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High Crimes
Meet Claire Heller Chapman. A criminal defense attorney who's made a name for herself by taking on—and winning—the toughest cases, Claire still manages to have a relatively calm life as a Harvard Law School professor, devoted wife, and proud mother to six-year-old Annie. Until one night, when the family is out having dinner, a team of government agents bursts onto the scene…heading straight for Claire's husband.
Tom Chapman has been arrested for an atrocious crime he swears he did not commit. Claire is desperate to believe him—and prove his innocence—even when she learns that Tom once had a different name. And a different face. Now, in a top-secret court-martial conducted by the Pentagon, Claire will put everything on the line to defend the man she loves. But as the evidence keeps piling up, the less she knows who her husband really is…and the more he appears to be a cold-blooded murderer...
Tom Chapman has been arrested for an atrocious crime he swears he did not commit. Claire is desperate to believe him—and prove his innocence—even when she learns that Tom once had a different name. And a different face. Now, in a top-secret court-martial conducted by the Pentagon, Claire will put everything on the line to defend the man she loves. But as the evidence keeps piling up, the less she knows who her husband really is…and the more he appears to be a cold-blooded murderer...
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 21, 1998
390 people are currently reading
1593 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Finder
70 books2,668 followersJoseph Finder is the author of the forthcoming novel JUDGMENT and fourteen other novels, many of them New York Times bestsellers, published in 35 countries around the world. His book HIGH CRIMES was adapted into a movie starring Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd; PARANOIA was made into the Harrison Ford/Gary Oldman film.
He was born in Chicago, lived in the Philippines, Afghanistan, Washington State, and upstate New York. His novels have won numerous awards, including the Strand Critics award, the Barry Award, and the International Thriller Writers’ Thriller Award for best novel. His first novel, THE MOSCOW CLUB, was named by Publishers Weekly as one of the 10 best spy novels of all time.
He lives with his wife in Boston and Cape Cod, where he roots for the Red Sox and mourns his Golden Retriever rescue dog, Mia. He’s currently trying to convince his wife to get another dog.
He was born in Chicago, lived in the Philippines, Afghanistan, Washington State, and upstate New York. His novels have won numerous awards, including the Strand Critics award, the Barry Award, and the International Thriller Writers’ Thriller Award for best novel. His first novel, THE MOSCOW CLUB, was named by Publishers Weekly as one of the 10 best spy novels of all time.
He lives with his wife in Boston and Cape Cod, where he roots for the Red Sox and mourns his Golden Retriever rescue dog, Mia. He’s currently trying to convince his wife to get another dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 313 reviews
April 10, 2023
Gripping legal thriller brain candy!
Do you remember William Calley and the disturbing story of his court martial as a result of the 1968 Vietnam War My Lai massacre? Now consider a fictional legal thriller based on the same circumstances with a somewhat different outcome. In HIGH CRIMES, the government and the military top brass will go to extreme measures to ensure their part in a senseless massacre that occurred when a well-intentioned black op went seriously off the rails stays under deep cover and out of public sight. “Extreme measures” in this case means the prosecution, court-martial and almost certain execution of Tom Chapman, a soldier who knows the true story of what happened that day and who has deep-sixed his true identity knowing he’d ultimately be targeted as the government fall guy for what happened on that fateful day over thirteen years earlier.
An eminently readable, compulsively page-turning thriller that fans of the genre will almost certainly demolish in a very small number of sittings! Enjoy the moment because it’s equally certain that you’ll forget the details, if not even the ending, within a matter of days after you’ve turned the last page. But, ultimately, that just doesn’t matter. What you WILL remember is that you enjoyed it thoroughly without having been mentally taxed for even a moment! And isn’t that what thriller brain candy is all about?
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
Do you remember William Calley and the disturbing story of his court martial as a result of the 1968 Vietnam War My Lai massacre? Now consider a fictional legal thriller based on the same circumstances with a somewhat different outcome. In HIGH CRIMES, the government and the military top brass will go to extreme measures to ensure their part in a senseless massacre that occurred when a well-intentioned black op went seriously off the rails stays under deep cover and out of public sight. “Extreme measures” in this case means the prosecution, court-martial and almost certain execution of Tom Chapman, a soldier who knows the true story of what happened that day and who has deep-sixed his true identity knowing he’d ultimately be targeted as the government fall guy for what happened on that fateful day over thirteen years earlier.
An eminently readable, compulsively page-turning thriller that fans of the genre will almost certainly demolish in a very small number of sittings! Enjoy the moment because it’s equally certain that you’ll forget the details, if not even the ending, within a matter of days after you’ve turned the last page. But, ultimately, that just doesn’t matter. What you WILL remember is that you enjoyed it thoroughly without having been mentally taxed for even a moment! And isn’t that what thriller brain candy is all about?
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
November 11, 2025
“You don’t know anything about him, Claire. If he could lie to you about his family, his parents, his childhood, his college, practically his whole fucking life, do you really think he couldn’t lie to you about this?”
― Joseph Finder, High Crimes
This is extremely unusual for me to do, but I’m actually downgrading a book I once adored from a four rating to three rating.
This is because I did a re-read of it this week and I couldn’t get through the whole thing. I am going to leave my old review up for context. I adored it the first time I read it. Everything I said still stands. It moves at a lightning pace, and the court scenes are fantastic and it’s a fascinating crime novel.
However, there are so many unrealistic elements that break it apart as one keeps going, and I did touch on that in my original review, but it just really bothered me upon the reread.
The longer the story goes on the more incredulous it seems and and I’m not gonna do spoilers but , the ending was wholly unrealistic and left a really bad taste in my mouth in a way it did not the first time .
Make no mistake. You won’t be bored if you this. This is the book that got me into Finder. But the unrealistic element made me decide to downgrade it to 3.5. Stars instead of four. original review below.
“Once it's out of the bottle you can't put it back in. You may not want this made public".
High Crimes by Joseph Finder
Review edited for content and spelling.
This book was fantastic to read. It is also the one that got me into Finder's books.
So Clair e and her husband Tom are dining out one pleasant evening when Tom is arrested. That is not a spoiler as it is the premise of the book.
Claire is stunned to find out her "husband" whom s he thought she knew, is a wanted fugitive. Years ago, in the Military, there was a whole group of people murdered and Tom is and has been, the number one suspect.
Claire is in shock. Tom denies that it was him and is terrified he will be murdered before he even gets to trial. Claire, being an attorney, decides to defend him. However she has never been in a Military Tribunal before so she enlists the help of a Military attorney in Virginia. (FYI..in the movie version the attorney is played by Morgan Freeman.)
As the two of them set about finding out what happened so very long ago, it becomes clear that someone..maybe more then one person..does not want them to come up with the answer..and will try to stop them any way they can.
High Crimes is a book I really enjoyed. It moves at a lightning pace, as does most of Finder's books and I was pulled in from page one. Also, sometimes with books such as this, the court room scenes can drag on or get dull. NOT HERE! There was not a dull moment in the w hole book. It was a really interesting read.
While I did enjoy this book and think it is a solid 4 stars there were a couple of things that confused me and kept me from giving it five stars..
SPOILERS:
The ending was really unbelievable. I just could not take it seriously. And that is a shame because before the ending, it was all flowing and was both horrifying and realistic. But that ending seemed sloppy if I am being honest.
So after they go through all that, he did it after all. Fine. I get that. Great twist. But then all of a sudden his "friend" shows up at the door? What would have happened had he not just finished confessing all to Claire? And then the detective shows up. I mean it's like "guess whose coming to dinner". Everyone is all of a sudden at the door at convenient moments. At one point I would not have been surprised if Batman showed up. It was so unrealistic and killed the mood, thus the four rating.
That said, I like Finder's books very much and I enjoyed 90 percent of this one. One would think a book about a military trial could have become real dull but it never did. In fact it sizzled. The trial scenes were mesmerizing and I was very invested in the story..for Claire's sake.
I loved Claire and admired her strength. She has the reader rooting for her from the beginning. Then there is Tom. I just did not like Tom. Even when we think he is innocent..I just could not stand him and his selfishness and the way he treated Claire.
This is a good and fun crime and legal drama and I have read it more then once. I think most mystery and legal thriller readers would want to read this so I'd recommend for readers of fast moving mysteries and legal stories.
― Joseph Finder, High Crimes
This is extremely unusual for me to do, but I’m actually downgrading a book I once adored from a four rating to three rating.
This is because I did a re-read of it this week and I couldn’t get through the whole thing. I am going to leave my old review up for context. I adored it the first time I read it. Everything I said still stands. It moves at a lightning pace, and the court scenes are fantastic and it’s a fascinating crime novel.
However, there are so many unrealistic elements that break it apart as one keeps going, and I did touch on that in my original review, but it just really bothered me upon the reread.
The longer the story goes on the more incredulous it seems and and I’m not gonna do spoilers but , the ending was wholly unrealistic and left a really bad taste in my mouth in a way it did not the first time .
Make no mistake. You won’t be bored if you this. This is the book that got me into Finder. But the unrealistic element made me decide to downgrade it to 3.5. Stars instead of four. original review below.
“Once it's out of the bottle you can't put it back in. You may not want this made public".
High Crimes by Joseph Finder
Review edited for content and spelling.
This book was fantastic to read. It is also the one that got me into Finder's books.
So Clair e and her husband Tom are dining out one pleasant evening when Tom is arrested. That is not a spoiler as it is the premise of the book.
Claire is stunned to find out her "husband" whom s he thought she knew, is a wanted fugitive. Years ago, in the Military, there was a whole group of people murdered and Tom is and has been, the number one suspect.
Claire is in shock. Tom denies that it was him and is terrified he will be murdered before he even gets to trial. Claire, being an attorney, decides to defend him. However she has never been in a Military Tribunal before so she enlists the help of a Military attorney in Virginia. (FYI..in the movie version the attorney is played by Morgan Freeman.)
As the two of them set about finding out what happened so very long ago, it becomes clear that someone..maybe more then one person..does not want them to come up with the answer..and will try to stop them any way they can.
High Crimes is a book I really enjoyed. It moves at a lightning pace, as does most of Finder's books and I was pulled in from page one. Also, sometimes with books such as this, the court room scenes can drag on or get dull. NOT HERE! There was not a dull moment in the w hole book. It was a really interesting read.
While I did enjoy this book and think it is a solid 4 stars there were a couple of things that confused me and kept me from giving it five stars..
SPOILERS:
The ending was really unbelievable. I just could not take it seriously. And that is a shame because before the ending, it was all flowing and was both horrifying and realistic. But that ending seemed sloppy if I am being honest.
So after they go through all that, he did it after all. Fine. I get that. Great twist. But then all of a sudden his "friend" shows up at the door? What would have happened had he not just finished confessing all to Claire? And then the detective shows up. I mean it's like "guess whose coming to dinner". Everyone is all of a sudden at the door at convenient moments. At one point I would not have been surprised if Batman showed up. It was so unrealistic and killed the mood, thus the four rating.
That said, I like Finder's books very much and I enjoyed 90 percent of this one. One would think a book about a military trial could have become real dull but it never did. In fact it sizzled. The trial scenes were mesmerizing and I was very invested in the story..for Claire's sake.
I loved Claire and admired her strength. She has the reader rooting for her from the beginning. Then there is Tom. I just did not like Tom. Even when we think he is innocent..I just could not stand him and his selfishness and the way he treated Claire.
This is a good and fun crime and legal drama and I have read it more then once. I think most mystery and legal thriller readers would want to read this so I'd recommend for readers of fast moving mysteries and legal stories.
June 25, 2017
I like all of the books Joseph Finder has written, including this one. It was published in 1998--so readers today should not be surprised at the 'phone with the antenna' and other 20-year-old technology.
This is another review that falls between four and five stars. Why four stars? Initially the Ivy League branding stuff (and I know, like, and am related to lovely, intelligent people from the Yale Law School) felt like too much of a shortcut--a quick way to establish the main character's intellectual bona fides while also flipping nicely as we wonder at her lack of information and street smarts about the man she has married.
Although Finder telegraphs the ending, the ride is a good one.
Why five stars? As always, Finder digs deep into his material, with a great exposition of the difference between civil and military law, plenty of suspense as the main character is attacked in a variety of ways, superb evidentiary questions, and realistic mother-daughter tension as the main character is/must be inattentive to her daughter. Also, in the final conflict scene, there is a moment of realization--as Finder often does, like with his book about the mind-reader--which while it will be familiar to mystery readers, both ratchets up the suspense and keeps the book current for today.
Highly recommended.
This is another review that falls between four and five stars. Why four stars? Initially the Ivy League branding stuff (and I know, like, and am related to lovely, intelligent people from the Yale Law School) felt like too much of a shortcut--a quick way to establish the main character's intellectual bona fides while also flipping nicely as we wonder at her lack of information and street smarts about the man she has married.
Although Finder telegraphs the ending, the ride is a good one.
Why five stars? As always, Finder digs deep into his material, with a great exposition of the difference between civil and military law, plenty of suspense as the main character is attacked in a variety of ways, superb evidentiary questions, and realistic mother-daughter tension as the main character is/must be inattentive to her daughter. Also, in the final conflict scene, there is a moment of realization--as Finder often does, like with his book about the mind-reader--which while it will be familiar to mystery readers, both ratchets up the suspense and keeps the book current for today.
Highly recommended.
June 7, 2018
Not up to his usual standards - not even a quite a 3 in my opinion. Mostly about a kind of dreary Army trial and certainly not complementary to the US military and its internal justice processes and ethical standards.
February 7, 2023
DNF! A deadly combination of stupidity and boredom. Not recommended.
January 3, 2013
I tend to avoid, when choosing what book to read next, the thriller and chick-lit genre as an attempt to escape the likelihood of ending up with something that proves to be formulaic and therefore predictable. Though I’m sure there are novels that manage to break free of this stereotype, these two genres in particular seem to be full of authors who crank out book after book involving the same plots and characters. These books delight a multitude of readers and their authors are able to earn a steady paycheck, and that’s all swell; I’m just looking for a different experience when I sit down to enjoy a book.
Joseph Finder’s High Crimes falls within the thriller genre and is no exception to my opinion about the thriller genre.
The book is definitely “Hollywood ready” and has strong cinematic qualities -- a fast-paced plot with plenty of twists and turns, snappy banter, and tense courtroom scenes -- and Hollywood even took the bait and brought it to the screen in 2002 with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd cast in the title roles. But I thought the novel read more like a novelization: a poorly written summary of someone else’s movie.
Joseph Finder graduated summa cum laude from Yale and got his masters degree at Harvard, and I am astounded at the writing quality of such a highly-educated man. Any writer who thinks he must describe the outfits of each of his characters in each scene in order to be descriptive is not a very good writer.
If you're looking for something to read while at the beach or on a flight, you may find that High Crimes is a perfect fit. But for anyone who needs a little character development to help them invest in a plot, you will find none of that here. The characters fall flat, the dialogue is contrived, and Finder doesn’t quite connect all the dots correctly by the end of his mystery. And worse, the conclusion – meant to be the biggest shock of the novel – is absolutely ludicrous.
I’ll leave you with my favorite terrible sentence:
He brandished a large silver ladle over an immense crockery bowl heaped with lobster, mussels, little neck clams, chicken, shrimp, and innumerable other kinds of seafood mixed with rice, onions, garlic, and about a dozen other things.
Joseph Finder’s High Crimes falls within the thriller genre and is no exception to my opinion about the thriller genre.
The book is definitely “Hollywood ready” and has strong cinematic qualities -- a fast-paced plot with plenty of twists and turns, snappy banter, and tense courtroom scenes -- and Hollywood even took the bait and brought it to the screen in 2002 with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd cast in the title roles. But I thought the novel read more like a novelization: a poorly written summary of someone else’s movie.
Joseph Finder graduated summa cum laude from Yale and got his masters degree at Harvard, and I am astounded at the writing quality of such a highly-educated man. Any writer who thinks he must describe the outfits of each of his characters in each scene in order to be descriptive is not a very good writer.
If you're looking for something to read while at the beach or on a flight, you may find that High Crimes is a perfect fit. But for anyone who needs a little character development to help them invest in a plot, you will find none of that here. The characters fall flat, the dialogue is contrived, and Finder doesn’t quite connect all the dots correctly by the end of his mystery. And worse, the conclusion – meant to be the biggest shock of the novel – is absolutely ludicrous.
I’ll leave you with my favorite terrible sentence:
He brandished a large silver ladle over an immense crockery bowl heaped with lobster, mussels, little neck clams, chicken, shrimp, and innumerable other kinds of seafood mixed with rice, onions, garlic, and about a dozen other things.
August 4, 2014
Probably average for the book. Below average for the audiobook narrator.
I read the first half and the last three chapters. It might be good for others, but I just wasn’t in the mood. It was getting into legal processes and evidence.
I want happy endings, and the ending was ok for me.
AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR - Therese Plummer.
I did not like two things about her. She used a weird almost dorky voice for the hero Tom. She made 6-year-old Annie sound bratty, spoiled, and unlikeable. Maybe the author was writing Annie that way, but the narrator could have toned it down some. I don’t hit children, but the way Annie sounded made me want to slap her. I would have made Annie sound more hurt and whiny than bratty.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 11 hrs and 27 minutes. Swearing language: strong but not often used. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: one in the half that I read. It was brief with not much detail. Setting: late 1990s east coast U.S. Book copyright: 1998. Genre: legal mystery suspense.
OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my ratings of other Joseph Finder books see my 5 star review of Paranoia.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I read the first half and the last three chapters. It might be good for others, but I just wasn’t in the mood. It was getting into legal processes and evidence.
I want happy endings, and the ending was ok for me.
AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR - Therese Plummer.
I did not like two things about her. She used a weird almost dorky voice for the hero Tom. She made 6-year-old Annie sound bratty, spoiled, and unlikeable. Maybe the author was writing Annie that way, but the narrator could have toned it down some. I don’t hit children, but the way Annie sounded made me want to slap her. I would have made Annie sound more hurt and whiny than bratty.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 11 hrs and 27 minutes. Swearing language: strong but not often used. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: one in the half that I read. It was brief with not much detail. Setting: late 1990s east coast U.S. Book copyright: 1998. Genre: legal mystery suspense.
OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my ratings of other Joseph Finder books see my 5 star review of Paranoia.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
June 20, 2018
Oh my oh my!!!!! This was a great experience! When I say experience I mean a great book that I wish did not end! I loved everything about this book so why not a 5? Very tiny spots that are well unbelievable. But for the most part this was a great read! Let me tell you without any giveaways trust no one!!!!
March 22, 2022
My love for this 2002 movie is strong. Mostly because it stars Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd, but also because I find the plot quite clever despite how many times I've seen it. So after years of re-watches, I decided to take the plunge and read the book. I set my expectations low and wound up with the only obvious conclusion there was- the movie was better.
January 30, 2013
Joseph Finder is a true master writer- High Crimes is amazing!! As the reader - you start out in one setting as a family unit with Claire the attorney -teacher who just made a major slam dunk of getting a rapist off free. Then her world turns upside down fast- real fast !! She is out to dinner with her husband Tom and their young daughter Annie when everything changes. As they leave the restaurant and walking thru the mall they are met with FBI, saying "Mr Kubik, come with us, please . Let's make this simple." and then another agent says--" Ronald Kubik , Federal agents. We have a warrant for your arrest ."
See what Ronald has failed to tell his lovely bride of just a few short years is he has been on the run. From what you ask?? Well now- that is a mystery makes this a High Crime and a very good one at that.
Does his wife Claire stick by his side and help him?? Does he continue to run?? What is this High Crime?? All of these are very good questions - and if you really want to know what happens and if Claire makes out alive as yes they are shooting at her also - and this is a very High Crime. I say you must read this as I did. You will not regret it at all. I started this book and could not put it down till I finished it.
I say Mr Finder has gone and done it again 10 stars my friend!!! Please keep it..
See what Ronald has failed to tell his lovely bride of just a few short years is he has been on the run. From what you ask?? Well now- that is a mystery makes this a High Crime and a very good one at that.
Does his wife Claire stick by his side and help him?? Does he continue to run?? What is this High Crime?? All of these are very good questions - and if you really want to know what happens and if Claire makes out alive as yes they are shooting at her also - and this is a very High Crime. I say you must read this as I did. You will not regret it at all. I started this book and could not put it down till I finished it.
I say Mr Finder has gone and done it again 10 stars my friend!!! Please keep it..
November 3, 2018
RATING: 2.5
Lawyer Claire Heller Chapman, her husband Tom and their daughter Annie are at the mall when a swarm of law enforcement officials try to grab Tom. They tell Claire that Tom is a wanted fugitive known as Ronald Kubik who years ago killed 87 people in a military massacre. Claire can't believe that is the man she knows and works with 2 other lawyers to defend him. It was interesting to see how a military trial is run. The plot was quite engrossing until the final chapters when things went totally off the rails. That diminished what had been a good book until then.
Lawyer Claire Heller Chapman, her husband Tom and their daughter Annie are at the mall when a swarm of law enforcement officials try to grab Tom. They tell Claire that Tom is a wanted fugitive known as Ronald Kubik who years ago killed 87 people in a military massacre. Claire can't believe that is the man she knows and works with 2 other lawyers to defend him. It was interesting to see how a military trial is run. The plot was quite engrossing until the final chapters when things went totally off the rails. That diminished what had been a good book until then.
December 28, 2017
Loved it! Couldn't put it down.
June 22, 2018
Great legal thriller. If you love movies like A Few Good Men, you'll enjoy this one. Even if not, read it.
January 5, 2019
Pure fun. The writing is cheesy at times, but it will keep you entertained throughout. It reads like an action/thriller movie.
February 13, 2021
A brilliant, twisty, and all too plausible novel. A heroine you won’t forget and cheer for throughout. Excellent!
P.S. I really liked the movie adaptation, too!
P.S. I really liked the movie adaptation, too!
August 23, 2021
This book was written 20 years ago so you have to allow for the massive change in technology. Even so, it's still a good story.
March 23, 2023
This has been on my shelf for a couple of years. Fantastic read. Strongly recommended.
September 8, 2011
In his novel High Crimes, Joseph Finder explores the length that one woman will go to in order to save her husband's life even if it turns out that he is a man that knew nothing about.
Claire Chapman has a great life. She is successful lawyer with a teaching practice at one of the most prestigious law schools in the country, she was able to find a great man after her first husband died, her life could not be better. But Claire's life is about to be turned upside down by the FBI who are not interested in her but in her husband Tom Chapman. Tom Chapman is not the man that Claire had married, it was not even his real name. He had been hiding everything from her, his past, his role in the military, everything. Tom has been charged with killing 87 indigenous people, women and children, on a South America mission. Claire may not have known her husband's past but she know who he is and is not about to let him face the charges without her. But Clarie soon realizes that the Military is still the "Old Boys Club" who will protect their secrets and superiors at any cost. Claire is about to get a lesson in Military Law and Practices some of which are legal and illegal.
I have not read too many courtroom thriller novels. I do not know why I shied away from this genre before, but I was completely hooked while reading this book. I think that Finder has found himself a new follower for the courtroom thriller. With an interesting and twisting storyline, Finder was able to draw me in, and capture the courtroom aspect as well as create well defined characters.
This book was a great mixture of mystery and courtroom drama. With each new piece of evidence that is uncovered you discover more and more of the conspiracy that the government is able to undertake to protect it's secrets. There are many twists and turns and you are never really sure who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. There are strong cases on each side, but you never know how far lawyers and the government are willing to manipulate the evidence.
I like Claire for the most part as main character. I think that Finder did a good job of creating a strong lawyer, but also an individual who struggles in her home life. She is killer in the courtroom and presents a strong female lead who is willing to even go after the military in order to safe her husband. However, Claire did not cross the line from strong female to Bitchy. She was willing to receive advice and help from people who knew the military court system better than her. I am glad that Finder was able to find this balance and not cross that line. Claire also showed that she was more concerned about her husband than her daughter at times, and Finder did a good job of showing this dismissal actions of Annabell's.
The only part that became a little redundant is you knew that the defense was going to have an answer for everything. This only became a little bit of a hindrance to the story in the latter part of the book, as you knew that Kate was going to introduce evidence only to have it shot down. As I said it got a little bit redundant, but it fit the flow of the courtroom and the story line that Finder had set out. Also I am unsure if it means something different in the USA but voir dire in Canada means a trail within a trial, i'm unsure if Finder was using the right words for the context that they were written but as I said it might be different between the two countries.
This was a really good read (I can see why it was made into a movie, also by the same name with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd. I have not seen the movie, but I may have to look it up now) and I know that I will read another book by Finder as well as explore more courtroom thriller authors out there (suggestions welcome). I feel like Finder has opened me up to a genre that needs to be explored.
Enjoy!!!!
Claire Chapman has a great life. She is successful lawyer with a teaching practice at one of the most prestigious law schools in the country, she was able to find a great man after her first husband died, her life could not be better. But Claire's life is about to be turned upside down by the FBI who are not interested in her but in her husband Tom Chapman. Tom Chapman is not the man that Claire had married, it was not even his real name. He had been hiding everything from her, his past, his role in the military, everything. Tom has been charged with killing 87 indigenous people, women and children, on a South America mission. Claire may not have known her husband's past but she know who he is and is not about to let him face the charges without her. But Clarie soon realizes that the Military is still the "Old Boys Club" who will protect their secrets and superiors at any cost. Claire is about to get a lesson in Military Law and Practices some of which are legal and illegal.
I have not read too many courtroom thriller novels. I do not know why I shied away from this genre before, but I was completely hooked while reading this book. I think that Finder has found himself a new follower for the courtroom thriller. With an interesting and twisting storyline, Finder was able to draw me in, and capture the courtroom aspect as well as create well defined characters.
This book was a great mixture of mystery and courtroom drama. With each new piece of evidence that is uncovered you discover more and more of the conspiracy that the government is able to undertake to protect it's secrets. There are many twists and turns and you are never really sure who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. There are strong cases on each side, but you never know how far lawyers and the government are willing to manipulate the evidence.
I like Claire for the most part as main character. I think that Finder did a good job of creating a strong lawyer, but also an individual who struggles in her home life. She is killer in the courtroom and presents a strong female lead who is willing to even go after the military in order to safe her husband. However, Claire did not cross the line from strong female to Bitchy. She was willing to receive advice and help from people who knew the military court system better than her. I am glad that Finder was able to find this balance and not cross that line. Claire also showed that she was more concerned about her husband than her daughter at times, and Finder did a good job of showing this dismissal actions of Annabell's.
The only part that became a little redundant is you knew that the defense was going to have an answer for everything. This only became a little bit of a hindrance to the story in the latter part of the book, as you knew that Kate was going to introduce evidence only to have it shot down. As I said it got a little bit redundant, but it fit the flow of the courtroom and the story line that Finder had set out. Also I am unsure if it means something different in the USA but voir dire in Canada means a trail within a trial, i'm unsure if Finder was using the right words for the context that they were written but as I said it might be different between the two countries.
This was a really good read (I can see why it was made into a movie, also by the same name with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd. I have not seen the movie, but I may have to look it up now) and I know that I will read another book by Finder as well as explore more courtroom thriller authors out there (suggestions welcome). I feel like Finder has opened me up to a genre that needs to be explored.
Enjoy!!!!
January 28, 2025
A TAUT THRILLER ABOUT US SPECIAL FORCES RUNNING AMOK IN CENTRAL AMERICA
Many of the popular thrillers published in the U.S. tend to revolve around the CIA, the KGB, or Nazis. High Crimes is a notable exception. It centers on the neglected topic of U.S. military intervention in Central America under the Reagan Administration. And author Joseph Finder shows no love for the policy the US government pursued. In High Crimes, he depicts Special Forces running amok.
It’s 1996. Tom Chapman is a loving, family man who runs his own investment firm in Boston and lives with his adoring wife, Claire. She’s better known as Claire Heller, a Harvard Law School professor with a reputation for merciless performances in the courtroom. Then, all too soon, we discover that Tom Chapman doesn’t appear to be the man he says he is. The U.S. Army claims his true name is Ronald Kubik, a former Master Sergeant in the Special Forces. And they proceed to put him on trial for the 1983 massacre of 87 innocent civilians. The alleged massacre took place in a village in El Salvador in reprisal for leftist guerrillas’ murder of four Americans in the capital. Claire (of course!) moves to defend him in his court-martial.
SUSTAINED SUSPENSE, AND A CRITIQUE OF US POLICY
The suspense in this cleverly plotted and tightly written novel circles around whether Tom is really Ron Kubik—and whether he really was responsible for the massacre. Finder skillfully keeps the reader guessing nearly until the end. Along the way he works in an unflattering picture of U.S. foreign and military policy in Vietnam as well as Central America and of the stifling bureaucracy in the Pentagon. His characters, every one believable, include former and current Army attorneys from the JAG Corps, the Chief of Staff of the Army, a shadowy CIA agent, and a whiny six-year-old girl.
EL SALVADOR’S DEVASTATING CIVIL WAR
The Salvadoran Civil War (1979-92) “resulted in the deaths of 75,000 civilians, countless acts of torture, sexual violence, gender-based violence, and the enforced disappearance [of at least 8,000 people], among other atrocities,” according to the UN. From its outset, the US Government, first under Jimmy Carter and later under Ronald Reagan, became actively involved on the side of the military. The US feared a Communist takeover, characterizing the insurgent FMLN (Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front) as a tool of the USSR. Americans played a major role in training, equipping, and often leading Salvadoran troops. US Special Forces might well have been actively engaged in the conflict, as this novel suggests. And there might well have been an atrocity like the one Finder describes in this novel. The war came to an end only with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joseph Finder is the author of 18 thrillers and one sensational nonfiction book, an exposé of multimillionaire oilman Armand Hammer‘s longstanding ties to the KGB. Hollywood has adapted two of his novels, including High Crimes, into feature films. Finder was born in Chicago in 1958. He spent most of his early childhood in Afghanistan and the Philippines. Back in the states, he majored in Russian studies at Yale, graduating summa cum laude. He then earned a master’s degree from the Harvard Russian Research Center and later joined the Harvard faculty. He claims to have been recruited to the CIA but turned it down to pursue writing instead. In addition to his novels, Finder writes on espionage and foreign affairs for the Washington Post and the New York Times.
Many of the popular thrillers published in the U.S. tend to revolve around the CIA, the KGB, or Nazis. High Crimes is a notable exception. It centers on the neglected topic of U.S. military intervention in Central America under the Reagan Administration. And author Joseph Finder shows no love for the policy the US government pursued. In High Crimes, he depicts Special Forces running amok.
It’s 1996. Tom Chapman is a loving, family man who runs his own investment firm in Boston and lives with his adoring wife, Claire. She’s better known as Claire Heller, a Harvard Law School professor with a reputation for merciless performances in the courtroom. Then, all too soon, we discover that Tom Chapman doesn’t appear to be the man he says he is. The U.S. Army claims his true name is Ronald Kubik, a former Master Sergeant in the Special Forces. And they proceed to put him on trial for the 1983 massacre of 87 innocent civilians. The alleged massacre took place in a village in El Salvador in reprisal for leftist guerrillas’ murder of four Americans in the capital. Claire (of course!) moves to defend him in his court-martial.
SUSTAINED SUSPENSE, AND A CRITIQUE OF US POLICY
The suspense in this cleverly plotted and tightly written novel circles around whether Tom is really Ron Kubik—and whether he really was responsible for the massacre. Finder skillfully keeps the reader guessing nearly until the end. Along the way he works in an unflattering picture of U.S. foreign and military policy in Vietnam as well as Central America and of the stifling bureaucracy in the Pentagon. His characters, every one believable, include former and current Army attorneys from the JAG Corps, the Chief of Staff of the Army, a shadowy CIA agent, and a whiny six-year-old girl.
EL SALVADOR’S DEVASTATING CIVIL WAR
The Salvadoran Civil War (1979-92) “resulted in the deaths of 75,000 civilians, countless acts of torture, sexual violence, gender-based violence, and the enforced disappearance [of at least 8,000 people], among other atrocities,” according to the UN. From its outset, the US Government, first under Jimmy Carter and later under Ronald Reagan, became actively involved on the side of the military. The US feared a Communist takeover, characterizing the insurgent FMLN (Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front) as a tool of the USSR. Americans played a major role in training, equipping, and often leading Salvadoran troops. US Special Forces might well have been actively engaged in the conflict, as this novel suggests. And there might well have been an atrocity like the one Finder describes in this novel. The war came to an end only with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joseph Finder is the author of 18 thrillers and one sensational nonfiction book, an exposé of multimillionaire oilman Armand Hammer‘s longstanding ties to the KGB. Hollywood has adapted two of his novels, including High Crimes, into feature films. Finder was born in Chicago in 1958. He spent most of his early childhood in Afghanistan and the Philippines. Back in the states, he majored in Russian studies at Yale, graduating summa cum laude. He then earned a master’s degree from the Harvard Russian Research Center and later joined the Harvard faculty. He claims to have been recruited to the CIA but turned it down to pursue writing instead. In addition to his novels, Finder writes on espionage and foreign affairs for the Washington Post and the New York Times.
February 15, 2017
Another first rate thriller from author Joseph Finder, "High Crimes", features a battle by a high profile Harvard professor against the US. Army. Professor Claire Chapman Heller is a no nonsense and extremely successful appellate lawyer who's world is about to be turned upside down. Tom Heller, Claire's husband of three years is a highly successful investment manager who is possibly also hiding a dark secret. One late night while shopping at a local mall federal agents stop Claire and Tom. Tom is being placed under arrest for murder. Although Tom tries to avoid being captured he does end up in the Army's custody. Claire is informed Tom is actually "Ron Kubik", an AOL Sergeant who was wanted for 87 counts of murder in addition to desertion 13 years prior. Claire is horrified as that this cannot be true. Although she'd only been married to Tom for three years she'd known him for several more. Claire is forced to defend Tom on the Army's turf and by their rules. Even though Claire hires a local attorney for second chair who'd spent many years in the Army as a lawyer she's severely handicapped representing Tom. How was it possible that 13 years ago in San Salvador Tom (Ron) caused the "La Colina" incident (?). The Army's top prosecutor Major Lucas Walton who has yet to ever lose a case has Tom in his sites with plenty of evidence to bury him. In an intense and taut story this one is spellbinding right up to the very last page. At just over 400 pages, "High Crimes", delivers with powered packed punches as Claire struggles to find possible ways to dig Tom out of the mess that he is in. Battling generals with no conscious or morals, downright evil Army officers who have no use for the truth, Claire is torn as to believing in Tom's innocence. Well crafted characters who jump alive from the pages of the book add complete credibility. Some of the supporting characters work nicely as decoys for the plot's twists and turns. Author Joseph Finder truly is a master story teller. Giving, "High Crimes", four stars out of a possible five stars. I have to admit the abrupt ending did throw me for a loop. Written around 1998, (Crime in story was 13 years prior in 1985), at times the book did seem a bit dated. I've enjoyed every Joseph Finder book I've read to date and, "High Crimes", is top notch. This one is a do not miss. If you are not reading Joseph Finder's books, why not ? You're missing something special.
February 4, 2017
Notes:
"And he and they and those are here... the old days... the old school... laugh and laughen... and the high risen crimes."
"Now...now... now... is the time... Joseph should prepare the scene for the killer to come... the victims to be ready..."
- If something can show this book is the truth, if something can show this author - Finder that's how the world in real so twisty.
"Now he whom walks behind the rows... should make at least one character busy, you remember the old days... the old thosies?"
"Nigga watches nigga... just joking and messing with ya"
- Stephen King sometimes as author is a good one, others sucks very bad. Some works are bad other are good, here I have check out two works by Finder and so far my opinion about this author is that he is one damn good writer and people shouldn't skip this author like some others. Not the shit deserve 5 stars out 5... the good writers - ones deserve that.
"Few hours into the mind of Joseph Finder"
"More likely what's the experience to be inside in a case... to be a judge... a a innocent and people to put you state - guilty.
...
Everything in one place... so crazy..."
"Wow, wow..."
"The justice... the system... corruption!"
"He takes the weak spots of families and takes disadvantages of Psychopaths and put them in one place.
Joseph Finder, didn't disappointed and with this work!"
- So far I can say that there are a lot of works, a lot of authors but few are good ones and the other half are the bad ones. All people here are trying to share their experience from their point of view and to show how they see the world... but do we dare to open this book full of thoughts?
"And he and they and those are here... the old days... the old school... laugh and laughen... and the high risen crimes."
"Now...now... now... is the time... Joseph should prepare the scene for the killer to come... the victims to be ready..."
- If something can show this book is the truth, if something can show this author - Finder that's how the world in real so twisty.
"Now he whom walks behind the rows... should make at least one character busy, you remember the old days... the old thosies?"
"Nigga watches nigga... just joking and messing with ya"
- Stephen King sometimes as author is a good one, others sucks very bad. Some works are bad other are good, here I have check out two works by Finder and so far my opinion about this author is that he is one damn good writer and people shouldn't skip this author like some others. Not the shit deserve 5 stars out 5... the good writers - ones deserve that.
"Few hours into the mind of Joseph Finder"
"More likely what's the experience to be inside in a case... to be a judge... a a innocent and people to put you state - guilty.
...
Everything in one place... so crazy..."
"Wow, wow..."
"The justice... the system... corruption!"
"He takes the weak spots of families and takes disadvantages of Psychopaths and put them in one place.
Joseph Finder, didn't disappointed and with this work!"
- So far I can say that there are a lot of works, a lot of authors but few are good ones and the other half are the bad ones. All people here are trying to share their experience from their point of view and to show how they see the world... but do we dare to open this book full of thoughts?
February 3, 2017
At first I wasn't sure where this book was going. There were so many unexpected surprises and the intensity blew me away. This was my 1st time reading a Joseph Finder book and I can see myself reading many more.
December 19, 2016
Claire takes on military court system to defend her husband from charges he swears is false. many different witnesses have different stories to tell.
you must read to find out the truth...
you must read to find out the truth...
September 18, 2019
What a snooze! I saw the movie version years ago and I remembered it being OK so I though I'd try the book. Books are usually better, right? This book was so boring! It was nothing but lawyers in meetings talking about how they were going to try the case. Even the actual court proceedings were dull. Not nearly as good as a Grisham book. On the few occasions that it wasn't lawyers sitting around talking, the main character's bratty little daughter was whining about something. I wanted to smack that kid almost as much as I wanted to smack her mom for being such a poor parent! The very end of the book was the only time there was any real action taking place and it was pretty much the way I remembered the movie going and that part was OK. I found myself just waiting for this book to be over so I could move on to something better. Not worth the time.
July 4, 2011
It's an okay courtroom drama, but I found most of the surprises surprisingly unsurprising.
And I had the annoying feeling that I know more about the military justice system from watching JAG and a Few Good Men than Joseph Finder seems to know.
Finder must have seen A Few Good Men though. At least one of the scenes seemed highly inspired by this movie.
I just discovered that High Crimes have been made into a movie with Morgan Freeman in one of the leading roles. Very appropriate. That would have been my choice, and from the descriptions in the book I am sure Finder had him in mind also. I'm going to watch it.
And I had the annoying feeling that I know more about the military justice system from watching JAG and a Few Good Men than Joseph Finder seems to know.
Finder must have seen A Few Good Men though. At least one of the scenes seemed highly inspired by this movie.
I just discovered that High Crimes have been made into a movie with Morgan Freeman in one of the leading roles. Very appropriate. That would have been my choice, and from the descriptions in the book I am sure Finder had him in mind also. I'm going to watch it.
November 22, 2008
If you look at the books I have read lately....(You will see that I am just catching up adding them) You will see I get in trends of reading books by the same author ...even though they are not sequels.
This book really caught your interest and held it till the end. It is a story about a woman who finds out her husband is not who she thought he was. He had a differnt face and a different name and was responsible for a horrible crime! This one has so many twist and turns in it...even in the last chapter.
This book really caught your interest and held it till the end. It is a story about a woman who finds out her husband is not who she thought he was. He had a differnt face and a different name and was responsible for a horrible crime! This one has so many twist and turns in it...even in the last chapter.
June 26, 2012
Great story, but way too close to the plot of the movie, A Few Good Men. I also didn't like the banter Finder would insert to try to develop/illuminate the relationships between the characters - it was pretty cheesy and useless. Too many details left hanging at the end. And I never did figure out how an army deserter working at menial jobs for several years could have afforded extensive plastic surgery.
October 24, 2013
I was half way through this book before I realized that I actually saw the movie w/ Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman about 10 years ago. At that point, I remembered the ending, but I still read through to finish the book. A good mystery/thriller with many twists and turns. I recommend it!
January 15, 2016
Not as good as "Suspicion" for sure. Ending was a twist, but you could see "something" was going to happen unexpectedly. Characters just seemed a bit like cardboard cut-outs. Not terrible, just not great. Will keep reading Finder because he does make you turn the pages!
September 2, 2016
A court martial drama, with a deserter from 13 years earlier represented by his wife and two c0-counsel. Saw the film of this book with Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman some years ago - although a good film, the book is better
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