Irresistible Impulse: Volume 9

By Robert K. Tanenbaum

Book Overview

A racially charged murder pits the NY assistant DA against a flashy defense lawyer in an "irresistible" legal thriller by the bestselling author of Infamy (Publishers Weekly).

It's the early '80s, and New York City is eating itself alive. The murder rate is skyrocketing, and Butch Karp, the battle-tested assistant district attorney in charge of the NYPD's homicide bureau, is the only thing standing between the city and chaos. And he's about to get pushed to the breaking point.

As the bureau chief, Karp is not supposed to try cases himself, but he's about to make an exception. A wealthy suburbanite is accused of a series of murders in Harlem, and the case's racial implications threaten to set the city ablaze. Promising to get a conviction, Karp puts his reputation and his career on the line. His opponent is the country's most famous defense attorney, a notorious showman determined to use every trick in the book to get his client free, and destroy Butch Karp in the process.

Before he became the New York Times-bestselling author of such legal thrillers as No Lesser Plea and Falsely Accused, Robert K. Tanenbaum was one of the most successful trial attorneys in New York City. Irresistible Impulse displays the grit, brains and brio that made him so successful.

Irresistible Impulse is the 9th book in the Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

"Tannenbaum's snappy, electric ninth novel to feature the latter-day Hepburn and Tracy . . . the suspense here is Hitchcockian." --Publishers Weekly

"Gripping." --Kirkus Reviews

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1504091507
• ISBN13: 9781504091503
• Release Date: May 2024
• Publisher: Open Road Media Mystery & Thri
• Length: 420 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Simply great!

Unlike one of the critics I find this book was written by a very intelligent and gifted author, a master of stylistic means and rich imagery that makes the reading of this book a real pleasure. But this is not the only reason why this book is perfectly written. Tanenbaum's feeling for "plot" is enormous. The constant twists in the actions, the characters' conflicts with each other and in themselves result in a remarkable novel full of suspense. And this book contains some criticism of the legal system: it is not about justice, but a legal Darwinism is described, in which the lawyer is considered a failure who is not able to play the jury as well as his opponent. Justice is of no importance. I recommend this book to everybody who appreciates a well written thriller. I will read more of Tanenbaum's books!

first book i've read by the author, but won't be last

i really enjoyed reading about butch karp, chief of manhattan's homicide bureau, and his private detective wife marlene ciampi . . . they are both involved in two separate, yet interesting cases . . . but what made the book was the fact that these two characters seemed "real," and i enjoyed reading about their home life too.

"A top notch thriller combing PI work and courtroom drama"

DETROIT FREE PRESS - December 14, 1997"Robert K. Tanenbaum's IRRESISTIBLE IMPULSE is a top-notch thriller combining PI work with courtroom drama. The ninth in his series, it features private investigator Marlene Karp, who owns half a New York detective agency that specializes in guarding celebrities and protecting battered women. It's this latter mission that almost splits apart her marriage to Butch, a Manhattan district attorney. Marlene is prone to take risks and is unafraid of violence, including threatening and roughing up men who stalk her battered clients. But DAs can't afford the bad publicity when their wives take someone down in public, as Marlene does in an unforgettable scene, and her marriage is under considerable stress.Her life is further complicated by caring for twin newborns who make her young daughter jealous: bizarre people who enter her orbit, like the Vietnamese assassin who quotes Baudelaire and ends up as a cook-nanny; assorted low-lifes and stalkers and the ever present media jackals.The writing is tense and edgy, perfectly capturing the frenetic downtown life Marlene and her husband live, which she thrives on while Butch secretly longs for quiet, safe suburbs - along with a wife who doesn't court danger. ****"

More Karp capers.....

Butch and Marlene are at it again! Each seemingly doing very different and unrelated jobs, in completely opposing ways yet at the end we are rewarded with a plausible tie-in. Tanenbaum keeps Butch and Marlene's relationship fresh, while expanding their family. The character of Mr. Tranh is another great addition to the cast of the Karp/Ciampi series. I would recommend, if you have not read any of this series, you start at the beginning and enjoy! I anxiously await the next.Ree-views

Pub Weekly: "Butch & Marlene are the Tracey & Hepburn of the

Publishers' Weekly gave this 9th Butch Karp novel from Bob Tanenbaum a * (starred) review stating that Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi are the Tracey and Hepburn of the 90's. If you haven't read Tanenbaum yet it is time to jump on board. He's terrific.