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Butch Karp #25
Tragic
New York Times bestselling author Robert K. Tanenbaum takes legal suspense to dramatic new heights when his hero, District Attorney Butch Karp, goes up against a ruthless union leader with too much power, too many secrets, and too many enemies to silence…or kill.
New York Times bestselling author Robert K. Tanenbaum ’s hero , District Attorney Butch Karp , goes up against a ruthless union leader with too much power , too many secrets , and too many enemies to silence . . . or kill .
Prizefighter tough. Street-hustler smart. Pit-bull vicious. Longshoremen’s union boss Charlie Vitteli clawed his way to the top—and no one’s going to take him down now. Not if they value their lives. Like Vince Carlotta. He accused Vitteli of embezzlement and election rigging. Now Carlotta is just another corpse on the waterfront—allegedly gunned down by an armed robber. Connecting Vitteli to the murder could be the death of anyone who tries . . . unless District Attorney Butch Karp can uncover the one tragic flaw that could bring down the curtain on the cold-blooded villain once and for all. Packed with ingenious twists, diabolical turns, and shocking revelations, Tragic is Robert K. Tanenbaum at his page-turning best.
New York Times bestselling author Robert K. Tanenbaum ’s hero , District Attorney Butch Karp , goes up against a ruthless union leader with too much power , too many secrets , and too many enemies to silence . . . or kill .
Prizefighter tough. Street-hustler smart. Pit-bull vicious. Longshoremen’s union boss Charlie Vitteli clawed his way to the top—and no one’s going to take him down now. Not if they value their lives. Like Vince Carlotta. He accused Vitteli of embezzlement and election rigging. Now Carlotta is just another corpse on the waterfront—allegedly gunned down by an armed robber. Connecting Vitteli to the murder could be the death of anyone who tries . . . unless District Attorney Butch Karp can uncover the one tragic flaw that could bring down the curtain on the cold-blooded villain once and for all. Packed with ingenious twists, diabolical turns, and shocking revelations, Tragic is Robert K. Tanenbaum at his page-turning best.
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2013
130 people are currently reading
685 people want to read
About the author
Robert K. Tanenbaum
76 books280 followersRobert K. Tanenbaum is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five legal thrillers and has an accomplished legal career of his own. Before his first book was published, Tanenbaum had already been the Bureau Chief of the Criminal Courts, had run the Homicide Bureau, and had been in charge of the training program for the legal staff for the New York County District Attorney’s Office. He also served as Deputy Chief Counsel to the Congressional Committee investigations into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. In his professional career, Tanenbaum has never lost a felony case. His courtroom experiences bring his books to life, especially in his bestselling series featuring prosecutor Roger “Butch” Karp and his wife, Marlene Ciampi.
Tanenbaum was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the University of California at Berkeley on a basketball scholarship, and remained at Cal, where he earned his law degree from the prestigious Boalt Hall School of Law. After graduating from Berkeley Law, Tanenbaum moved back to New York to work as an assistant district attorney under the legendary New York County DA Frank Hogan. Tanenbaum then served as Deputy Chief Counsel in charge of the Congressional investigations into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr.
The blockbuster novel Corruption of Blood (1994), is a fictionalized account of his experience in Washington, D.C.
Tanenbaum returned to the West Coast and began to serve in public office. He was elected to the Beverly Hills City Council in 1986 and twice served as the mayor of Beverly Hills. It was during this time that Tanenbaum began his career as a novelist, drawing from the many fascinating stories of his time as a New York ADA. His successful debut novel, No Lesser Plea (1987), introduces Butch Karp, an assistant district attorney who is battling for justice, and Marlene Ciampi, his associate and love interest. Tanenbaum’s subsequent twenty-two novels portrayed Karp and his crime fighting family and eclectic colleagues facing off against drug lords, corrupt politicians, international assassins, the mafia, and hard-core violent felons.
He has had published eight recent novels as part of the series, as well as two nonfiction titles: The Piano Teacher (1987), exploring his investigation and prosecution of a recidivist psychosexual killer, and Badge of the Assassin (1979), about his prosecution of cop killers, which was made into a movie starring James Woods as Tanenbaum.
Tanenbaum and his wife of forty-three years have three children. He currently resides in California where he has taught Advanced Criminal Procedure at the Boalt Hall School of Law and maintains a private law practice.
Tanenbaum was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the University of California at Berkeley on a basketball scholarship, and remained at Cal, where he earned his law degree from the prestigious Boalt Hall School of Law. After graduating from Berkeley Law, Tanenbaum moved back to New York to work as an assistant district attorney under the legendary New York County DA Frank Hogan. Tanenbaum then served as Deputy Chief Counsel in charge of the Congressional investigations into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr.
The blockbuster novel Corruption of Blood (1994), is a fictionalized account of his experience in Washington, D.C.
Tanenbaum returned to the West Coast and began to serve in public office. He was elected to the Beverly Hills City Council in 1986 and twice served as the mayor of Beverly Hills. It was during this time that Tanenbaum began his career as a novelist, drawing from the many fascinating stories of his time as a New York ADA. His successful debut novel, No Lesser Plea (1987), introduces Butch Karp, an assistant district attorney who is battling for justice, and Marlene Ciampi, his associate and love interest. Tanenbaum’s subsequent twenty-two novels portrayed Karp and his crime fighting family and eclectic colleagues facing off against drug lords, corrupt politicians, international assassins, the mafia, and hard-core violent felons.
He has had published eight recent novels as part of the series, as well as two nonfiction titles: The Piano Teacher (1987), exploring his investigation and prosecution of a recidivist psychosexual killer, and Badge of the Assassin (1979), about his prosecution of cop killers, which was made into a movie starring James Woods as Tanenbaum.
Tanenbaum and his wife of forty-three years have three children. He currently resides in California where he has taught Advanced Criminal Procedure at the Boalt Hall School of Law and maintains a private law practice.
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August 19, 2013
Tragic by Robert K. Tanenbaum is the 25th novel in the Butch Karp series. I have never read any other Butch Karp novels but I do have a few littered around my home that I've been meaning to read. Although this is the 25th, I don't feel like I was missing out on anything regarding Butch Karp. He actually isn't even the star in this book. Or at least I don't feel he is. Tanenbaum makes an effort to bring the people surrounding the tragedy the primary players as opposed to the District Attorney Karp.
Tragic opens with Karp attending a production of Macbeth. This reference to Macbeth is constant throughout the novel. The antagonist is as haunted by his actions as Macbeth. The novel even includes three women surrounding an oil barrel fire declaring the blood on our antagonists hands will never be clean and he must pay for his transgressions. This novel in many ways is a simply written modern-day Macbeth telling. Vitteli is so hell-bent on remaining in his position of power that he will do whatever needs to be done to remain there similar to Macbeth.
Cut to three young men Frankie DiMarzo, Bill Miller, and Alexi Bebnev idling patiently in a car waiting for their mark. They have been hired to kill Vince Carlotta. Carlotta is the only person who can bring down the union organizer president Charlie Vitteli. Vitteli is the quinessential dogmatic, violent, quick-tempered character type and is only interested in taking out Carlotta. Vitteli fears that if, or when, Carlotta takes over the reigns of the company, he will find evidence of monies being embezzeled from the union funds. Money taken from hardworking men.
Tanenbaum weaves an interesting story that readers will find very easy to follow. The bad guys and good guys are very obvious. Although most can be described as obvious or flat, I didn't find that it mattered so much. Tragic is hooking from page one. The anticipation of a trial always peaks my interest. Everyone wants to see that justice is served for those deserving.
Tragic does not make a star out of Karp but his personality definitely shines enough so that I'm glad he's on the team of the good guys. He doesn't make deals with devils. In a world where pleas are the easy way out, Karp goes all in or nothing. This makes him even more of a hero in my book.
Ultimately, Tragic is geared toward fans of courtroom drama. Readers of Grisham, Turow, or Margolin can appreciate the legal thriller. There were a few moments of suspense and thrills that were quite shocking. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
Tragic opens with Karp attending a production of Macbeth. This reference to Macbeth is constant throughout the novel. The antagonist is as haunted by his actions as Macbeth. The novel even includes three women surrounding an oil barrel fire declaring the blood on our antagonists hands will never be clean and he must pay for his transgressions. This novel in many ways is a simply written modern-day Macbeth telling. Vitteli is so hell-bent on remaining in his position of power that he will do whatever needs to be done to remain there similar to Macbeth.
Cut to three young men Frankie DiMarzo, Bill Miller, and Alexi Bebnev idling patiently in a car waiting for their mark. They have been hired to kill Vince Carlotta. Carlotta is the only person who can bring down the union organizer president Charlie Vitteli. Vitteli is the quinessential dogmatic, violent, quick-tempered character type and is only interested in taking out Carlotta. Vitteli fears that if, or when, Carlotta takes over the reigns of the company, he will find evidence of monies being embezzeled from the union funds. Money taken from hardworking men.
Tanenbaum weaves an interesting story that readers will find very easy to follow. The bad guys and good guys are very obvious. Although most can be described as obvious or flat, I didn't find that it mattered so much. Tragic is hooking from page one. The anticipation of a trial always peaks my interest. Everyone wants to see that justice is served for those deserving.
Tragic does not make a star out of Karp but his personality definitely shines enough so that I'm glad he's on the team of the good guys. He doesn't make deals with devils. In a world where pleas are the easy way out, Karp goes all in or nothing. This makes him even more of a hero in my book.
Ultimately, Tragic is geared toward fans of courtroom drama. Readers of Grisham, Turow, or Margolin can appreciate the legal thriller. There were a few moments of suspense and thrills that were quite shocking. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
January 11, 2014
#25 in the NYC DA "Butch" Karp & Marlene Ciampi series. Author Tanenbaum has dumped the terrorism theme that has plagued the last eight books in the series. Here is a straight-forward crime novel/courtroom drama evolved from union politics and corruption escalated to murder. A very readable page-turner. Two recurring themes exist: the movie trivia game Karp plays with Dirty Warren features appropriate "On the Waterfront" references; and, the novel is told as a flashback sandwiched between scenes of the Karp family at a Shakespeare in the Park production of "MacBeth" - the frequent Macbeth references in the book are sometimes forced and distracting.
NYC DA "Butch" Karp & Marlene Ciampi series - District Attorney Butch Karp, goes up against a ruthless union leader with too much power, too many secrets, and too many enemies to silence . . . or kill. Longshoremen's union leader Charlie Vitteli is a cold-blooded villain. Busting heads on the docks of New York as a brash union organizer, taking no prisoners as the newest president of the North American Brotherhood of Stevedores, Vitteli clawed his way to the top of the heap and no one's going to take him down now. Not if they value their lives. Like Vince Carlotta. The union boss's fiercest rival has accused Vitteli of embezzlement, election rigging, and other abuses and even called him a crook at a union meeting. Now Carlotta is just another corpse on the waterfront allegedly gunned down by an armed robber. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Vitteli is somehow involved. But proving it is a whole other story. Enter District Attorney Butch Karp and his wife, Marlene Ciampi. Drawn into the case by a friend who manages the East Village Women s Shelter, Marlene speaks to the abused girlfriend of a man who may or may not have been hired to kill Carlotta. Marlene follows her lead to three different assassins contracted for the hit. But connecting them to Vitteli and proving it in court could be the death of anyone who tries.
NYC DA "Butch" Karp & Marlene Ciampi series - District Attorney Butch Karp, goes up against a ruthless union leader with too much power, too many secrets, and too many enemies to silence . . . or kill. Longshoremen's union leader Charlie Vitteli is a cold-blooded villain. Busting heads on the docks of New York as a brash union organizer, taking no prisoners as the newest president of the North American Brotherhood of Stevedores, Vitteli clawed his way to the top of the heap and no one's going to take him down now. Not if they value their lives. Like Vince Carlotta. The union boss's fiercest rival has accused Vitteli of embezzlement, election rigging, and other abuses and even called him a crook at a union meeting. Now Carlotta is just another corpse on the waterfront allegedly gunned down by an armed robber. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Vitteli is somehow involved. But proving it is a whole other story. Enter District Attorney Butch Karp and his wife, Marlene Ciampi. Drawn into the case by a friend who manages the East Village Women s Shelter, Marlene speaks to the abused girlfriend of a man who may or may not have been hired to kill Carlotta. Marlene follows her lead to three different assassins contracted for the hit. But connecting them to Vitteli and proving it in court could be the death of anyone who tries.
March 17, 2014
This book is the newest entry in the Butch Karp/Marlene Ciampi series. Karp is the District Attorney for New York County, ably assisted by Special Assistant D.A. Ray Guma (“the Italian Stallion,” whose significant other is Darla Milquetost, Karp’s receptionist) and Detective Sergeant Clay Fulton of the NYPD. Marlene, his wife and the mother of their twin sons, is the former head of the DA’s sex crime bureau and a defense attorney/p.i., now devoting her most of her time volunteering at a women’s shelter.
The plot involves criminality on various levels, from corruption to embezzlement to murder, among the leaders of the New York dockworkers union. When a well-respected and high-ranking member is killed, Marlene investigates on behalf of the girlfriend of one of those picked up for the crime, and Butch takes the lead in the ensuing trials.
The novel is replete with wonderful references to Shakespeare’s Macbeth (as well as the film On the Waterfront). The author, himself a former Chief of the Homicide Bureau for the NY DA’s Office, among several other prestigious positions, has written another terrific courtroom drama, with his trademark twists and turns, realistic characters and dialogue. Series fans will love it, and it should find many converts among those not already familiar with the Karp/Ciampi books.
Recommendned.
The plot involves criminality on various levels, from corruption to embezzlement to murder, among the leaders of the New York dockworkers union. When a well-respected and high-ranking member is killed, Marlene investigates on behalf of the girlfriend of one of those picked up for the crime, and Butch takes the lead in the ensuing trials.
The novel is replete with wonderful references to Shakespeare’s Macbeth (as well as the film On the Waterfront). The author, himself a former Chief of the Homicide Bureau for the NY DA’s Office, among several other prestigious positions, has written another terrific courtroom drama, with his trademark twists and turns, realistic characters and dialogue. Series fans will love it, and it should find many converts among those not already familiar with the Karp/Ciampi books.
Recommendned.
August 12, 2013
Tragic by Robert K. Tanenbaum
I really enjoyed Outrage by Tanenbaum. I enjoyed Tragic just as much. This is a courtroom drama that would make Perry Mason proud. (dated reference)
Butch Karp and his wife, Marlene are reoccurring characters in Tanenbaum’s books. Note this book stands alone quite well and there is no need to have read any preceding to catch up to the story. I suspect, as I stated in my last Tanebaum review, if you enjoy it as much as I did you will track down more of his books but that is another story.
This story has labor unions, thugs and Shakespeare. There are suitable Machiavellian turns to satisfy most mystery fans. Butch and Marlene are “good people”. Tanenbaum paints them well.
I highly recommend the book, I enjoyed it.
Body of work of Robert K. Tanenbaum
Web site: http://www.openroadmedia.com/authors/...
I really enjoyed Outrage by Tanenbaum. I enjoyed Tragic just as much. This is a courtroom drama that would make Perry Mason proud. (dated reference)
Butch Karp and his wife, Marlene are reoccurring characters in Tanenbaum’s books. Note this book stands alone quite well and there is no need to have read any preceding to catch up to the story. I suspect, as I stated in my last Tanebaum review, if you enjoy it as much as I did you will track down more of his books but that is another story.
This story has labor unions, thugs and Shakespeare. There are suitable Machiavellian turns to satisfy most mystery fans. Butch and Marlene are “good people”. Tanenbaum paints them well.
I highly recommend the book, I enjoyed it.
Body of work of Robert K. Tanenbaum
Web site: http://www.openroadmedia.com/authors/...
November 9, 2013
finally getting back on track and away from the terrorism/mythical elements from before
July 30, 2024
There’s no way I will remember all of the characters’ names, but I will at least differentiate between them.
Butch Karp is a district attorney. His wife Marlene (different last name) works in an abused women’s shelter, but she used to be an investigator and still practices as a lawyer.
There are three homeless women who play a major role and who are supposed to remind us of the witches in Macbeth, only these women are good.
There are mob bosses and union bosses and corruption and “the Russians” and “putting out hits” and hating of homosexuals coupled with defense of homosexuality and a peek at real love in a homosexual relationship. Oh, and I don’t know if this is a theme for the series since this is my first Butch Karp book, even though it’s #25, but many of the “bad guys” were Catholic. Two of the bad guys were convinced to give themselves up to protect their immortal souls. I may be saying that wrong, but they couldn’t live with the guilt and worry of not being with their families in heaven one day. That was kind of cool because I’ve never read a book from that religious perspective before.
Not every bad guy gave a shit about his soul though. One guy still planned to kill every m’ther f’kr out there who ever framed him!
Right.
Well, in this story, don’t plan on staying alive if you go to prison. I even held my breath every time a witness went into a safe room during court recesses. That mob stuff is vicious! And the descriptions of the deaths are vicious too. On TV you might see the bad guy in prison die from having a large barbell (I think that’s what they're called) placed across a man's neck and pressed upon until that man dies. But in this book, the description of what is happening to that man as he dies is much more gruesome than TV. I had to unscrew my face and remember to breathe after reading about that man's death!
Butch Karp is a district attorney. His wife Marlene (different last name) works in an abused women’s shelter, but she used to be an investigator and still practices as a lawyer.
There are three homeless women who play a major role and who are supposed to remind us of the witches in Macbeth, only these women are good.
There are mob bosses and union bosses and corruption and “the Russians” and “putting out hits” and hating of homosexuals coupled with defense of homosexuality and a peek at real love in a homosexual relationship. Oh, and I don’t know if this is a theme for the series since this is my first Butch Karp book, even though it’s #25, but many of the “bad guys” were Catholic. Two of the bad guys were convinced to give themselves up to protect their immortal souls. I may be saying that wrong, but they couldn’t live with the guilt and worry of not being with their families in heaven one day. That was kind of cool because I’ve never read a book from that religious perspective before.
Not every bad guy gave a shit about his soul though. One guy still planned to kill every m’ther f’kr out there who ever framed him!
Right.
Well, in this story, don’t plan on staying alive if you go to prison. I even held my breath every time a witness went into a safe room during court recesses. That mob stuff is vicious! And the descriptions of the deaths are vicious too. On TV you might see the bad guy in prison die from having a large barbell (I think that’s what they're called) placed across a man's neck and pressed upon until that man dies. But in this book, the description of what is happening to that man as he dies is much more gruesome than TV. I had to unscrew my face and remember to breathe after reading about that man's death!
Read
July 6, 2022Another compelling drama by Robert Tannenbaum. This time it takes you through the trail of a murdered dock union man, into the dark side of NY, the Russian mob and evil people with many needs at the cost of others.
I highly recommend this book!
I highly recommend this book!
February 27, 2024
Butch Karp #25. I believe actually written by Steve Jackson. This is a pretty good entry in the series with lots of parallels to the play Macbeth. No Lucy and almost nothing from the twins. I liked it OK, 3 stars.
May 20, 2017
excellent as usual
June 27, 2017
After a slow start, the story moved right along with lots of courtroom drama. Marlene behaved herself and played a minor but critical role. Office politics wasn't a factor.
June 23, 2022
Thebplot was simplistic, everything seemed trite. Read Macbeth, it's the real deal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2022
Excellent legal drama
Well written novel that sewed together a believable series of plots. The story was presented as a competent attorney prepares their cases for prosecution.
Well written novel that sewed together a believable series of plots. The story was presented as a competent attorney prepares their cases for prosecution.
February 27, 2023
Haven't read a Butch Karp book in quite a while. He is one of my favorite characters and Tannebaum a favorite author. This book did not fail to please. Hard to put down.
May 20, 2024
Unusual to have a book with the emphasis on only one trial and plot, but a really good one.
January 6, 2025
Not the typical book that I read but once I got into it, it was difficult to put down.
August 22, 2025
Karp does a fine job of bringing the criminal to justice.
August 3, 2025
Confessions make this drama less intense. Too easy for a jury.
November 27, 2014
3-Stars! Whoever Stole My Robert Tannenbaum, Please Give Him Back!
I used to love this series and bought the new book as soon as it came out. Robert K. Tannenbaum has published 25 novels, perhaps a dozen of which feature crime busting New York City DA Butch Karp, his quirky, feisty, Italian wife Marlene Ciampi, their savant daughter, and there twin sons. The best of them were a fast-moving combination of detective story and courtroom drama, and they were all New York City. Invariably, Karp drove the story, taking the lead against one nasty bunch of bad guys after another, with his family providing fire support. True, the novels got a bit bloated and under edited in recent years; but book after book they were great reads as long as Tannenbaum stuck to the basic formula of great characters, lots of action, a nasty crime, and enough twists and turns to serve as a plot. It isn’t that “Tragic” doesn’t have some of that, it just doesn’t have enough of it. The family seems to take an extended vacation. And for some reason he has decided that “On the Waterfront” meets “MacBeth” can pass for a plot. I don’t mind the “On the Waterfront” part nearly as much as I mind the inexplicable allusions to “MacBeth,” complete with three witches standing around a fire. All of the good suspense writers seem to go through dry patches, and we loyal readers will continue to stick with the brand, hoping the Golden touch returns in the next one ─ up to a point.
William F. Brown is the author of 5 suspense novels with over 300 Five-Star Reviews: The Undertaker, Amongst My Enemies, Thursday at Noon, Winner Take All, and now Aim True, My Brothers. They are all available on Kindle and now on Audible Audio Books. You read about them at billbrownwritesnovels.wordpress.com
I used to love this series and bought the new book as soon as it came out. Robert K. Tannenbaum has published 25 novels, perhaps a dozen of which feature crime busting New York City DA Butch Karp, his quirky, feisty, Italian wife Marlene Ciampi, their savant daughter, and there twin sons. The best of them were a fast-moving combination of detective story and courtroom drama, and they were all New York City. Invariably, Karp drove the story, taking the lead against one nasty bunch of bad guys after another, with his family providing fire support. True, the novels got a bit bloated and under edited in recent years; but book after book they were great reads as long as Tannenbaum stuck to the basic formula of great characters, lots of action, a nasty crime, and enough twists and turns to serve as a plot. It isn’t that “Tragic” doesn’t have some of that, it just doesn’t have enough of it. The family seems to take an extended vacation. And for some reason he has decided that “On the Waterfront” meets “MacBeth” can pass for a plot. I don’t mind the “On the Waterfront” part nearly as much as I mind the inexplicable allusions to “MacBeth,” complete with three witches standing around a fire. All of the good suspense writers seem to go through dry patches, and we loyal readers will continue to stick with the brand, hoping the Golden touch returns in the next one ─ up to a point.
William F. Brown is the author of 5 suspense novels with over 300 Five-Star Reviews: The Undertaker, Amongst My Enemies, Thursday at Noon, Winner Take All, and now Aim True, My Brothers. They are all available on Kindle and now on Audible Audio Books. You read about them at billbrownwritesnovels.wordpress.com
June 25, 2014
We had previously read only one other Tanenbaum legal “thriller”, “Falsely Accused”, his eighth in the Butch Karp series. We found it dull and mostly uninteresting, but recently decided to try another, this latest in the (now) 25-book set, “Tragic.” Butch is back to being a District Attorney (he was a highly paid high-flyer in a private law firm previously), while wife Marlene, a former DA, is mostly now just a part-time do-gooder. In the story, three petty thugs take on the job of executing a union boss for peanuts, but get caught and convicted when the driver can longer live with himself and confesses. The union guy that ordered the hit is later arrested and most of the latter half of the book surrounds his court trial. Karp has a pretty solid case – and while we readers know all along completely what is what, there’s still little doubt about the trial outcome. Therefore, the book really had only slight suspense, and who could care less about all these union thugs and “Russian Mafia” characters, etc.
So just like before: the author clearly can write and must have a following to have a two-dozen booklist; but we find his tales uninteresting and relatively lackluster entertainment. Too many better choices are out there. Three stars may well have been liberal.
So just like before: the author clearly can write and must have a following to have a two-dozen booklist; but we find his tales uninteresting and relatively lackluster entertainment. Too many better choices are out there. Three stars may well have been liberal.
July 20, 2016
To me, there is something basically dishonest about putting your name on a book you didn't actually write. After I found out that Mr. Tanenbaum's books were "ghosted" I was disappointed. The first group I really enjoyed, the second author not so much. This seems to be author number three. The character of the book is completely different, a straightforward courtroom drama. I enjoyed it for that, I enjoyed the story, and the details, and the literary tie-ins. But this author, it would seem, did not want to bring himself up to date on the family and community nonsense from the earlier books, so just mostly left them out. He introduced a few of the old characters, but didn't in any way advance the family story.
I can enjoy it as a good story, but don't think of it as part of a series. I can't think of it as a mystery or a thriller. I enjoyed the strategic points as they were explained.
The tale involved skulduggery in a longshoreman's union, and some of the politics of unions.
I can enjoy it as a good story, but don't think of it as part of a series. I can't think of it as a mystery or a thriller. I enjoyed the strategic points as they were explained.
The tale involved skulduggery in a longshoreman's union, and some of the politics of unions.
July 2, 2015
I guess I always expect that there will be more to these books than just the descriptions of any trial that happens. I enjoy the back story...Karp's family and friends...almost as much as the rest. In this book there were 2 trials and I got a big kick out of the first one where defence counsel was utterly incompetent. Being a lawyer, I love reading about trials as they are far more interesting than the final judgment as published. But this book felt more like just a recount of 2 successful trials without the usual sideshow.
The Karp series has been so successful, I think, because of the characters and what they do outside an actual courtroom...so often the portion of the book outlining trial highlights is short and sweet...the story is more of how they got to be able to arrest the defendant. That was missing in this one. I have read another of these later Karp stories and they simply are not as well written as the earllier ones...perhaps Mr. Tanenbaum is too busy with other projects to concentrate on his writing.
The Karp series has been so successful, I think, because of the characters and what they do outside an actual courtroom...so often the portion of the book outlining trial highlights is short and sweet...the story is more of how they got to be able to arrest the defendant. That was missing in this one. I have read another of these later Karp stories and they simply are not as well written as the earllier ones...perhaps Mr. Tanenbaum is too busy with other projects to concentrate on his writing.
December 23, 2013
"Tragic" is written with such a realistic manner that the action seemed as if I were reading a New York newspaper about trouble with dockworkers.
The author gives a good description of the characters as we learn of three men planning a 'hit' on a union official. This man felt that the union election was rigged and he wanted to audit the union books.
We learn of the victim's life and the men who were sent to kill him. In particular two petty criminals who were persuaded to join a Russian criminal who was a Russian mob want-to-be.
There are many characters and the novel is complex as we learn of a falling out among thieves and view the courtroom action where justice takes a hand.
Among the characters the lead criminal is a bit stereotypical as a villain.
Because of the temperament of the criminals there wasn't much suspense but the courtroom scenes were well done and the book should appeal to legal mystery fans.
The author gives a good description of the characters as we learn of three men planning a 'hit' on a union official. This man felt that the union election was rigged and he wanted to audit the union books.
We learn of the victim's life and the men who were sent to kill him. In particular two petty criminals who were persuaded to join a Russian criminal who was a Russian mob want-to-be.
There are many characters and the novel is complex as we learn of a falling out among thieves and view the courtroom action where justice takes a hand.
Among the characters the lead criminal is a bit stereotypical as a villain.
Because of the temperament of the criminals there wasn't much suspense but the courtroom scenes were well done and the book should appeal to legal mystery fans.
November 8, 2013
I really enjoyed reading the book Tragic. It is the fifteenth book from goodreads that I have received. Tragic by Robert k.Tanenbaum is the 25th novel in the Butch Karp series. You can tell by the way Mr. Tanenbaum takes you thru the murder scene and the process and suspense in the courtroom,that Mr Tanenbaum has to be lawyer,and I think really good trial lawyer. I picked this book up and found myself reading it till 3:00 in the morning. I will not go into the story, only to say, if you enjoy reading books on crime fighting and legal thrillers this is a must read for you. This is the 3rd book I have read from this author. I really enjoy reading his books. I will be reading more from this author. I would like to thank goodreads for another great book.
January 16, 2014
Another part of a series that I had to get caught up on.
I enjoyed this newest offering from Robert Tanenbaum in the Butch Karp/Marlene Campiani series. This novel took a departure from the "Mole People" and other characters from the streets. These characters were Mob bosses, union bosses and people trying to figure out how to survive. The characters seemed so real to me. I've enjoyed all of these books and continue to recommend them to friends. So, if you haven't read any of these books--go now and get them!!
I enjoyed this newest offering from Robert Tanenbaum in the Butch Karp/Marlene Campiani series. This novel took a departure from the "Mole People" and other characters from the streets. These characters were Mob bosses, union bosses and people trying to figure out how to survive. The characters seemed so real to me. I've enjoyed all of these books and continue to recommend them to friends. So, if you haven't read any of these books--go now and get them!!
October 30, 2013
Butch Karp and his crime-fighting wife, Marlene Ciampi, are back in their 25th novel. This one goes back to basics, a crime is committed and Butch and Marlene spring into action -- no terrorists, no mystical apparitions, just good old courtroom antics. A reform-minded union boss is murdered by his low-life opponent, and the trial goes forward. However, pinning the crime on the mastermind, is a tricky bit of lawyering and Butch has to tread carefully. Of course, he does it all correctly and legally, with a bit of humor thrown in for good measure. A solid addition to the series.
April 10, 2014
It was tough for me to rate this one. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but two things bothered me. One, for the first part of one trial, I felt like I was reading the transcript of the trial. I didn't need that much detail. Then, somehow the last part of the trial just got skipped over completely, and we had to find out the outcome in back story. Two, I found the Macbeth references to be a little contrived. Maybe one person would actually think of Macbeth quotes in relation to their daily lives, but there wouldn't be several. I just found it annoying.
January 25, 2015
As the book opens, you immediately find out who is responsible for the murder. The question is how do the police and district attorney's office find out and make the charges stick. The first half of the book is the actual planning and murder of a union leader along the New York City docks. After catching the ones who committed the murder, the next step is who hired them and why. This is the second half of the book which mostly takes place in the courtroom. This book is hard to put down, even if you already know who did it.
September 2, 2017
"Woop, woop, oh boy, oh boy...." Dirty Warren continues to amuse us as we follow the interesting and adventurous friends of the Karp-Ciampi clan. A truly "tragic" tale of innocent lives ended or destroyed as a result of one evil man's quest for greed and power. More characters you love to hate, the criminals/killers you somehow understand and still like, the crusader of justice Butch, the seeker of truth Marlene and the whole host of interesting characters that help the story unfold. All & all, another Butch Karp winner!
September 10, 2016
I have read every book in this series and I appreciate that the plot is less outlandish than in some of Tanenbaum's recent books. If you like a lot of courtroom drama and legal maneuvering, this book is for you. I enjoyed but I was disappointed that Karp's family has a very minor role in Tragic. Marlene is involved just in the beginning and children are barely mentioned. Lucy is, hands down, my favorite character and I hope to see more books featuring her in the future.
October 5, 2013
I could not believe it! Gone was the danger, gone was the hijinks, gone were all the craziness!!! This book was "By the book" Something you almost never see by Tanenbaum. A straight up book.. What happened to all the twists and turns that we so dearly love and expect? Was he under pressure from the publisher to get it out?? Only those closest to him will know, but, it was a pretty good read anyway...
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