True Justice

By: Robert K. Tanenbaum

Narrated by: Nick Sullivan

Length: 14 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

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 the DA is listening. It is Butch Karp's unpleasant job to give the public what it wants - a thorough administration of hard-line justice - by prosecuting a poor, Hispanic, fifteen-year-old mother for murder.

Complicating matters further is Butch's wife, private investigator Marlene Ciampi, who has decided to return to law. On her first assignment, a case involving an equally unspeakable tragedy, Marlene 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 a national debate, things couldn't get worse, until an astonishing turn of events puts their daughter at the center of a horrifying crime. Suddenly, everything they believe in is challenged, as they are drawn into a maelstrom of big city politics 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 very life.

©2000 Robert K. Tanenbaum (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Intelligent dialogue, a well-designed maze of political and moral traps, and the charming and incendiary chemistry between Karp and Ciampi. For those who prefer their legal thrillers with plenty of spice and a high IQ, Tanenbaum remains an essential addiction." ( Publishers Weekly)

"This is vintage Tanenbaum: each of the deftly drawn characters wrestles with the moral dilemmas raised by the intertwined plots in a believable way, and readers will close True Justice's final page satisfied they've wrestled with those dilemmas a bit themselves." ( Booklist)

"Karp and Ciampi are smart, honest, and aggressive." ( Los Angeles Times Book Review)

Infanticide Creates Introspection

If you could sum up True Justice in three words, what would they be?

Lawyers-Challenges-Why

What did you like best about this story?

The best thing that I liked about the story was my education in the differences in how infanticide was considered a crime to be prosecuted or to go unchallenged. Also, the unfortunate way in which the justice system allowed prejudice to cloud the minds of men and women who should be nonjudgmental because defendants are people not things. Prejudice continues to be a major problem, especially in the justice system. I was unable to fully comprehend the reasoning that allowed infanticide not to be considered a crime. To have had to make a critical decision, should this baby live or die, when a child is involved, does require intervention. This crucial decision will come back to haunt the life of that person sometime in her life. Whom to prosecute was the decision of the District Attorney. However, since some men and women want to become members of the political system, politics is a major deterrent to justice being served. The defense attorney who represented the Hispanic defendant allowed politics to be her guide in how to defend her client. The only crime that was correctly dealt with and prejudice or politics was not allowed to be a factor, was the decision of how to handle the 11 year-old child.

Have you listened to any of Nick Sullivan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have never listened to any of Nick Sullivan's other performances before. However, I check who the narrator is and if I've never listened to him/her before, the reviews become my source of information.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Seeing Inside How Justice is Served When a Child is the Perpetrator

Any additional comments?

Listening to a novel involving lawyers and seeing the inside the minds of how lawyers prepare the defense or prosecution was interesting. This type of novel allows the listener to become a participant. The conclusion of a trial by jury is critical. The listener is able to allow himself to be a member of that said jury and decide on the innocence or guilt of the defendant. This novel is different from my usual choice of novels but it was interesting. I will read the next book in this series. I do like my series. Keeping them separated is the difficult part.

True Justice

Another blockbuster about Marlene a day Butch. These adventures never cease to be spell binding and hard to put down . I look forward to my next audiobook from this author.

Great book!

Very good story and well read. Book 12 in the series. Ready for the next one. I recommend this series.

Tanenbaum has been there and describes it well

A winning criminal defense is the most rewarding experience any lawyer can have.
Tanenbaum describes it well.
I loved the book

This was a great story.

This is a story of families and a bit of madness. Very interesting. Oh, and the law of course.

GREAT Read can't put it down love the Butch family

Love this book can't put it down. Somehow missed the book where she had the twins , can't always find in order. Marlene is my kinda lady. Butch loving Hubby , Billows standing by his friends Roland Sweet Teddy Bear what happened to VT

One of my favorites

I have to say this has been one of my favorites in the series thus far!

Marlene's passion, Lucy's real-life dilemmas and growth and Carp's moral compass really bring this family to life.

Nick Sullivan could have expressed a little more emotion in his narration, however I did enjoy listening as his voice is soft and soothing.

on to the next one!

The best in the series

I found the characters and their actions credible, much more so than in previous books. Questions of moral ambiguity allowed actual growth in them.
Nick Sullivan was exemplary, for the most part keeping characters as individuals although at times the segues could be better.

A Tremendous Story and excellent study in morals.

This tale is a marvelous Karp/Ciampi romp - with a deep dive into moral philosophy. Lucy, Father Mike, and Tran guide the reader into ethical truths that extend well beyond mere religion and oriental wisdom. The writer has quite an understanding of the power of Catholicism. This book could be a text for practical ethics.

Complete

This book was great from law perspective, family perspective, and faith view. Totally Loved it!!