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205th out of 781 books
—
989 voters
High Crimes
by
Joseph Finder (Goodreads Author)
When (not if---the deal has already been signed) this terrific thriller gets made into a movie, you might see Morgan Freeman as a crusty lawyer who specializes in taking on the military establishment tell the actress playing ace Boston barrister and Harvard Law professor Claire Heller Chapman, "Every civilian who's ever gone into a military general court-martial and tried...more
Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages
Published
March 1st 2011
by St. Martin's Press
(first published January 21st 1998)
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Jan 03, 2013
Thuraya
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Thuraya by:
RVA Book Club Read April 2011
Shelves:
book-club-books
I tend to avoid, when choosing what book to read next, the thriller and chick-lit genre as an attempt to escape the likelihood of ending up with something that proves to be formulaic and therefore predictable. Though I’m sure there are novels that manage to break free of this stereotype, these two genres in particular seem to be full of authors who crank out book after book involving the same plots and characters. These books delight a multitude of readers and their authors are able to earn a st...more
I found it irresistible not to be consumed by Claire’s story or imagine her any other way than Ashley Judd while reading the book. Perhaps that is why we create the movies; if done well, they give us the means to get even more intimate with our books. They give our characters a face, a voice, a manner, and a means to exist other than in our own imagination. Movies done well do wonders for our reading mind.
Of all his books, I think Finder is most comfortable here taking risks as a writer. He buil...more
Of all his books, I think Finder is most comfortable here taking risks as a writer. He buil...more
A taut thriller about Special Forces running amok in El Salvador in 1983
Most of the popular thrillers published in the U.S. tend to revolve around the CIA, the KGB, Nazis, or, these days, Al Qaeda. High Crimes is a notable exception, centering as it does on the neglected topic of U.S. military intervention in Central America under the Reagan Administration.
It’s 1996. Tom Chapman is a loving, family man who runs his own investment firm in Boston and lives with his adoring wife, Claire, better kno...more
Most of the popular thrillers published in the U.S. tend to revolve around the CIA, the KGB, Nazis, or, these days, Al Qaeda. High Crimes is a notable exception, centering as it does on the neglected topic of U.S. military intervention in Central America under the Reagan Administration.
It’s 1996. Tom Chapman is a loving, family man who runs his own investment firm in Boston and lives with his adoring wife, Claire, better kno...more
In his novel High Crimes, Joseph Finder explores the length that one woman will go to in order to save her husband's life even if it turns out that he is a man that knew nothing about.
Claire Chapman has a great life. She is successful lawyer with a teaching practice at one of the most prestigious law schools in the country, she was able to find a great man after her first husband died, her life could not be better. But Claire's life is about to be turned upside down by the FBI who are not intere...more
Claire Chapman has a great life. She is successful lawyer with a teaching practice at one of the most prestigious law schools in the country, she was able to find a great man after her first husband died, her life could not be better. But Claire's life is about to be turned upside down by the FBI who are not intere...more
Joseph Finder- High Crimes (Avon Books 2002) 4 Stars
Claire Heller Chapman, hotshot attorney, has her life shaken up one evening when FBI agents suddenly try to arrest her husband and he pulls moves she did not know he was capable of to escape. When they finally bring him in, she must defend him against charges only a maniac could be responsible for. Could it be that her husband is someone she doesn’t really know? Everything is at risk for her and someone unknown seems to be pulling the strings o...more
Claire Heller Chapman, hotshot attorney, has her life shaken up one evening when FBI agents suddenly try to arrest her husband and he pulls moves she did not know he was capable of to escape. When they finally bring him in, she must defend him against charges only a maniac could be responsible for. Could it be that her husband is someone she doesn’t really know? Everything is at risk for her and someone unknown seems to be pulling the strings o...more
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...more
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...more
When I first began the book, it was really difficult to understand the story, due to the extremely advanced language in the book. However, by slowly reading, the facts and constant suprises in this thriller began to amaze me. In this supenseful novel, lawyer and mother Claire Hellen Chapman is living a romantic life with the supposed Tom Chapman. However, one night, her life is shattered when he is arrested and charged for murder and a case that claims he was part of a group of highly trained Sp...more
I thought this was a fairly enjoyable legal thriller in light of the fact that I haven't previously read any of Finder's other novels. A female lawyer's life is turned upside down when her husband is arrested for multiple murders & she discovers that the man she thought she knew well is not the person she thought he was. But is he really guilty of the crimes? While portions of this story were somewhat predictable & it reminded me a lot of A Few Good Men, it was engaging enough to make me...more
High Crimes launches into action without wasting much time. Tom & Claire are enjoying dinner in the mall food court, when suddenly FBI shows up to arrest Tom and he skillfully dodges them, leaving behind a stunned wife. She learns that her husband is a wanted fugitive of 13 years, charged with killing 87 innocent civilians during a mission in El Salvador. Claire, a top-notch lawyer, is determined to defend her husband’s innocence.
The book is a brilliant combination of conspiracy, suspense an...more
The book is a brilliant combination of conspiracy, suspense an...more
Claire Heller Chapman is a rising celebrity at Harvard Law School. She has a loving husband and a cute 6 year old daughter. But things start to unravel when Tom is arrested and Claire is told that her husband, Tom Chapman, is really Ronald Kubik and the Pentagon want him for a massacre that took place 13 years ago, and cost 87 people their lives. Claire may only be a Harvard Law School celeb but she’s about to take on the Military and the Pentagon itself, both of which will stop at nothing to pu...more
It's an okay courtroom drama, but I found most of the surprises surprisingly unsurprising.
And I had the annoying feeling that I know more about the military justice system from watching JAG and a Few Good Men than Joseph Finder seems to know.
Finder must have seen A Few Good Men though. At least one of the scenes seemed highly inspired by this movie.
I just discovered that High Crimes have been made into a movie with Morgan Freeman in one of the leading roles. Very appropriate. That would have b...more
And I had the annoying feeling that I know more about the military justice system from watching JAG and a Few Good Men than Joseph Finder seems to know.
Finder must have seen A Few Good Men though. At least one of the scenes seemed highly inspired by this movie.
I just discovered that High Crimes have been made into a movie with Morgan Freeman in one of the leading roles. Very appropriate. That would have b...more
adorei este livro! eu o li quase inteiro em uma sentada só, à espera de uma audiência que atrasou 'só' quatro horas. a história é dinâmica e não cansa, dá sempre vontade de saber o que vai acontecer em seguida. o único porém foi o final, muito abrupto e sem maiores explicações. tirando isso, nota dez; mas por causa disso, nota oito e meio ;-) (p.s.: este livro foi tranformado num filme que vi há muitos anos e de cuja história eu não tinha nenhuma lembrança -- quero agora rever o filme, porque fi...more
If you look at the books I have read lately....(You will see that I am just catching up adding them) You will see I get in trends of reading books by the same author ...even though they are not sequels.
This book really caught your interest and held it till the end. It is a story about a woman who finds out her husband is not who she thought he was. He had a differnt face and a different name and was responsible for a horrible crime! This one has so many twist and turns in it...even in the last...more
This book really caught your interest and held it till the end. It is a story about a woman who finds out her husband is not who she thought he was. He had a differnt face and a different name and was responsible for a horrible crime! This one has so many twist and turns in it...even in the last...more
Joseph Finder is a true master writer- High Crimes is amazing!! As the reader - you start out in one setting as a family unit with Claire the attorney -teacher who just made a major slam dunk of getting a rapist off free. Then her world turns upside down fast- real fast !! She is out to dinner with her husband Tom and their young daughter Annie when everything changes. As they leave the restaurant and walking thru the mall they are met with FBI, saying "Mr Kubik, come with us, please . Let's mak...more
A woman lawyer who teaches at Harvard Law School discovers that the man she married who is stepfather to her only child is not who he seems. He is arrested by the US Government for having killed 87 innocent people in El Salvador during the 1980's. She can hardly believe this since her husband Tom has always been so loving to both her and Annie her daughter. She decides to defend him in military court with the help of a saavy miliary lawyer and then the fun begins. A good beach read with lots of...more
DID NOT THRILL ME
Lured by many acclaim notes in the front and back covers, yet I could not find that spark that gets me trapped to this plot because in this story I have experienced Finder's trademark again, he uses to write serious drama in his books with the depth and times you will find in an afternoon soap opera. The story unfolds like a tale published in the pages of a glossy magazine. The final product is a light fast read suitable for a cross country flight if you don't like the plane mag...more
Lured by many acclaim notes in the front and back covers, yet I could not find that spark that gets me trapped to this plot because in this story I have experienced Finder's trademark again, he uses to write serious drama in his books with the depth and times you will find in an afternoon soap opera. The story unfolds like a tale published in the pages of a glossy magazine. The final product is a light fast read suitable for a cross country flight if you don't like the plane mag...more
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A courtroom drama from a master of page-turners. This one is about Claire Heller Chapman. She is living a perfect life with a perfect husband and a perfect child. Suddenly, her husband is arrested and taken into custody by the military who claims he is a deserter with a sadistic streak and a history of criminal cruelty. Claire (a Harvard law professor) drops everything to defend him. She ends up finding out that her husband is nothing like what she believes he was.
I listened to the abridged audio book of this novel while painting my front deck. Maybe the unabridged version is better, but the one I listened to was just not my thing. It actually moved too fast, I didn't have sympathy for any of the characters, and the reader's voice changes for each character was great at first, until he attempted to do the voice of a little 6 year-old girl ::shudder:: I do not recommend this book.
Tom Chapman has been arrested for murdering 87 people during his service in El Salavdor. His wive, a Harvard professor and lawyer decides to defend her husband in a military courtroom. She knows nothing about the military justice system. She discovers her husband's real name and begins to doubt whether he is innocent or not. Everything is stacked against him by the government. This is an entertaining thriller.
Great story, but way too close to the plot of the movie, A Few Good Men. I also didn't like the banter Finder would insert to try to develop/illuminate the relationships between the characters - it was pretty cheesy and useless. Too many details left hanging at the end. And I never did figure out how an army deserter working at menial jobs for several years could have afforded extensive plastic surgery.
I just finished this book. I have to say I was not impressed. It was like a bad Lifetime movie in a book form. The so called "drama" of the courtroom scenes were a real let down. I figured out the ending about two chapters in and just finished the book to see if I was right. A real let down! I highly recommend passing this book by.
If your interested in a good Finder book, I suggest Vanished.
If your interested in a good Finder book, I suggest Vanished.
Joseph Finder has about a dozen books and I have read two so far, and I am looking forward to the rest. This is a complex plot involving secret operations in Central America under Reagan and is a play off the Iran Contra affair. The protagonist is a highly skilled female defense attorney and her first experience with Military justice. Surprising ending!!
What a great, edge-of-your-seat courtroom thriller. Joseph Finder has again kept me up late and furiously turning pages in this fast-paced tale of false identity, murder, cover up and courtroom drama. Full of hairpin turns, this is a mystery right up to the very last sentence!
This book was an easy, quick read. It can easily be read in 1 day. I would recommend as a traveling book because it has short chapters,a easy plot, and just a few main characters and settings. The ending was a total disappointment, but once you read it; you'll see what I mean.
Claire Heller Chapman a high-powered attorney defends her husband in a top secret court martial where all the evidence is classified. Did he or did he not commit �an unspeakable atrocity 16 years ago? You will not know for sure until the very end. If you like court room drama you will like this. Some offensive language.
First time reader of this author's books and it was a good one. Kept the suspense till the very end. Gives a little bit of insight into the world of military justice mixed with the murky world of politics in the US (although largely fiction, of course; or is it?).
A Harvard attorney learns her husband is really an Army deserter accused of the massacre of an El Salvadorean village and defends him at his court-martial.
Intensity of "A FEW GOOD MEN." Surprise ending. Tightly plotted. Fast-paced. Highly recommend.
Intensity of "A FEW GOOD MEN." Surprise ending. Tightly plotted. Fast-paced. Highly recommend.
Attorney Claire Chapman's life is turned upside down when she discover's that her husband Tom is not who she always believed him to be. As it turns out, his real name is Ron Kubik and he's been on the lam from the U.S. Government for 13 years because he may or may not have been single-handedly responsible for the murder of 87 innocent Salvadoran women, children, and old men as part of a Special Forces operation gone very awry. Now, Claire must discover the truth and defend her husband from the d...more
Excellent account of crime and cover up ----I saw the movie after I read the book----the movie was a big let down as it was only loosely based on the story. Do we ever really know someone is the question it raises when a Harvard Proffessor and lawyer's husband is chased and charged with crimes under a different name than the one she knows him.
fast paced action and a great storyline.
fast paced action and a great storyline.
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Joseph Finder’s plan was to become a spy. Or maybe a professor of Russian history. Instead he became a bestselling thriller writer, and winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Novel for KILLER INSTINCT (2006) and winner of the Barry and Gumshoe Awards for Best Thriller for COMPANY MAN (2005).
Born in Chicago, Joe spent his early childhood living around the world, including Afgh...more
More about Joseph Finder...
Born in Chicago, Joe spent his early childhood living around the world, including Afgh...more
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Dec 25, 2012 03:48pm