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Butch Karp #26
Fatal Conceit
A general dies under suspicious circumstances before he is about to testify about a controversial government operation and Butch Karp is on the case in this exciting installment to Robert K. Tanenbaum’s bestselling series.
When a decorated American general and the newly appointed director of counterterrorism is murdered, Butch Karp finds himself battling a heavyweight opponent: the US government. Allegedly, he was killed by a jealous mistress in an elegant NYC boutique hotel, but his death came just a few days before the general was to testify before a congressional committee on a highly controversial “Chechnyan Affair.” There are rumors that the general was going to deviate from the accepted version of events, and that the government may have had something to do with his death—to detract from their own mistakes. Can Karp find the mistress as well as the Chechnyan terrorists involved in the affair…and expose the government cover-up?
Their paths will come together in an unforgettable courtroom conclusion as Karp battles the full weight of the US administration, a hostile judge, and a compliant media that attempts to portray Karp as politically motivated. These sinister forces will stop at nothing to prevent him from bringing out the truth on the witness stand, even if they have to resort to murder. Fatal Conceit is a suspenseful read right until the very last page.
When a decorated American general and the newly appointed director of counterterrorism is murdered, Butch Karp finds himself battling a heavyweight opponent: the US government. Allegedly, he was killed by a jealous mistress in an elegant NYC boutique hotel, but his death came just a few days before the general was to testify before a congressional committee on a highly controversial “Chechnyan Affair.” There are rumors that the general was going to deviate from the accepted version of events, and that the government may have had something to do with his death—to detract from their own mistakes. Can Karp find the mistress as well as the Chechnyan terrorists involved in the affair…and expose the government cover-up?
Their paths will come together in an unforgettable courtroom conclusion as Karp battles the full weight of the US administration, a hostile judge, and a compliant media that attempts to portray Karp as politically motivated. These sinister forces will stop at nothing to prevent him from bringing out the truth on the witness stand, even if they have to resort to murder. Fatal Conceit is a suspenseful read right until the very last page.
449 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 12, 2014
125 people are currently reading
319 people want to read
About the author
Robert K. Tanenbaum
75 books279 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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September 7, 2014Tanenbaum has apparently decided that his thinly veiled right-wing political opinions about the 2012 election, the president and Benghazi should be aired in Fatal Conceit. I have read the prior 25 books in this series but couldn't make it further than 60 pages in this one. I would suggest that Tanenbaum write a non-fiction book about his opinions and not sully the series further. I give this book 0 stars.
February 15, 2015
I have never been moved to write an on-line review of a book of fiction. If I don't like a book I simply put it down, walk away and look for another, hopefully better book. This book upset me to such a degree that I felt compelled to comment. I am, or was, a fan of Mr. Tanenbaum. I've read all the other Butch Karp novels and really was looking forward to this one. However, I had to stop reading it very early on.
I agree with the reviews that say this is nothing more than a right-wing political diatribe. As such it is not good fiction. It seems to me that readers expect fiction, while perhaps moored in and reflecting reality, to take them someplace else, to transport them away from the realities of daily life. We implicitly trust authors to do that. This book drags the reader back down into that reality. And it does so without being honest enough to admit it. You can name the people he is talking about. It straddles a line between fiction and tawdry, tabloid journalism. In doing so Mr. Tanenbaum has betrayed the trust readers put in authors of fiction to transport us. And he has done this in a deceitful and, frankly, rather creepy way.
As an anthropology professor I encourage a critical, i.e., a questioning, perspective among my students. As a scientist I do that in publications of my research. Though I voted for President Obama, I question him. I also question the so-called liberal media. However, Mr. Tanenbaum troubles me greatly because he, like others on the Republican right, seem so full of hubris as to be totally incapable of critical self-reflection, of dealing with facts vs. opinions. Had Mr. Tanenbaum taken right-wing media equally to task he would have at least been more credible. He did not and is not.
I have given the book one star but only because there was no lower option. It is a terrible, but aptly titled, book. Though he probably is not, Mr. Tanenbaum should be ashamed of himself for indulging his own political inclinations and insulting his readers' intelligence.
Being famous and wealthy I am sure that Mr. Tanenbaum ignores comments such as mine. I understand that what I've written amounts to nothing more than a personal critique, a rant that Mr. Tanenbaum will never read. However, this book is so dreadful that I was moved to say something, no matter how inconsequential, to express my profound disappointment.
I agree with the reviews that say this is nothing more than a right-wing political diatribe. As such it is not good fiction. It seems to me that readers expect fiction, while perhaps moored in and reflecting reality, to take them someplace else, to transport them away from the realities of daily life. We implicitly trust authors to do that. This book drags the reader back down into that reality. And it does so without being honest enough to admit it. You can name the people he is talking about. It straddles a line between fiction and tawdry, tabloid journalism. In doing so Mr. Tanenbaum has betrayed the trust readers put in authors of fiction to transport us. And he has done this in a deceitful and, frankly, rather creepy way.
As an anthropology professor I encourage a critical, i.e., a questioning, perspective among my students. As a scientist I do that in publications of my research. Though I voted for President Obama, I question him. I also question the so-called liberal media. However, Mr. Tanenbaum troubles me greatly because he, like others on the Republican right, seem so full of hubris as to be totally incapable of critical self-reflection, of dealing with facts vs. opinions. Had Mr. Tanenbaum taken right-wing media equally to task he would have at least been more credible. He did not and is not.
I have given the book one star but only because there was no lower option. It is a terrible, but aptly titled, book. Though he probably is not, Mr. Tanenbaum should be ashamed of himself for indulging his own political inclinations and insulting his readers' intelligence.
Being famous and wealthy I am sure that Mr. Tanenbaum ignores comments such as mine. I understand that what I've written amounts to nothing more than a personal critique, a rant that Mr. Tanenbaum will never read. However, this book is so dreadful that I was moved to say something, no matter how inconsequential, to express my profound disappointment.
September 13, 2014
I have read lots of Mr Tanenbaum's Butch Karp novels. I couldn't read this one. Every time Mr Tanenbaum starts to build up a head of steam, he has to stop for some pro-Republican/anti-Democrat whining. It's not the politics which derail the book, it's the substitution of op-ed columns for fiction. When he started moaning about Jon Stewart, I gave up.
September 4, 2014
“Fatal Conceit” by Robert K. Tanenbaum, published by Gallery Books.
Category – Mystery/Thriller Publication Date – August 12, 2014
“Fatal Conceit” is a book divided into two parts. The first part deals with a controversial government operation in Chechnya that fails, but the failure may be due to the inaction of those politicos holding high positions in the government.
The operation failed due to a spy within a Chechnya Separatist group and the overrunning of the American contingent by Islamic fundamentalist. There were few survivors and they believe that they were betrayed by their own government. They could have been helped by a drone overhead and support from an airing in Turkey. It seems that someone in government would rather see them all dead then tell the story of their abandonment.
This and other cover-ups may be the mastermind of trying to keep the American President in office in a close Presidential race.
The second part of the book deals with putting all the information regarding the military operation and the murder/suicide of a retired Army officer who is planning on “blowing the whistle” on those responsible for the debacle.
The trial brings out the worst in government and the underhanded dealings within the establishment. This includes prostitution, payoffs, lying, and the complete disregard for ethics or human life.
Although they story is quite long, especially the court proceedings, the book provides an interesting look at what can happen when politicos go unchecked.
Category – Mystery/Thriller Publication Date – August 12, 2014
“Fatal Conceit” is a book divided into two parts. The first part deals with a controversial government operation in Chechnya that fails, but the failure may be due to the inaction of those politicos holding high positions in the government.
The operation failed due to a spy within a Chechnya Separatist group and the overrunning of the American contingent by Islamic fundamentalist. There were few survivors and they believe that they were betrayed by their own government. They could have been helped by a drone overhead and support from an airing in Turkey. It seems that someone in government would rather see them all dead then tell the story of their abandonment.
This and other cover-ups may be the mastermind of trying to keep the American President in office in a close Presidential race.
The second part of the book deals with putting all the information regarding the military operation and the murder/suicide of a retired Army officer who is planning on “blowing the whistle” on those responsible for the debacle.
The trial brings out the worst in government and the underhanded dealings within the establishment. This includes prostitution, payoffs, lying, and the complete disregard for ethics or human life.
Although they story is quite long, especially the court proceedings, the book provides an interesting look at what can happen when politicos go unchecked.
September 26, 2014
I didn't finish this book, hence the one star since there is no place for zero. I remember liking Tannenbaum's stuff in the past, especially court room scenes. This book seems to be mainly a rant against the current president and his administration, badly disguised as characters in the "story," such as it is. There are long passages preaching about the politics of Republicans (always right) and the Democrats (always wrong, and so low, it's hard to see them as human). I never have encountered such bias in a novel before, and it ruined it for me. I never thought about whether Butch Karp was a Republican of Democrat, and, frankly, didn't care. Now, even though I didn't get very far into the book before putting it down in disgust, I'm hoping Karp's political bent is not disclosed in the book. Even if I overlooked the political bias, I couldn't get into the story because of the long sections that preached politics and foreign policy - who is right, and who is wrong. Who can enjoy a story with constant interruptions to preach politics? Not me.
September 21, 2014
From the reviews it appears that readers either love or hate this latest (#26) in the Karp/Ciampi series. I loved it. The author makes clear his contempt for the Obama administration; events in the novel have too many similarities to recent history to be overlooked, from the Benghazi coverup to the political destruction of David Petraeus for speaking his mind. The first part of the book relates the events that disgrace the POTUS and his venal advisors. The latter part brings the bad guys to trial, with Karp as NY District Attorney (a job previously held by the author) doing his usual brilliant job of convincing the jury of their guilt, complete with a Perry Mason moment. I've read all 26 in this series. The earlier ones were brilliant, with the editorial help of Michael Gruber. After Gruber's departure to write wonderful books under his own name, the series went downhill, but I liked this one as much as the early ones.
July 26, 2015
have read other books by Robert and always liked them this book was no exception to the rule. I picked up the book to start reading it and couldn't put it down till I finished the book.
In this book Butch Karp (main character as he is in most of Robert's books) was called to a hotel room to a dead body of a man who was supposed to to testify at a USA Congressional committee. Something doesn't seem right to Butch they claim suicide but he senses something different, bext to the body was aged alcohol and a bottle of Valium. The book moves along very quickly where Butch does have a bit of a tough time against the defence attorney for the accused,
I would give this book 4,5*
In this book Butch Karp (main character as he is in most of Robert's books) was called to a hotel room to a dead body of a man who was supposed to to testify at a USA Congressional committee. Something doesn't seem right to Butch they claim suicide but he senses something different, bext to the body was aged alcohol and a bottle of Valium. The book moves along very quickly where Butch does have a bit of a tough time against the defence attorney for the accused,
I would give this book 4,5*
August 20, 2014
I've enjoyed the earlier books in the Butch Karp series -- pure entertainment. Tanenbaum had a formula that was fun to follow despite much repetition in each novel. I was barely able to finish this one, however, because Tanenbaum chose to turn it into a blatantly political (right-wing) diatribe, complete with left-wing villains (the president of the U.S. is obviously a stand-in for Pres. Obama) and right-wing heroes. Quite an annoying and distracting tangent.
September 12, 2021
Very obvious to see which political party Robert Tanenbaum belongs to - Republican. So if you choose to follow his lead - more power to you. You may enjoy this book. On the other hand, I like to enjoy books that present all kinds of view and don't keep suggesting 1 is better than the other. Had to skip to the end when I was about half way through because I was too bogged down in the politics.
August 30, 2014
First time ever I've hated a book in this series. Why does he feel the need to go out if New York and fight terrorists that's not why I've enjoyed all his other books.
Also. First time I haven't finished the book.
Also. First time I haven't finished the book.
October 11, 2014
I did not finish this book, it was that bad! It was unreadable. Don't even waste your time starting this book.
December 2, 2014
If you are a Democrat or member of the ever cooperating media you will hate this book. All others ENJOY!
September 4, 2017
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
When the CIA director is murdered, Butch Karp finds himself battling a heavyweight opponent: the US government. The national presidential election campaign’s foreign policy mantra has been that the terrorists are on the run and Bin Laden is dead. There are rumors that the CIA chief was going to deviate from the administration version of events, and that the government may have had something to do with his death. Can Karp expose the cover-up and find the Chechnyan separatists who aided the Americans at the mission and who have firsthand knowledge of the terrorist attack? Karp must also find his missing daughter, who has been taken hostage by the terrorists.
After the New York grand jury indicts the national presidential campaign chairman and the NSA spymaster for the murder of the CIA chief, Karp engages in an unforgettable courtroom confrontation with the defendants who have the full weight of the US administration, a hostile judge, and a compliant media supporting them. These sinister forces will stop at nothing to prevent Karp from bringing out the truth, even if they have to resort to murder.
This was sad. I had enjoyed a few of these Butch Karp novels - they are entertaining, engaging and a lot of thrills and spills that keep suspense novel fans coming back.
This, on the other hand, was a series of pro-Republican essays being passed off as a novel. I am not even from the US and I can see that as clear as day. I want a novel to be free of those things. That's way reading is called "escapism" - we want to get away from the everyday, not be further immersed in it...
Paul
ARH
When the CIA director is murdered, Butch Karp finds himself battling a heavyweight opponent: the US government. The national presidential election campaign’s foreign policy mantra has been that the terrorists are on the run and Bin Laden is dead. There are rumors that the CIA chief was going to deviate from the administration version of events, and that the government may have had something to do with his death. Can Karp expose the cover-up and find the Chechnyan separatists who aided the Americans at the mission and who have firsthand knowledge of the terrorist attack? Karp must also find his missing daughter, who has been taken hostage by the terrorists.
After the New York grand jury indicts the national presidential campaign chairman and the NSA spymaster for the murder of the CIA chief, Karp engages in an unforgettable courtroom confrontation with the defendants who have the full weight of the US administration, a hostile judge, and a compliant media supporting them. These sinister forces will stop at nothing to prevent Karp from bringing out the truth, even if they have to resort to murder.
This was sad. I had enjoyed a few of these Butch Karp novels - they are entertaining, engaging and a lot of thrills and spills that keep suspense novel fans coming back.
This, on the other hand, was a series of pro-Republican essays being passed off as a novel. I am not even from the US and I can see that as clear as day. I want a novel to be free of those things. That's way reading is called "escapism" - we want to get away from the everyday, not be further immersed in it...
Paul
ARH
September 2, 2014
Good, but a little heavy on the politics and light on the story.
April 20, 2021
I had read the first 10 or so of the Butch Karp novels by Robert K. Tanenbaum, and they evolved from taut, well-written legal thrillers featuring NYC DA Butch Karp's prosecution of murderers, into fantastical, unrealistic novels featuring super-terrorists that stretched credulity thinner and thinner. I hadn't read one of these in years, but when I saw this in my library (recently re-opened for browsing), I took it home more for old-time's sake. I should have left well enough alone. It's the story of the President's presumptive nominee to head the CIA being murdered at the direction of the President's campaign manager to cover up a fatal Al Qaeda attack on a military compound in Chechnya which the campaign manager allowed to happen. Why: It's kind of complicated, and Tanenbaum, who contorts himself to avoid calling anyone a Democrat or Republican (presumably so as not to lose half his audience), but it's politically motivated.
Although Tanebaum refrains from political labels such as Democrats and Republicans, it becomes clear that in his mind, all the good guys are Republicans and the bad guys are Democrats. This was released in 2014, and the President seems modeled on Obama, at least from a GOP talking points perspective. It gets extremely annoying, and Tanenbaum would have been better advised to take his demented politics out of the book and replace them with characters worth reading about.
Tanenbaum's work remains something of a fast paced page turner, but this is not a well written story. The characters, from the heroic General (the CIA nominee) to the bad guys, are all cartoonishly one dimensional. As in several earlier novels, Tanenbaum brings back the Mole People, who, headed by a former religious leader turned zealot, are a subterranean organization of homeless New Yorkers who help keep the Karp family and the NYC streets safe from bad guys. Really. The bad guy, who bears more than a passing resemblance to Karl Rove, is portrayed not as a shrewd political figure, but someone who repeatedly underestimates his opponents and his allies, and is so completely self-unaware that he's surprised when his girlfriend, who he's beaten mercilessly, turns against him. The joy of this book is in closing the cover for good.
Although Tanebaum refrains from political labels such as Democrats and Republicans, it becomes clear that in his mind, all the good guys are Republicans and the bad guys are Democrats. This was released in 2014, and the President seems modeled on Obama, at least from a GOP talking points perspective. It gets extremely annoying, and Tanenbaum would have been better advised to take his demented politics out of the book and replace them with characters worth reading about.
Tanenbaum's work remains something of a fast paced page turner, but this is not a well written story. The characters, from the heroic General (the CIA nominee) to the bad guys, are all cartoonishly one dimensional. As in several earlier novels, Tanenbaum brings back the Mole People, who, headed by a former religious leader turned zealot, are a subterranean organization of homeless New Yorkers who help keep the Karp family and the NYC streets safe from bad guys. Really. The bad guy, who bears more than a passing resemblance to Karl Rove, is portrayed not as a shrewd political figure, but someone who repeatedly underestimates his opponents and his allies, and is so completely self-unaware that he's surprised when his girlfriend, who he's beaten mercilessly, turns against him. The joy of this book is in closing the cover for good.
April 2, 2019
I don't know about other readers, but when I pick up a book - whether it's an author who I have enjoyed for many years, or a new author recommended by a friend or a review - I pick it up to be entertained, and to read a GOOD STORY. I treat all of the books I read that are fiction AS fiction, even if there may be some thinly veiled parallels to current people or events, because they're meant to be just that - fiction, and an entertaining (and occasionally frightening) read.
Thus it was that when I read Fatal Conceit, the 26th book by Robert K. Tanenbaum that I have read, I made the conscious decision to read it as a work of fiction, and not as a political diatribe - unlike some of the reviewers who cannot help but be partisan in their enjoyment, and many of whom gave low reviews or said that they couldn't not read the book at all. And I have to say shame on them.
This story ran along at a breakneck speed, and with an interesting premise - that a government so bent on their own narrative (sound familiar? It's not a rarity) would not be averse to twisting events to their own ends, and putting citizens in harm's way (or even dispensing with them altogether) in order to achieve those goals.
I, personally, couldn't get enough of the twists and turns that the story took, and I also enjoyed reconnecting with all of 'the usual suspects' who populate Mr. Tanenbaum's "Butch and Marlene" stories - their kids, their friends, their co-workers, etc.
I gladly give this book 5 Stars and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a great mix of police procedural and political thriller.
Thus it was that when I read Fatal Conceit, the 26th book by Robert K. Tanenbaum that I have read, I made the conscious decision to read it as a work of fiction, and not as a political diatribe - unlike some of the reviewers who cannot help but be partisan in their enjoyment, and many of whom gave low reviews or said that they couldn't not read the book at all. And I have to say shame on them.
This story ran along at a breakneck speed, and with an interesting premise - that a government so bent on their own narrative (sound familiar? It's not a rarity) would not be averse to twisting events to their own ends, and putting citizens in harm's way (or even dispensing with them altogether) in order to achieve those goals.
I, personally, couldn't get enough of the twists and turns that the story took, and I also enjoyed reconnecting with all of 'the usual suspects' who populate Mr. Tanenbaum's "Butch and Marlene" stories - their kids, their friends, their co-workers, etc.
I gladly give this book 5 Stars and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a great mix of police procedural and political thriller.
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. Another tale of innocent lives ended or destroyed as a result of the quest for power and the tales of deceit that unfold as a result. In a political climate eerily reminiscent of the current day, the proverbial "powers that be" will do or say anything to avoid impeding the re-election of the president including the murder of the one man committed to telling the truth. Meanwhile, the Karp family faces personal tragedy as their daughter Lucy has been taken hostage in Chechnya by terrorists. The clock is ticking to save Lucy as Butch, Marlene & their friends search for leads on their daughter's whereabouts which all seem to circle back to solving the murder of the acting Director of the CIA. 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!
June 27, 2018
In Chechnya, Americans are meeting at a remote outpost with a rebel leader. In the US, the president’s top security advisor and campaign manager watch live via NSA drone as the compound is attacked by Al-Qaeda terrorist overrun the compound, doing nothing to stop the attack. When the fight is over and the two men in the US see that two Americans are taken as hostages, the men order the drone to wipe out the compound before the hostages are safe.
Of course, there is a big cover-up, plus blackmail and murder. This where the protagonist, New York DA Karp, gets involved.
This was a good read. The only problem I had with the book was long narratives explaining connections between characters from past times, apparently from previous novels in the series. I don’t think you need that much explaining if people have read the other stories, or even for those like me who haven’t.
I did enjoy the novel, staying up into the wee hours to finish it.
Of course, there is a big cover-up, plus blackmail and murder. This where the protagonist, New York DA Karp, gets involved.
This was a good read. The only problem I had with the book was long narratives explaining connections between characters from past times, apparently from previous novels in the series. I don’t think you need that much explaining if people have read the other stories, or even for those like me who haven’t.
I did enjoy the novel, staying up into the wee hours to finish it.
March 25, 2017
Suddenly, Butch Karp is becoming political! Don't like it, especially as he implies that conservatives have the right ideas. Otherwise, another riveting book with the wonderful trial at the end. And almost all the crazy characters taking their parts in the plot.
March 14, 2018
Typical Butch Karp intrigue and courtroom drama.
June 11, 2018
Like most of the books in the Karp series, it is good!
August 24, 2019
Another great Karp and family and friends novel!
July 13, 2020
Good read, action packed and as usual engrossing courtroom proceedings.
August 3, 2021
This one is not as good as the other Butch Karp books. So much of the book was about other people that Karp was a secondary character.
September 9, 2023
Tanenbaum once again had me flying through the pages. Some was too far fetched for me.
September 9, 2023
Slow and ponderous start, but the second half is great.
May 21, 2024
Makes you doubt everythng the government does or says, but still a really good read.
February 15, 2015
The reader has to suspend disbelief in this latest Butch Karp saga just to enjoy the usual highlight of a Robert K. Tanenbaum novel: the courtroom trial. What leads up to this well-portrayed event is another matter, requiring a stretch of the imagination. It seems that the premise involves the President’s national campaign manager and his national security advisor taking part in what might be termed a rogue operation leading to multiple cover-ups and even murder.
We meet the two men as they sit in an office watching in real time an attack on a State Department mission and a group of clandestine secret American agents that includes Butch’s daughter, Lucy, by unknown elements in Chechnya. Fearful that the incident would have negative implications on the President’s reelection a week before the election, the men choose to do nothing to assist the besieged Americans, even ordering an overhead drone to fire upon them to remove any possible witnesses. Enter a hero general, now Acting CIA Director, who decides he is going to testify before a Congressional committee on what really happened. So they arrange his death to look like suicide when they fail to blackmail him into toeing the party line.
There are other subplots including a maudlin love story, but these merely add up to providing more fodder for a potboiler. Needless to say, Butch hones in on the pair after obtaining reams of evidence sufficient to provide a well-conducted trial that as usual is the highlight of this author’s novels. Customarily, one can count on the author to be meticulous where the legal aspects are concerned. However, in this story, we find Butch properly having the defendants arrested in D.C. with a local policeman on hand, but we next find them indicted and on trial in New York City, but no mention of extradition or its waiver. Oversight or just plainly ignored? The plot captures the imagination, but I found it hard to overlook some of the novel’s more troubling aspects. But it is well-written and fun to read, so it is recommended.
We meet the two men as they sit in an office watching in real time an attack on a State Department mission and a group of clandestine secret American agents that includes Butch’s daughter, Lucy, by unknown elements in Chechnya. Fearful that the incident would have negative implications on the President’s reelection a week before the election, the men choose to do nothing to assist the besieged Americans, even ordering an overhead drone to fire upon them to remove any possible witnesses. Enter a hero general, now Acting CIA Director, who decides he is going to testify before a Congressional committee on what really happened. So they arrange his death to look like suicide when they fail to blackmail him into toeing the party line.
There are other subplots including a maudlin love story, but these merely add up to providing more fodder for a potboiler. Needless to say, Butch hones in on the pair after obtaining reams of evidence sufficient to provide a well-conducted trial that as usual is the highlight of this author’s novels. Customarily, one can count on the author to be meticulous where the legal aspects are concerned. However, in this story, we find Butch properly having the defendants arrested in D.C. with a local policeman on hand, but we next find them indicted and on trial in New York City, but no mention of extradition or its waiver. Oversight or just plainly ignored? The plot captures the imagination, but I found it hard to overlook some of the novel’s more troubling aspects. But it is well-written and fun to read, so it is recommended.
August 16, 2014
Audiobook Review
3 (-) Stars
In this Butch Karp outing, daughter Lucy is off on a double-super-top secret mission in embattled Chechnya, while back in NYC the Acting Chief of the CIA is murdered. Top level government parties are pulling the puppet strings that will bring both actions into a collision course.
An almost-readable book is Fatally Flawed by political descriptions and allegations that are *almost* spot-on for the current US administration. The only thing Tanenbaum doesn't include is the name of the President or that he is African-American. The other issue is that the author constantly is telling a he-said she-said recap of prior Karp stories, events and characters. It leaves action by the sideline. The only eventful parts are when Lucy is captured in Chechnya, and in the trial of the Government officials, which is only the last few chapters. If authors want to tell prior history before the new story begins, put it in a prologue.
Currently there seems to be a compulsion of novelists to bang their own political position drums by incorporating their own political stance into the characters in their novels. This antagonizes readers and adds no value to the story. In fact, it is denegrating to the characters of the story. If Tanenbaum wants to write about politics, he should write a non-fiction treatise on the subject.
In this particular book, probably due to the lack of narrative and the old storytelling, the narrator Bob Walter just seems to be on autopilot reading, and it is boring. He excels in the dialogue, much like Tanenbaum. So a caution to the author and narrator -- use your core skills.
3 (-) Stars
In this Butch Karp outing, daughter Lucy is off on a double-super-top secret mission in embattled Chechnya, while back in NYC the Acting Chief of the CIA is murdered. Top level government parties are pulling the puppet strings that will bring both actions into a collision course.
An almost-readable book is Fatally Flawed by political descriptions and allegations that are *almost* spot-on for the current US administration. The only thing Tanenbaum doesn't include is the name of the President or that he is African-American. The other issue is that the author constantly is telling a he-said she-said recap of prior Karp stories, events and characters. It leaves action by the sideline. The only eventful parts are when Lucy is captured in Chechnya, and in the trial of the Government officials, which is only the last few chapters. If authors want to tell prior history before the new story begins, put it in a prologue.
Currently there seems to be a compulsion of novelists to bang their own political position drums by incorporating their own political stance into the characters in their novels. This antagonizes readers and adds no value to the story. In fact, it is denegrating to the characters of the story. If Tanenbaum wants to write about politics, he should write a non-fiction treatise on the subject.
In this particular book, probably due to the lack of narrative and the old storytelling, the narrator Bob Walter just seems to be on autopilot reading, and it is boring. He excels in the dialogue, much like Tanenbaum. So a caution to the author and narrator -- use your core skills.
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