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Crime of Privilege
In the tradition of Scott Turow, William Landay, and Nelson DeMille, "Crime of Privilege" is a stunning thriller about power, corruption, and the law in America--and the dangerous ways they come together.
A murder on Cape Cod. A rape in Palm Beach.
All they have in common is the presence of one of America's most beloved and influential families. But nobody is asking questions. Not the police. Not the prosecutors. And certainly not George Becket, a young lawyer toiling away in the basement of the Cape & Islands district attorney's office. George has always lived at the edge of power. He wasn't born to privilege, but he understands how it works and has benefitted from it in ways he doesn't like to admit. Now, an investigation brings him deep inside the world of the truly wealthy--and shows him what a perilous place it is.
Years have passed since a young woman was found brutally slain at an exclusive Cape Cod golf club, and no one has ever been charged. Cornered by the victim's father, George can't explain why certain leads were never explored--leads that point in the direction of a single family--and he agrees to look into it.
What begins as a search through the highly stratified layers of Cape Cod society, soon has George racing from Idaho to Hawaii, Costa Rica to France to New York City. But everywhere he goes he discovers people like himself: people with more secrets than answers, people haunted by a decision years past to trade silence for protection from life's sharp edges. George finds his friends are not necessarily still friends and a spouse can be unfaithful in more ways than one. And despite threats at every turn, he is driven to reconstruct the victim's last hours while searching not only for a killer but for his own redemption.
Advance praise for "Crime of Privilege"
"Fans of John Grisham and Scott Turow especially will love this engrossing story of murder involving high society. The author's wit, dry and cutting, is razor-sharp and somewhat reminiscent of Nelson DeMille's John Corey. . . . "Crime of Privilege" qualifies as a tale of moral redemption, a legal thriller, and a murder mystery cloaked in pure enjoyment."--Bookreporter
"A slick, satisfying conspiracy novel where revenge tastes best served with a highball."--"Milwaukee Journal Sentinel"
""Crime of Privilege" is a privilege to read. . . . An engaging, very well-paced novel . . . exciting and unpredictable."--Examiner.com
"Walter Walker's "Crime of Privilege" is a terrifically entertaining race of a read that also effortlessly manages to be jam-packed with intelligence, insight, morality, and heart. Top-notch and highly recommended!"--"New York Times" bestselling author John Lescroart
"Walter Walker combines an experienced attorney's sense of our flawed criminal justice system with a natural storyteller's gift. "Crime of Privilege" is a twisting, engrossing, irresistible detective story."--William Landay, author of "Defending Jacob" "From the Hardcover edition."
A murder on Cape Cod. A rape in Palm Beach.
All they have in common is the presence of one of America's most beloved and influential families. But nobody is asking questions. Not the police. Not the prosecutors. And certainly not George Becket, a young lawyer toiling away in the basement of the Cape & Islands district attorney's office. George has always lived at the edge of power. He wasn't born to privilege, but he understands how it works and has benefitted from it in ways he doesn't like to admit. Now, an investigation brings him deep inside the world of the truly wealthy--and shows him what a perilous place it is.
Years have passed since a young woman was found brutally slain at an exclusive Cape Cod golf club, and no one has ever been charged. Cornered by the victim's father, George can't explain why certain leads were never explored--leads that point in the direction of a single family--and he agrees to look into it.
What begins as a search through the highly stratified layers of Cape Cod society, soon has George racing from Idaho to Hawaii, Costa Rica to France to New York City. But everywhere he goes he discovers people like himself: people with more secrets than answers, people haunted by a decision years past to trade silence for protection from life's sharp edges. George finds his friends are not necessarily still friends and a spouse can be unfaithful in more ways than one. And despite threats at every turn, he is driven to reconstruct the victim's last hours while searching not only for a killer but for his own redemption.
Advance praise for "Crime of Privilege"
"Fans of John Grisham and Scott Turow especially will love this engrossing story of murder involving high society. The author's wit, dry and cutting, is razor-sharp and somewhat reminiscent of Nelson DeMille's John Corey. . . . "Crime of Privilege" qualifies as a tale of moral redemption, a legal thriller, and a murder mystery cloaked in pure enjoyment."--Bookreporter
"A slick, satisfying conspiracy novel where revenge tastes best served with a highball."--"Milwaukee Journal Sentinel"
""Crime of Privilege" is a privilege to read. . . . An engaging, very well-paced novel . . . exciting and unpredictable."--Examiner.com
"Walter Walker's "Crime of Privilege" is a terrifically entertaining race of a read that also effortlessly manages to be jam-packed with intelligence, insight, morality, and heart. Top-notch and highly recommended!"--"New York Times" bestselling author John Lescroart
"Walter Walker combines an experienced attorney's sense of our flawed criminal justice system with a natural storyteller's gift. "Crime of Privilege" is a twisting, engrossing, irresistible detective story."--William Landay, author of "Defending Jacob" "From the Hardcover edition."
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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2209 people want to read
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Walter Walker
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 428 reviews
April 13, 2013
George Becket is a deputy D.A. and sometime chump, trying to solve a murder in a community where one obscenely wealthy family holds all the power. Is it worth risking his job, and maybe even his life, to find justice for the victim's family?
This is not only a mystery, but an exploration of the social strata on Cape Cod. The Gregory family displays that sense of entitlement we envy and despise, and their sins are often overlooked or covered up. People like George Becket, who don't come from privileged backgrounds, are expected to know their place and play along. Consequences can be unpleasant for those who follow their consciences and step out of line.
I was feeling crabby about this book at first, because I didn't like the first 20-30 pages. But I was determined to give it a chance, and I'm glad I did. It was confusing for awhile trying to keep track of all the peripheral characters. Eventually I got sucked into the game as George chases red herrings all over the globe. He's convinced the Gregorys are covering up a murder, and he's determined to expose them, if only to assuage his guilt over a party rape he witnessed many years ago in Florida. Back then he allowed the Gregory family to buy his silence, just like the people he's now tracking down.
I would have liked a little more closure to the story, but it's to the author's credit that he showed some restraint. It's more realistic not to have the villains spill everything at the end, and a powerful family is even less likely to tell anyone exactly how everything went down.
The names and pertinent details in this novel have been changed to protect the filthy rich and famous. The author's too smart to imply that this fictional family was modeled after those Irish Catholics from Massachusetts with a penchant for politics. So it's not about that family. Really, it's not. It's fiction. But the parallels are too obvious to disregard. A giant compound on Cape Cod. A winter home in Florida. Crimes that go unpunished thanks to money and political clout. And especially the reference to "the Senator and his kids and his sisters' kids and his late brothers' kids." Despite all the parallels, though, I thought the Gregorys' diabolical behavior was a lot more like the Bushes than it was like any Democrats you might be thinking of.
Rating = 3.5 stars
Perfect for a lazy day by the pool or a long plane ride.
Thank you, Ballantine Books, for sending me a review copy.
This is not only a mystery, but an exploration of the social strata on Cape Cod. The Gregory family displays that sense of entitlement we envy and despise, and their sins are often overlooked or covered up. People like George Becket, who don't come from privileged backgrounds, are expected to know their place and play along. Consequences can be unpleasant for those who follow their consciences and step out of line.
I was feeling crabby about this book at first, because I didn't like the first 20-30 pages. But I was determined to give it a chance, and I'm glad I did. It was confusing for awhile trying to keep track of all the peripheral characters. Eventually I got sucked into the game as George chases red herrings all over the globe. He's convinced the Gregorys are covering up a murder, and he's determined to expose them, if only to assuage his guilt over a party rape he witnessed many years ago in Florida. Back then he allowed the Gregory family to buy his silence, just like the people he's now tracking down.
I would have liked a little more closure to the story, but it's to the author's credit that he showed some restraint. It's more realistic not to have the villains spill everything at the end, and a powerful family is even less likely to tell anyone exactly how everything went down.
The names and pertinent details in this novel have been changed to protect the filthy rich and famous. The author's too smart to imply that this fictional family was modeled after those Irish Catholics from Massachusetts with a penchant for politics. So it's not about that family. Really, it's not. It's fiction. But the parallels are too obvious to disregard. A giant compound on Cape Cod. A winter home in Florida. Crimes that go unpunished thanks to money and political clout. And especially the reference to "the Senator and his kids and his sisters' kids and his late brothers' kids." Despite all the parallels, though, I thought the Gregorys' diabolical behavior was a lot more like the Bushes than it was like any Democrats you might be thinking of.
Rating = 3.5 stars
Perfect for a lazy day by the pool or a long plane ride.
Thank you, Ballantine Books, for sending me a review copy.
October 16, 2012
Having lived in Massachusetts for just over two and a half years, it always adds another element to reading when you can envision some of the places mentioned in a novel, and you’re at least familiar with the name-drops of some of the other locations. The connection is immediate, and rather fulfilling, and if that was all CRIME OF PRIVILEGE had to offer, it would have given me one layer of enjoyment. But this particular novel offers readers so much more. Cape Cod, and the Massachusetts backdrop that sits at the heart of this novel, offers a great locale for the ongoing debate of old money versus new money, and the ways in which the rich manipulate the legal system to their advantage. It’s an interesting argument, and one well-worth the merit of an entire novel. Great writing certainly doesn’t hurt either.
The characters offer the reader more than just mere caricatures and stereotypes, and the story flows across time and locations with effervescent ease. George Becket is a man with a tainted soul, along with a tainted past, and he’s a character worth getting to know. His motivations may not have always been one hundred percent clear, but I was willing to forgive this minor transgression of the author for the sake of a rather engaging read. From the first page to the last, my attention was cemented within the confines of this novel.
The chapters came in short, staccato bursts, and I found myself flipping pages faster than a speeding train. The settings were rich, and traipsed through a variety of locales, like you would expect from any international thriller. My biggest complaint was that the novel had to end. If you’re looking for an entertaining legal thriller, then you might want to keep CRIME OF PRIVILEGE in mind.
I received this book for free at Bouchercon.
The characters offer the reader more than just mere caricatures and stereotypes, and the story flows across time and locations with effervescent ease. George Becket is a man with a tainted soul, along with a tainted past, and he’s a character worth getting to know. His motivations may not have always been one hundred percent clear, but I was willing to forgive this minor transgression of the author for the sake of a rather engaging read. From the first page to the last, my attention was cemented within the confines of this novel.
The chapters came in short, staccato bursts, and I found myself flipping pages faster than a speeding train. The settings were rich, and traipsed through a variety of locales, like you would expect from any international thriller. My biggest complaint was that the novel had to end. If you’re looking for an entertaining legal thriller, then you might want to keep CRIME OF PRIVILEGE in mind.
I received this book for free at Bouchercon.
February 19, 2013
This could not have come at a better time. I have had 2 weeks of coworker bad behavior, over 3 feet of snow, and trying to read some really bad books that I wil not take up my time to review, this showed up at my post office box.
( I received this from Random house in Goodreads Giveaway)
I poked at it several times like a cat attacking a fake felt mouse, hoping it was the real thing, before jumping on it ferociously, going for the jugular. This is my first W. Walker book, it will not be my last. .
Cape Cod and Palm Beach, what do they have in common besides places I will never be unvited? Lots of money, mayhem, and murder, homes of the rich and famous, and plenty of secrets people will pay lots of money to make disappear.
George, our narrator is on the fringes of the "rich and untouchables"! Only because he is roommates with a good friend of the iconic Gregory family. With mansions in Florida and on Cape Cod, money to burn, good looking, tanned, college educated children, and relatives in the senate, this family is a national treasure.( Sound familiar?)
But George finds himself involved in a pricarious situation when he fails to act on the behalf of a young woman during a heinous attack involving several members of the upper crust. He is questioned, and fails to implicate the Gregory boys. He then is shadowed by this guilt, a relentless agent, and leaves the college he was attending to detach himself from the situation.
Unfortunately the situation won't detach itself from George. It follows him relentlessly, so does the agent, It invades his life and demands closure. First he finds out that the young lady he failed to protect commits suicide. Before her death she had filed a suit against the Gregory's for rape but no one would substantiate her claim, not even George, remember? Then Bill Telford, the father of another young woman found with her head bashed in on the golf course years earlier, not more than a stones throw from the Gregory family compound, blames them for her death as well. Nicknamed Bill" Anything New"Telford" because he calls the police staion asking " Anything new?" again and again, tracks George down, because he wants him to help find his daughters murderer. Ted provided leads that no one seemed to follow and George heads out to track them down.
The problem is, that it seems that every time George leaves the safety of his home state to follow a lead,he almost gets killed. His experiences are both terrifying and hysterically funny. Walker has a knack for making you laugh in the middle of a scary situation. Some of these are pretty frightening, but funny as hell just the same.
His characterizations are flawless, I absolutely loved the conversations between characters, so true to life.
It took along time for me to warm up to George, for the first third of the book I really thought he was a total creep, and wanted to punch him in the face. The second third, every time he was in a bad situation and feeling pain, I thought, he deserved it, sort of, by the last 20 pages I felt he had finally paid for want he had NOT done, he had suffered, but not quite enough. At the end he finally redemed himself, almost. For me it will take another whole book for that.
( I received this from Random house in Goodreads Giveaway)
I poked at it several times like a cat attacking a fake felt mouse, hoping it was the real thing, before jumping on it ferociously, going for the jugular. This is my first W. Walker book, it will not be my last. .
Cape Cod and Palm Beach, what do they have in common besides places I will never be unvited? Lots of money, mayhem, and murder, homes of the rich and famous, and plenty of secrets people will pay lots of money to make disappear.
George, our narrator is on the fringes of the "rich and untouchables"! Only because he is roommates with a good friend of the iconic Gregory family. With mansions in Florida and on Cape Cod, money to burn, good looking, tanned, college educated children, and relatives in the senate, this family is a national treasure.( Sound familiar?)
But George finds himself involved in a pricarious situation when he fails to act on the behalf of a young woman during a heinous attack involving several members of the upper crust. He is questioned, and fails to implicate the Gregory boys. He then is shadowed by this guilt, a relentless agent, and leaves the college he was attending to detach himself from the situation.
Unfortunately the situation won't detach itself from George. It follows him relentlessly, so does the agent, It invades his life and demands closure. First he finds out that the young lady he failed to protect commits suicide. Before her death she had filed a suit against the Gregory's for rape but no one would substantiate her claim, not even George, remember? Then Bill Telford, the father of another young woman found with her head bashed in on the golf course years earlier, not more than a stones throw from the Gregory family compound, blames them for her death as well. Nicknamed Bill" Anything New"Telford" because he calls the police staion asking " Anything new?" again and again, tracks George down, because he wants him to help find his daughters murderer. Ted provided leads that no one seemed to follow and George heads out to track them down.
The problem is, that it seems that every time George leaves the safety of his home state to follow a lead,he almost gets killed. His experiences are both terrifying and hysterically funny. Walker has a knack for making you laugh in the middle of a scary situation. Some of these are pretty frightening, but funny as hell just the same.
His characterizations are flawless, I absolutely loved the conversations between characters, so true to life.
It took along time for me to warm up to George, for the first third of the book I really thought he was a total creep, and wanted to punch him in the face. The second third, every time he was in a bad situation and feeling pain, I thought, he deserved it, sort of, by the last 20 pages I felt he had finally paid for want he had NOT done, he had suffered, but not quite enough. At the end he finally redemed himself, almost. For me it will take another whole book for that.
July 12, 2013
I like to think I rate 5 stars to books like cheap bastards throw manhole covers but I would rate this book 10 stars if I could. It's truly extraordinary on so many levels, I don't know where to begin. I was expecting a pedestrian legal mystery and was ecstatic when it started me thinking about comparisons to the plot complexity and originality of Stephen Carter's "Emperor of Ocean Park" and the masterly drawn prose of Richard Russo's "Empire Falls". There is simply no drag in the pace and I was swept up in a world of an uber-influential power family based on Cape Cod. As a 30 year Bostonian, I can relate to the Massachusetts "royal" family that the characters are loosely based on but the story could be the same in Delaware, Louisiana, etc. Anywhere that political power and money corrupt good people in the name of maintaining a prominent family name and reputation for the "greater good". Power corrupts absolutely here in an "ends justify the means" kind of vehicle with one young prosecutor trying to do the right thing against overwhelming odds.
If I had a Pulitzer vote, I'd seriously consider "Crime of Privilege" for the 2013 Fiction prize. It's that good!
If I had a Pulitzer vote, I'd seriously consider "Crime of Privilege" for the 2013 Fiction prize. It's that good!
May 1, 2013
I really enjoyed most of this book. It definitely grabbed my attention from the start; however, it ended so abruptly and didn't really answer "whodunnit?".
I found it a little difficult in the beginning to really follow who all of the characters were, as it just throws you into the middle of a party at the Senator's house - and then the dates jumping around kind of threw me off, too. But I got used to that pretty quickly.
I loved all of the unexpected twists and turns! Just when I thought I had something figured out, WHAM! - another surprise!
I'm glad George ended up with Barbara personally, but I HATED the rest of the ending. A killer was not revealed. Both George and Barbara were stuck at meaningless jobs which they obviously hated ... it just seemed like a lot of drawn out suspense through the book only to end very dully. For this reason, I had to rate it only 3 stars.
And with that ending, I will be honest and say that I would NOT recommend this book to anyone else. It's dissapointing.
I found it a little difficult in the beginning to really follow who all of the characters were, as it just throws you into the middle of a party at the Senator's house - and then the dates jumping around kind of threw me off, too. But I got used to that pretty quickly.
I loved all of the unexpected twists and turns! Just when I thought I had something figured out, WHAM! - another surprise!
I'm glad George ended up with Barbara personally, but I HATED the rest of the ending. A killer was not revealed. Both George and Barbara were stuck at meaningless jobs which they obviously hated ... it just seemed like a lot of drawn out suspense through the book only to end very dully. For this reason, I had to rate it only 3 stars.
And with that ending, I will be honest and say that I would NOT recommend this book to anyone else. It's dissapointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2017
I was going to give this two stars, but seeing as I could not bring myself to battle through to the end, I simply cannot award it more than one star. I was hoping for an Adam Mitzner-type legal thriller and engaging mystery, but what I got was a seemingly endless plodding of boring characters I didn't care for and a case so convoluted I stopped paying attention, which isn't like me. I might be the wrong audience for this book, but I simply didn't like anything about it. None of the characters were likeable or particularly sympathetic and the story was so long and tedious and I just had to give up and move on. I never abandon book if I've invested so much time in them, but I just don't care about the ending of this one.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
August 1, 2018
A roman a clef, a mystery story, a legal thriller, a travelogue? Crime of Privilege doesn't really fit fairly and squarely into any of these genres, although it has aspects of them all -- and, indeed, more. What it is is one of the most engrossing, involving novels I've read all year.
No-longer-quite-so-young George Becket is among the lowliest of the lawyers working in the (presumably fictitious) Cape & Islands DA's office on Cape Cod, his standard fare being OUI cases. The only real friend he has in the department is his office-mate, Barbara Belbonnet. Both are aware that they got their jobs only because of their social connections: Barbara because the Belbonnets are old Cape Cod bluebloods, George because, years ago, he witnessed a borderline rape committed by two scions of the politically powerful Gregory family and, although he didn't lie about what he'd seen, his failure to volunteer information ensured that charges were never brought.
The victim was, though, the daughter of an equally powerful and not especially scrupulous magnate, whose rather terrifying intermediary periodically visits George to remind him that the case will never be closed until the perpetrators are brought to justice.
But then George is approached by someone at the opposite end of the spectrum of influence, Bill Telford, known to the authorities as "Anything New" because that's the question he keeps asking about the case of his daughter Heidi, murdered a few years ago during or just after a Gregory family party. Bill thinks the cops and the DA are just burying the investigation because of the Gregory connection, and it doesn't take George long to discover Bill's right . . .
What stands out in Crime of Privilege is the sheer quality of the writing: restrained, dry, sometimes caustically witty, it's an absolute delight to read. This isn't a novel for people who demand instant gratification or non-stop action; it's quite cerebral, to be honest, the action sequences being few and far between -- and only one of them makes a genuine attempt to set the pulse racing. The suspense -- and I found it building up to quite a pitch -- lies in the measured progress of George's gradual uncovering of the truth about Heidi's death and the nature of his own guilt in connection with the earlier crime.
And there's also a very pleasing love story that plays a tangential part -- very pleasing because neither partner is on paper an ideal match for the other and one of them is very flawed, and yet the bond they eventually form is all the greater for that.
I can understand that, with its avoidance of sensationalism, this might not be the book for everyone, but for me it hit the spot just right. One to savor, remember, and very likely reread. In the meantime, there are other Walter Walker novels out there I should track down . . .
No-longer-quite-so-young George Becket is among the lowliest of the lawyers working in the (presumably fictitious) Cape & Islands DA's office on Cape Cod, his standard fare being OUI cases. The only real friend he has in the department is his office-mate, Barbara Belbonnet. Both are aware that they got their jobs only because of their social connections: Barbara because the Belbonnets are old Cape Cod bluebloods, George because, years ago, he witnessed a borderline rape committed by two scions of the politically powerful Gregory family and, although he didn't lie about what he'd seen, his failure to volunteer information ensured that charges were never brought.
The victim was, though, the daughter of an equally powerful and not especially scrupulous magnate, whose rather terrifying intermediary periodically visits George to remind him that the case will never be closed until the perpetrators are brought to justice.
But then George is approached by someone at the opposite end of the spectrum of influence, Bill Telford, known to the authorities as "Anything New" because that's the question he keeps asking about the case of his daughter Heidi, murdered a few years ago during or just after a Gregory family party. Bill thinks the cops and the DA are just burying the investigation because of the Gregory connection, and it doesn't take George long to discover Bill's right . . .
What stands out in Crime of Privilege is the sheer quality of the writing: restrained, dry, sometimes caustically witty, it's an absolute delight to read. This isn't a novel for people who demand instant gratification or non-stop action; it's quite cerebral, to be honest, the action sequences being few and far between -- and only one of them makes a genuine attempt to set the pulse racing. The suspense -- and I found it building up to quite a pitch -- lies in the measured progress of George's gradual uncovering of the truth about Heidi's death and the nature of his own guilt in connection with the earlier crime.
And there's also a very pleasing love story that plays a tangential part -- very pleasing because neither partner is on paper an ideal match for the other and one of them is very flawed, and yet the bond they eventually form is all the greater for that.
I can understand that, with its avoidance of sensationalism, this might not be the book for everyone, but for me it hit the spot just right. One to savor, remember, and very likely reread. In the meantime, there are other Walter Walker novels out there I should track down . . .
May 2, 2013
I felt like taking a shower when I was done - 3.5 stars
There are so many sleazy characters in this book that at points I felt my hands were getting slimy from grabbing it. The story is based on a rape in Florida 1996 and a murder in Cape Cod in 1999. The main character, George, was a witness to the rape, though the culprits were never punished. Now in 2008, he is working in a dead-end job at the district attorney's office in Cape Cod and is sought after by the father of the victim of a murder. Both events, the rape and the murder, have connections to a powerful family, the Kennedys, I mean the Gregorys.
We are there taken on a journey through time and space in which George tries to figure out who the killer is and in the process discovers a few additional truths, some of which are really hard to swallow. At points the book is really interesting, but I got the feeling in several portions that the author was dilly-dallying for the sake of just making this story longer. In those portions the story loses focus and becomes somewhat boring. Another problem I had with the story was that George, the main character is truly a wuss, and having the story told by him gets kind of annoying.
Walker does a great job in helping us hate the Gregorys though, by giving detailed explanations of how they use their power to make other peoples' lives miserable and how they only care about themselves and their friends. I would have liked for the author to spend a little more time telling us about the characters that are potentially involved in the murder. We get names and some brief descriptions, but at times it gets a little hard to keep track. Towards the end of the book though it gets easier.
Overall this is a pretty good story, but that does not lack flaws, some of which are more easily forgivable than others. The last comment I have has to do with the end. I would have liked a little more explanation and certainty about how things really happened, since I was left with a sense that the author spent a lot of time and effort in sections of the book that did not require them and then when it was time to wrap things up he rushed a little too much.
I was provided a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There are so many sleazy characters in this book that at points I felt my hands were getting slimy from grabbing it. The story is based on a rape in Florida 1996 and a murder in Cape Cod in 1999. The main character, George, was a witness to the rape, though the culprits were never punished. Now in 2008, he is working in a dead-end job at the district attorney's office in Cape Cod and is sought after by the father of the victim of a murder. Both events, the rape and the murder, have connections to a powerful family, the Kennedys, I mean the Gregorys.
We are there taken on a journey through time and space in which George tries to figure out who the killer is and in the process discovers a few additional truths, some of which are really hard to swallow. At points the book is really interesting, but I got the feeling in several portions that the author was dilly-dallying for the sake of just making this story longer. In those portions the story loses focus and becomes somewhat boring. Another problem I had with the story was that George, the main character is truly a wuss, and having the story told by him gets kind of annoying.
Walker does a great job in helping us hate the Gregorys though, by giving detailed explanations of how they use their power to make other peoples' lives miserable and how they only care about themselves and their friends. I would have liked for the author to spend a little more time telling us about the characters that are potentially involved in the murder. We get names and some brief descriptions, but at times it gets a little hard to keep track. Towards the end of the book though it gets easier.
Overall this is a pretty good story, but that does not lack flaws, some of which are more easily forgivable than others. The last comment I have has to do with the end. I would have liked a little more explanation and certainty about how things really happened, since I was left with a sense that the author spent a lot of time and effort in sections of the book that did not require them and then when it was time to wrap things up he rushed a little too much.
I was provided a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2016
The premise of this novel sounded interesting--a mix of a murder mystery and an influential family involved--and was happy to have been approved of a galley copy to read.
While the premise of this novel was intriguing, the overall story fell flat and boring for me. This was mostly because of the narrator and protagonist of the story. I found George to be far too…blank, passive and lacking in some sort of strong or particular characterisation to define him that would in turn compel me, the reader, like him and root for him as he investigates further. The writing and narration also felt awkward at times that I never really connected with the story. I only read it to the very end to see whether the truth would surface and the perpetrators brought to justice.
Fans of the mystery genre may enjoy this novel but I was left feeling indifferent about it.
My complete review of the novel was originally posted at eclectictales.com: http://www.eclectictales.com/blog/201...
While the premise of this novel was intriguing, the overall story fell flat and boring for me. This was mostly because of the narrator and protagonist of the story. I found George to be far too…blank, passive and lacking in some sort of strong or particular characterisation to define him that would in turn compel me, the reader, like him and root for him as he investigates further. The writing and narration also felt awkward at times that I never really connected with the story. I only read it to the very end to see whether the truth would surface and the perpetrators brought to justice.
Fans of the mystery genre may enjoy this novel but I was left feeling indifferent about it.
My complete review of the novel was originally posted at eclectictales.com: http://www.eclectictales.com/blog/201...
September 11, 2013
After finishing this book I flipped to the back and read that the author is a lawyer. Oh, that explains a great deal. The plot is so convoluted and full of too many things that you realize the author has a twisted mind. The book is based on several Kennedy episodes. One is the rape of a girl reportedly done by a Kennedy cousin down in Florida. The similarities of the book and real life include the senator making an appearance at the crime scene and the young man in question becoming a doctor. The other involves a murder of a young girl done years earlier and done by a Kennedy cousin.
Joining those two events together makes a clumsy plot. It's difficult keeping the cast of characters straight is a task in itself. Making sense of it is difficult. The book's premise is the wealthy family (Kennedys) buying off numerous people and keeping track of their where abouts for 9 years, What perservance! Not only that but there is another wealthy family making the same moves. It runs its own spy operation. Make sense? It didn't for me either.
It was one of the those books that just seemed to go on forever. Am I done yet? Is this making sense yet? Could editing 50-100 pages make this better? Does it make you long for a John Grisham novel? Why am I still reading this?
Joining those two events together makes a clumsy plot. It's difficult keeping the cast of characters straight is a task in itself. Making sense of it is difficult. The book's premise is the wealthy family (Kennedys) buying off numerous people and keeping track of their where abouts for 9 years, What perservance! Not only that but there is another wealthy family making the same moves. It runs its own spy operation. Make sense? It didn't for me either.
It was one of the those books that just seemed to go on forever. Am I done yet? Is this making sense yet? Could editing 50-100 pages make this better? Does it make you long for a John Grisham novel? Why am I still reading this?
April 19, 2015
George Becket is a young man from a blue-collar family. While in college, one of his friends receives an invitation to a party being held at the Palm Beach summer home of Senator Gregory of Cape Cod. George feels decidedly out of place and latches on to a drunk young woman named Kendrick Powell. When the son and nephew of Senator Gregory offer Kendrick a tour of the home, George tags along. Unfortunately, the two young men had something other than showing off the house in mind. While in the library, they molest Kendrick; and George witnesses what they are doing. He stops them when they begin to use a candlestick holder to enter Kendrick, but he isn’t sure that they have actually raped her. In fact, he presumes that she is a willing participant, since she is the one who decided to drink too much and had the ability to drive herself home. Later, Kendrick claims that she has been raped; and George fails to testify on her behalf. In a quid pro quo, the Gregory family paves the way for him to get a job as a prosecuting attorney.
Several years later, George is approached by the father of a young woman who was found brutally slain at an exclusive Cape Cod golf club. Bill Telford has been dogging everyone in the office about the death of his daughter, Heidi, nine years earlier. He has been there so frequently that the staff refer to him as “Anything New”. In fact, he has some provided some important information about the murder; but no one ever does anything about it. The leads that he has given have never been shared or placed in the police file. Perhaps out of guilt about his non-participation in the Kendrick case, George decides to take a look at the situation. It’s no surprise to learn that the Gregory family may once again be involved. It’s difficult to find anything concrete that will result in the perpetrator being found and punished, especially since several other people have benefitted from Senator Gregory’s largesse, and no one wants to kill the golden goose.
George has learned the political game. When he threatens to reveal that the district attorney’s office has failed to investigate the Telford case in order to protect the Gregory family, they move him to a larger office and provide funds for him to undertake an investigation. Rather implausibly, he travels to Hawaii, California, Costa Rica, New York and France while following the clues. Essentially, this is a cold case so all of that effort seemed excessive.
CRIME OF PRIVILEGE is both a legal thriller, a study of the privileges of class and a book of redemption. The protagonist isn’t exactly admirable, particularly as a young man, but his work on the Telford case shows a lot of dedication and some courage. Although I couldn’t quite believe everything that happened in the book, Walker did a good job of showing the influence of power and how it corrupts.
Several years later, George is approached by the father of a young woman who was found brutally slain at an exclusive Cape Cod golf club. Bill Telford has been dogging everyone in the office about the death of his daughter, Heidi, nine years earlier. He has been there so frequently that the staff refer to him as “Anything New”. In fact, he has some provided some important information about the murder; but no one ever does anything about it. The leads that he has given have never been shared or placed in the police file. Perhaps out of guilt about his non-participation in the Kendrick case, George decides to take a look at the situation. It’s no surprise to learn that the Gregory family may once again be involved. It’s difficult to find anything concrete that will result in the perpetrator being found and punished, especially since several other people have benefitted from Senator Gregory’s largesse, and no one wants to kill the golden goose.
George has learned the political game. When he threatens to reveal that the district attorney’s office has failed to investigate the Telford case in order to protect the Gregory family, they move him to a larger office and provide funds for him to undertake an investigation. Rather implausibly, he travels to Hawaii, California, Costa Rica, New York and France while following the clues. Essentially, this is a cold case so all of that effort seemed excessive.
CRIME OF PRIVILEGE is both a legal thriller, a study of the privileges of class and a book of redemption. The protagonist isn’t exactly admirable, particularly as a young man, but his work on the Telford case shows a lot of dedication and some courage. Although I couldn’t quite believe everything that happened in the book, Walker did a good job of showing the influence of power and how it corrupts.
January 13, 2015
God! This book began quite promising but never delivered. There were hundreds of pages of speculation and over dramatic wonderings by the main character George Beckett. He was to be quite honest a total loser. He had no self esteem couldn't make a decision and was such a boring non person it made this difficult to get through.
It took me months MONTHS!!! to finish this book. I kept putting it down because it just never got to a point. There was no real rise and fall just a lot of pages of George's neurotic thoughts.
The end didn't produce anything any more interesting either. Right down to the last sentence it was a snooze fest. And by page 413 I just couldn't wait to be done with it.
It took me months MONTHS!!! to finish this book. I kept putting it down because it just never got to a point. There was no real rise and fall just a lot of pages of George's neurotic thoughts.
The end didn't produce anything any more interesting either. Right down to the last sentence it was a snooze fest. And by page 413 I just couldn't wait to be done with it.
October 8, 2013
Holy shit! That was awful. The novel starts with great promise, but it dissolves into a steaming pile of nothing. The climax comes together about as fast as two slugs racing to the middle of a pool of molasses and when you finally manage to get there, there is no resolution. I'm so sad to have wasted my time here, please don't make the same mistake.
March 19, 2013
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15...
This is a well-paced, masculine novel balanced with mystery, action, humor, sex, twists and turns. It would probably make a successful movie. In fact, the unusually short chapters that skipped around in time can easily strike the reader as movie scenes. Also, the balance of the aforementioned components easily brings to mind a potentially popular screenplay, as does the ending (if perhaps a bit less hectic).
Reconciliation of the psychology of the conflicted protagonist and some of the key assumptions in the book is the key challenge, but not necessarily in a negative sense. It is the most compelling aspect of the book. For that reason, the title is somewhat of a decoy.
Essentially, the protagonist is motivated to go to extreme lengths to solve a murder mystery presumably to assuage his festering guilt about witnessing a sexual assault on an inebriated girl at a party, when he was a 22-year-old student. Yet, the protagonist’s unusual aloofness and detachment from others, and lack of intimacy in his superficial relationships with his wife and other women (and men) throughout the book, and his conflicting if not contradictory perceptions of the rape didn’t all seem to comport with his alleged empathy (at times) for the rape victim nor his extreme drive for redemption. The little we do know about him playing organized sports and appearing to be somewhat of a "partier" with a predilection for alcohol consumption at nearly every juncture, would normally lead one to expect him to possess a "blame the victim" or "boys will be boys" mentality about rape. So reaching a reasonable understanding of the protagonist’s unique moral compass, not to mention his true feelings about anything--other than his social alienation, is thought provoking for the reader throughout the book.
One of the key assumptions of this timely novel was that the perpetrators of these crimes got away with them due to their Kennedy-like power, social status, and influence. This seems plausible in the murder case though the network and organization of those involved on both sides seemed unrealistically elaborate, but perhaps I am naïve about such things. Somehow, the blind eye to misdeeds of the Kennedy’s has always seemed to happen a lot more simply, certainly given the virtually universal disregard of JFK’s teen intern mistress, Mimi Alford (and others), both at the time and after her recent tell-all book some 50 years later. Similarly, the responses to subsequent Kennedy family brushes with the law seem to have left them relatively unscathed over the years as well, without quite so much behind the scenes manipulation, though I could certainly be out of the loop on this.
As for the initial rape early in the novel, the idea of this being an element of a "crime of privilege" was difficult to accept since clearly a cultural tolerance for rape prevails everywhere. This issue has found its way to the national and international spotlight with quite a vengeance lately—in a Steubenville high school, in college fraternities, sports culture, and far beyond, including the U.S. military, in bizarre, male Congressional pronouncements during the 2012 presidential race, and in news of horrific mass rape, sexual assault and trafficking crimes throughout the world (reported extensively in Half the Sky and myriad other news accounts and publications). We’ve heard as many as 1 in 12 college men have admitted to committing rape. Somewhere around 97% of rapists are never incarcerated while between 300,000 and 1.3 million women are raped every year in the U.S. If it were a "crime of privilege," the privilege would more accurately be attributable to being male than being a member of a prestigious family. After all, a woman’s chance of being raped in college is 1 in 4 or 5. 16,000 to 19,000 rapes were reported in the military in 2010 and 2011, 14%-20% were gang rapes or multiple rapes, with few resulting in prosecutions. So this rather unremarkable protagonist’s exceptional preoccupation and angst regarding this initial crime (which are fundamental to the story) are certainly curious in light of what we know about him and in light of what is going on in the real world.
Yet, this novel brings to light, to a wholly unsuspecting audience in a uniquely un-preachy, accessible way, a number of critical questions about what constitutes rape; what one should do if non-consensual sex is encountered; the role and impact of alcohol and drug use; the long-term impact of sexual assault not only on victims but on the perpetrators and other parties involved as well. For that alone I would give the novel two thumbs up. But it’s also an intriguing character study of a somewhat unconventional protagonist, a social commentary on power, influence and celebrity, and an adventure as well. (An advance copy of this book was provided for free by Ashley at Random House.)
This is a well-paced, masculine novel balanced with mystery, action, humor, sex, twists and turns. It would probably make a successful movie. In fact, the unusually short chapters that skipped around in time can easily strike the reader as movie scenes. Also, the balance of the aforementioned components easily brings to mind a potentially popular screenplay, as does the ending (if perhaps a bit less hectic).
Reconciliation of the psychology of the conflicted protagonist and some of the key assumptions in the book is the key challenge, but not necessarily in a negative sense. It is the most compelling aspect of the book. For that reason, the title is somewhat of a decoy.
Essentially, the protagonist is motivated to go to extreme lengths to solve a murder mystery presumably to assuage his festering guilt about witnessing a sexual assault on an inebriated girl at a party, when he was a 22-year-old student. Yet, the protagonist’s unusual aloofness and detachment from others, and lack of intimacy in his superficial relationships with his wife and other women (and men) throughout the book, and his conflicting if not contradictory perceptions of the rape didn’t all seem to comport with his alleged empathy (at times) for the rape victim nor his extreme drive for redemption. The little we do know about him playing organized sports and appearing to be somewhat of a "partier" with a predilection for alcohol consumption at nearly every juncture, would normally lead one to expect him to possess a "blame the victim" or "boys will be boys" mentality about rape. So reaching a reasonable understanding of the protagonist’s unique moral compass, not to mention his true feelings about anything--other than his social alienation, is thought provoking for the reader throughout the book.
One of the key assumptions of this timely novel was that the perpetrators of these crimes got away with them due to their Kennedy-like power, social status, and influence. This seems plausible in the murder case though the network and organization of those involved on both sides seemed unrealistically elaborate, but perhaps I am naïve about such things. Somehow, the blind eye to misdeeds of the Kennedy’s has always seemed to happen a lot more simply, certainly given the virtually universal disregard of JFK’s teen intern mistress, Mimi Alford (and others), both at the time and after her recent tell-all book some 50 years later. Similarly, the responses to subsequent Kennedy family brushes with the law seem to have left them relatively unscathed over the years as well, without quite so much behind the scenes manipulation, though I could certainly be out of the loop on this.
As for the initial rape early in the novel, the idea of this being an element of a "crime of privilege" was difficult to accept since clearly a cultural tolerance for rape prevails everywhere. This issue has found its way to the national and international spotlight with quite a vengeance lately—in a Steubenville high school, in college fraternities, sports culture, and far beyond, including the U.S. military, in bizarre, male Congressional pronouncements during the 2012 presidential race, and in news of horrific mass rape, sexual assault and trafficking crimes throughout the world (reported extensively in Half the Sky and myriad other news accounts and publications). We’ve heard as many as 1 in 12 college men have admitted to committing rape. Somewhere around 97% of rapists are never incarcerated while between 300,000 and 1.3 million women are raped every year in the U.S. If it were a "crime of privilege," the privilege would more accurately be attributable to being male than being a member of a prestigious family. After all, a woman’s chance of being raped in college is 1 in 4 or 5. 16,000 to 19,000 rapes were reported in the military in 2010 and 2011, 14%-20% were gang rapes or multiple rapes, with few resulting in prosecutions. So this rather unremarkable protagonist’s exceptional preoccupation and angst regarding this initial crime (which are fundamental to the story) are certainly curious in light of what we know about him and in light of what is going on in the real world.
Yet, this novel brings to light, to a wholly unsuspecting audience in a uniquely un-preachy, accessible way, a number of critical questions about what constitutes rape; what one should do if non-consensual sex is encountered; the role and impact of alcohol and drug use; the long-term impact of sexual assault not only on victims but on the perpetrators and other parties involved as well. For that alone I would give the novel two thumbs up. But it’s also an intriguing character study of a somewhat unconventional protagonist, a social commentary on power, influence and celebrity, and an adventure as well. (An advance copy of this book was provided for free by Ashley at Random House.)
April 22, 2013
A first rate thriller! As the guest of a guest at a party thrown by one of America’s wealthiest and most powerful families, college student George Beckett witnesses an incident involving several young members of the privileged elite. When asked if he’ll testify George can’t say for certain exactly what it was he witnessed… was it simply a little drunken “fooling around” or something far worse? As a reward for what the family perceives as his “loyalty” George is the recipient of a few high powered favors. Nothing as crude or obvious as a bribe but George knows he’s been paid off. Years later he still thinks about the incident, has dreams about what he saw… and he still isn’t sure. As an unremarkable assistant District Attorney George is just coasting through life doing the bare minimum when he finds himself thrust into the midst of another old case involving members of that same family, this time there can be no doubt as to what happened… it was murder.
The story starts out fairly quickly, and never stops doing a slow consistent build right up until the final chapters. It does a few time leaps back and forth but does it in a smooth style that isn’t hard to follow. The story is introspective, anyone expecting a thrill ride of nonstop action will be very disappointed, George is trying to come to terms with what he's done and what he has to do. The end doesn’t wrap up in a tidy little bow, there is closure to the story but rather than a black and white resolution the reader is left in a gray area – some things will change others will always be the same.
There’s an awful lot going on in this story beneath the surface. It contains much in social commentary on things like (corrupted) power, (unearned) privilege and the often unhealthy influence of family dynasties. There is also a strong sense of paranoia that weaves throughout the plot. In a lot of ways it’s a conspiracy theorists worst nightmare come true. I was completely riveted by the story.
The character of George Beckett isn’t a knight in shining armor, his heroic qualities are minimal. Some readers might be put off by his apparent ambivalence to the things going on around him. I thought it added a sense of realism to the character, here’s basically a working class guy who has spent most of his life in relative comfort around the edges of the rich and powerful, now he can rock the boat and possibly sink himself in the process or do nothing and try to live with himself knowing he never even tried.
The book contains adult language, sexual situations and some violence.
*** I received a free Advance Readers Edition of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. There were no conditions given or promises made as to whether the review would be good, bad or indifferent – only that it would be my honest opinion. It is.
The story starts out fairly quickly, and never stops doing a slow consistent build right up until the final chapters. It does a few time leaps back and forth but does it in a smooth style that isn’t hard to follow. The story is introspective, anyone expecting a thrill ride of nonstop action will be very disappointed, George is trying to come to terms with what he's done and what he has to do. The end doesn’t wrap up in a tidy little bow, there is closure to the story but rather than a black and white resolution the reader is left in a gray area – some things will change others will always be the same.
There’s an awful lot going on in this story beneath the surface. It contains much in social commentary on things like (corrupted) power, (unearned) privilege and the often unhealthy influence of family dynasties. There is also a strong sense of paranoia that weaves throughout the plot. In a lot of ways it’s a conspiracy theorists worst nightmare come true. I was completely riveted by the story.
The character of George Beckett isn’t a knight in shining armor, his heroic qualities are minimal. Some readers might be put off by his apparent ambivalence to the things going on around him. I thought it added a sense of realism to the character, here’s basically a working class guy who has spent most of his life in relative comfort around the edges of the rich and powerful, now he can rock the boat and possibly sink himself in the process or do nothing and try to live with himself knowing he never even tried.
The book contains adult language, sexual situations and some violence.
*** I received a free Advance Readers Edition of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. There were no conditions given or promises made as to whether the review would be good, bad or indifferent – only that it would be my honest opinion. It is.
February 27, 2013
To write Crime of Privilege off as simply another legal thriller does it a disservice. It may, in fact, even be a completely inaccurate description. Sure, the protagonist George Becket is an ADA in Cape Cod, but really the legal aspects of the book end there and what follows is much more of a whodunit than a thriller.
What makes this book stand out from other murder mysteries, though, is the continuing theme of power and loyalty. It examines closely at the things that people are willing to overlook in order to get closer to or maintain that power. Author Walter Walker manages to get inside the heads of a politically elite family and reveal their twisted justifications for their actions. None of the crimes or cover-ups seem remotely unrealistic. When you look at the last few decades of dirty little secrets uncovered from both sides of the political aisle, it almost seems like a matter of time before a true story like this comes along.
What keeps this book from being amazing, though, is its main character. Becket simply isn't a very likable guy. He is incredibly boring and seems to have gone through life with an ambition to just keeping himself occupied. That alone doesn't hold the story back, though. There are a number of unlikable protagonists in crime fiction and the character's personality really fits his biography. The problem is, quite frankly, he's in way over his head and has no investigative skills. The combination of this and his introverted personality make it kind of unrealistic that he would be as motivated to take this case on as he is. It also feels like in the end, Becket personally accomplished nothing. For most of the book it feels like he's just a tool to guide the plot. The peripheral characters seem to do most of the leg work and that Becket is just really good at being a right-plate-right-time kind of guy. At one point in the book it feels like the woman that works the desk at his hotel does more investigative work than him.
I found Crime of Privilege to be a surprisingly good, realistic, and entertaining book. Although it has a few faults that keep it from being a well above average read, I would not hesitate to recommend it.
I was provided an advance copy by the publisher.
What makes this book stand out from other murder mysteries, though, is the continuing theme of power and loyalty. It examines closely at the things that people are willing to overlook in order to get closer to or maintain that power. Author Walter Walker manages to get inside the heads of a politically elite family and reveal their twisted justifications for their actions. None of the crimes or cover-ups seem remotely unrealistic. When you look at the last few decades of dirty little secrets uncovered from both sides of the political aisle, it almost seems like a matter of time before a true story like this comes along.
What keeps this book from being amazing, though, is its main character. Becket simply isn't a very likable guy. He is incredibly boring and seems to have gone through life with an ambition to just keeping himself occupied. That alone doesn't hold the story back, though. There are a number of unlikable protagonists in crime fiction and the character's personality really fits his biography. The problem is, quite frankly, he's in way over his head and has no investigative skills. The combination of this and his introverted personality make it kind of unrealistic that he would be as motivated to take this case on as he is. It also feels like in the end, Becket personally accomplished nothing. For most of the book it feels like he's just a tool to guide the plot. The peripheral characters seem to do most of the leg work and that Becket is just really good at being a right-plate-right-time kind of guy. At one point in the book it feels like the woman that works the desk at his hotel does more investigative work than him.
I found Crime of Privilege to be a surprisingly good, realistic, and entertaining book. Although it has a few faults that keep it from being a well above average read, I would not hesitate to recommend it.
I was provided an advance copy by the publisher.
May 30, 2013
George Beckitt is asked to investigate the murder of Heidi Telford by her distraught father. The father is sure that certain leads aren't followed because of the long reach of a prestigious family. George also shares a sordid past with the Gregory family that he wishes to never see the light of day, but he's also hoping to find some sort of redemption. His attempt to find the true murderer of Heidi Telford leads him on a cross-country, international investigation where no one is saying much.
Crime of Privilege is a pretty interesting read that will captivate readers from page one. It opens to a scene that is the catalyst for Beckitt and why he must go on his mission redemption. Most of the novel I wasn't sure if I could like someone like Beckitt, but eventually he wins me over. He's under a lot of pressure and there is violence awaiting him at every turn so it's hard not to like someone who's interest in the truth surpasses that of his own well-being. Walter Walker makes him a fully-fleshed character and an entertaining voice with his wit and intelligence.
I was hoping for a little more in regards to suspense or thrills but it just wasn't there. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just felt a little let down by it. The moments when our protagonist was in a sketchy situation seemed to breeze by a little too quickly. I'm not sure if I misread the book's jacket but... although it's obvious Beckitt is being trailed by somebody... I never got the sense of suspense in regards to life or death. Maybe that also has to do a lot with Beckitt not liking himself very much.
Overall, this is a novel that will have readers turning the pages just to see what happens next. It's a fast, gripping read that will make people wonder just how much clout does one family have/need in order to change the outcome of peoples' lives. I will never know that pleasure but I recommend this novel to fans of legal thrillers.
Crime of Privilege is a pretty interesting read that will captivate readers from page one. It opens to a scene that is the catalyst for Beckitt and why he must go on his mission redemption. Most of the novel I wasn't sure if I could like someone like Beckitt, but eventually he wins me over. He's under a lot of pressure and there is violence awaiting him at every turn so it's hard not to like someone who's interest in the truth surpasses that of his own well-being. Walter Walker makes him a fully-fleshed character and an entertaining voice with his wit and intelligence.
I was hoping for a little more in regards to suspense or thrills but it just wasn't there. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, I just felt a little let down by it. The moments when our protagonist was in a sketchy situation seemed to breeze by a little too quickly. I'm not sure if I misread the book's jacket but... although it's obvious Beckitt is being trailed by somebody... I never got the sense of suspense in regards to life or death. Maybe that also has to do a lot with Beckitt not liking himself very much.
Overall, this is a novel that will have readers turning the pages just to see what happens next. It's a fast, gripping read that will make people wonder just how much clout does one family have/need in order to change the outcome of peoples' lives. I will never know that pleasure but I recommend this novel to fans of legal thrillers.
June 10, 2013
Loved this. I've found a new Grisham/Turow/Dunne/DeMille. The author's wit, dry and cutting, is so much fun. The story centers more around the privileged Gregory family than figuring out whodunit. It seems clear early on who did what. Well, sort of. But Assistant DA George Becket manages to chase around the globe after witnesses and clues, adding another dimension to the enjoyment. And don't get me wrong; there's plenty of suspense. This book qualifies as a tale of moral redemption, a legal thriller, a murder mystery, and pure enjoyment.
September 28, 2016
Years after a young woman's murdered body was found on a golf course in a very upscale community, George Becket is working for a law firm with many wealthy clients. He is asked to investigate the murder by the woman's father as the police and District Attorney's office failed to do so after the few clues pointed to a single influential family. George will expose many unsavory secrets including some of his own.
September 25, 2015
Did not finish - I got to 20% but the plot wasn't hooking me and I hated the main character. I just didn't have any interest in reading on. Lots of great reviews for this one on here but it's not for me.
May 6, 2013
Serious topics, sleazy characters, rape, murder, big money and one Assistant District Attorney make for often intense reading with Walter Walker’s Crime of Privilege. George Becket is a young man from a blue-collar family who attends a high society party given by a powerful Senator. When members of the wealthy Senator Gregory brutally attack and rape a young woman, George witnesses it, but fails to either assist the victim, or come forward to substantiate her claim. As George narrates his own story, he reveals the guilt he holds for what he failed to do that night, and yet, he still does nothing but try to distance himself from those involved. The father of another young woman found murdered on a golf course years earlier, extremely close to the Gregory family compound, claims they were responsible, but the police have no evidence and the case is cold. He contacts George and pleads with him to help track down the murderers with evidence the police are ignoring. George undertakes getting to the truth at great peril to himself on his road to assuaging his guilt. Can he finally find justice for these victims of what appears to be a massive cover up?
Throughout the book, I found the dialogue to be very good, very real, but often, it read like an explanation of the powers of the rich and famous, the more you have, the more you can cover your tracks. The main character wasn’t the ultimate in heroes, he was rather cowardly and often hard to like or respect, perhaps too humanly flawed for his role? I can say, the pace was fast and Walter Walker did create backgrounds that felt realistic throughout.
An ARC copy was provided to me by NetGalley and the Random House Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review. Publication Date: May 28, 2013.
Throughout the book, I found the dialogue to be very good, very real, but often, it read like an explanation of the powers of the rich and famous, the more you have, the more you can cover your tracks. The main character wasn’t the ultimate in heroes, he was rather cowardly and often hard to like or respect, perhaps too humanly flawed for his role? I can say, the pace was fast and Walter Walker did create backgrounds that felt realistic throughout.
An ARC copy was provided to me by NetGalley and the Random House Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review. Publication Date: May 28, 2013.
January 23, 2013
I am so looking forward to reading this book-- I am and was lucky enough to receive this as a first read from the author. Thank you so very much for the book Mr Walker- what a way to end the year!!
Crime of Privilege is about actually about two different crimes. One that happens when George was very young and in college- he witnessed a young women being raped. What did he do? Did he stop the rape- help the young woman- report it?? Hmmm... well for that you must read ...
Now for the second crime and the one that takes on a long journey from Idaho to Hawaii to Costa Rica to France to New York. George is now a lawyer and working in the D.A 's office when the father of a young women comes to him about her death at Cape Cod. Nobody is asking questions - the father is bringing all sorts of information to the police and to the D.A's office but its going no where. It's been years since Heidi was murder an left on the golf course. Everywhere George turns he is left with more questions and more danger.
This is a must read!!! And if you want to know what happens to George and who killed Heidi then you gonna have to read it as I'm not gonna tell you... I rate this book as a 10 star as it has everything in it!!!Way to go!!!
Crime of Privilege is about actually about two different crimes. One that happens when George was very young and in college- he witnessed a young women being raped. What did he do? Did he stop the rape- help the young woman- report it?? Hmmm... well for that you must read ...
Now for the second crime and the one that takes on a long journey from Idaho to Hawaii to Costa Rica to France to New York. George is now a lawyer and working in the D.A 's office when the father of a young women comes to him about her death at Cape Cod. Nobody is asking questions - the father is bringing all sorts of information to the police and to the D.A's office but its going no where. It's been years since Heidi was murder an left on the golf course. Everywhere George turns he is left with more questions and more danger.
This is a must read!!! And if you want to know what happens to George and who killed Heidi then you gonna have to read it as I'm not gonna tell you... I rate this book as a 10 star as it has everything in it!!!Way to go!!!
December 6, 2014
I'd make it 2 1/2 stars if I could, but it's not as bad as 2, so I compromised on 3 stars.
My first read of anything Walter Walker has written. I might have perceived it better if I hadn't listened to it while sick as a dog with a cold/bronchitis. So I'll probably try another of his books to make sure the bad review wasn't caused by feeling poorly.
It felt to me that Walter Walker was pointing the finger at the Kennedy Clan or some other politically connected wealthy Massachusetts family.
This story about what the wealthy and connected can get away with in their own towns, and whether it's rape or murder, or both in this case, the moral put forth is: the rich and famous will never be brought to trial for their misdeeds because of their power. Now that's a depressing thought!
The protagonist is not especially likable—he doesn't stand up in the beginning for what he knows is the right thing as he witnesses a misdeed, yet years later he's still trying to find enough evidence to convict the rapist/murderer. Ooops, too little, too late as far as helping the victim. The ending was a total throwaway in my opinion, which again served only to infer that these were real people, if we could only know the real last name.
My first read of anything Walter Walker has written. I might have perceived it better if I hadn't listened to it while sick as a dog with a cold/bronchitis. So I'll probably try another of his books to make sure the bad review wasn't caused by feeling poorly.
It felt to me that Walter Walker was pointing the finger at the Kennedy Clan or some other politically connected wealthy Massachusetts family.
This story about what the wealthy and connected can get away with in their own towns, and whether it's rape or murder, or both in this case, the moral put forth is: the rich and famous will never be brought to trial for their misdeeds because of their power. Now that's a depressing thought!
The protagonist is not especially likable—he doesn't stand up in the beginning for what he knows is the right thing as he witnesses a misdeed, yet years later he's still trying to find enough evidence to convict the rapist/murderer. Ooops, too little, too late as far as helping the victim. The ending was a total throwaway in my opinion, which again served only to infer that these were real people, if we could only know the real last name.
April 1, 2014
A poor fraternity brother heads to some party hosted by a rich senator and watches two of the senator's family members (a son and a nephew? two nephews?) sexually assault a woman while he stands there convincing himself it wasn't sexual assault. He then misleads the investigator, the charges never go anywhere, and the woman overdoses on drugs. Her rich father hires someone to make this guy's life miserable (as well as the two people who assaulted his daughter), while the senator helps him out.
Then another girl is dead in some relationship with the senator's family, and the poor fraternity brother who is now a lawyer has to investigate against his own best interests.
Women are prizes, or plot motivation, or whatever -- not characters. The writing might be fine, but I cared so little about it that I can't even remember what happened at the end, though poor frat brother did win himself a hot new wife with lots of family money, as a reward for feeling slightly guilty, I suppose.
Then another girl is dead in some relationship with the senator's family, and the poor fraternity brother who is now a lawyer has to investigate against his own best interests.
Women are prizes, or plot motivation, or whatever -- not characters. The writing might be fine, but I cared so little about it that I can't even remember what happened at the end, though poor frat brother did win himself a hot new wife with lots of family money, as a reward for feeling slightly guilty, I suppose.
January 27, 2014
If the author was not referring to the Kennedy cousins who was he referring to? A rape in Palm Beach by one cousin, a Senator, a girl killed in Cape Cod by another cousin, golf club as a weapon. A 413 page mystery with no answers at the end. Too verbose, could have been edited better. Too many characters that did not bring anything to the table, very confusing at times. Who was acting as Luanne in Costa Rica? Who was Mr Andrews? Barbara, the protagonist's love interest had a teenage daughter that never came into the picture. The whole thing was a hot mess but I had to give it 3 stars because I couldn't put it down.
July 30, 2014
Fantastic, I truly enjoyed this book. If you like a good legal thriller this is a good one for you. It reminds of a case that happened in early '90s involving a famous family that held everyone's attention on Court TV.
October 26, 2017
3.5 stars
September 13, 2021
District Attorney vs corrupt wealthy family - who do you think wins?
June 11, 2013
Crime of Privilege is a mystery/thriller that I enjoyed more for the characters than the actual thrill.
George is screwed. He’s gotten through law school, and has a job as an assistant DA on Cape Cod, but all of this has only been possible because of one night, long ago. George had attended a part at the family home of Senator Gregory and had witnessed some younger members of the family taking advantage of a very drunk girl also attending the party. The repercussions and cover up surrounding this event has changed George’s life.
Little does he know that it isn’t over yet, twelve years later, when a man asks George to get involved in the unsolved mystery of the murder of his daughter. This father believes the Gregorys have something to do with the murder.
It seems as if George has no control over his own life. He’s been pulled into a vortex and can’t figure out how to get out. As he begins investigating, while getting pressure from his boss, the DA, as well as the family of the girl who was raped 12 years ago, he realizes he is more screwed than he ever thought.
The heart of Crime of Privilege is George’s figuring out how to get himself out of this mess. He’s torn between doing the right thing (and losing everything), and going with the flow (and continuing to enjoy the life he currently leads.) He honestly cannot trust anyone – because it seems everyone is working on some side of this case. I enjoyed watching George’s character go through this turmoil. I really enjoyed his partner, Barbara, too. She was a well-written character that allowed much of George’s growth.
The pacing of Crime of Privilege is good. I read it fairly quickly, and never got bored. As far as “thrilling,” I never really got the thrill. I thought it was pretty obvious who the killer was and the ending, while giving me a sense of justice, kind of fizzled instead of popping. There weren't any huge twists or revelations that surprised me.
I enjoyed the epilogue, and thought it added some closure to George’s plight – which I really wanted while reading Crime of Privilege.
I would recommend Crime of Privilege to those who like a light thriller that is a lot about the characters and not so much about surprising twists and turns.
George is screwed. He’s gotten through law school, and has a job as an assistant DA on Cape Cod, but all of this has only been possible because of one night, long ago. George had attended a part at the family home of Senator Gregory and had witnessed some younger members of the family taking advantage of a very drunk girl also attending the party. The repercussions and cover up surrounding this event has changed George’s life.
Little does he know that it isn’t over yet, twelve years later, when a man asks George to get involved in the unsolved mystery of the murder of his daughter. This father believes the Gregorys have something to do with the murder.
It seems as if George has no control over his own life. He’s been pulled into a vortex and can’t figure out how to get out. As he begins investigating, while getting pressure from his boss, the DA, as well as the family of the girl who was raped 12 years ago, he realizes he is more screwed than he ever thought.
The heart of Crime of Privilege is George’s figuring out how to get himself out of this mess. He’s torn between doing the right thing (and losing everything), and going with the flow (and continuing to enjoy the life he currently leads.) He honestly cannot trust anyone – because it seems everyone is working on some side of this case. I enjoyed watching George’s character go through this turmoil. I really enjoyed his partner, Barbara, too. She was a well-written character that allowed much of George’s growth.
The pacing of Crime of Privilege is good. I read it fairly quickly, and never got bored. As far as “thrilling,” I never really got the thrill. I thought it was pretty obvious who the killer was and the ending, while giving me a sense of justice, kind of fizzled instead of popping. There weren't any huge twists or revelations that surprised me.
I enjoyed the epilogue, and thought it added some closure to George’s plight – which I really wanted while reading Crime of Privilege.
I would recommend Crime of Privilege to those who like a light thriller that is a lot about the characters and not so much about surprising twists and turns.
February 23, 2013
“Crime of Privilege” by Walter Walker is a book about power, manipulation, loyalty and courage. George is a young lawyer who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is not a self confident young man, but rather a person whom it seems, has never had to put his values on the line and struggle through adversity to do the right thing. He is a mostly passive observer of a violent crime to a young girl and is drawn into the investigation a violent murder of another young woman. In the process of dealing with and investigating the crimes, he questions whether there may be a connection between the two. To further complicate the situation, they both occurred on or near the properties of a very wealth and powerful family which is deeply involved in politics and the social scene in and beyond Cape Cod.
The investigation of these crimes takes George on travels to other parts of the world and to meetings with friends and connections both new and others long forgotten. It becomes apparent that George is going to be pressured by several competing interests both financially, professionally and personally. The intimidation, violence and power brokering that goes on in the book are a big part the story of money, power, politics and the corruption they can foster.
In “Crime of Privilege” there is romance, frustration and sometimes deep disappointment for several of the characters. As George is developed as the main character, I both understood him and felt sorry for him but I never did like him. The secondary characters, especially those very closely related to the murdered. Readers who enjoy mystery, lawyer or political novels will find this a very goos read. I enjoyed this book and give it a 4 stars.
The investigation of these crimes takes George on travels to other parts of the world and to meetings with friends and connections both new and others long forgotten. It becomes apparent that George is going to be pressured by several competing interests both financially, professionally and personally. The intimidation, violence and power brokering that goes on in the book are a big part the story of money, power, politics and the corruption they can foster.
In “Crime of Privilege” there is romance, frustration and sometimes deep disappointment for several of the characters. As George is developed as the main character, I both understood him and felt sorry for him but I never did like him. The secondary characters, especially those very closely related to the murdered. Readers who enjoy mystery, lawyer or political novels will find this a very goos read. I enjoyed this book and give it a 4 stars.
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