Resolved : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: A terrifying killer teams up with terrorists.
Review: "Resolved" is the fifteenth installment in Robert Tanenbaum's series of legal thrillers featuring Butch Karp and his impulsive and volatile wife, Marlene Ciampi. Butch is New York City's Chief Assistant District Attorney. Marlene, a lawyer as well, has given up her practice and she is separated from Butch. Marlene is suffering from depression and guilt over a series of violent actions that she committed in the past. She is living apart from her family while she sorts out her feelings.

"Resolved" has a large cast of villains, including the sadistic and brutal Felix Tighe, a convicted felon with a grudge against the Karp family. Joining Felix is a bunch of radical fundamentalists with explosives, lots of cash, and violent plans. In other subplots, Butch helps prosecute two cops who may have killed an innocent man in cold blood, and Marlene tries to help out an old friend who is in serious legal trouble. As he has done in the past, Tanenbaum expertly explores the moral dilemmas and political machinations that plague New York City's criminal justice system.

Tanenbaum's strengths have always been his witty and amusing dialogue, his marvelously colorful characters, and his insider's knowledge of New York City's criminal courts. Readers who have read all of the installments in this series have seen the Karp marriage evolve throughout the years, and they have also seen the Karp children grow up. Lucy Karp, Butch and Marlene's fascinating and brilliant daughter, has a key role in this novel.

The story in "Resolved" is compelling, timely, and fast-paced. Although the ending is not quite as strong as the rest of the book, "Resolved" is still an engrossing thriller that Tanenbaum fans will find as entertaining as its predecessors.

Rating:
Summary: What a disappointment
Review: I have read most of the Ciampi/Karp series and have noticed that the last few books have been steering further and further away from the mainstream. The books are getting so far out that I do not believe I will read the next one. I remember Hitchcock talking about suspense. He talked about 'the bomb'. If you just blow the bomb up then the impact is a sudden shock. If you show the bomb and show the bomb, you create suspense. But you can never blow up the bomb because the audience will never forgive you. Tanenbaum shows the bomb and shows the bomb and then blows up the bomb. Hitch was right.

Rating:
Summary: Masterful and Scary
Review: I have read some, but not nearly all of this authors previous efforts which is my loss. This story draws the reader along as surely as though teathered to a strong rope attached to a tireless horse. The characters are clear, the plot is ingenious and the tension is palpable. Do yourself a favor and join in the continuing story which promises more to come, yet delivers all one could want.