Hate Crime

Rating:
Summary: Too many plots spoil the thriller.
Review: "Hate Crime" is the latest book in William Bernhardt's series featuring the likeable Ben Kincaid, a defense attorney with a penchant for taking on hopeless cases. Ben's former legal assistant, Christina McCall, is now his partner. Christina would like to take her relationship with Ben to the next level, but Ben has never been able to acknowledge his deep feelings for Christina.

One day, a mysterious woman comes into the law firm of Kincaid and McCall, asking for Ben's help. Her name is Ellen Christensen, and her son, Johnny, has been arrested for the vicious murder of a gay man named Tony Barovick. When Ben sees Ellen, he is visibly upset, and he is adamant that he will not take Johnny's case. After Christina realizes that she will not be able to persuade Ben to change his mind, she decides to defend Johnny herself.

"Hate Crime" is one of the busiest books that I have read in some time. Bernhardt starts off his novel with a kidnapping, and he then segues to Johnny Christensen's murder trial. Mike Morelli, Ben's former brother-in-law, is also featured in this book. Along with his attractive female partner and an alluring FBI agent, Mike is investigating a series of gruesome murders. Ultimately, all of these plot lines somehow tie together.

Bernhardt's heart is in the right place when he tackles the theme that gay people have the right to live in peace. The author demonstrates, through scenes of graphic violence, how hatred and prejudice can lead to brutal actions. However, as a thriller, "Hate Crimes" is flawed. There are too many twists and turns that come out of left field, and some of the startling revelations at the end are incredibly far-fetched.

On the plus side, we long-suffering readers finally learn what has been bugging Ben all these years. Bernhardt reveals some secrets from Ben's past that explain why he behaves so awkwardly around Christina. These few tidbits, however, are not enough to redeem "Hate Crime," which is too unfocused and heavy-handed to succeed as a legal thriller.

Rating:
Summary: Graphic! Gripping! Great!
Review: "Let's consider the facts. The defendent is painfully unpopular and has been crucified in the press. I understand the evidence is hopelessly stacked against him...the case is impossible and unwinnable...you don't have any money. Will Ben take your case? I'd say it's a sure thing!" And so would most of best-selling, legal thriller author William Bernhardt's legion of fans: those of us who have faithfully followed Tulsa-based, defense attorney Ben Kinkaid's ardent championship of the down and desperate in and outside the courtroom ever since his debut appearance in "Primary Justice". Surprise! surprise! Ben wants no part of defending Johnny Christensen who's on-trial in Chicago for the sensational, gay-bashing, torture-murder of Tony Barovick...a trial which has come to screeching halt when Johnny's co-defendent and fraternity brother, Brett Mathers, and his defense attorney are gunned down in open court by a member of a militant, gay rights group. Now Johnny's desperate mother wants Ben to take over his case. Johnny has admitted to his participation in the bashing, but not the murder. If Ben can't get him off, Illinois has a death penalty. In the face of Ben's flat-out refusal to do so, aggravated by his equally firm refusal to explain why, his partner, spunky Christina McCall, decides to go it alone, gets their client's reluctant consent and steps up to the plate for her first major, criminal trial. While she and other series regulars (Jones and Paula, Loving and their newly-hired intern, Vicki Harmon) are desperately searching for alternative possibilities which just may be enough to get Johnny a lesser sentence, back in Tulsa, Detective Mike Morelli is still licking his wounds over his recent failure...yeah, he got the kid back BUT!...to apprehend a daring band of kidnappers and/or recover the ransom money despite full cooperation and support from Chicago FBI Special Agent Danielle Swift. An exceptionally horrific murder unexpectedly brings Agent Swift back to Tulsa where she again teams with Morelli and his feisty new partner, Detective Kate Baxter, to try and put faces and names to both killer and victim. Nothing is adding up until another, inexplicably brutal murder provides an obscure connecting link and, suddenly, things start falling into place. Inevitably, all roads lead back to Chicago and the Christensen trial. Secrets which have been hidden for years start emerging from the shadows. A breath-taking series of slam-bang, cliff-hanger events first put Ben and his entire crew in deadly peril and then lead Morelli inexorably to the master criminal and the shocking truth behind both the murders and what really happened to Tony Barovick. Plan to stay up late with this one! It's a winner!

Nobody does grippingly complex plotting and hair-trigger suspense better than William Bernhardt. Yes! This stunning book absolutely stands alone, but it's even more absorbing reading for fans of the entire action-packed series. What we have here are characters who are so realistic and true-to-life that one of this novel's real joys is the light which it sheds as backstory on Ben and his friends' lives and involvements. I've read them all. I've yet to find a more timely, engrossing, un-put-down-able case for Ben & Company than "Hate Crime".

Rating:
Summary: Graphic! Gripping! Great!
Review: "Let's consider the facts. The defendent is painfully unpopular and has been crucified in the press. I understand the evidence is hopelessly stacked against him...the case is impossible and unwinnable...you don't have any money. Will Ben take your case? I'd say it's a sure thing!" And so would most of best-selling, legal thriller author William Bernhardt's legion of fans: those of us who have faithfully followed Tulsa-based, defense attorney Ben Kinkaid's ardent championship of the down and desperate in and outside the courtroom ever since his debut appearance in "Primary Justice". Surprise! surprise! Ben wants no part of defending Johnny Christensen who's on-trial in Chicago for the sensational, gay-bashing, torture-murder of Tony Barovick...a trial which has come to screeching halt when Johnny's co-defendent and fraternity brother, Brett Mathers, and his defense attorney are gunned down in open court by a member of a militant, gay rights group. Now Johnny's desperate mother wants Ben to take over his case. Johnny has admitted to his participation in the bashing, but not the murder. If Ben can't get him off, Illinois has a death penalty. In the face of Ben's flat-out refusal to do so, aggravated by his equally firm refusal to explain why, his partner, spunky Christina McCall, decides to go it alone, gets their client's reluctant consent and steps up to the plate for her first major, criminal trial. While she and other series regulars (Jones and Paula, Loving and their newly-hired intern, Vicki Harmon) are desperately searching for alternative possibilities which just may be enough to get Johnny a lesser sentence, back in Tulsa, Detective Mike Morelli is still licking his wounds over his recent failure...yeah, he got the kid back BUT!...to apprehend a daring band of kidnappers and/or recover the ransom money despite full cooperation and support from Chicago FBI Special Agent Danielle Swift. An exceptionally horrific murder unexpectedly brings Agent Swift back to Tulsa where she again teams with Morelli and his feisty new partner, Detective Kate Baxter, to try and put faces and names to both killer and victim. Nothing is adding up until another, inexplicably brutal murder provides an obscure connecting link and, suddenly, things start falling into place. Inevitably, all roads lead back to Chicago and the Christensen trial. Secrets which have been hidden for years start emerging from the shadows. A breath-taking series of slam-bang, cliff-hanger events first put Ben and his entire crew in deadly peril and then lead Morelli inexorably to the master criminal and the shocking truth behind both the murders and what really happened to Tony Barovick. Plan to stay up late with this one! It's a winner!

Nobody does grippingly complex plotting and hair-trigger suspense better than William Bernhardt. Yes! This stunning book absolutely stands alone, but it's even more absorbing reading for fans of the entire action-packed series. What we have here are characters who are so realistic and true-to-life that one of this novel's real joys is the light which it sheds as backstory on Ben and his friends' lives and involvements. I've read them all. I've yet to find a more timely, engrossing, un-put-down-able case for Ben & Company than "Hate Crime".

Rating:
Summary: Too many plots spoil the thriller.
Review: "Hate Crime" is the latest book in William Bernhardt's series featuring the likeable Ben Kincaid, a defense attorney with a penchant for taking on hopeless cases. Ben's former legal assistant, Christina McCall, is now his partner. Christina would like to take her relationship with Ben to the next level, but Ben has never been able to acknowledge his deep feelings for Christina.

One day, a mysterious woman comes into the law firm of Kincaid and McCall, asking for Ben's help. Her name is Ellen Christensen, and her son, Johnny, has been arrested for the vicious murder of a gay man named Tony Barovick. When Ben sees Ellen, he is visibly upset, and he is adamant that he will not take Johnny's case. After Christina realizes that she will not be able to persuade Ben to change his mind, she decides to defend Johnny herself.

"Hate Crime" is one of the busiest books that I have read in some time. Bernhardt starts off his novel with a kidnapping, and he then segues to Johnny Christensen's murder trial. Mike Morelli, Ben's former brother-in-law, is also featured in this book. Along with his attractive female partner and an alluring FBI agent, Mike is investigating a series of gruesome murders. Ultimately, all of these plot lines somehow tie together.

Bernhardt's heart is in the right place when he tackles the theme that gay people have the right to live in peace. The author demonstrates, through scenes of graphic violence, how hatred and prejudice can lead to brutal actions. However, as a thriller, "Hate Crimes" is flawed. There are too many twists and turns that come out of left field, and some of the startling revelations at the end are incredibly far-fetched.

On the plus side, we long-suffering readers finally learn what has been bugging Ben all these years. Bernhardt reveals some secrets from Ben's past that explain why he behaves so awkwardly around Christina. These few tidbits, however, are not enough to redeem "Hate Crime," which is too unfocused and heavy-handed to succeed as a legal thriller.

Rating:
Summary: Too many plots spoil the thriller.
Review: "Hate Crime" is the latest book in William Bernhardt's series featuring the likeable Ben Kincaid, a defense attorney with a penchant for taking on hopeless cases. Ben's former legal assistant, Christina McCall, is now his partner. Christina would like to take her relationship with Ben to the next level, but Ben has never been able to acknowledge his deep feelings for Christina.

One day, a mysterious woman comes into the law firm of Kincaid and McCall, asking for Ben's help. Her name is Ellen Christensen, and her son, Johnny, has been arrested for the vicious murder of a gay man named Tony Barovick. When Ben sees Ellen, he is visibly upset, and he is adamant that he will not take Johnny's case. After Christina realizes that she will not be able to persuade Ben to change his mind, she decides to defend Johnny herself.

"Hate Crime" is one of the busiest books that I have read in some time. Bernhardt starts off his novel with a kidnapping, and he then segues to Johnny Christensen's murder trial. Mike Morelli, Ben's former brother-in-law, is also featured in this book. Along with his attractive female partner and an alluring FBI agent, Mike is investigating a series of gruesome murders. Ultimately, all of these plot lines somehow tie together.

Bernhardt's heart is in the right place when he tackles the theme that gay people have the right to live in peace. The author demonstrates, through scenes of graphic violence, how hatred and prejudice can lead to brutal actions. However, as a thriller, "Hate Crimes" is flawed. There are too many twists and turns that come out of left field, and some of the startling revelations at the end are incredibly far-fetched.

On the plus side, we long-suffering readers finally learn what has been bugging Ben all these years. Bernhardt reveals some secrets from Ben's past that explain why he behaves so awkwardly around Christina. These few tidbits, however, are not enough to redeem "Hate Crime," which is too unfocused and heavy-handed to succeed as a legal thriller.

Rating:
Summary: A bit of the same old... but still good
Review: Being his 13th novel, William Bernhardt sticks to his tried-and-true formula to feature Tulsa defense attorney Ben Kincaid. Johnny Christensen, a hate-filled frat boy is accused of beating a gay man to death outside a singles bar in a Chicago suburb. Ben Kincaid is assigned to the case and is reluctant to take the case. The well-paced plot weaves the hate crime of the title together with an Oklahoma kidnapping, Kincaid's romantic past, another grisly unsolved murder and a detective gone bad. Bernhardt offers agood read, full of courtroom fireworks, double-crosses and even a bit of romance. Not a bad book, overall.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not great
Review: If you are a fan of Bernhardt's previous books, you might well enjoy this one too, but it isn't the best.The usual well paced plotting faulters a bit, but it does, in the end work. Without giving away the end, I think it fell a little flat, disappointing in some ways, as I said, if you are a fan, you'll get it.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent entry in the best-selling series.
Review: Johnny Christensen has built himself the reputation of being a sadistic bigot. On a night out with his friends Johnny and his friend Kevin decide to give a gay man a hard time. The harassment turns brutal as the boys pull the man into their van and take him to a deserted area to give him a beating. As Tony lies dying, begging for his life his two attackers get into their van and leave.

Hours later, Tony's dead body is found at the boy's frat house and Johnny and Kevin are arrested for murder.

The boys swear they are innocent, but the public seems to think otherwise as the first day of the trial erupts into violence with someone open firing in court...leaving Kevin and an attorney dead. Johnny's mother needs help for her son and the only person for the job is Ben Kincaid. Ben turns down the case, but his partner, Christina McCall, takes it.

Due to unforseen circumstances Ben is forced to enter the trial, and even though the evidence is overwhelming his gut tells him there is more to the story, and when the discovery of another case, one that involves the kidnapping of children, proves to be connected he realizes Johnny may be telling the truth.

'Hate Crime' is an excellent entry in the fantastic Ben Kincaid series. The shocking crime sets the stage for a twist filled plot, but it's the use of a controversial topic that keeps the pages turning in this thriller where the truth is more terrifying than the crime. William Bernhardt has crafted a complex mystery that is smart, tight and filled with suspense, readers will be hard pressed to not finish this in one sitting.

A MUST read!

Nick Gonnella

Rating:
Summary: Fast and easy story
Review: Lawyer Ben Kincaid takes on another case he seemingly has no chance of winning, but he "back doors" this one because he initially refuses to have anything to do with the case, and he
refuses to give a reason to anyone, but after his partner Christina takes the case, and is faltering, he has to take over.
The case consists of two parts, seemingly unrelated, the first
the big murder case involving a "gay bashing" killing by a couple of ignorant, hapless frat boys, and the other a sophisticated kidnapping where the criminals got totally away.
But then some low-level people are killed, in gruesome fashion,
and Ben's buddy, a detective on the Tulsa PD, starts seeing some
common threads in the murders, and the chase is on.
How Bernhardt handles the two crimes, and the various factors,
is well-done, and he does a very nice job of tying up loose
ends.
Some readers will think those loose ends are too quickly tied
up, and the final solution sort of falls together too easily,
so there will be some dissatisfaction here, but, overall, this
is a nice story well done.

Rating:
Summary: Loved It!
Review: Mr Bernhardt writes legal thrillers like no other. When it comes to Ben, Christina, Jones and Loving, he doesn't disappoint. This was a well written story, that really disturbed me when it came to the details of the beating. Too sad to even imagine. The court room theatrics are the best and the twist and turns were very surprising.

An excellent, fast paced read. Very entertaining.

As always, I anxiously wait for what's next.