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Summary: I was not expecting much
Review: I picked up this book at a used bookstore, not realizing it had been made into a movie that I had no intention of seeing. I picked it up yesterday, and read it, and was pleasantly shocked at how much I enjoyed it. I will see the movie, and read his other books.
The only complaint I had was that the government finding Ron Kubik depended on the local police collecting his fingerprints. As a "money manager" registered with the NASD, he would have had to have been fingerprinted before being licensed.
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Summary: High Crimes
Review: Joseph Finder has written another great book. I am an actor and writer living just outside of the Bay area. I had the opportunity to work on High Crimes the movie In San Francisco and in Alameda as an extra before I read the book. The film was great! The book even more Thrilling and Chilling. Thanks Bill Davis.
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Summary: This One's A Keeper!
Review: The protagonist of this thriller is a woman attorney who is described as "winning the tough cases." One of those "tough cases" she won involves getting a rapist's conviction overturned on a technicality. So, Finder has written Claire Heller as a brilliant and gifted attorney, but I wanted to know more about the woman who finds legal loopholes to free rapists rather than just the smart attorney side of her. What I liked about High Crimes was that Finder didn't lose sight of the person behind the attorney and how what she does for a living affects her in all parts of her life. When Claire Heller finds out that the man who helped her through a rocky time in her life, and who she then eventually came to love and marry, is not the person she thought he was, she's stunned and torn between who and what to believe. Then the professional attorney part of her kicks in, and she decides to defend the man she married, no matter who he is, against charges that he massacred 87 innocent people in El Salvador when he was part of a Special Services Unit in the armed forces. For those who enjoy courtroom drama and tactics, this book certainly delivers on all counts. As others before me have said, it was hard to put this one down because the story keeps developing with new levels of information that dig deeper into who Claire's husband really is and whether he could have done the horrible crimes for which he is accused. While Claire dilligently works to collect whatever evidence she can use to clear her husband of his charges, she never loses sight of the fact that if he isn't who she believed him to be, then what kind of man did she marry?
Ultimately she gets her answers in a very well written ending. I haven't read any of Finder's other books, but on the basis of this one, I'm interested in reading more of his work. It has been a while since I've read a book that was difficult to put down while at the same time made me aware of just what it is lawyers do to win cases for people who are accused, and are possibly guilty of, heinous crimes. Finder's descriptions are so clear and vivid, I was right there in the courtroom with Claire experiencing the action through a spectator's eyes. One cross-examination in particular was just riveting and shows off Finder's writing talent perfectly. I gave this book 5 stars because 6 stars wasn't an option. Yep, it's THAT good! From everything I've heard and read, we should all skip the movie and either read or reread the book. That way we certainly won't be disappointed!
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Summary: Predictable, derivative
Review: Yes, this is a fast read. That's because it reads as if it were an adaptation of a screenplay, rather than the other way around. You can visualize each and every scene as it should appear on the movie screen, and it appears that it was written specifically to be sold to the studios. It's also very predictable. The climax could be seen from miles off, as could several of the events during the story. The book tries to be a cross between Scott Turow (for the legal aspects) and Tom Clancy (for the military parts). In that, it succeeds, but is not as interesting as books by the other two authors. Turow's "Presumed Innocent" is better written and has much the same plot and climax twists. I'd recommend reading that book over this one.
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Summary: Riveting
Review: I enjoyed the book. I saw the movie first (usually I try to see the movie later). I found it interesting and a very quick read. It has been released into the wild (see BookCrossing.com). I hope whoever reads my released copy will enjoy it as much as I did. If you can't borrow one, this is a book to buy. I will probably buy another copy so I can enjoy it again. I did find it interesting that the movie eliminated the daughter. Also Claire and Tom's names were not only arranged differently, but the couple lived in Boston (book) and in San Francisco (movie). Go figure!
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Summary: My favorite
Review: High Crimes is an awesome book but the worst movie! They totally butchered the fabulous book...It's just a great book that keeps you hooked and excited for every page. It's definitely my favorite book and I love every second of reading it. Sorry that I'm not giving a summary of the book but I'm sure that some of the other reviews will you give you a good enough idea of what it's about. You should just trust us all when we say that this is a fantastic book!
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Summary: You Will Have A Lot of Fun Reading This Book
Review: I have liked every book he has put out so you probably can guess that this review will be positive. Sure the book moves fast, he has a writing style the lends it self to economic word choice. The characters are good but what I found the best was his superbly constructed story line, so me little twits and turns, it really kept me in my seat reading. The military world of justice and the way they get things done adds some what of a bit of mystery becuase we really do not know that much about it other then it seams a bit harsher then the justice the rest of us face. I am sure the book has a flaw or two - which ones don't, I just could not find then. Sit back and enjoy this book.
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Summary: Wow
Review: I started reading this book during a boring day at work and couldn't put it down! I finished it in just a few hours. High Crimes is truely a riveting thriller. The only thing that saddens me is that the movie is completely different. There is no Annie, the assumed name is Tom Kubik and the true identity is Ronald Chapman. Oh well, you know what they always say..."The book IS better than the movie"
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Summary: Tight and cinematic but ultimately "been-there, done that"
Review: This is an ultra-fast and absorbing book, structured more like a film than a novel. And that may be its downfall. It is full of kinetic scenes and dramatic, page-turning chapter endings but - at the end of the day - it is a tired rehash of too many crime/action thrillers that have gone Hollywood (with a anti-military jingoism that becomes absolutely intrusive). It's an admittedly exciting read at times (especially when picturing the cast of the soon-to-be-released movie in the roles; Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman are perfect) but is ultimately too contrived and unbelievable to put it in league with the best crime novels.
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Summary: Finder is a Political Visionary
Review: High Crimes is the latest (last?) in Finder's collection of four (to date) outstanding novels which, upon investigation, reveal some of the most enlightening political info and predictions of our time. His first book, Moscow Club, accurately predicted the Soviet coup just before its occurrence. His second, Extraordinary Powers, accurately predicted the exposure of a high ranking CIA mole. His third, Zero Hour, explains the pitiful security of the world's finance system (and thank God it hasnt come true yet!), and his latest High Crimes pre-dates by three years a remarkably similar tale as the one recently uncovered concerning former Senator Bob Kerrey's command in Vietnam. A truly informative and knowledgeable man with a knack for fantastic presentation, Finder's books are some of the finest around. Pick them up, and you won't ever want to put them down.
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