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Butch Karp #4
Reversible Error
Book Four of the bestselling Butch Karp legal thriller Karp, Marlene, and a few honest cops must stand up to a hive of corrupt politiciansAssistant District Attorney Butch Karp is finally recognized for his heroic service to New York City when a group of politicians back him for the top job as Manhattan’s district attorney. But a series of cases involving vigilante murders begins to reveal the true motives of those civil servants standing by his side. It’s Karp versus the dirty city in one of Tanenbaum’s most revealing and caustic legal thrillers— a stunning indictment of civil corruption and overreach. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Robert K. Tanenbaum including rare photos from the author’s personal collection.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 1992
227 people are currently reading
566 people want to read
About the author
Robert K. Tanenbaum
74 books276 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 44 reviews
August 15, 2021
Robert Tanenbaum - Many of his “read” counts appear low due to Goodreads creation 2006 but should be higher, this book published 1996.
I feel he is like Grisham & Baldacci.
Characters are Butch Karp NYC District Attorney (DA) & Marlene Ciampi, Assistant District Attorney (ADA & wife) - NY “lawyer” stories
A Reversible error has unfair evidence that seemed minor and/or did not contribute to the trial against a defendant.
These stories are investigations involving serial rapist & dealer drug killings.
— I enjoy Robert Tanenbaum’s crime books but here is a example of book’s read counts appearing low on some books & authors - when the book was published & read before Goodreads started.... Tanenbaum is an example on most of his books. —
This was more difficult to start than expected, but once you can follow the 15+ characters & 2+ major plots to track, it is worth the read.
Is there a NYPD police officer(s) in charge of other policemen & a congressman helping a drug-dealer send dirty drug money to off-shore banks, legally buy stock, comes back legal money to buy more illegal drugs. They are wiping out competition in Harlem?
Butch Karp NYC District Attorney (DA) & Marlene Ciampi, Assistant District Attorney (ADA & wife) need to prosecute a N.Y. Sociopath of rape, stabbings with knife & strangling with pantyhose using insanity plea?
Initially, both cases found innocent, Karp able to reverse the decisions, with new evidence.
Reversible errors - they cannot be reversed by the original judge, but other judges deeming misjudged can reverse the verdict.
Interesting subplot - Karp promoted to a supervisory position. Campi threatened to be fired unless Karp leaves his promotion.
Prejudicial (lack of legal support) overlooks Caimpi, she is pregnant, new office created for her, in favor of her solving rape crimes.
How do a District Attorney (D.A.) and Prosecutor differ
Robert Tanenbaum’s legal experience (great)
Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group - General Chat 2019
I feel he is like Grisham & Baldacci.
Characters are Butch Karp NYC District Attorney (DA) & Marlene Ciampi, Assistant District Attorney (ADA & wife) - NY “lawyer” stories
A Reversible error has unfair evidence that seemed minor and/or did not contribute to the trial against a defendant.
These stories are investigations involving serial rapist & dealer drug killings.
— I enjoy Robert Tanenbaum’s crime books but here is a example of book’s read counts appearing low on some books & authors - when the book was published & read before Goodreads started.... Tanenbaum is an example on most of his books. —
This was more difficult to start than expected, but once you can follow the 15+ characters & 2+ major plots to track, it is worth the read.
Is there a NYPD police officer(s) in charge of other policemen & a congressman helping a drug-dealer send dirty drug money to off-shore banks, legally buy stock, comes back legal money to buy more illegal drugs. They are wiping out competition in Harlem?
Butch Karp NYC District Attorney (DA) & Marlene Ciampi, Assistant District Attorney (ADA & wife) need to prosecute a N.Y. Sociopath of rape, stabbings with knife & strangling with pantyhose using insanity plea?
Initially, both cases found innocent, Karp able to reverse the decisions, with new evidence.
Reversible errors - they cannot be reversed by the original judge, but other judges deeming misjudged can reverse the verdict.
Interesting subplot - Karp promoted to a supervisory position. Campi threatened to be fired unless Karp leaves his promotion.
Prejudicial (lack of legal support) overlooks Caimpi, she is pregnant, new office created for her, in favor of her solving rape crimes.
How do a District Attorney (D.A.) and Prosecutor differ
Robert Tanenbaum’s legal experience (great)
Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group - General Chat 2019
September 30, 2008
The fourth (I think) in this series, and the one in which Michael Gruber (the real author) begins to hit his stride. Several very complicated plots which turn out to be intertwined (characteristic of the later books). The beginnings of what will turn out to be Marlene Ciampi's future role championing women who are victims of their violent men. In later books she eventually will go into business providing security for these women, often solving their problems with, um, extreme prejudice. Legal and police lore which sounds absolutely authentic to me. It's fun to watch time pass in this series--Marlene is pregnant with her first child in this one (she and her future husband, Butch Karp, met in the first book); by the end of the series ten books later, her daughter is ready for college and she and Butch have several other kids as well. One of Gruber's great strengths is realistic dialogue. I enjoy distinct, authentic voices; I get annoyed with those spiritless books in which all the characters (and the author) sound alike.
August 3, 2016
Very good reading trip from money laundering to bad cops, Wall Street to politicians and DA's Office. Great plot. I would recommend this book.
December 27, 2013
You know it's a good book when a mystery/crime novel also contains more than a few laugh out loud moments. I just love Tanenbaum's 'Butch Karp' series.
May 18, 2024
A solid/gritty older legal thriller series. Very good!
June 15, 2025
I somewhat enjoyed book four of the bestselling Butch Karp legal thriller series: Karp, Marlene, and a few honest cops must stand up to a hive of corrupt politicians
Assistant District Attorney Butch Karp is finally recognized for his heroic service to New York City when a group of politicians back him for the top job as Manhattan’s district attorney. But a series of cases involving vigilante murders begins to reveal the true motives of those civil servants standing by his side. It’s Karp versus the dirty city in one of Tanenbaum’s most revealing and caustic legal thrillers— a stunning indictment of civil corruption and overreach.
Assistant District Attorney Butch Karp is finally recognized for his heroic service to New York City when a group of politicians back him for the top job as Manhattan’s district attorney. But a series of cases involving vigilante murders begins to reveal the true motives of those civil servants standing by his side. It’s Karp versus the dirty city in one of Tanenbaum’s most revealing and caustic legal thrillers— a stunning indictment of civil corruption and overreach.
April 25, 2023
Maybe it's because I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but I found this hard to follow. I felt like there were so many characters, many who didn't add much to the story, and it was hard to keep things from getting jumbled. It's a shame because the actual story line of a serial rapist and crooked cops was really enjoyable but it was lost in the overly long and drawn out book.
June 10, 2019
The plotting is a lazy mess-- high-level conspiracies couldn't work like that. The characters and incidental detail are good, as usual. (Did that judge really spring that rapist just to get even with Karp?)
February 26, 2022
I'm not sure how he does it, but Tanenbaum takes a plain old crime that you see on TV everyday, and makes it into something new and exciting. It's not a fast page turner, but it is a page turner. He wraps up the story in the end, and you feel good about it.
May 20, 2024
A great read
This was a fun read. Quite a few characters to keep track of, but It was a good mystery and I liked the dialog and the resolution. The depiction of the police and the DAs was interesting and seemed realistic.
This was a fun read. Quite a few characters to keep track of, but It was a good mystery and I liked the dialog and the resolution. The depiction of the police and the DAs was interesting and seemed realistic.
May 10, 2025
Burch Karp #4. Actually ghost written by Michael Gruber. Lots of crime is getting done but the big issue here is that apparently some rogue cops are killing drug dealers for money. Also Marlene is pregnant. I like the series and this one is enjoyable with lots of action. 3 stars.
September 29, 2018
This is a great series because Tanenbaum maintains parallel plots throughout. They are never just a simple straight storyline.
November 18, 2019
Loved how the story worked out for Butch and his finacee. Some of the story is unbelieveable.
April 30, 2020
I love all the books in this series. There are 29 and I can't wait till there's another one.
August 18, 2020
Still really like the plots. Still really dislike the characters.
What am I going to do?
What am I going to do?
September 8, 2023
Karp and Ciampi....as good as ever
August 27, 2024
Interesting. Corruption in the police, judges, etc. Killings, drugs, etc. It was an okay read.
March 13, 2025
Too convoluted for mt taste.
April 1, 2019
How many wrong convictions are there in our court system? How many send an innocent person to death? This book takes a look at these questions. I love this series and it’s actually one of the easiest to read out of sequence as I have.
July 1, 2024
A very early book in the Butcher Karp series, so the characters aren’t as developed as in later books. Sometimes a bit confusing following other characters, but enjoyable and fun.
January 17, 2015
THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY
The fourth in this series, and the one in which Michael Gruber (the real author) begins to hit his stride. Several very complicated plots which turn out to be intertwined (characteristic of the later books). The beginnings of what will turn out to be Marlene Ciampi's future role championing women who are victims of their violent men. In later books she eventually will go into business providing security for these women, often solving their problems with, um, extreme prejudice. Legal and police lore which sounds absolutely authentic to me. It's fun to watch time pass in this series--Marlene is pregnant with her first child in this one (she and her future husband, Butch Karp, met in the first book); by the end of the series ten books later, her daughter is ready for college and she and Butch have several other kids as well.
The fourth in this series, and the one in which Michael Gruber (the real author) begins to hit his stride. Several very complicated plots which turn out to be intertwined (characteristic of the later books). The beginnings of what will turn out to be Marlene Ciampi's future role championing women who are victims of their violent men. In later books she eventually will go into business providing security for these women, often solving their problems with, um, extreme prejudice. Legal and police lore which sounds absolutely authentic to me. It's fun to watch time pass in this series--Marlene is pregnant with her first child in this one (she and her future husband, Butch Karp, met in the first book); by the end of the series ten books later, her daughter is ready for college and she and Butch have several other kids as well.
July 30, 2016
First off, I have to laugh at Flint Journal's quote of calling this book a "courtroom drama page-turner". There was a very small segment of the book that actually took place in the courtroom. The book centers around a serial rapist that manages to duck past the law but gets caught in the middle of a set-up that winds him up back behind bars. There is also some crooked business and drug dealing going on which kinda had me scratching my head about. The book was littered with under-developed characters, intertwining story lines and enough babbling dialogue to make your head spin. Seriously!
It was a fairly easy read, just difficult to keep up with who or what was going on.
It was a fairly easy read, just difficult to keep up with who or what was going on.
January 16, 2017
#4 in the NYC ADA Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi series. Another exciting entry in this engrossing series.
Assistant D.A. Butch Karp faces a dilemma. A rogue cop is on the streets, taking out drug dealers, but Karp's investigation is brought to a halt when he is asked to suppress evidence. Sharing center stage with Karp's case is that of the D.A.'s colleague and lover, Marlene, who is on the trail of a rapist who wraps a pair of panty hose around each victim. With some unexpected help, Marlene spots a similarity in the victims; then the rapist adds murder to his m.o.
Assistant D.A. Butch Karp faces a dilemma. A rogue cop is on the streets, taking out drug dealers, but Karp's investigation is brought to a halt when he is asked to suppress evidence. Sharing center stage with Karp's case is that of the D.A.'s colleague and lover, Marlene, who is on the trail of a rapist who wraps a pair of panty hose around each victim. With some unexpected help, Marlene spots a similarity in the victims; then the rapist adds murder to his m.o.
July 11, 2013
This is the 4th book in the series so it was like settling in with some old friends. The story line was rather complicated and convoluted as one plot ran into another or not. The whole time I read it I wondered who was scamming who and who was really doing what they said there were so it was interesting to see how it would all pan out. I'm finding Butch and Marlene constant spats to be wearing a little thin. Time to put more space between the books in this series.
February 26, 2012
Another delectable bonbon in the Butch Karp - Marlene Ciampi series ghosted by Michael Gruber, my new fave, for his cousin RKT. While waiting for Gruber's next book in his own name I'm enjoying going through this series in order. This one is even better than the previous ones.
November 21, 2012
This is one of my favorite legal/police thriller series of all time. The earlier books have great plots, dialogue, and characters. The more recent books are not as good, but I love the series overall.
July 4, 2008
Currently my go-to author for when I want that feeling of needing to know what comes next "stay up all night reading." Am reading my way through the series.
July 25, 2009
As legal thrillers go, it was ok. I enjoyed reading it, but I won't be enthusiastically pressing it on all my friends and acquaintances.
July 11, 2010
Great!
September 19, 2010
NOT A REVIEW. Hippo marked 8/94 with marginal notes. I don't remember a thing {9-18-2010}.
Dusk jacket raves from V. Bugliosi and J. Kellerman.
Dusk jacket raves from V. Bugliosi and J. Kellerman.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews