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Butch Karp #22
Betrayed
From the dark fantasies of a sexual underworld to the darkest realities of a terrorist conspirator, New York Times bestselling author Robert K. Tanenbaum draws District Attorney Butch Karp deep into a combustible courtroom game of politics, power, lies, and murder.Awaiting trial in the Tombs, Manhattan’s infamous criminal detention complex, is Sharif Jabbar, the demagogic founder of a Harlem mosque. Charges against his terrorist attack on the city were dismissed once, and now that the Islam convert is being held on new allegations, New York District Attorney Roger “Butch” Karp is determined to bring him down. He faces formidable competition. Attorney Megan O’Dowd, a radical activist enthralled with revolutionary rhetoric, is going to the mat with the uncompromising conviction that Jabbar is being railroaded by the NYPD.Outside the criminal courts, Karp’s wife, Marlene Ciampi, is pursuing her own investigation. Allegations against indigent Manhattan street vendor Dirty Warren in the murder of society beauty Michelle Oakley don’t sit right with Marlene. Unfortunately her sole ally is religious vigilante David Grale, the charismatic but deranged leader of the Mole People. What Grale knows about city corruption snakes as far and wide as the dank honeycomb of the sewers and tunnels his destitute army calls home.Then Marlene discovers an unexpected— and ugly—parallel between the Oakley murder and the disappearance of another a treacherous underworld of upscale call girls and the price paid for indulging the wealthiest of men. As she explores these sordid truths, Butch Karp navigates his own tortured waters. What he soon discovers is that everyone, from the conspiratorial Jabbar and O’Dowd to the city’s most powerful, unimpeachable players—has a secret that could either set them free or cost them more than they ever feared.With more than twelve million copies of his books in print, Robert K. Tanenbaum continues to rivet readers to their seats with the kind of explosive thrillers that have made him “a writer worth knowing” (Washington Post ).
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2010
76 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
About the author
Robert K. Tanenbaum
76 books280 followersRobert K. Tanenbaum is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five legal thrillers and has an accomplished legal career of his own. Before his first book was published, Tanenbaum had already been the Bureau Chief of the Criminal Courts, had run the Homicide Bureau, and had been in charge of the training program for the legal staff for the New York County District Attorney’s Office. He also served as Deputy Chief Counsel to the Congressional Committee investigations into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. In his professional career, Tanenbaum has never lost a felony case. His courtroom experiences bring his books to life, especially in his bestselling series featuring prosecutor Roger “Butch” Karp and his wife, Marlene Ciampi.
Tanenbaum was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the University of California at Berkeley on a basketball scholarship, and remained at Cal, where he earned his law degree from the prestigious Boalt Hall School of Law. After graduating from Berkeley Law, Tanenbaum moved back to New York to work as an assistant district attorney under the legendary New York County DA Frank Hogan. Tanenbaum then served as Deputy Chief Counsel in charge of the Congressional investigations into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr.
The blockbuster novel Corruption of Blood (1994), is a fictionalized account of his experience in Washington, D.C.
Tanenbaum returned to the West Coast and began to serve in public office. He was elected to the Beverly Hills City Council in 1986 and twice served as the mayor of Beverly Hills. It was during this time that Tanenbaum began his career as a novelist, drawing from the many fascinating stories of his time as a New York ADA. His successful debut novel, No Lesser Plea (1987), introduces Butch Karp, an assistant district attorney who is battling for justice, and Marlene Ciampi, his associate and love interest. Tanenbaum’s subsequent twenty-two novels portrayed Karp and his crime fighting family and eclectic colleagues facing off against drug lords, corrupt politicians, international assassins, the mafia, and hard-core violent felons.
He has had published eight recent novels as part of the series, as well as two nonfiction titles: The Piano Teacher (1987), exploring his investigation and prosecution of a recidivist psychosexual killer, and Badge of the Assassin (1979), about his prosecution of cop killers, which was made into a movie starring James Woods as Tanenbaum.
Tanenbaum and his wife of forty-three years have three children. He currently resides in California where he has taught Advanced Criminal Procedure at the Boalt Hall School of Law and maintains a private law practice.
Tanenbaum was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the University of California at Berkeley on a basketball scholarship, and remained at Cal, where he earned his law degree from the prestigious Boalt Hall School of Law. After graduating from Berkeley Law, Tanenbaum moved back to New York to work as an assistant district attorney under the legendary New York County DA Frank Hogan. Tanenbaum then served as Deputy Chief Counsel in charge of the Congressional investigations into the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr.
The blockbuster novel Corruption of Blood (1994), is a fictionalized account of his experience in Washington, D.C.
Tanenbaum returned to the West Coast and began to serve in public office. He was elected to the Beverly Hills City Council in 1986 and twice served as the mayor of Beverly Hills. It was during this time that Tanenbaum began his career as a novelist, drawing from the many fascinating stories of his time as a New York ADA. His successful debut novel, No Lesser Plea (1987), introduces Butch Karp, an assistant district attorney who is battling for justice, and Marlene Ciampi, his associate and love interest. Tanenbaum’s subsequent twenty-two novels portrayed Karp and his crime fighting family and eclectic colleagues facing off against drug lords, corrupt politicians, international assassins, the mafia, and hard-core violent felons.
He has had published eight recent novels as part of the series, as well as two nonfiction titles: The Piano Teacher (1987), exploring his investigation and prosecution of a recidivist psychosexual killer, and Badge of the Assassin (1979), about his prosecution of cop killers, which was made into a movie starring James Woods as Tanenbaum.
Tanenbaum and his wife of forty-three years have three children. He currently resides in California where he has taught Advanced Criminal Procedure at the Boalt Hall School of Law and maintains a private law practice.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
May 8, 2017
Betrayed has a brilliantly written courtroom drama.
May 5, 2020
Butch Karp is the New York DA, actually head of the NY DAO. His wife Marlene is also an attorney. Starting out with two different story lines, involving them both separately, the chapters intertwine through out and intersect at the end to resolve both struggles.
This is #22 in the Butch Karp series, and the first that I have read. The author does a good job of introducing the characters as we meet them so the reader is not challenged by not reading books 1-21. However, I think if I had read through from book 1 I would know more about the history that is referred to between the characters. I will have to look for some of the early books to see how these characters got started and developed to this point.
Well written. If you like John Grisham, I think you will like this.
This is #22 in the Butch Karp series, and the first that I have read. The author does a good job of introducing the characters as we meet them so the reader is not challenged by not reading books 1-21. However, I think if I had read through from book 1 I would know more about the history that is referred to between the characters. I will have to look for some of the early books to see how these characters got started and developed to this point.
Well written. If you like John Grisham, I think you will like this.
February 16, 2019
While Butch is involved in a case of a young woman is murdered in the basement of a mosque, Marlene is envolved in another case where their friend Dirty Warren is charged with different murder. Good read.
June 12, 2025
Butch Karp #22. Actually ghost written by Steve Jackson. In this one Butch is prosecuting an American Muslim terrorist and Marlene is defending Dirty Warren against a murder charge. Not the best in the series -- 2 stars.
January 1, 2018
Good read
September 3, 2020
This book is really two stories that occur at the same time. One for Butch and One for Marlene. It was a page turner and one that kept me up at night.
July 18, 2021
Can't go wrong with A Butch Karp drama. The memorable characters and their stories keep the pages turning. Great series
August 22, 2023
This is the first book I have read from this author. It promised to be good but got boring after a bit. I could not get into it.
September 29, 2023
Another great read.
Read
April 21, 2024This audiobook was not available when I listened to the series.
May 16, 2024
interesting p lots and trials with memorable characters. Realy liked the ending on ths one.
May 2, 2025
I like Butch Karp so much that I just added three books in this series to my To-Read list.
May 26, 2025
good book
October 13, 2025
Loved the intertwining stories and the courtroom drama
July 16, 2014
Well, on many levels this was entertaining, but I'm not sure the author meant to be amusing as often as he was. Let me start by saying I am a newcomer to Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi and their merry band of cohorts. It is probably both positive and challenging to engage at this point.
Let me start with the positive piece; once the plot took off I really enjoyed myself and watching a clearly skillful author weave the ends together was fun. I liked the character of Dirty Warren and thought he was interesting. Marlene was a firecracker and I liked her too.
Now for the criticisms; the book took far too long to get going because of all of the summary of previous plotlines. This was presumably geared to a reader just like me, one who had no familiarity with the previous novels. The author almost convinced me to move on and read something else because I just didn't care that much. I'm not sure it enhanced the current plot either, I may not have needed all of the back stories, or if they had been revealed if/when needed it may have been more seamless. As a Canadian who reads a lot of fiction from other countries, I found myself laughing out loud at the self-congratulatory tone of "Captain America" and how wonderful the USA is. The author clearly favors the right to bear arms and I was somewhat taken aback by how preachy he was on the subject. I feel it important to also point out that the USA is not the only country to have immigrants who aspire to a better life for their children despite the author's hilarious explanation of "American Exceptionalism". For a few minutes I felt like I was watching Fox News, with the insular viewpoint.
3 stars that would have been 4 without the lengthy summaries of all of the previous plots, and 5 stars without the unintentional comedy of the author's political views. I'm reading for entertainment, true, but without the politics please. I'm not sure I'd read another for that reason.
Let me start with the positive piece; once the plot took off I really enjoyed myself and watching a clearly skillful author weave the ends together was fun. I liked the character of Dirty Warren and thought he was interesting. Marlene was a firecracker and I liked her too.
Now for the criticisms; the book took far too long to get going because of all of the summary of previous plotlines. This was presumably geared to a reader just like me, one who had no familiarity with the previous novels. The author almost convinced me to move on and read something else because I just didn't care that much. I'm not sure it enhanced the current plot either, I may not have needed all of the back stories, or if they had been revealed if/when needed it may have been more seamless. As a Canadian who reads a lot of fiction from other countries, I found myself laughing out loud at the self-congratulatory tone of "Captain America" and how wonderful the USA is. The author clearly favors the right to bear arms and I was somewhat taken aback by how preachy he was on the subject. I feel it important to also point out that the USA is not the only country to have immigrants who aspire to a better life for their children despite the author's hilarious explanation of "American Exceptionalism". For a few minutes I felt like I was watching Fox News, with the insular viewpoint.
3 stars that would have been 4 without the lengthy summaries of all of the previous plots, and 5 stars without the unintentional comedy of the author's political views. I'm reading for entertainment, true, but without the politics please. I'm not sure I'd read another for that reason.
August 12, 2010
Say what you will about Robert Tanenbaum and hyperbole aside, the stories he tells are wildly entertaining. Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi should both be wearing red, white and blue tights, flying through the air to the tune of "Look, up in the air, it's a bird...." This time around, Butch, in his capacity as District Attorney for Manhattan, is trying an alleged Islamic terrorist and Marlene is working to save their friend, Warren Bennet, better known as Dirty Warren because of his Tourette's twitches and foul-mouthed outbursts. No one is more steely-jawed than Butch and Marlene is such a cute sexpot who is lethal with her guns. The only question is always how many bodies will fall before truth, justice and the American way prevail. No ambiguities involved, one has to side with the Karp-Ciampis. Always entertaining and simple to understand.
August 27, 2015
Oy. I used to love the Karp-Ciampi series (this is somewhere around the 22nd entry). It was like Law & Order with colorful characters and more action.
Somewhere along the line the dialogue became drier and more expository than burned toast. (Yes, toast can be expository.) The good guys practically have wings and halos and float six inches off the ground; the bad guys are laughably, cartoonishly evil and often buffoonishly incompetent.
Used to be a fun series, with at least the occasional ATTEMPT at moral grayness. Alas.
Anyway, in this outing Butch tries a black Muslim imam for the torture-murder of one of his congregants; the defendant breaks out a big-lie "the government is out to get all Muslims" defense. Marlene defends Dirty Warren when he's framed for murder. Guess who wins.
Somewhere along the line the dialogue became drier and more expository than burned toast. (Yes, toast can be expository.) The good guys practically have wings and halos and float six inches off the ground; the bad guys are laughably, cartoonishly evil and often buffoonishly incompetent.
Used to be a fun series, with at least the occasional ATTEMPT at moral grayness. Alas.
Anyway, in this outing Butch tries a black Muslim imam for the torture-murder of one of his congregants; the defendant breaks out a big-lie "the government is out to get all Muslims" defense. Marlene defends Dirty Warren when he's framed for murder. Guess who wins.
August 31, 2010
I have been a faithful reader of the Butch Karp/Marlene Ciampi series but I may give it up after this weak (and irritating) effort. It took Tanenbaum a full 50 pages to rehash previous novels and introduce his cast of characters. Not much new here and the new plot lines were neither exciting or compelling. The courtroom scenes are good, as usual, but one of the trials was of a villian captured in a previous book and yet another opportunity to review past events. All of this may be good for readers who are picking up one of these books for the first time but for one who read the previous books, it feels like a huge copout - another way to grind out a novel simply to cash in without having anything new to add.
December 31, 2013
#22 in the NYC DA "Butch" Karp & Marlene Ciampi series. This 2010 entry is unfortunately #7 in the arc of terrorism (first domestic, then Islamic) started in Hoax (2004). Series regulars will recognize regular character Dirty Warren as the newsstand owner with Tourette's Syndrome and applaud the segment of the novel dealing with Marlene's defense of him.
NYC DA "Butch" Karp & Marlene Ciampi series - Butch is prosecuting Sharif Jabbar for the torture / murder of a young woman. Marlene defends Dirty Warren who owns the newsstand in front of the Criminal Courts Building. Warren has been arrested for killing an escort service owner. A murderous judge and a retired CIA man known as the Fixer also figure in the action.
NYC DA "Butch" Karp & Marlene Ciampi series - Butch is prosecuting Sharif Jabbar for the torture / murder of a young woman. Marlene defends Dirty Warren who owns the newsstand in front of the Criminal Courts Building. Warren has been arrested for killing an escort service owner. A murderous judge and a retired CIA man known as the Fixer also figure in the action.
February 7, 2015
We really enjoy the Karp-Ciampi clan including all of the interesting and adventurous friends. In terms of character development and interactions Tanenebaum scored big points again in this book. As the stories unfold twists and turns kept us riveted but initially we felt that the trial sequence was slow and dry. As things progressed the pace quickened and one minute we were gripped with fear and the next sighing with relief and then laughing at an interaction between some of the characters. All & all, another Butch Karp winner!
August 15, 2010
Two trials, one with Butch Karp officiating with a militant terrorist, the other with Marlene Ciampi defending Dirty Warren on a murder charge in the suburbs. Typical Tanenbaum plot twists, but this time it's more of a return to the original Butch and Marlene rather than the extended family. A great summer's read.
November 1, 2010
Like comfort food, it is always satisfying to return to the Butch Karp/Marlene Ciampi family...the installment has Butch putting the nails in the coffin of a radical terrorist on trial and Ciampi derfending Dirty Warren of murder...the political insights on a variety of issues also entertain...VERY SATISFYING!!!
March 2, 2011
Okay, but nothing to shout about. To me, Tanenbaum has gotten fairly formulistic. Some of his recurring characters are more irritating than interesting, and I agree with another reviewer that it is time to give up the terroristic nonsense. Having said that, there was some excitement and a nice last line.
June 28, 2015
this book is a lawyer mystery with the most interesting of characters. ithink you would probably have to read the book bnfore this one to understand all that takes place..this book is still a stand alone book that in my opinion if you like this genre it is a very good read... i gave it four stars maybe it should have been four and a half...
August 5, 2011
Robert Tanenbaum has a point of view, and he never misses an opportunity to hit you over the head with it. I found some of his sections about the law to be pedantic. Nevertheless, he's a good writer and Butch Karp and his wife Marlene are great characters. The mystery in this one was really good.
August 4, 2010
This is one of my favorite series, but I felt like something was missing on this one. The plot was great, but I missed the interaction between Butch and Marlene and the kids. Loved learning more about Dirty Warren though.
September 3, 2010
Fast action, finely crafted plot. There were xome holes in the situations and characters. Things were either too too good or too too bad. A little bit too far into an unreality. Yet that didn't stop me from being reluctant to put the book down until I finished the final page!
September 7, 2010
I had almost stopped reading Tanenbaum's books, because I felt like I was reading the same one over and over. I'm glad I read this one, though. It was nice to read one that didn't have a member of the Karp-Ciampi clan in mortal danger.
March 15, 2016
I love every single one of the characters in this series. From David Grale and the mole people who live under the subway to Marlene Ciampi, the wife who has learned to ask for help defending abused women!
January 3, 2011
This book got better as it went along...didn't realize it was part of a series of the same characters so I was starting anew but it was entertaining. Not very realistic from a legal perspective but it was something different.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews