True Justice

Butch Karp #12

by Robert K. Tanenbaum

District Attorney Butch Karp and his pistol-packing wife Marlene Ciampi, the liveliest crime-fighting couple in New York, are back in True Justice. The first set of infanticides happen on Butch's a wave of gruesome incidents in which newborns are killed or abandoned by their indigent teenage mothers. The second, Marlene's case, is straight out of the a middle-class college girl and her boyfriend are indicted for first-degree murder in the death of their baby after a concealed pregnancy. The most interesting story belongs to Lucy, Butch and Marlene's teenage daughter, an incisively brilliant and complex young woman who deserves her own novel. Lucy's best friend's parents seem to have been murdered by an African furniture restorer of whose guilt Lucy is unconvinced. The real solution to the mystery of who killed the Maxwells is telegraphed well in advance, but all the crimes give Butch, Marlene, their colleagues in criminal justice, and even Lucy a chance to weigh in on the law's fault lines and the ironies implicit in what passes for justice in America. But it's Lucy's spiritual quest that provokes the book's most unusual and involving drama. Lucy's devout Catholic faith, like her prodigious talent for language (she can speak 14, but give her five days in a foreign country and that'll be 15, thank you), is a mystery to Butch, a lapsed Jew, and Marlene, who has trouble squaring her own faith with the violence that attends her job. When a Jesuit priest tries to explain it in the following passage, Butch is

"Lucy takes her spiritual responsibilities very seriously. And of course, in the current age, when people think there's no such thing as spiritual responsibility, she has nothing to compare herself to, and so she may get herself painted into a corner." "I'm not sure I follow," said Karp.

"Oh, I mean, two or three hundred years ago, a girl with her talents and predilections would have been in an order, with hourly guidance and a rule to follow. Think of Mickey Mantle being born in, say, Romania in 1830. The talent's there, but there's no cultural space for it."

This is a keenly intelligent book, many cuts above the usual courtroom procedural. The most interesting things happen outside the courtroom--the moral dilemmas, the political choices, the bonds between parents and daughter. The pacing is as swift as the dialogue, the characters are piercingly illuminated, and the philosophical jousting is worth a room full of Jesuits. This reader is heading straight for Tanenbaum's backlist and eagerly anticipating another novel with Lucy as the star. --Jane Adams

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Legal, Legal Thriller, Crime

464 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published July 31, 2001

About the author

Robert 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.

Reviews

[Mark Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

When three cases involving baby deaths dominate the headlines Butch Karp gets up to speed on the pertinent laws for his boss. One case grabs his attention when the DA wants to try a 16 year old rape victim for capitol murder after she claims she didn't know she was pregnant and disposed of the baby in a dumpster. Meanwhile his wife Marlene Ciampi quits her security service position and returns to the practice of law. In her first case, she defends a teenager who is accused of murdering her baby with the aid of the father--even though medical records show she was comatose during the crime. And while visiting the home of her friend Caitlin, 16 year old Lucy Karp discovers the bodies of her friends parents in their bed--shot to death.

This is one of my favorite series of books and this entry is another winner. The dialogue is witty and realistic and there are plenty of chuckles throughout the book. I'd love to share a meal with the Karp family around the table in their fantastic New York loft. These characters are so well-drawn they have the ring of truth about them. The only quibble I had is that there were too many cases built around the same themes. Other than that, the book is great.

[Barbara ★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this one. I really like Marlene's character and her husband Butch's too. However, her overly religious daughter Lucy, got on my ever-lovin nerves! I didn't really like the premise - throw-away babies. The book revolves around teens who dispose of their newborns in the garbage and the prosecution of said mothers. Both Marlene and Butch are trying cases (separate cases in separate states) and the cavalier attitude of everyone (lawyers, cops and defendants) towards these poor babies was deeply disturbing. I thought the ending was poorly done and was disappointed in the outcome of Marlene's case. Though I did like the way Butch handled his.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy fast paced, American crime thrillers, this is a good book. It was interesting to read one for once from the p.o.v. of the lawyers, and this avoided most bloodshed and violence (with still a smattering to keep up the pace). It was an interesting moral exploration - although the morality tended more towards how the legal system should work than the rights and wrongs of infanticide. I think there was scope for more exploration here, and it may also have been more interesting to readers outside the U.S. if it placed the emphasis more on the crime than the legal system. That said, it was an interesting angle that isn't often given in this type of literature. My only gripe with it is that Lucy could be a bit less all that is wonderful, perfect and serene.

This was my first go at Tanenbaum, and I whilst I won't be rushing to buy more, I will certainly be keeping an eye out for them.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somehow, back when I was reading the first fifteen books in this series (the ones ghosted by Michael Gruber) I missed this one. In the intervening years I forgot just how good they are. Like the others, this one follows at least three plot lines, bringing them all to conclusions in dramatic courtroom scenes, this time all of them related by the theme alluded to in the title--the difference between legal guilt and innocence and what is really (intuitively) right and wrong. Legal strategies are thoroughly explored, legal reasoning sounds authentic to me, and the stories are truly complicated and exciting. And eccentric as some of the characters are, Gruber writes so authoritatively that you believe every word.

[Tgordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read these books out of order so some of the “future” I already know. This was not my favorite book in this series but in reverence to what this series has meant to me I still gave it a solid 4. It may be because of the short length of the book in comparison to the others? It may be because there was a lack of real heart pounding action? I don’t know but it was still a great step in this amazing series. Three different teen mothers kill their newborn babies in various way. This is Marlene’s mess to deal with. Parents of two children are killed for no apparent reason in their bed. This is Butch’s mess to clean up. Don’t count out Lucy to somehow get involved in both messes!

[krhealeo2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never a disappointment!

If you have ever read a Tanebaum book you know you are going to be exquisitely entertained. You know you are going to learn important things about the law and human nature. The best part of it all? You will love it from the first page until the last, and then you immediately want to read another of Tanebaum's books, if for no other reason than to see if he can pull off the same magical spell he cast on you in the next book. Robert K. Farnham is a masterful storyteller who if you haven't read one of his books, you are missing a delightful treat.

[Azri Razak · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an interesting read. I don't know what to call it, it fits around the genre of criminal-law-thriller fiction kinda book I guess. I really liked and enjoyed the adult humor used in this setting. It's not something I normally see in the books I read so far.

The story's interesting but I was really REALLY hoping it didn't end that way.

[Mary Manson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Definitely Need to Read All of the Books in the Series

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was the first book I have read in the series. I found the characters compelling and I cannot wait until I can purchase the first book!!

[Lynn Patterson Sunday · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn’t Finish This One

I stopped on page 26. I couldn’t stomach the lighthearted way the subject of infanticide was discussed. Murdering newborns isn’t entertaining reading for me.

[Carol Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Depraved indifference in the 1970's only to be revisited in 2022. Perfect fictional read for the resurgence of ROE VS. WADE. Inter laced with New York and Delaware state law but based on actual legal cases. A reminder of some of the horrors that take place at all economic levels of society.

[Lopsided]

I was not able to listen to the previous book of this series so I’m not sure if the narrator was changed. This audiobook definitely has a different narrator. The voice is not as clear and is harder to hear. I have the volume turned up but it doesn’t help. The clarity is just lacking.

[Araych · Rating 4 out of 5]

Butch Karp #12, actually ghost-written by Michael Gruber. Butch and Marlene are faced by 2 cases of infanticide and must try their best to come to a just conclusion. This is a very fine legal mystery thriller written to a very high level. 4.1 stars.

[Rebecca Hollingsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author and I absolutely love it! I can't wait to read everything available to me!

[Carol Carmichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had not read any of Robert Tanenbaum's before, but I'll definitely be looking for more in this series. A truly interesting novel. A real page turner. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[LDean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some Language, sexual situations

[Jorn Barger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overloaded with law and philosophy, and overlapping cases, but honorable and mostly successful.

[James Hein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good series

[Jan Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite book in the series. Not sure how I feel about the different cases.

[Nina Braden · Rating 4 out of 5]

2000, p

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book.
Legal strategies, family struggles, religious and moral quandaries: there was a little bit of everything, and the story was well told.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read these Butch Karp series books for one reason- The exploits of Marlene Ciampi ! Well worth the price of reading. She certainly sizzles in this one. A must read. Check out series.

[Lynne Block · Rating 2 out of 5]

Looooong

[Lynn Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very suspenseful and the characters are balancing home, family, and career - liked it.

[Pamela Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by this book especially considering the general mood in today’s society on who is really in control of a woman’s body. And all I will say, is that the woman should be…

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Made me think of Law and Order episodes and all the behind the courtroom that happens.

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

"New York Times" bestselling author Robert K. Tanenbaum has more than seven million copies of his finely crafted and morally complex novels in print. In "True Justice," he reaches new heights with a compellingly authentic and penetrating story pulled right form today's most controversial headlines. For Butch Karp, chief assistant district attorney for New York County, the nightmare begins when a shocking act of negligence results in homicide. Goaded by the media's sensational publicity, the public is screaming for blood, and Karp's boss, D.A. Jack Keegan, is listening. He has ordered the prosecution of a fifteen-year-old for murder, intent on making a very public example of the girl. A Hispanic from a poor neighborhood, she's an easy mark for big-city bureaucracy and bigotry. It is Butch Karp's unpleasant job to see that the prosecution gives the public what it wants: a quick and thorough administration of hard-line justice. Complicating matters further is Butch's wife, Marlene Ciampi, a private investigator who has decided to return to practicing law. Her first case takes her a few hundred miles south to a small Delaware town, where an equally unspeakable tragedy has taken place. Marlene, however, has the unenviable task of taking on a politically ambitious local prosecutor who is pressing to charge a suburban teenager with capital murder. With Butch and Marlene squaring off on opposite sides of an increasingly incendiary national debate, things couldn't get any more tense...until a shocking turn of events puts their daughter, Lucy, at the center of a horrifying crime. Suddenly, everything they believe in is challenged, and they are drawn into a maelstrom of big-citypolitics and small-town values, where justice is sacrificed to the twin gods of public perception and expediency -- and Karp must struggle to salvage his self-respect, his career, and his life.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#12 in the NYC ADA Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi series (author Tanenbaum is ghosted by Michael Gruber).

NYC ADA Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi series - A rash of baby killings positions a pair of married lawyers on opposite sides of the moral and legal fence. Assistant district attorney Butch Karp and feisty spouse Marlene Ciampi get involved when three infanticides involving young unwed mothers are discovered in New York City. City politics and legal circumstances force Karp to prosecute a young Hispanic girl who appears to be the most culpable of the three. While Karp is embroiled in his case, lawyer Ciampi is busy with her own challenge - protecting battered women from violent ex-husbands. When she is forced to shoot a man after he guns down his wife and then aims the weapon at his own daughter, Ciampi realizes she has had enough and decides to retire. Shortly afterward, however, a lawyer friend convinces her to represent a young woman in Delaware who is accused of killing her newborn baby.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another romp with Butch and Marlene. Oh, how I love this series! This is #12 of 24, halfway. What will I do when I finish them all, besides mourn? I've seen the protagonists through many fascinating legal cases, courtship, 17 years of marriage, three children, rescue of a superdog, gunfights, major injuries, career changes, and lots more, with not a dull page in the bunch. Tanenbaum has been helped, and/or edited, and/or ghostwritten, by his cousin, my new favorite author, Michael Gruber. I'm constantly surprised by delightful turns of phrase, apt descriptions, and original metaphors. Random example: [the court] "was run by Her Honor Judge Barbara T. Phelan with the speed and dignity of a Kmart, Saturday afternoon on the low side of town." Bravo again!

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one showed up at a used book sale, and I was glad to find an old friend. I have had many hours of pleasure reading books by Robert K. Tanenbaum. I get to see the characters of Butch Karp, his off the wall wife, Marlene, and their children--Lucy, and the twins Zik and Zak--not their real names. Marlene has quit doing bodyguard work, and decides to reinvent herself as a lawyer. The case is infanticide--a pair of college students have put a dead baby in a dumpster in Delaware. Sara, the girl says that she never knew that she was pregnant, and was unconscious when the baby was born. Peter claims that it was all her idea. Lucy gets in trouble falsifying ID so she can visit an acquaintance at Riker's Island. There is lots to think about.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never read books like this- crime based (unless you count dexter) and i wrote off the author as another bland cardboard cutout who wrote too many books to be any good.

GOD WAS I WRONG.

This is fascinating! The story keeps your interested from the very beginning and does not let go. So many little twists and the characters are amazing, varied, quirky and real. I discovered this was one of a , i think 13 book series with the same main characters and i'm hooked, plan on reading them all.

If you're on the fence about this book or even vaguely thinking about reading it take my word. DO IT. You will NOT regret it.