicide in uptown Manhattan shocks the city, sensational newspaper headlines herald the arrest and indictment of Felix Acevedo, a shy Bronx teenager who confessed to the horrific crimes. But downtown, in the district attorney’s office, Butch Karp is seething. No sooner does he bask in the relief of successfully closing the case on murderous imam Sharif Jabbar than he is thrust into the center of a high-profile prosecution that threatens the integrity of his office. An ambitious young assistant district attorney, seeking career advancement, cuts corners to indict Acevedo, disregarding Karp’s fundamental Never charge the accused unless the evidence leads inexorably to proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Now, damned by a coerced confession and a frenzied media bent on lynching him, Acevedo sits in jail while a vicious killer stalks the city. Karp’s wife, Marlene Ciampi, one half of the “crime-fighting family” proclaimed by the media, hits the streets for clues that will save the unjustly accused defendant. What she discovers puts her on the trail of the true perpetrator—a drug-addicted psychopath with an ax to grind—and a disgruntled police detective who is willing to lie, withhold evidence, and kill to be labeled a hero. But it also puts her in the center of a dangerous race to be the last man standing and if she’s not careful, one of the other players will take the prize. From the gruesome crime scene to a trial that will leave readers on the edge of their seats, Robert K. Tanenbaum’s unstoppable novel unfolds at breakneck speed as Karp and Ciampi fight for justice in a dramatic and challenging case that will thrill readers to the bone.
322 pages, Hardcover
First published June 7, 2011
74 people are currently reading
339 people want to read
About the author
Robert K. Tanenbaum
76 books280 followersRobert K. Tanenbaum is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five legal thrillers and has an accomplished legal career of his own. Before his first book was published, Tanenbaum had already been the Bureau Chief of the Criminal Courts, had run the Homicide Bureau, and had been in charge of the training program for the legal staff for the New York County District Attorney’s Office. He also served as Deputy Chief Counsel to the Congressional Committee investigations into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. In his professional career, Tanenbaum has never lost a felony case. His courtroom experiences bring his books to life, especially in his bestselling series featuring prosecutor Roger “Butch” Karp and his wife, Marlene Ciampi.
Tanenbaum was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the University of California at Berkeley on a basketball scholarship, and remained at Cal, where he earned his law degree from the prestigious Boalt Hall School of Law. After graduating from Berkeley Law, Tanenbaum moved back to New York to work as an assistant district attorney under the legendary New York County DA Frank Hogan. Tanenbaum then served as Deputy Chief Counsel in charge of the Congressional investigations into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr.
The blockbuster novel Corruption of Blood (1994), is a fictionalized account of his experience in Washington, D.C.
Tanenbaum returned to the West Coast and began to serve in public office. He was elected to the Beverly Hills City Council in 1986 and twice served as the mayor of Beverly Hills. It was during this time that Tanenbaum began his career as a novelist, drawing from the many fascinating stories of his time as a New York ADA. His successful debut novel, No Lesser Plea (1987), introduces Butch Karp, an assistant district attorney who is battling for justice, and Marlene Ciampi, his associate and love interest. Tanenbaum’s subsequent twenty-two novels portrayed Karp and his crime fighting family and eclectic colleagues facing off against drug lords, corrupt politicians, international assassins, the mafia, and hard-core violent felons.
He has had published eight recent novels as part of the series, as well as two nonfiction titles: The Piano Teacher (1987), exploring his investigation and prosecution of a recidivist psychosexual killer, and Badge of the Assassin (1979), about his prosecution of cop killers, which was made into a movie starring James Woods as Tanenbaum.
Tanenbaum and his wife of forty-three years have three children. He currently resides in California where he has taught Advanced Criminal Procedure at the Boalt Hall School of Law and maintains a private law practice.
Tanenbaum was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the University of California at Berkeley on a basketball scholarship, and remained at Cal, where he earned his law degree from the prestigious Boalt Hall School of Law. After graduating from Berkeley Law, Tanenbaum moved back to New York to work as an assistant district attorney under the legendary New York County DA Frank Hogan. Tanenbaum then served as Deputy Chief Counsel in charge of the Congressional investigations into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr.
The blockbuster novel Corruption of Blood (1994), is a fictionalized account of his experience in Washington, D.C.
Tanenbaum returned to the West Coast and began to serve in public office. He was elected to the Beverly Hills City Council in 1986 and twice served as the mayor of Beverly Hills. It was during this time that Tanenbaum began his career as a novelist, drawing from the many fascinating stories of his time as a New York ADA. His successful debut novel, No Lesser Plea (1987), introduces Butch Karp, an assistant district attorney who is battling for justice, and Marlene Ciampi, his associate and love interest. Tanenbaum’s subsequent twenty-two novels portrayed Karp and his crime fighting family and eclectic colleagues facing off against drug lords, corrupt politicians, international assassins, the mafia, and hard-core violent felons.
He has had published eight recent novels as part of the series, as well as two nonfiction titles: The Piano Teacher (1987), exploring his investigation and prosecution of a recidivist psychosexual killer, and Badge of the Assassin (1979), about his prosecution of cop killers, which was made into a movie starring James Woods as Tanenbaum.
Tanenbaum and his wife of forty-three years have three children. He currently resides in California where he has taught Advanced Criminal Procedure at the Boalt Hall School of Law and maintains a private law practice.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
June 13, 2011
Felix Acevedo is nineteen. Though you might not know it as Felix is mentally challenged. Felix is arrested for the rape and murder of two women and attempted rape on another woman. Poor Felix, he doesn’t know what he is doing, when he confesses to the murders. Fortunately for Felix, District Attorney Butch Karp also believes that Felix is innocent. To prove Felix’s innocence, Butch will have to go into the slums.
I was literally hooked after reading the third chapter. Though, the story really picked up about the eighth chapter. This is when Felix was arrested and confessed. Poor Felix. I felt sorry for him. He was just trying to do the right thing but telling the authorities what he thought they wanted to hear. I found it interesting the way he would remember bits of the conversation told to him by the authorities that got them to twist the facts that Felix was knowledgeable about the crimes like…a knife was used, the victim used her right elbow to defend herself and one of the vics was stabbed four times. Butch Karp made me cheer for him that he would find justice. This is not easy for a defense attorney to be liked. Butch did not play dirty like his peers. The only thing I was outraged about this book is that it ended too soon. I read this book in one sitting in just a few hours. I plan to read more of Mr. Tanenbaum’s work.
I was literally hooked after reading the third chapter. Though, the story really picked up about the eighth chapter. This is when Felix was arrested and confessed. Poor Felix. I felt sorry for him. He was just trying to do the right thing but telling the authorities what he thought they wanted to hear. I found it interesting the way he would remember bits of the conversation told to him by the authorities that got them to twist the facts that Felix was knowledgeable about the crimes like…a knife was used, the victim used her right elbow to defend herself and one of the vics was stabbed four times. Butch Karp made me cheer for him that he would find justice. This is not easy for a defense attorney to be liked. Butch did not play dirty like his peers. The only thing I was outraged about this book is that it ended too soon. I read this book in one sitting in just a few hours. I plan to read more of Mr. Tanenbaum’s work.
November 8, 2012
Tanenbaum wisely dials back the terrorism themes and wild excesses that have plagued recent entries in this long-running series with this straightforward legal thriller. Mild-mannered, mentally challenged Felix Acevedo, who came to New York City from Puerto Rico with his parents as a boy, has been arrested for a double homicide — of a professor's wife and her mother — in the Columbia University Slasher case. Physical evidence points to Felix's involvement, and far worse, he has confessed to the horrific murders. The crimes were in fact committed by a Chechen immigrant who looks Hispanic, methamphetamine junkie Ahmed Kadyrov, but New York City D.A. Roger 'Butch' Karp and his department don't know that and are set to prosecute Felix. When Felix's mother persuades Karp's attorney wife, Marlene Ciampi, her son is innocent, Marlene decides to investigate. The final pages of the trial reveal a clever trick that Tanenbaum has neatly played on the reader.
December 4, 2011
Outrage by Robert K. Tanenbaum
It is always a treat to “discover” a new author. Sad but true with 20 plus books to his credit, Tanenbaum is hardly new but he is new to me. Described as a legal thriller, this book had good cops and robbers mystery aspects with some refreshing social commentary.
Butch Karp and his wife, Marlene are reoccurring characters in Tanenbaum’s books. Note this book stands alone quite well and there is no need to have read any preceding to catch up to the story. I suspect if you enjoy it as much as I did you will track down more of his books but that is another story.
I liked the shoot’em up parts as well as the defense of the defenseless but I most enjoyed the family dynamics of the Karp clan. I think the twins demonstrated a much needed example of how hard it is to buck the system.
I highly recommend the book, I enjoyed it.
It is always a treat to “discover” a new author. Sad but true with 20 plus books to his credit, Tanenbaum is hardly new but he is new to me. Described as a legal thriller, this book had good cops and robbers mystery aspects with some refreshing social commentary.
Butch Karp and his wife, Marlene are reoccurring characters in Tanenbaum’s books. Note this book stands alone quite well and there is no need to have read any preceding to catch up to the story. I suspect if you enjoy it as much as I did you will track down more of his books but that is another story.
I liked the shoot’em up parts as well as the defense of the defenseless but I most enjoyed the family dynamics of the Karp clan. I think the twins demonstrated a much needed example of how hard it is to buck the system.
I highly recommend the book, I enjoyed it.
January 10, 2014
I re-read this novel because it had been a while since I had read anything in the series. I've been so busy reading first-reads that I've let my series reading slip. I decided that I would try to catch up over Christmas break. With an extra week of school off because of a snowstorm, I may get through a couple more!
I enjoy Robert Tanenbaum's Butch Karp/Marlene Ciampi novels. This book was no exception. Butch Karp is a smart, no-nonsense DA who follows not only the law, but also his ethics. His wife, Marlene, while investigating the other side of the case, puts all the pieces together. Their twin sons, Giancarlo and Zac, also wrestle with ethics and racism. Their friend Moishe Sobelman views all of the issues in the book through the lens of Sobibor.
I like this series of novels because the family has layers of characterization that keeps going deeper the further into the series I get.
I enjoy Robert Tanenbaum's Butch Karp/Marlene Ciampi novels. This book was no exception. Butch Karp is a smart, no-nonsense DA who follows not only the law, but also his ethics. His wife, Marlene, while investigating the other side of the case, puts all the pieces together. Their twin sons, Giancarlo and Zac, also wrestle with ethics and racism. Their friend Moishe Sobelman views all of the issues in the book through the lens of Sobibor.
I like this series of novels because the family has layers of characterization that keeps going deeper the further into the series I get.
May 8, 2017
Tanenbaum never fails to write legal fiction that readers can relate to.
Butch and Marlene are out to get an innocent man out of jail. One of Butch’s assistant DAs’ indicted a man without verifying the evidence. Marlene is asked to represent the man or recommend someone to represent him. In the meantime, Marlene conducts her own investigation and learns the truth.
Outrage is a great read. Robert Tanenbaum is among the few authors who can actually write great legal crime thrillers.
Mel Foster does an okay job telling the story.
August 28, 2011
The flap of the book jacket gave away too much of the plot of this novel. Reading it was almost anti-climatic. In some ways it read more like a sermon than a work of fiction which was unfortunate because even if the message is a worthy you don't read a novel to be preached to. Having read other works by this author I'm prepared to cut him some slack on this one.
January 5, 2012
I have read a number of his books and this book was ok. I didn't find that the characters were as developed as some of his earlier books. I did like the part with his sons hearing about the concentration camps and then having to make the decision about standing up for the other baseball player or not.
January 13, 2014
I've now read 23 of the 25 "thrillers" in this series, and am debating whether I want to finish. The early ones were really good; the later ones have been uneven at best and this one reaches a new low. It's more of a sermon than a thriller. Several of the characters are cardboard cutouts. The best thing I can say about it is that it's short.
September 14, 2011
I didn't finish this one. I couldn't take the content and it was starting awfully slowly. I don't like it when people with disabilities are being taken advantage of nor the nature of the other crimes.
February 7, 2012
I've read all of the books in this series and I was quite disappointed by this one. There was very little action/interaction. There was a moral and it was a good one but was overly preachy and prolonged.
December 13, 2020
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
From the Holocaust to the headlines ...
There are actually at least five outrages in this book, although the narrative centers on the brutal serial killings perpetrated by a single individual.
In each case, decent people must ask: Am I going to stand by and allow this to happen, or am I going to stand up and oppose it? Some make the right choice; others do not, and become complicit in the injustices.
From the Holocaust to the headlines ...
There are actually at least five outrages in this book, although the narrative centers on the brutal serial killings perpetrated by a single individual.
In each case, decent people must ask: Am I going to stand by and allow this to happen, or am I going to stand up and oppose it? Some make the right choice; others do not, and become complicit in the injustices.
July 10, 2022
Tanenbaum again delivered a page turner. I couldn't put the book down. The wrong man is arrested and corners are cut to help put the public at ease and to help the career of some people. I gave it a 4 and not a 5 for two reasons. First, the description of the murders was so vivid that I dreamt about them. Second, some of the characters wer sterotyped and one-sided. That being said I wish all our DAs were like Karp.
March 7, 2021
Page Turner
Intelligent, suspenseful and with quirky as well as straight arrow characters you can admire and care what happens to. Tanenbaum is great with dialogue, plot development, character development and classical novel structure. Never disappoints
Intelligent, suspenseful and with quirky as well as straight arrow characters you can admire and care what happens to. Tanenbaum is great with dialogue, plot development, character development and classical novel structure. Never disappoints
November 19, 2017
Another winner in the series
June 20, 2023
Tannenbaum blessedly goes back to basics in this edition of the Karp Family Follies—straightforward investigation and trial of a serial killer. Good read.
August 23, 2023
Love the stories about Karp & family
Read
April 21, 2024This audiobook was not available when I listened to the series.
May 17, 2024
good case work by both Karps. Love those twins
August 5, 2011
I usually really enjoy the world of Butch Karp, NYC DA. It's exciting, action-packed, and often morally agonizing. His characters are so memorable, so well-developed, that when I start reading his latest volume I feel like I am reuniting with old friends. The plots in the last several Karp books have been fueled by news stories of Muslim extremists. In the books, these extremists are often the pawns of darker American forces. Conspiracies run deep in Tanenbaum's series. When I picked up Outrage, I thought it might be a continuation of those conspiracy plots, but quickly learned that it was something different. Outrage has two main plot lines: the first involving one of the most gruesome and sadistic women-killers I've ever encountered in fiction; the other a very touching story about Butch Karp's sons learning what it means to be men--both hypothetically in studying for their bar mitvahs, and literally in applying that knowledge to their lives. I enjoyed reading about Giancarlo and Zak. I can't say the same about the sadistic women-killer. I felt compelled to read on, driven to reach the conclusion; but made many unpleasant faces while reading, and when I finished I didn't feel triumphant for making it to the end...I felt sick to my stomach. This is not a book for the faint-hearted.
August 16, 2012
#23 in the NYC DA "Butch" Karp & Marlene Ciampi series, and #8 since the series was being ghostwritten by Michael Gruber. I seems with the last two novels that Tanenbaum has returned to the series NYC roots and has left the world-politic, Islamist terrorist themes that were dominating the post-Gruber entries.
NYC DA "Butch" Karp & Marlene Ciampi series - Mentally challenged Felix Acevedo has been arrested for a double homicide in the Columbia University Slasher case. Evidence points to Felix's involvement, and worse, he has confessed to the horrific murders. The crimes were in fact committed by a Chechen immigrant who looks Hispanic, methamphetamine junkie Ahmed Kadyrov, but New York City D.A. Roger "Butch" Karp and his department don't know that and are set to prosecute Felix. When Felix's mother persuades Karp's attorney wife, Marlene Ciampi, her son is innocent, Marlene decides to investigate.
NYC DA "Butch" Karp & Marlene Ciampi series - Mentally challenged Felix Acevedo has been arrested for a double homicide in the Columbia University Slasher case. Evidence points to Felix's involvement, and worse, he has confessed to the horrific murders. The crimes were in fact committed by a Chechen immigrant who looks Hispanic, methamphetamine junkie Ahmed Kadyrov, but New York City D.A. Roger "Butch" Karp and his department don't know that and are set to prosecute Felix. When Felix's mother persuades Karp's attorney wife, Marlene Ciampi, her son is innocent, Marlene decides to investigate.
May 17, 2015
I have been a big fan of Robert K. Tanenbaum's Butch Karp/Marlene Ciampi series, but Outrage left a bad taste in my brain. It is really a long love letter to the death penalty. Our main character and generally all around good guy is District Attorney Butch Karp, who seems to single handedly prove the innocent of one man falsely accused of two brutal murders, and then finger and convict the right man. Once that is accomplished he spends a lot time talking about how, in some cases, people should die for their crimes. I don't buy it, since as far as I am concerned the death penalty is just institutionalized revenge killing, so his arguments were hollow. It's too bad he has gotten on his soap box in Outrage because it is otherwise an excellent story, as his books always are.
July 9, 2011
Another romp for Butch and Marlene, the crime-fighting couple from Manhattan. Butch is trying a Chechen for murder and Marlene has got his back. Zac and Giancarlo, the twins are playing baseball and trying to keep the bullies away from a Puerto Rican kid who is attending their private school on scholarship and Lucy, their daughter is trying to figure out if she really wants to marry a man who assassinates people for the American government. Just another day. Non-stop action; it is exhausting to read these books, but one has to root for Butch, who truly stands for truth, justice and the American way through hell and high water.
July 11, 2012
Robert Tanenbaum once again provides thrills and chills both in and out of the courtroom with this latest yarn starring New York District Attorney Butch Karp and his extraordinary wife Marlene Ciampi. This case involves the serial rapes and murders of three women and it appears they've fairly easily wrapped up the case with a likely suspect. But extraneous events, from a corrupt cop to a seedy meth dealer, cast diffusing lights on the crimes and we're led through a host of ins and outs before a solution is reached. Few do courtroom drama better than Tanenbaum, and even fewer writers have crafted such colorful characters as the Karp family. "Outrage" is another ride worth taking.
August 1, 2011
This was great reading. A man has confessed to three brutal murders, two in Manhattan. Karp's office has indicted him for the two. Ciampi, who is restless with the kids being more adult and no longer needing her, decides she will defend him in the third. As she begins investigating the charges, she realizes he is innocent and explains why to Karp. His office begins to investigate and things progress from there. It is fast moving and intelligently written. All in all a great way to spend a summer's day.
June 11, 2016
We really enjoy the Karp-Ciampi clan including all of the interesting and adventurous friends. A little different than other Karp books we've read in that the "bad guys" are openly defined for the reader while Butch, Marlene and company sort out the truth in the name of protecting the innocent and serving justice. Meanwhile, the Karp children address their own struggles with the wisdom of the family's elderly friends. So nice to see young people respond well to the wisdom to be gained from those who have lived longer and endured so much. All & all, another Butch Karp winner!
February 12, 2013
I think I would really rate this book about 4.5. I have been a fan of Butch and Marlene for a long time. The last several books have focused a lot on terroristic plots, which while relevant and timely, is not why I started reading Tanenbaum. This was a return to the crime-fighting duo, pursuing justice at all costs and was a much more gripping and enjoyable read for me. I hope the court room dramas continue.
November 25, 2013
Women are being murdered and mutilated in New York City. A young man with an un-natural desire to please and perfect memory confesses under pressure from the police. District Attorney Karp believes that some of his staff and the police have the wrong man. Soon witnesses and honest cops die. While this is going on, Karp's sons have to deal with a racist baseball coach targeting a teammate.
October 23, 2015
This is the last book I will read by this author. While he has good plots, they are basically the same book with a different name and just different names for the caricatures. The most annoying part of this author's books is the constant repetitions of praise for how saintly, honorable, justice-minded etc, etc, etc the main caricature is.
June 26, 2011
Burce and Marlene have stopped hunting terrorists for this book and are back to solveing old fashion murders and putting the bad guys in jail. And all without their strange friends. It was good to get back to the things that they do so well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews