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Ben Kincaid #11
Criminal Intent
When a priest with radical ideas and a parish council with traditional values lock horns over the beliefs they hold most sacred, there’s bound to be controversy—and consequences. But murder crosses the line between committing a sin and committing a crime, turning a battle over faith into a battle for justice. And smack in the middle of the explosive case is Tulsa attorney Ben Kincaid.
Kincaid rescued Father Daniel Beale once before. When the priest’s renegade views and violent temper nearly cost him his position as rector of St. Benedict’s Church, Ben intervened and saved the day. Now Beale is the prime suspect in the brutal murder of a female parishioner—though lack of evidence has left the case unsolved. But as Father Beale struggles to escape the shadow of suspicion, another woman is savagely slaughtered. And this time, Ben himself discovers Beale literally red-handed . . . with the blood of the victim.
As Father Beale declares his innocence, Ben and his team feverishly work to build a defense that will deliver the man of God from a date with the death chamber. But each new revelation that emerges in the packed courtroom only serves to tilt the scales increasingly in the prosecution’s favor. And Father Beale’s own shocking testimony ignites a firestorm of controversy that could doom his last best hope for acquittal.
In his heart and in his gut, Ben knows Father Beale is innocent. But proving it means taking a leap of faith that will plunge Ben into the whirlpool of dark secrets and dangerous intentions that surround St. Benedict’s. And ultimately, it will force the idealistic attorney to confront the chilling face of evil in the most unexpected of places.
Criminal Intent proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the author of Murder One has earned his critical reputation as the master of the courtroom drama whose novels of legal suspense consistently offer a one-of-a-kind reading experience.
From the Hardcover edition.
Kincaid rescued Father Daniel Beale once before. When the priest’s renegade views and violent temper nearly cost him his position as rector of St. Benedict’s Church, Ben intervened and saved the day. Now Beale is the prime suspect in the brutal murder of a female parishioner—though lack of evidence has left the case unsolved. But as Father Beale struggles to escape the shadow of suspicion, another woman is savagely slaughtered. And this time, Ben himself discovers Beale literally red-handed . . . with the blood of the victim.
As Father Beale declares his innocence, Ben and his team feverishly work to build a defense that will deliver the man of God from a date with the death chamber. But each new revelation that emerges in the packed courtroom only serves to tilt the scales increasingly in the prosecution’s favor. And Father Beale’s own shocking testimony ignites a firestorm of controversy that could doom his last best hope for acquittal.
In his heart and in his gut, Ben knows Father Beale is innocent. But proving it means taking a leap of faith that will plunge Ben into the whirlpool of dark secrets and dangerous intentions that surround St. Benedict’s. And ultimately, it will force the idealistic attorney to confront the chilling face of evil in the most unexpected of places.
Criminal Intent proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the author of Murder One has earned his critical reputation as the master of the courtroom drama whose novels of legal suspense consistently offer a one-of-a-kind reading experience.
From the Hardcover edition.
Hardcover
First published October 1, 2002
128 people are currently reading
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About the author
William Bernhardt
99 books513 followersWilliam Bernhardt is the author of over sixty books, including the bestselling Daniel Pike and Ben Kincaid legal thrillers, the historical novels Challengers of the Dust and Nemesis, three books of poetry, and the ten Red Sneaker books on fiction writing.
In addition, Bernhardt founded the Red Sneaker Writers Center to mentor aspiring writers. The Center hosts an annual writers conference (WriterCon), small-group seminars, a monthly newsletter, and a bi-weekly podcast. More than three dozen of Bernhardt’s students have subsequently published with major houses. He is also the owner of Balkan Press, which publishes poetry and fiction as well as the literary journal Conclave.
Bernhardt has received the Southern Writers Guild’s Gold Medal Award, the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award (University of Pennsylvania) and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award (Oklahoma State), which is given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." He has been nominated for the Oklahoma Book Award eighteen times in three different categories, and has won the award twice. Library Journal called him “the master of the courtroom drama.” The Vancouver Sun called him “the American equivalent of P.G. Wodehouse and John Mortimer.”
In addition to his novels and poetry, he has written plays, a musical (book and score), humor, children stories, biography, and puzzles. He has edited two anthologies (Legal Briefs and Natural Suspect) as fundraisers for The Nature Conservancy and the Children’s Legal Defense Fund. OSU named him “Oklahoma’s Renaissance Man.”
In his spare time, he has enjoyed surfing, digging for dinosaurs, trekking through the Himalayas, paragliding, scuba diving, caving, zip-lining over the canopy of the Costa Rican rain forest, and jumping out of an airplane at 10,000 feet. In 2013, he became a Jeopardy! champion winning over $20,000.
When Bernhardt delivered the keynote address at the San Francisco Writers Conference, chairman Michael Larsen noted that in addition to penning novels, Bernhardt can “write a sonnet, play a sonata, plant a garden, try a lawsuit, teach a class, cook a gourmet meal, beat you at Scrabble, and work the New York Times crossword in under five minutes.”
In addition, Bernhardt founded the Red Sneaker Writers Center to mentor aspiring writers. The Center hosts an annual writers conference (WriterCon), small-group seminars, a monthly newsletter, and a bi-weekly podcast. More than three dozen of Bernhardt’s students have subsequently published with major houses. He is also the owner of Balkan Press, which publishes poetry and fiction as well as the literary journal Conclave.
Bernhardt has received the Southern Writers Guild’s Gold Medal Award, the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award (University of Pennsylvania) and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award (Oklahoma State), which is given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." He has been nominated for the Oklahoma Book Award eighteen times in three different categories, and has won the award twice. Library Journal called him “the master of the courtroom drama.” The Vancouver Sun called him “the American equivalent of P.G. Wodehouse and John Mortimer.”
In addition to his novels and poetry, he has written plays, a musical (book and score), humor, children stories, biography, and puzzles. He has edited two anthologies (Legal Briefs and Natural Suspect) as fundraisers for The Nature Conservancy and the Children’s Legal Defense Fund. OSU named him “Oklahoma’s Renaissance Man.”
In his spare time, he has enjoyed surfing, digging for dinosaurs, trekking through the Himalayas, paragliding, scuba diving, caving, zip-lining over the canopy of the Costa Rican rain forest, and jumping out of an airplane at 10,000 feet. In 2013, he became a Jeopardy! champion winning over $20,000.
When Bernhardt delivered the keynote address at the San Francisco Writers Conference, chairman Michael Larsen noted that in addition to penning novels, Bernhardt can “write a sonnet, play a sonata, plant a garden, try a lawsuit, teach a class, cook a gourmet meal, beat you at Scrabble, and work the New York Times crossword in under five minutes.”
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 43 reviews
February 19, 2014
Wish I could give it a minus! Total disappointment! 75 percent done and he introduced a wife swapping plot that became ridiculous. Tried to skim beyond and it just plunged into absurdity. Don't waste a dime in this loser. Won't read another Bernhardt after this atrocity!
May 4, 2024
Those of us who are addicted to courtroom dramas will find this book highly satisfying. You’ll have to suspend disbelief in a place or two, but I think that’s normal for this series.
The second subplot in the story was less-than rewarding to read, but it fortunately wasn’t a large enough piece that I felt distracted or interrupted much.
Ben Kincaid’s boyhood episcopal priest didn’t kill female members of his congregation, but the cops said he did, and they came up with enough evidence to arrest and try him for the murders. This priest is progressive even for a bunch of Episcopalians. He engages in what some would insist are unpriestly behaviors with members of his congregation, particularly women. Admittedly, you can engage in unpriestly behavior without committing murder, and poor Ben Kincaid and his staff worked to convince a jury that the two can be separate.
I spent a quiet unstructured Saturday reading this, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The audio narration was excellent.
The second subplot in the story was less-than rewarding to read, but it fortunately wasn’t a large enough piece that I felt distracted or interrupted much.
Ben Kincaid’s boyhood episcopal priest didn’t kill female members of his congregation, but the cops said he did, and they came up with enough evidence to arrest and try him for the murders. This priest is progressive even for a bunch of Episcopalians. He engages in what some would insist are unpriestly behaviors with members of his congregation, particularly women. Admittedly, you can engage in unpriestly behavior without committing murder, and poor Ben Kincaid and his staff worked to convince a jury that the two can be separate.
I spent a quiet unstructured Saturday reading this, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The audio narration was excellent.
April 2, 2019
A dead woman is found in the garden of an Episcopal church in Oklahoma. She appears to have been murdered.No immediate suspects are discovered, but some days afterward, another woman is found dead in the rector's office. Father Beale was seen to be arguing with the woman shortly before she was found dead. Other evidence is also found that leads to his arrest.
At the insistence of his long time friend and lawyer, he is reluctantly granted temporary freedom while awaiting trial-until another parishioner is found murdered!
Brought to trial, Ben Kincaid tries desperately to get Father Beale acquitted, but the priest's own words and admission of unusual behaviors work against him.
Ultimately, the investigations - and another murder - lead to the most unlikely of suspects.
A convoluted plot and interesting story lines keep the reader engaged.
At the insistence of his long time friend and lawyer, he is reluctantly granted temporary freedom while awaiting trial-until another parishioner is found murdered!
Brought to trial, Ben Kincaid tries desperately to get Father Beale acquitted, but the priest's own words and admission of unusual behaviors work against him.
Ultimately, the investigations - and another murder - lead to the most unlikely of suspects.
A convoluted plot and interesting story lines keep the reader engaged.
October 6, 2023
In this installment, Ben Kincaid defends an Episcopal priest charged with several murders of his female parishioners. The priest was a long time friend of Ben's and had a pivotal influence back in his childhood.
The priest was a quirky, ill-tempered liberal who the parish was intent on removing from office.
So, liberal, that he initiated a sexual club for his married flock. He wanted to separate sex from marriage through a dazzling bit of theologizing sacred scripture. He and the victimes were active participants in this club.
Anyway, this a a rare book where the innocent are not without punishment, and the guilty may or may not run free.
Even though I don't buy the sex Fraternity (especially among Episcopalians!), the read was interesting and kept my attention.
The priest was a quirky, ill-tempered liberal who the parish was intent on removing from office.
So, liberal, that he initiated a sexual club for his married flock. He wanted to separate sex from marriage through a dazzling bit of theologizing sacred scripture. He and the victimes were active participants in this club.
Anyway, this a a rare book where the innocent are not without punishment, and the guilty may or may not run free.
Even though I don't buy the sex Fraternity (especially among Episcopalians!), the read was interesting and kept my attention.
February 15, 2017
The Usual!!! Once you have read two or three books in a particular series, any person can easily skip around 15-20 pages which would be re-establishing the characters and in the case of (so called) legal thrillers another 50 odd pages on all the legal jargons which would be discussed on court (beyond reasonable doubt, DNA analysis, Hair analysis, fingerprint analysis which would be explained in detail) which I don't say is wrong for someone who just picks any book but for some one who reads the series in order, once you have skipped all these pages all you are left with is just another 50-75 pages worth of any new characters and stories to deal with.
March 28, 2024
The priest has been Kincaid’s mentor since he was 12 years old.
The priest becomes a suspect in the murder of a female member of the congregation and reaches out to Ben for help. Before that murder can be solved, another female member is murdered during a freak blackout at the church and the priest is found near the body.
The priest declares his innocence after being charged. Ben an his team work feverishly to try to build a solid defense, only to find more obstacles in their way
The priest becomes a suspect in the murder of a female member of the congregation and reaches out to Ben for help. Before that murder can be solved, another female member is murdered during a freak blackout at the church and the priest is found near the body.
The priest declares his innocence after being charged. Ben an his team work feverishly to try to build a solid defense, only to find more obstacles in their way
May 13, 2017
Another compelling novel in a great series
Well here we are at book 11 of the series. I really do not have anything left to say that I have not already said in previous reviews of this series.
I would say this is the one of the faster flowing books in the series and the ending is quite surprising. It is well worth reading if you are a fan of the series.
Well here we are at book 11 of the series. I really do not have anything left to say that I have not already said in previous reviews of this series.
I would say this is the one of the faster flowing books in the series and the ending is quite surprising. It is well worth reading if you are a fan of the series.
August 7, 2019
Ben Kincaid defends the priest in his parish. Because he is found to be having sex with most of his parishioners he is found guilty. After he is a condemned man, they found out that two teenage girls of the parish are the real killers but this has no bearing on getting the priest released. By the way, this is what is it really like in the States.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2022
While I have loved every single book in the Ben Kincaid series, this one is special. As with all of them the writing is superior but in this one, the questions of morality, politics and religion are examined in a thoughtful and thought-provoking way. This is a much more sober book to my way of thinking then the previous ones, but an excellent read.
June 1, 2022
Ending Was Not Satisfying
Much of this book was similar to previous Ben Kincaid books. However, this book dealt with unusual issues and I was disappointed in the ending. I understand that the author was trying to make a point that our laws do not properly handle actual innocence. I just wish he had taken the story a bit farther.
Much of this book was similar to previous Ben Kincaid books. However, this book dealt with unusual issues and I was disappointed in the ending. I understand that the author was trying to make a point that our laws do not properly handle actual innocence. I just wish he had taken the story a bit farther.
April 7, 2024
Second Ben Kincaid novel. He gets himself tangled up in church politics and murder when he he has to defend an old friend. The author brings out some rich characters who aren't the holiest members of the congregation. The ending will surprise you (no hints). I Have now added Mr. Bernhardt to my list of readable authors.
November 9, 2025
Criminal Intent is a dark, twisted legal thriller that kept me on edge until the very last page. Ben Kincaid navigates a web of murders, church scandals, and shocking betrayals. The story challenges morality, exposes corruption in sacred spaces, and delivers an ending I did not see coming.
Gripping, intense, and thought-provoking and a must-read for fans of courtroom drama and suspense.”
Gripping, intense, and thought-provoking and a must-read for fans of courtroom drama and suspense.”
May 1, 2021
Criminal intent
William Bernhardt once again presented a fantastic read. Even though there is no conclusion the point is made…faith is real and the justice system is forever being reinvented.
William Bernhardt once again presented a fantastic read. Even though there is no conclusion the point is made…faith is real and the justice system is forever being reinvented.
October 13, 2024
Ben Kincaid, a lawyer, who firmly believes his friend, a pastor, has not committed any murders defends him in court. Two silly 15 year olds idolize Ben and try to help him, but.
The pastor and wife have been involved in a sex couple trade which the pastor started.
Interesting story.
The pastor and wife have been involved in a sex couple trade which the pastor started.
Interesting story.
September 6, 2017
a bit different than the others in the series. Far fetched plot and loose ends. This is the first in this series that was a disappointment. will wait for awhile to continue with series.
August 16, 2018
Not his best
March 28, 2019
Another good read by an author I enjoy .the ending came out of nowhere, but was still believable. Murder, religion, inclusion, justice...all touched upon . Enjoyable!
July 12, 2019
Good read:
This is a good series with characters that sound true &'plots that hold interest. Will continue to read the series.
This is a good series with characters that sound true &'plots that hold interest. Will continue to read the series.
March 28, 2022
Frightening book
I could not put it down after I started reading it. It was so realistic, you. Can see it happening in your neighborhood and the surrounding area.
I could not put it down after I started reading it. It was so realistic, you. Can see it happening in your neighborhood and the surrounding area.
March 2, 2025
I just couldn't 'bond' with the characters. Finished it, but didn't really like the book, though I always appreciate an author's efforts.
September 7, 2009
Another new author. The setting for this one is Tulsa , OK where lawyer Ben Kincaid is a member of the choir of the St. Benedict’s Episcopal church and he is acting a defense lawyer for Father Daniel Beal, the rector. There has been a murder in the church prayer garden and Father Beal was suspected, but no proof to arrest him. The trial is an ecclesiastical trial because the parishioners, particularly the vestry members want to oust him. Father Beal is very liberal and the parishioners are not, plus the taint of the murder is still on him. While the court does not follow civilian rules and Father Beal’s foes make a strong case against him, the Bishop does not call for his resignation. Then another murder occurs in the church, in Father Beal’s office no less and now the police arrest him and Ben agrees to defend him. Lots of court room drama, more murders ( there is a bit of a “side” story going on) and a number of startling revelations and false leads keep the suspense and interest going till the end in this one.
ISBN - 0-345-44175-3, Suspense, Pages - 390, Print Size - R, Rating - 4
ISBN - 0-345-44175-3, Suspense, Pages - 390, Print Size - R, Rating - 4
February 3, 2012
WIlliam Bernhardt brings us a complicated and challenging story with an extremely imperfect major character in the person of a radical Episcopal priest, who has made a critical difference in our protagonist, Ben Kincaid's life. There are a number of finely drawn characters in this story, few of whom completely capture our empathy, but all of whom combine to make an intriguing story. There are a number of twists in this one and twists on twists, but it all resolves in a very believable way. The familiar cast of Ben, Christina, Loving, and Jones are all there and each adds their own special contribution to the story. Mr. Bernhardt continues to increase the depth and content of his stories with each outing. The only reason this is a four-star and not a five star is because Murder One is the book I read immediately before this one and it was perfect in every way, while this one was merely outstanding. I still have a couple of Ben Kincaid's to read that I managed to miss in my initial devouring of this series. and look forward to more wonderful reads from this exceptionally talented writer.
August 31, 2014
I liked this book because it has the humor and interesting plot twists that all of this series features. What I really didn't like was the defendant, Ben Kincaid's client. I don't expect all of his clients to be angels - defense lawyers frequently are called on to defend reprehensible people, some of whom are actually innocent. Of course innocence is generally the case in novels where the hero is a defense lawyer.
I had a hard time with the Reverend Beale even before a startling revelation comes out. He insists on remaining the priest of a congregation that simply doesn't want him. He claims that God has called him to this church. How he can claim to be a man of God when his presence causes disunity and a diminished congregation, when no one in it will take communion from him (as it turns out, for good reason) is really a mystery to me. His pride simply knows no limits. I could deal with this if he didn't appear to be meant to be a sympathetic character.
I had a hard time with the Reverend Beale even before a startling revelation comes out. He insists on remaining the priest of a congregation that simply doesn't want him. He claims that God has called him to this church. How he can claim to be a man of God when his presence causes disunity and a diminished congregation, when no one in it will take communion from him (as it turns out, for good reason) is really a mystery to me. His pride simply knows no limits. I could deal with this if he didn't appear to be meant to be a sympathetic character.
February 4, 2013
This book was ok. I don't know much about literary criticism, but while I was reading this, I just kept thinking "this is so sophomoric" I'm not really sure what that phrase means...but I the plot was good, funny--the writing a total flop.
So the plot: there is a preacher who finds himself in the middle of a murder trial after three of his church members were killed, and all signs point to him. Now most of the time we might not think that a preacher is capable of murder, but as the trial unfolds we find that he is not a typical preacher...
If you're a John Grisham fan, you could probably make it through this novel, but I found the stereotypical characters not too engaging.
So the plot: there is a preacher who finds himself in the middle of a murder trial after three of his church members were killed, and all signs point to him. Now most of the time we might not think that a preacher is capable of murder, but as the trial unfolds we find that he is not a typical preacher...
If you're a John Grisham fan, you could probably make it through this novel, but I found the stereotypical characters not too engaging.
February 24, 2014
This is the first novel that I have read by William Bernhardt, and I except that it will not be my last. It is an easy and quick read, offering enough suspense and intrigue to keep one continually leafing through the pages, right until the end.
A fascinating and highly entertaining legal, courtroom thriller, with plot twists on top of plot twists, William Bernhardt skillfully intertwines the law, politics, religion, and sex in this 10th novel of the Ben Kincaid series. In the end it also becomes a fictional demonstration of the imperfections of the legal system: the snitches, the "junk science", and the liars.
A fascinating and highly entertaining legal, courtroom thriller, with plot twists on top of plot twists, William Bernhardt skillfully intertwines the law, politics, religion, and sex in this 10th novel of the Ben Kincaid series. In the end it also becomes a fictional demonstration of the imperfections of the legal system: the snitches, the "junk science", and the liars.
December 9, 2010
This is the first Ben Kincaid book I have read. I liked the characters and he certainly kept me guessing as to who dunnit. I liked the interesting and controversial subject matter as well.
I wasn't overly thrilled with the ending as I felt that it wasn't all resolved, but I am hoping he will pick up the story line again in the next book.
I wasn't overly thrilled with the ending as I felt that it wasn't all resolved, but I am hoping he will pick up the story line again in the next book.
July 29, 2015
well...I finished it...some good plot twists...author had a point to prove about the innocent men and women serving time in prison...and I applaud that...but Bernhardt turned a good story into ridiculous with a sex twist...that could have been left out and maybe had a decent book...save your time...pass on this one...
March 29, 2008
Another in the Kincaid series. I like how he tackles issues that are confronting us today ... this one doesn't even resolve in the way most would expect it to resolve. Still, it is light reading, but interesting. On to the next one ...
Displaying 1 - 29 of 43 reviews