Trap (A Butch Karp-Marlene Ciampi Thriller)

Tanenbaum never disappoints. The Carp - Ciampi family (warts and all) is constantly challenged with a new set of terrorists, corrupt government officials, sleazy criminals, and international thugs. Testy trials - along with real characters from Dirty Warren, to Underground Grale, to Vietnamese comrades to the Russian Mafia - makes for great entertainment reads each year. Well plotted and well researched when necessary. Love these books and the development of the different characters Lucy, for example, is unique in suspense reading as she has developed from a curious and unique child to a real spy. And Dirty Warren and his and Butch banter over movie trivia not only highlights a nasty disease which offends people, but which Butch understands and is caring about. Lots of good moral questions as well as when to be ethical and when not to be - depending on whose rules you are playing by in this nasty world. Keep the books coming - great reads

Great interplay between characters, history and the law. Empathy required! Great series, read them all.

Fun book to read

The details of investigation and court room procedure are worth the read. But the interaction of the people in this wonderful community of people who care for each other and mankind are the reasons to read this book. Plus the issue of the charter school movement is a lot clearer for Tannenbaum’s explanations.

Have read over 20 Butch and Marlene Karp books. Loved most of them. As a story this one is somewhat simplistic and not one of Tanenbaum’s best. More of a message of the dangers of antisemitism which was fine. The courtroom scene is overly drawn out for the expected conclusion. Tanenbaum is usually great and I hope he returns to form. Marlene, Lucy, and Tran are the stars of the series. This was like the comedian who forgot the funny.

Love these books. The family is so real. The struggle the young Jewish boy suffered was also made real. There are many, many bad people in this world who are only there for themselves. Thank goodness, there are those who are brave enough to stand up to those people and even being bad themselves confess and take their punishment.

I enjoyed this book for the most part and felt that it was well put together. Not the best in the series, but certainly not the worst either. It was a lesson in redemption for at least one of the characters. All in all, I enjoyed reading this new chapter in the Karp-Ciampi series. Good plot and enjoyed seeing Butcher back in the courtroom.

I identified with the character of Rose and the coming of age of Zak. Being Jewish and knowing what I know of the holocaust, I think this story come full circle.