Capitol Threat: A Novel of Suspense

Ben Kincaid #15

by William Bernhardt

When Oklahoma attorney Ben Kincaid came to Washington, D.C., to defend a senator caught in a red-hot sex scandal turned murder case, he never dreamed he’d end up trading the courtroom for the senate chamber. And after his not-so-distinguished client stepped down, Ben found himself appointed to complete the sullied senator’s term. Now, having barely gotten his political sea legs, he must rise to yet another challenge: advising the president’s next Supreme Court nominee during the sometimes thorny confirmation process. Luckily, Judge Thaddeus Roush’s popularity on both sides of the aisle looks to make him a shoo-in. Until he decides to out himself on national television–igniting a Beltway uproar and setting the stage for a bare-knuckle partisan brawl.

Forced to scramble for spin control, Ben hastily calls a press conference for the now controversial candidate. But the photo op becomes a tabloid nightmare when, on live TV, a brutally murdered woman is discovered in the judge’s backyard. For the political forces out to torpedo the nomination of a gay Supreme Court Justice, the shocking turn of events is pure gold.

With the secret backing of the president and a made-to-order new candidate waiting in the wings, the cagey senate majority leader and his most ruthless allies mount a smear campaign that would put Joe McCarthy to shame. But Team Kincaid isn’t about to let the best man for the job get derailed.

While Ben uses his best courtroom strategies to wage a war of words, his crack private eye, Loving, hits the capital streets to fight a much more hands-on battle–with hustlers, hit men, and homicidal hoods–as he digs for dirt in places even Deep Throat would avoid. It’s soon clear that this game is anything but politics as usual.

In Capitol Threat, William Bernhardt serves up a resounding one-two punch of political intrigue and legal suspense peppered with a volley of his trademark plot twists, sly wit, and persistent thrills.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Legal Thriller, Thriller, Legal, Mystery Thriller, Political Thriller

432 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

William Bernhardt is the author of over sixty books, including the bestselling Daniel Pike and Ben Kincaid legal thrillers, the historical novels Challengers of the Dust and Nemesis, three books of poetry, and the ten Red Sneaker books on fiction writing.

In addition, Bernhardt founded the Red Sneaker Writers Center to mentor aspiring writers. The Center hosts an annual writers conference (WriterCon), small-group seminars, a monthly newsletter, and a bi-weekly podcast. More than three dozen of Bernhardt’s students have subsequently published with major houses. He is also the owner of Balkan Press, which publishes poetry and fiction as well as the literary journal Conclave.

Bernhardt has received the Southern Writers Guild’s Gold Medal Award, the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award (University of Pennsylvania) and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award (Oklahoma State), which is given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." He has been nominated for the Oklahoma Book Award eighteen times in three different categories, and has won the award twice. Library Journal called him “the master of the courtroom drama.” The Vancouver Sun called him “the American equivalent of P.G. Wodehouse and John Mortimer.”

In addition to his novels and poetry, he has written plays, a musical (book and score), humor, children stories, biography, and puzzles. He has edited two anthologies (Legal Briefs and Natural Suspect) as fundraisers for The Nature Conservancy and the Children’s Legal Defense Fund. OSU named him “Oklahoma’s Renaissance Man.”

In his spare time, he has enjoyed surfing, digging for dinosaurs, trekking through the Himalayas, paragliding, scuba diving, caving, zip-lining over the canopy of the Costa Rican rain forest, and jumping out of an airplane at 10,000 feet. In 2013, he became a Jeopardy! champion winning over $20,000.

When Bernhardt delivered the keynote address at the San Francisco Writers Conference, chairman Michael Larsen noted that in addition to penning novels, Bernhardt can “write a sonnet, play a sonata, plant a garden, try a lawsuit, teach a class, cook a gourmet meal, beat you at Scrabble, and work the New York Times crossword in under five minutes.”

Reviews

[Johnny G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a great premise - a Supreme Court nominee, who prefers the company of men, has a dead body turn up in his backyard before the Judiciary Committee review! There are some other delicious twists and turns that lead to the unlikely conclusion. What I did not care for was the secondary story...a character is beat up for half the book, snooping around to find out why that woman’s body did indeed turn up in the Judge’s backyard. At the same time there happened to be dozens of reporters fawning over him. I felt the Judiciary and Senate settings were terrific...some other parts, not so much.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

re-read April2014
Loving sure gets beat up and messed up in each book and then, miraculously, saves the day with important information.
i downsized to 3 stars.

#2 read on 9-1-2011
like the ben kincaid character alot and Loving B UT i find much of the violence is more graphic than I need.... not subtle.

just started it. blind pick off library shelves. so far - good.
When Oklahoma attorney Ben Kincaid came to Washington, D.C., to defend a senator caught in a red-hot sex scandal turned murder case, he never dreamed he’d end up trading the courtroom for the senate chamber.
liked the characters alot.... except didn't like the chapters on the private eye. seemed repetitive.

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A side departure from the Kincaid series where Ben is now an appointed senator for a short stint.

Very decent writing as usual; enjoyed the the argument during committee hearings to confirm an openly-gay Supreme Court justice. We could all look forward to that one day.

This book warrants a 3-star rating. But because of the feel-good factor, I am going to give it a 4-star treatment. Because I can.

[Bernie Charbonneau · Rating 3 out of 5]

The continuing drama of lawyer-senator Ben Kincaid is trying to defend the character of a Supreme Court justice nominee who is implicated in the death of a woman found in his home garden. Not the page turner as his previous novels but has the twists that just keep me coming back to the next novel to see what Ben will get himself into next.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reading Ben Kincaid out of order and I love this character.
Ben is the Monk of the courtroom, but a little more serious. He held
his own with the Senate and those Washington types. They kill and lie
also..

[Judy Churchill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hated the horrible display of bigotry as it was discovered that the current nominee for the Supreme Court was gay. It had the ring of honesty and was written perfectly.

[Gary E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great edition

What can I say . . . I just love this series. I doubt that would come as a surprise to anyone this being book 15 in the series. I would say this book is better than most in the series. The story is just fantastic. I might be biased because I live in the DC suburbs but I do not think so.

I just find this series in general and this book specifically to be good light enjoyable reading. I think of these books as part court room drama and part detective story and that rings fairly true for this novel as well. The difference is that instead of the court room this book’s trial takes place in a senate subcommittee. Which is different but it is the kind of vibe.

If any of that sounds interesting to you get a copy of the series and start reading!

[Diane C · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Chapter

Sen. Ben Kincaid and Christina are working on behalf of a SCOTUS nominee who outed himself during his nomination speech. That caused tremendous stir in the Senate and with the President and his party. Ben was determined to do his best in shepherding the nominee through the process as he was convinced he would make an excellent member of SCOTUS regardless of his party affiliation. During the process crimes muddy the waters and Ben's investigator, Loving, and computer expert, Jones, uncover perpetrators close to home. Good read but the author should know that the State of the Union speech occurs in the House, not in the Senate.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The new path Ben’s life is taking interests me but this book is similar to the last book in that it addresses homosexuality, but this time in politics. Ben has a very liberal political views. I don’t necessarily agree with him on all points but that doesn’t mean the book is poorly written. It just means I’m not crazy about the topic. If his next book is in the same vein I may be done with this series.

[Nolan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This series has irredeemably lost its way. It's outdated to a point of ridiculousness. All Democrats are sons of gods and angels; all Republicans are sons-of-bitches and Satan spawn. What a waste. If the fictional main character loser would abandon DC and get back in the courtroom, this could be worth reading again. Not until. This was a consummate waste of my time and space on my device. It's gone! I'm gone!

[Derk · Rating 2 out of 5]

While it has been a few years since I read a Bernhardt book, I recall I enjoyed reading his work. This book started off at a 4 level, but then started sliding down my rating scale. The basic plot premise was excellent, but the story line degenerated with the 2nd half of the book arriving at the 1 star, don't bother to read level. I did finish, but it was not worth it.

[Todd Schafer · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is an initial Senate hearing that any Supreme Court nominee must get through before it's passed on to the open Senate.
The concept of the first openly gay justice on the Court had never been explored before and made for good fodder here.
They brought up Douglas Ginsburg, the guy that inhaled.

[Kathy kennedy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ben goes to Washington. Gets involved with the appointment of Supreme Court Justice. Story is way too cluttered. This is the first one of this series that was a disappointment. Go Back to Oklahoma.

[Brian O'Leary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a pleasure to read a Kincaid book, such strong characters, a tad too political.

[Jerry King · Rating 4 out of 5]

2002

[Pooch · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good story line severely damaged by gratuitous violence.

[Lawrence Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

As a reader of many of his books I can say that this is one of the best. A race to the finish. Could not put it down.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Interesting story but predictable.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with many surprises along the way.

[Judy Evenson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope, not a winner. Political intrigue but not really well written

[Linda McCune · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good murder mystery and a Supreme Court justice election in the Senate.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben Kincaid, still serving as interim US Senator from Oklahoma, has been asked to assist Judge Thaddeus Roush as the judge is questioned by the Senate Judiciary Committee for appointment to the Supreme Court. The President announces Roush as his choice and as Roush makes his acceptance remarks he decides that he must come clean with his secret. Roush confesses that he is gay and that he has been in a committed relationship with his boyfriend, Ray, for seven years. His announcement shocks the gathered dignitaries and the ensuing chaotic scene keeps Roush from continuing his speech. He instead suggests that he hold his own press conference the next day at his home. During the conference, however, a woman's body is discovered and it is thought that Ray may be the killer. Now embarrassed by Roush, the senators, president and various lobbyists want Roush to withdraw his name from nomination but he refuses. Ben does his best to keep Roush from being destroyed by ugly rumors and outright lies while he tries to learn the identity of the dead woman and her connection to the judge.
I've been a Ben Kincaid fan for quite a few years now but I don't really enjoy him in a political setting. As a trial lawyer in Oklahoma he is great but this "Capital" trilogy is not Bernhardt's best work. I'd say at least 3/4 of the book was political speeches and committee meetings and the other 1/4 was devoted to the mystery, which was actually a pretty good one. It just got lost in all of those pages of words, words, words.

[Bonnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Over 10 years ago my husband and I really liked this series about Ben Kincaid. The plots were good and the characters fun and interesting. There was some violence, but not an outrageous amount. Some months back I thought of how much we enjoyed the books and read or listened to a couple that I liked. Then sometime last year I read "Hate Crime" and thought it was disturbing and overly violent. I already had the audiobook of "Capitol Threat" on my iPod and so a couple of days ago I thought I'd listen to it. I'm not bothering with this series in the future. The plot was interesting and had some twists I didn't expect. It was also preposterous.

First of all, the violence. There are extensive scenes of torture in this book and I had to skip to the next track a couple of times. I'd have quit completely if by this time I wanted to know how it was going to end. It's utterly ridiculous and not believable that the subject of the torture is able to get around after what he goes through.

Second, a lot of titillating sexual scenes. More skipping of a track or two.

Third, I thought it was a bit hard to believe that a judge who was gay, had paid for an abortion years before when he was having relationships with women and had knowingly aided a woman (the mother of the aborted baby) after she had committed murder could be confirmed as a justice of the Supreme Court. He claimed youthful foolishness for the abortion, BUT he couldn't have been too youthful since he was a judge at the time.

[Frederick Bingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben Kincaid is a democratic senator from Oklahoma, appointed to fill the seat of someone who died. He is roped into representing a nominee for the supreme court, a man named Thaddeus Rausch. Rausch was nominated by a Republican President, but during the press conference announcing his nomination, he reveals that he is gay. At the same press conference, the body of a dead woman is discovered in Rausch's garden. The president drops his support, but he becomes the Democrat's nominee of choice.The Christian Congregation is an organization like the Christian Coalition, for upholding "family values". They decide to try to torpedo Rausch's nomination and send up a parade of salacious witnesses to discredit Rausch. Ben guides Rausch through the hearing process. Meanwhile, Ben's investigator, a man named Ray Loving, pokes into the seamy side of Washington DC to try to find out who the murdered woman was. He is helped along by a transvestite named Trudy. Stephen Hoye does a decent job of narration, though I have hear better.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fight over the First Gay Supreme Court Nominee. Ben Kincaid is a temp appointment US Senator who is enlisted to assist Thaddeus Roush's Supreme Court nomination through the Senate. Roush outs himself as gay during his nomination acceptance speech, thus vilifying him with the President who just appointed him as well as the entire Republican Party. Fighting like a tiger through the Judiciary Committee, Kincaid sells Roush's attributes only to be blindsided by Roush's participation in an abortion decades ago in his youth. Fighting for his candidate's life, Ben puts his PI on the case only to uncover a massive conspiracy by the presumptive replacement candidate, only to bring the sordid tale to the Senate floor on the day of the full vote on Roush. Squeaking by with a one vote majority, Roush is confirmed and his opponent discredited, resulting in his suicide.

[Rick Ludwig · Rating 5 out of 5]

My most recent excursion into the world of Ben Kincaid, who was still a Senator in this book was as timely as the evening news. Politics is running wild and Ben is fighting to get a qualified man confirmed to the Supreme court despite ongoing revelations that threaten to derail the nominee, some from the nominee himself. meanwhile Loving is playing a dangerous game trying to answer some key questions for the chief. Loving suffers more and risks more in this episode than ever before and as a result grows more as a person. Christina is wonderful as always, but demonstrates more subtlety than usual in this outing. Another great job with a story that draws the reader in and never lets him go.

[Harry Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perry Mason goes to Washington and is called upon to defend a Supreme Court nominee who comes out as gay at his announcement event in the Rose Garden. The rest of the political action is recognizable in terms of recent history, but the outcome, while satisfying in the context of the book, is quite beyond my ability to suspend disbelief. The action in the narrative is centered on Jones, the PI, whose ability to persevere in adversity is superhuman. A pleasant way to while away a few hours, but far from memorable and not as good as some of the earlier installments in this series.

[Ryan Winn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was misguided. Not a terrible book to read on the beach while you shut your brain down but I wouldn't recommend it for thought provoking literature. I am feel like the author wanted to do way to much in order to achieve a Da Vinci Code like "AHA!" moment.

It is unfortunate that this novel shyed away from a poignant topic such as the nomination of a Gay Supreme Court Justice by focuses instead on a two bit murder plot

[Elyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read with easy character and plot development. Enjoyed the mostly-credible political intrigue and congressional antics.

Would have been 5 stars for me, but I felt that the resolution of "whodunit" was abrupt. And I didn't ever really connect what Loving was doing with the rest of the plot resolution, given how much narrative time was invested in it.

Looking forward to reading other books by this author.

[Pbwritr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast-moving book for the most part. The most junior senator is tapped to advise the next Supreme Court nominee, who announced he wasw gay on the day he was nominated. The next day, a woman is found murdered in his backyard. Politicians are trying to derail his nomination without saying they're against gays.