High Crimes

By: Joseph Finder

Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer

Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the New York Times bestselling author Joseph Finder comes a fast-paced legal thriller, 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...

©1998 Joseph Finder (P)2010 Macmillan Audio

Critic Reviews

“Fast and furious.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Provocative and chilling.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

“Rattling good entertainment.” —Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

Another 4 star Joseph Finder novel!

This legal thriller is an excellent novel with a good plot, but it is not nearly as good as Paranoia which is the best Finder suspense thriller. It is very worthwhile. Therese Plummer does a nice job of narration. I first listened to this audio novel in October of 2010 before I started writing reviews at Audible.

Not for me

I think your political views might impact your enjoyment of this story. I didn't like the premise and I don't share those views, so I didn't care for the book--and yet, I did find it interesting. There are a lot of twists and turns in the plot line, and I like a book that keeps me guessing. There is a lot of courtroom drama and if you like question-answer formats you'll like it.
But, there are some serious problems in the story line also. There are huge holes in motivation. The inciting incident at the mall is SO fake. As others have written, why would you endanger others when you could easily arrest the man at work or at home. I don't really understand the problems with the daughter and the sister. Why is the idea that Clare is smoking again included--I just don't get it.

Also, the daughter is just a little brat. Every time she entered the story line it set me on edge. Whine, Whine, Whine.

The narrator did a good job. I always appreciate a reader who does accents and gets them right.
I am trying to find good writers who have numerous books. I've listened to all of the books by the writers I do like and I need to find something else. I tried this book because the author has had numerous best sellers and a lot of positive feedback. I probably won't listen to, or read, any more of his books.

Similar to DeMille's "Word of Honor", not as good

Amazingly similar in content to Nelson DeMille's "Word of Honor", but not nearly as good. Much of it was very tedious court martial material, and would have been better with male narration.

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.

Genre: legal mystery suspense.

Once again, book better than the movie!!

Joseph Finder has yet to fail me as an author of fast passed , intriguing, real life thrillers! Once again, HIGH CRIMES, presents a situation that makes me shudder with possibilities of happenings that boggle the mind.

In this story, Harvard Law Professor, Clair Chapman, is called upon to defend the man who has been her husband for three years. She has known him as Tom Chapman, a great husband, and father to her 6 year old daughter, Annie. But the military has arrested him as Ron Kubik, a brutal murderer of 87 innocent men., women and children in an offensive action in San Salvador 13 years earlier. Clair wonders who this man really is, as he has told her a complete past history that does not involve the military in any way. Can she believe anything he says? But the man she knows would never commit such terrible acts of violence!

Clair, and defense lawyers used to the military counts, find themselves up against a formidable prosecutor, and a 'take no prisoners' judge. The court marshall scenes and legal actions add great interest and suspense to this 'believe him or not' mystery. Finder puts the reader in a plausible situation that would give nightmares if this were a situation that the reader ever found themselves maneuvering through in their own family. great read!!

Four Stars for High Crimes

This was my first Joseph Finder book and it held my interest throughout. I am somewhat unfamiliar with the military code of justice, as well as the differences between that and civilian law, and it was interesting to learn some of the nuances of each. I did not know which of the main characters were the good guys until the end, and although I did feel that there were a few loose ends when the book finished, generally this was an exciting story that held my interest, with an excellent reader. Definitely worth a credit.

Predictable outcome

Quite enjoyable as usual but the end was a bit unbelievable and the outcome predictable. However it did not once make me think it would not turn out in the end. It is usual for Finder to have a bit of a twist but not this time as the writing was on the wall.

Great Ending

Any additional comments?

Reading this book was a bit like reading a screen play. Most of the focus goes on the courtroom scenes, which are very 'he said - she said'. The plot is easy to follow - and near the end, it takes you somewhere you didn't expect. Overall, it was an enjoyable read - although it took me a couple of weeks to get through.

Rife with inaccuracies and inconsistencies

The story is good and engaging, but I have a hard time with some of the inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the story, particularly in terms of the military. Some of the courtroom stuff was illogical in terms of some of the interactions with witnesses. Sometimes it was as if the author had not done his homework and neither had the editor(s). The narrator's range was limited in terms of distinguishing voices.

Very gripping and exciting

Great legal thriller. If you love movies like A Few Good Men, you'll enjoy this one. Even if not, read it.

One of the best books I’ve listened to!

This book is also a film and I was unsure it would be as good as film but, as is usually the case, it is.
Narrator excellent, content exciting - I don’t want to spoil it for anyone just get it!