COUNTERPLAY by Robert K Tanenbaum
It is hard for me to understand why Robert K Tanenbaum's novels don't fly to the top of the best seller lists. From the time I started being a fan of his and reading his stories about the adventures and misadventures of Butch Karp and his wife Marlene, he has gone to the top rungs of my "must read" authors. His latest novel COUNTER PLAY is once again a testimonial as to why he is one of the best thriller writers around.
In Tanenbaum's stories Butch Karp is the District Attorney of New York City. He and his wife Marlene have three children - Lucy, Zak and Giancarlo. As this story opens their most hated foe Andrew Kane is being transported to a facility to await trial. Things go wrong and he is freed, leaving behind a vow to murder Butch and all his family.
This event kicks off the plot and hurtles it on to a breakneck race against time for Butch. He has a campaign to run as a candidate for the permanent office of District Attorney. He is second chair on a murder trial that is taking a huge amount of his time. The Pope is planning a visit to New York City as is Putin of Russia. These two events would give Kane and his terrorist buddies a perfect chance to make a strike.
The amazing thing about Tanenbaum's skills is that even as he manages to juggle all of his plots and keep them in the air, he also can create a personal story between Butch and Marlene, Butch and his kids, and Butch and his friends. It is amazing and very few authors could actually do it, and even fewer could do it as well.
There is excitement on almost every page of COUNTERPLAY. The story involves murders, assassination plots, torture and other violent acts. Still while moving an enrapt audience of readers through this quagmire of human suffering, Tanenbaum always remembers to bring along hope and redemption.
If you have never been a Tanenbaum reader then jump in with COUNTERPLAY. Then you will be compelled to go back and read all the stories that preceded this one and what a fun time that will be. For those of you who are already under his spell, this newest novel is Tanenbaum at his best. Open the first page and then hang on for the ride of your life.
Tanenbaum's books should be at the top of the best seller lists. Join me in helping that happen. Read the book and then tell all your friends just how great this author is.
COUNTERPLAY is published by Atria Books. It contains 433 pages and sells for $26.00.