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Butch Karp #2
Depraved Indifference
Karp investigates a terrorist hijacking that results in the death of a member of the NYPD bomb squad and learns of powerful groups protecting the terrorists--with ties to the Catholic church, the FBI, and Israeli Intelligence
408 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
493 people are currently reading
376 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
November 7, 2016
This was supposed to be a serious legal-police-procedural, but it jumped into slapstick comedy. Either one would be fine, but the mix was bewildering & even repugnant. It started out with the hijacking of plane which was so stupid that it would have been funny if not for the severity of the crimes committed: terrorism, kidnapping, & the murder of a police officer. The main characters are serious in their pursuit of justice & in some of the personal issues they face made even worse by special interests, but these are solved through convoluted Keystone Cop farce situations. I get laughing instead of crying, but Tanenbaum seemed to be poking fun at some things that I just don't think are humor material.
It was very well narrated & I kept hoping that something would redeem the story. It never did, just sort of flailed around into a fairly obvious conclusion. I liked the main characters & the basic situation could have worked with a bit of tweaking, but the big problem is they weren't made for each other. Imagine Ricky & Lucy Ricardo as the main characters in Gone with the Wind. They're both great, but mix as well as a chocolate chip ice cream sandwich washed down with a swig of lemonade. My 3 year old grandson did that this summer. The look on his face hilarious. I have a sense of humor, albeit a low one. I don't find war crimes, judicial corruption/incompetence, & cop killing laughing matters, though.
I think I'm done with this series.
It was very well narrated & I kept hoping that something would redeem the story. It never did, just sort of flailed around into a fairly obvious conclusion. I liked the main characters & the basic situation could have worked with a bit of tweaking, but the big problem is they weren't made for each other. Imagine Ricky & Lucy Ricardo as the main characters in Gone with the Wind. They're both great, but mix as well as a chocolate chip ice cream sandwich washed down with a swig of lemonade. My 3 year old grandson did that this summer. The look on his face hilarious. I have a sense of humor, albeit a low one. I don't find war crimes, judicial corruption/incompetence, & cop killing laughing matters, though.
I think I'm done with this series.
January 15, 2018
Butch Karp #4 was highly recommended to me, so I figured I would start with the first and make my way to #4. Not sure if I am going to make it now. The first one was decent, very nonPC, but written in the late 70's so I will let that slide. But #2 was just bad.
It starts well with a plane highjacking and the bomb squad finding a bomb in a locker and it going off and killing a cop. But then it goes downhill fast. So many levels of people, CIA, FBI, terrorist groups, NYPD, DA, .... and all of them are set in the same way, is this person a spy or not. It gets so weighed down in not knowing which side any of the 40 characters are on that the book quickly succumbs to the reader not even caring.
Additionally, the characters from the first book, which all had some potential to become likeable characters with some depth that you could care about ALL took steps backward, to the point where I found myself not liking them and rooting against them. Like Butch's girlfriend, I could now care less if she is even in the next one. But I may never find out.
It starts well with a plane highjacking and the bomb squad finding a bomb in a locker and it going off and killing a cop. But then it goes downhill fast. So many levels of people, CIA, FBI, terrorist groups, NYPD, DA, .... and all of them are set in the same way, is this person a spy or not. It gets so weighed down in not knowing which side any of the 40 characters are on that the book quickly succumbs to the reader not even caring.
Additionally, the characters from the first book, which all had some potential to become likeable characters with some depth that you could care about ALL took steps backward, to the point where I found myself not liking them and rooting against them. Like Butch's girlfriend, I could now care less if she is even in the next one. But I may never find out.
February 5, 2017
In this book, I felt that the storyline was better. However, it suffered from too many characters. There is such a thing as too many. Too many characters introduced in the beginning with no downtime to digest all of the many characters. I agree with another reader that the voices all started to sound the same.
Yet, I found Marlene to be a nice strong voice. Her and Karp's relationship helped added relief to the story. In addition, Marlene is probably the only person that can get Karp to loosen up as well as become the boss. While, Marlene is strong and smart, she has a bit of a fun girly side to her as well. Nothing wrong with a princess bed and dresses and heels.
The part that I didn't like the most about this whole book is that by the half way point, neither I or Karp were any closer to learning a motive for the hijacking. At this point I jumped ahead several chapters to speed the story along. Yet, it was kind of too late as I was disinterested and found the ending alright.
Yet, I found Marlene to be a nice strong voice. Her and Karp's relationship helped added relief to the story. In addition, Marlene is probably the only person that can get Karp to loosen up as well as become the boss. While, Marlene is strong and smart, she has a bit of a fun girly side to her as well. Nothing wrong with a princess bed and dresses and heels.
The part that I didn't like the most about this whole book is that by the half way point, neither I or Karp were any closer to learning a motive for the hijacking. At this point I jumped ahead several chapters to speed the story along. Yet, it was kind of too late as I was disinterested and found the ending alright.
May 19, 2024
Such a stupid book lol, not well written. I love it
January 14, 2024
I'm reading this series for the first time and now two books into the series I will keep going.
A dated series now but if you like Michael Connelly's Harry Bosh series you will enjoy this series too.
A dated series now but if you like Michael Connelly's Harry Bosh series you will enjoy this series too.
October 11, 2014
From the book desc.
This was to "out there" for me. The best part is Karp and Ciampi
Book Two of the bestselling Butch Karp legal thriller series: the prosecutor goes after Cold War terrorists and finds himself tangled up with the CIA, the FBI, and the Mafia Butch Karp has never shied away from a difficult case, and when Croatian terrorists hijack a plane and kill an NYPD bomb squad cop in a bomb blast, he's eager to prosecute the high-profile killers. But Karp's aggression puts him at risk when his investigations uncover messy government secrets. Certain elements of the FBI and CIA don't want the trial to go forward, and are willing to go to extremes to sabotage Karp's case. Mired in local bureaucracy and international intrigue, only Karp's dogged determination--along with the help of his crime-fighting partner and girlfriend, Marlene Ciampi--can once again deliver justice. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Robert K. Tanenbaum including rare photos from the author's personal collection.(less)
This was to "out there" for me. The best part is Karp and Ciampi
Book Two of the bestselling Butch Karp legal thriller series: the prosecutor goes after Cold War terrorists and finds himself tangled up with the CIA, the FBI, and the Mafia Butch Karp has never shied away from a difficult case, and when Croatian terrorists hijack a plane and kill an NYPD bomb squad cop in a bomb blast, he's eager to prosecute the high-profile killers. But Karp's aggression puts him at risk when his investigations uncover messy government secrets. Certain elements of the FBI and CIA don't want the trial to go forward, and are willing to go to extremes to sabotage Karp's case. Mired in local bureaucracy and international intrigue, only Karp's dogged determination--along with the help of his crime-fighting partner and girlfriend, Marlene Ciampi--can once again deliver justice. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Robert K. Tanenbaum including rare photos from the author's personal collection.(less)
November 4, 2015
This was not my favorite legal type thriller. The set up was tedious. It was cliche and stereotypical. There were so many characters and a lot of them seemed to share the same voice. They all tried to be witty, clever, and cavalier about everything. It was hard to keep track of them, because they blended into each other. I have another book by this author. I'm going to return it.
January 19, 2020
Once again a satisfying read from Michael Gruber's potboiler days. I'm so impressed with the complexity and intelligence both of the story/plot and the research going into everything from how a prosecutor's office works to how a small team of terrorists might take over an airliner. Everything is plausible as far as these sections. In true potboiler fashion, we are reintroduced to everyone remaining from the first Butch Karp novel. These kinds of books are rather like a TV series in this way. And like a TV series or movie sequel, we get more or less the same product. Gruber makes it unique enough to be worth it.
Gruber is like many of my favorite novelists who use their work to not just tell a story but to educate. You don't just get a surface level scan, you get a little deeper into both the main characters and the circumstances motivating the plot.
As with the previous entry, Gruber injects the prosecutor's office with an occasional dose of what I'll describe as college humor. Some of Butch Karp's friends wouldn't stick out from one of those old National Lampoon's movies that 70s era alums from SNL made in the early 80s. Honestly, I'm not sure these books need that levity. It is a bit jarring and it brings back memories of those lame Police Academy movies that even I as a seven year old thought were pretty juvenile, haha. I think I'm not in the target audience for those bits, tho. My review of the first Karp book goes into my ideas about that, so I'll drop it here.
I'm happy Karp and his girl are working it out after the devastating twist at the end of the first book. That's all handled very well even though some of the other ways she's handled, particularly the way Gruber constantly has men leering at her or leave her ready and game for ever dude who comes along seeming to test their sexual chances are. I suppose this is simply how a woman's life is? I was raised by a single mother along with two older sisters who I witnessed in such situations many, many times. The part that grates on me is the way Gruber seems to leer himself, haha. I was a reader in high school, but I eventually abandoned most mainstream paperbacks because I got tired of so many books having leads that were thinly veiled representations of the author at middle age, usually college instructors in the story, and who were invariably either having a sexual relationship with a plucky student inevitably described as the smartest in class. The girls were always "care free" in a way that meant they'd be at this middle-aged tub-o-lard's sexual beck and call or they'd be cool and "ambitious," using the teacher and lacking the warmth for him that he felt for her....which meant she was at his sexual beck and call and probably part of whatever evil plot that came up against him. I'm describing the Micheal Cricton books I read. There'd always been a fatter, crass best friend who begged for details of the relationships with students and who later "knew people," the right people, just when the protagonist needed the right people. Sorry, I'm ranting about other books. haha.
Aside from those two reservations, which aren't even that bad in the scheme of things, Karp #2 is another fun read that assures me to continue onto Karp #3 after I've taken a break for a palette cleanser.
I'm a major Michael Gruber fan, so all of these Karp books (I think the first 10 to 15?) are quite the discovery for me, even if they're potboilers. Turns out Gruber even does those better than most!
Gruber is like many of my favorite novelists who use their work to not just tell a story but to educate. You don't just get a surface level scan, you get a little deeper into both the main characters and the circumstances motivating the plot.
As with the previous entry, Gruber injects the prosecutor's office with an occasional dose of what I'll describe as college humor. Some of Butch Karp's friends wouldn't stick out from one of those old National Lampoon's movies that 70s era alums from SNL made in the early 80s. Honestly, I'm not sure these books need that levity. It is a bit jarring and it brings back memories of those lame Police Academy movies that even I as a seven year old thought were pretty juvenile, haha. I think I'm not in the target audience for those bits, tho. My review of the first Karp book goes into my ideas about that, so I'll drop it here.
I'm happy Karp and his girl are working it out after the devastating twist at the end of the first book. That's all handled very well even though some of the other ways she's handled, particularly the way Gruber constantly has men leering at her or leave her ready and game for ever dude who comes along seeming to test their sexual chances are. I suppose this is simply how a woman's life is? I was raised by a single mother along with two older sisters who I witnessed in such situations many, many times. The part that grates on me is the way Gruber seems to leer himself, haha. I was a reader in high school, but I eventually abandoned most mainstream paperbacks because I got tired of so many books having leads that were thinly veiled representations of the author at middle age, usually college instructors in the story, and who were invariably either having a sexual relationship with a plucky student inevitably described as the smartest in class. The girls were always "care free" in a way that meant they'd be at this middle-aged tub-o-lard's sexual beck and call or they'd be cool and "ambitious," using the teacher and lacking the warmth for him that he felt for her....which meant she was at his sexual beck and call and probably part of whatever evil plot that came up against him. I'm describing the Micheal Cricton books I read. There'd always been a fatter, crass best friend who begged for details of the relationships with students and who later "knew people," the right people, just when the protagonist needed the right people. Sorry, I'm ranting about other books. haha.
Aside from those two reservations, which aren't even that bad in the scheme of things, Karp #2 is another fun read that assures me to continue onto Karp #3 after I've taken a break for a palette cleanser.
I'm a major Michael Gruber fan, so all of these Karp books (I think the first 10 to 15?) are quite the discovery for me, even if they're potboilers. Turns out Gruber even does those better than most!
January 19, 2023
finished 18th january 2023 good read three stars i liked it kindle library loaner have read at least one other from tanenbaum and have another loaned to kindle this one is better than the top first listed reviews here so it was worth a read even though the first...5-6 reviews suggest otherwise. will have to take another look to see if those reviews have any worth...as i recall...one might have complained about the number of characters. yes, there are many introduced early and i wondered if that would be a problem...not really. various uppy-yucks from various agency...all with an agenda. so i'd hazard the politics of this story is an accurate portrayal. and the breathless acceptance of evil is another accurate portrayal of out times. stockholmn syndrome on steroids. let us all swoon away to the ground...i think it is almost corn-hole appreciation month. get your colorful memes in order. break out the oxygen masks.
January 26, 2025
I really, REALLY wanted to enjoy this, but after two books in the series I’m throwing in the towel.
This was… all over the place. It was positively bloated with so many characters that it was hard to distinguish one ancillary player from the others, or what kind of chain of command was actually in place. A character comes back towards the end and I had to spend a solid 5 minutes remembering if they’d been introduced yet.
The story sounds interesting but soon devolves into such a convoluted hodge podge of plot points it’s once again hard to keep track. Like the issues with characters, with so much going on it dulls down what is actually important and what should be given care and focus.
Karp and Ciampi also felt heinously flat in their characterizations. Bouncing from anger to horny to depressed in a single interaction, they felt like two volatile people who’d be better served away from each other.
There were moments but overall, nothing I feel the need to continue reading.
This was… all over the place. It was positively bloated with so many characters that it was hard to distinguish one ancillary player from the others, or what kind of chain of command was actually in place. A character comes back towards the end and I had to spend a solid 5 minutes remembering if they’d been introduced yet.
The story sounds interesting but soon devolves into such a convoluted hodge podge of plot points it’s once again hard to keep track. Like the issues with characters, with so much going on it dulls down what is actually important and what should be given care and focus.
Karp and Ciampi also felt heinously flat in their characterizations. Bouncing from anger to horny to depressed in a single interaction, they felt like two volatile people who’d be better served away from each other.
There were moments but overall, nothing I feel the need to continue reading.
July 11, 2023
Croatian terrorists hijack a plane - from NY to Canada to Paris. Where they are extradited and sent back to the U.S.
Meanwhile, they tell authorities about a bomb they planted in a NYC train station locker, where it is discovered and diffused. Until it isn't - a NYPD bomb expert is killed when the bomb winds up being booby trapped.
The Croatians are up for murder 1, and Butch Karp is prosecuting. The Archdiocese of NY is paying for the accused's legal fees.
Book examines the then-country of Yugoslavia and the conflict between the Serbs & Croatians regarding territory and religion.
Also - an inside look into the NY DA's office & politics between overlapping jurisdictions (state/federal)
Meanwhile, they tell authorities about a bomb they planted in a NYC train station locker, where it is discovered and diffused. Until it isn't - a NYPD bomb expert is killed when the bomb winds up being booby trapped.
The Croatians are up for murder 1, and Butch Karp is prosecuting. The Archdiocese of NY is paying for the accused's legal fees.
Book examines the then-country of Yugoslavia and the conflict between the Serbs & Croatians regarding territory and religion.
Also - an inside look into the NY DA's office & politics between overlapping jurisdictions (state/federal)
September 22, 2018
[library audiobook]
An early installment of a long series featuring a New York assistant district attorney (Jewish ex athlete) and his ADA girlfriend (Queen italian with an adventurous past.) I liked it, with the bad guys being Croatian Facist and Nazi war criminals, their enablers in the the NY Catholic establishment, the FBI, and venal leadership of the NY DA's office. I liked the accents adopted by the reader.
I down rated the book because of a sexually abusive episode involving a female ADA, although she certainly deserved something bad to happen to her.
I would read more of this series if I could work out the chronology.
An early installment of a long series featuring a New York assistant district attorney (Jewish ex athlete) and his ADA girlfriend (Queen italian with an adventurous past.) I liked it, with the bad guys being Croatian Facist and Nazi war criminals, their enablers in the the NY Catholic establishment, the FBI, and venal leadership of the NY DA's office. I liked the accents adopted by the reader.
I down rated the book because of a sexually abusive episode involving a female ADA, although she certainly deserved something bad to happen to her.
I would read more of this series if I could work out the chronology.
December 11, 2020
Depraved Indifference: I listen to book one No lesser Plea and did listened to Depraved Indifference right afterwards.
The book is vanilla unnecessarily complex and like listening to a history lesson. I'm assuming the history is simi-correct thus the basis of the story line. Karp is no Mitch Rapp or john Ryan.
A few of the characters are funny and likeable and I'll try the third book in this series before I check out completely.
I would like to thank my public library for making audio books available because if I paid full price for this book I would be disappointed.
The book is vanilla unnecessarily complex and like listening to a history lesson. I'm assuming the history is simi-correct thus the basis of the story line. Karp is no Mitch Rapp or john Ryan.
A few of the characters are funny and likeable and I'll try the third book in this series before I check out completely.
I would like to thank my public library for making audio books available because if I paid full price for this book I would be disappointed.
June 13, 2023
I have read a few of the Butch Karp & Marlene Ciampi books but not in order. And I have never read the first books. I struggle with the timeline of these books because I seem to remember the ones I've read to be more timely than these first books. This book takes place in the mid to late 70's. The book is full of very racist/sexist language which would not fly at all in todays books. I was also reading another book which reading this one and so this one took a back seat. I lost some of the characters during the time I read it. It just didn't hold my attention.
August 9, 2023
Not my favorite Tanenbaum, I couldn't keep the characters straight. I guess if I read subsequent books, I'll bookmark each character the first time he appears so I can refer to his introduction. As tedious as that is, it beats not knowing who this character is and what is his business there.
This is an alert not a spoiler: there is grisley, ghastly, graphic violence and torture described herein. A fraction of these would have carried the story. I wish I'd seen this warning before reading this book.
This is an alert not a spoiler: there is grisley, ghastly, graphic violence and torture described herein. A fraction of these would have carried the story. I wish I'd seen this warning before reading this book.
November 4, 2021
The kind of book that keeps you reading all night
It grips you totally but is totally forgettable
The protagonist is nice, and not as depressed and brooding as most authors feel they have to make their heroes. (Not that I'd call him happy, though).
Excellent twist, great courtroom dialogue, and enjoyably mildly raunchy.
Also, a little bit educational with a tiny bit of (overlaboured) morality
I look forward to the other book
It grips you totally but is totally forgettable
The protagonist is nice, and not as depressed and brooding as most authors feel they have to make their heroes. (Not that I'd call him happy, though).
Excellent twist, great courtroom dialogue, and enjoyably mildly raunchy.
Also, a little bit educational with a tiny bit of (overlaboured) morality
I look forward to the other book
July 27, 2018
This is one of my absolute favorite Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi novels and I've read most of them. In addition to a gripping plot and well developed characters Tanenbaum adds several laugh out loud scenes. Seriously, the visual I got with the Ray Guma seduction scene split my sides. If I could give this one ten stars I would.
decided-not-to-read
September 8, 2020They've caught the terrorists, & now we seem to be caught up in infighting in New York, among the NYPD, the FBI, & other government entities. It isn't holding my interest. Besides, this isn't the book I had wanted, which was one with the same title but a different author (Gary Indiana)!
November 12, 2025
an excursion into intrigue
This was my first for Ray into the world of the New York assistant District attorneys career. I hope to read more and to find out how this character conducts himself going forward.
This was my first for Ray into the world of the New York assistant District attorneys career. I hope to read more and to find out how this character conducts himself going forward.
September 13, 2017
I so enjoy this series. Each character you can see their personalty and you don't want the book to end
November 1, 2017
great book love all the books of this series.
August 20, 2018
This is an early book in the series, so Butch and Marlene are not yet married. The book drags a bit--it would have been better if it were 75 to 100 pages shorter. Still well done.
August 29, 2018
Vintage Karp. Very engaging.
September 4, 2018
This is a good book and a good story.
October 23, 2019
What a read! Lots of twists and turns. I plan on reading this series in order.
November 28, 2019
A little silly at times.
January 29, 2020
I read one of his books years ago and liked it so I thought I’d start at the beginning and read all of them. So far, just so so.
July 30, 2020
Good enough but don't think will become a favourite.
September 7, 2020
A good story but to much bad language.
November 1, 2020
Good story and good characters. Takes a little time to get going and more complicated than it needs to be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews