Walter WalkerRecensioni

Compulsively readable; good match for those (like me) who liked [b:Defending Jacob|11367726|Defending Jacob|William Landay|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329612158s/11367726.jpg|16298550] by William Landay or [b:Indefensible|18144020|Indefensible|Lee Goodman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403346280s/18144020.jpg|25539458] by Lee Goodman, AND who used to gobble up Dominick Dunne stories about rich power families (ahem, the Kennedys) in Vanity Fair. This book gets mentioned alongside Grisham and Turow (probably because those are the only two legal thriller authors people know), and I think that's a disservice. Much more solid writing, plotting, character. If a reader likes Grisham, he/she *may* like Walker, but I don't think it works the other way around.

I'm not sure why I originally bought this book. I found it in my "to be read" pile, so decided to give it a try. The writing and story were good; but I only found the book to be just okay. Nothing wrong with it, just nothing to make me come back for another by the same author.

What an unmitigated mess this book is. I am not sure whether to blame the authors I have read lately for not having a single original thought, or if I need to blame myself for picking such lousy books to read, but this book was awful. Much like [b:Schroder|15018713|Schroder|Amity Gaige|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1340468250s/15018713.jpg|20673281] is a blatant ripoff of the Clark Rockefeller case, this atrocity is a wholesale ripoff of the William Kennedy Smith and Michael Skakel rape and murder cases respectively. The writing is pedestrian, the "characters" (I put this in quotes because it is so easy to spot the real people who are indeed not fictional characters)were one-dimensional and this book had absolutely no plot. Hated it, couldn't wait to be finished with it. For the love of all that is holy, I beg the publishing community to stop pawning off "novels" which are simple retelling of true-life events done poorly and with the gall to claim they are literary accomplishments.

Having grown up in Massachusetts in a time when the Kennedy family was revered by many, i'd wanted to read this book for awhile, before i ever got a copy. Shades of the dynasty are throughout the book....Will Smiths rape trial in Florida, the Skakel murder sensation in CT. (i think that's where it took place), the family compound on the Cape.... Add a few more sleazy characters and change the times and dates and voila!

This story however revolves around a fringe character- not family and not quite a friend. There is manipulation and sabotage, cover-ups and of course- money.

So sure, if interested give it a whirl. You just might feel like you need to wash your hands afterwards....

You can read my review at http://thebooklover.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/book-review-crime-of-privilege/.

The Gregory family is a rich and famous family of a Massachusetts senator. That sounds familiar for some reason. Anyway there was a rape in Florida and a murder on Cape Cod. Was it a Gregory behind these crimes or were they just convenient scapegoats? Do they think privilege is their right? Is there an elaborate coverup? Along the way there are plenty of twists and turns and travels around the globe tracking down the people who were at the Gregory compound the night of the murder. I couldn't wait to find out who did it and if and how justice was served. IMHO Walter Walker is a wonderful writer.
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

George Becket, attorney at law, works for the Cape Cod District Attorney's office. He's always lived on the Cape, and moved at the edge of the wealthy summer people, making a few friends among them here and there. Well, "friends" may be too strong a word. He made acquaintances and connections, among them the Gregorys, an influential highly-visible political family, and these connections eased his way somewhat, but George was never really part of the inner circle. He was a "townie", so how important could he be, really?

Those acquaintances and connections, though, landed him in the wrong place at the wrong time once upon a time. A young woman died after a party held at the Gregorys' house, a memory George repressed until years later when the woman's father asked him to reopen the case. Out of guilt, he agrees. And steps into a web of lies, misdirections, and leads which have poor George gallivanting all over creation and inevitably point right back to a scion of the Gregory clan.

This novel brings to mind -- deliberately, I suspect -- a similar real life case in which a Kennedy cousin was accused (and, in fact, convicted) of murdering a young woman when he was a teenager. Not a bad premise for a book, and an excellent way of poking a stick in the hornet's nest without being sued for libel. But whether any of the incidents novelized here have further real-life correlations is for someone more interested in such things to research. I'm just here to read the story.

And it's a decent story. Reasonably well-written, nicely characterized, somewhat far-fetched in George's manic travels in search of evidence and corroborating statements: from Massachusetts to Idaho, Hawaii, Costa Rica, France, New York, and back in rapid succession. But, for someone like me who has read countless legal procedurals, it's utterly predictable. Oh, you'll find a couple of eyebrow-raisers and a red herring or two, but there are no real surprises. Which is not necessarily a bad thing for a beach novel.

Thank you to LibraryThing's Early Reviewers for the opportunity to read this book.

I found this to be a worthy addition to a fine list of legal crime novels. Walker is a new author but his writing is mature and his narrative works well to build tension. It is essentially an examination of the power of family status, prestige and reputation that hinders fair treatment of justice during a search for a murderer. Well done and an author to watch for in the coming months and years.
The book was read in Kindle format and was sent by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Crime of Privilege is an all too believable book about the crimes of the privileged that are, I'm sure, overlooked, covered-up, and blamed on others. Full of twists and turns, a good "who-done-it," it had me wondering throughout which of the bad boys from the rich and famous families this story could have been written about. I would put this book on my "Good Beach Reads" list.

I received a free copy of Crime of Privilege through Goodreads first reads.

Really enjoyed author's style, especially George's inner dialogue. A great summer read, lots of twists, lots of travel.

I paid undiscounted retail for this one at my favorite indie bookstore and don't regret a penny.

This is a better-than-usual legal/investigative thriller that sucked me right in and kept me reading -- and wondering who was *really* on whom's side and why -- until the end. The writing was excellent: proper grammar and an especially nice rhythm that kept me moving right long. I figured out the killer about the same time the protagonist did (always a plus); and his internal battle over "what's right" versus "what's easy" was realistic, versus preachy.

This is the first of Mr. Walker's several novels that I have read. I will definitely try the others.

Early on I thought I was going to like this book, but it started to drag around page 64 or so. It started to become predictable about then and I could see the end coming. I enjoyed the characters more than the story and I kind of skimmed through the last half of the book, just to get through.

A Kennedy like family with a bunch of boys behaving badly is the root of this murder mystery in which a young girl winds up dead on a golf course after a night at the family compound. There is a history of boys behaving badly in this Senators family. The death is swept away for many years for lack of evidence when the book's protagonist brings the case back to life. It is very methodical in its progression to the conclusion but I was satisfied. There are a lot of characters but they are introduced steadily as the book progresses so I was able to keep them all straight. I think this was a very good first book and I will look forward to Mr,Walkers next book.

Quick, easy, suspenseful read.

Crime of Privilege is a mystery/thriller that I enjoyed more for the characters than the actual thrill.

George is screwed. He’s gotten through law school, and has a job as an assistant DA on Cape Cod, but all of this has only been possible because of one night, long ago. George had attended a part at the family home of Senator Gregory and had witnessed some younger members of the family taking advantage of a very drunk girl also attending the party. The repercussions and cover up surrounding this event has changed George’s life.

Little does he know that it isn’t over yet, twelve years later, when a man asks George to get involved in the unsolved mystery of the murder of his daughter. This father believes the Gregorys have something to do with the murder.

It seems as if George has no control over his own life. He’s been pulled into a vortex and can’t figure out how to get out. As he begins investigating, while getting pressure from his boss, the DA, as well as the family of the girl who was raped 12 years ago, he realizes he is more screwed than he ever thought.

The heart of Crime of Privilege is George’s figuring out how to get himself out of this mess. He’s torn between doing the right thing (and losing everything), and going with the flow (and continuing to enjoy the life he currently leads.) He honestly cannot trust anyone – because it seems everyone is working on some side of this case. I enjoyed watching George’s character go through this turmoil. I really enjoyed his partner, Barbara, too. She was a well-written character that allowed much of George’s growth.

The pacing of Crime of Privilege is good. I read it fairly quickly, and never got bored. As far as “thrilling,” I never really got the thrill. I thought it was pretty obvious who the killer was and the ending, while giving me a sense of justice, kind of fizzled instead of popping. There weren't any huge twists or revelations that surprised me.

I enjoyed the epilogue, and thought it added some closure to George’s plight – which I really wanted while reading Crime of Privilege.

I would recommend Crime of Privilege to those who like a light thriller that is a lot about the characters and not so much about surprising twists and turns.

Well, what did I think of this one?
The fact that it has taken me months to write the review is a clue.
It is not bad...but it could be better.
The prominate "Kennedy-esk" family is a little heavy handed, and they certainly come across as a very sleazy bunch, which depending on your feelings about the Kennedys, you might like or hate. I admit, I rather liked it..lol
And George is a fairly likable fellow. A bit morally challenged and a bit of a slacker but a pretty good character. Even if sometimes you just want to give dear George a bit of a kick. Open your eyes George! Still, since everyone else in the book is so sleasy, George stands out as the White, or maybe Gray, Knight of the book.

As is so often true, the book is just too long for the story. Bring out the Big Red Pen and cut 75-100 pages. Really, totally doable, and would make for a much tighter book. Sadly, it was one of those books where I was checking how many more pages I had to go until the end, not a great sign. And the jumping back and forth from the present day story to the past, not as smooth and clear as it could be, with an ending that I found more than a bit of a letdown.

Did I hate it? No.
Did I love it? No.
A nice middle of the road book, maybe a nice beach read, but not one I would run out and grab.
Or recommend that you do.

Crime of Privilege was a good read. There were unexpected twists to the age old story of the wealthy getting away with murder. Asst. D.A. George Becket is a little naïve but his story is real enough. Walker does a great job of creating characters that are interesting and engaging. The "truth" of the privilege enjoyed by the rich and powerful creates a thrilling plot. The ending was a little abrupt after the drama and intrigue but overall a good read.

Crime of Privilege is the first book I have read by author Walter Walker and I was thrilled with this book. I was captured from the beginning.

Crime of Privilege has a murder and a rape in different locations and years apart and involve the main character George Becket. George was a college student when the rape occurred.

Now George is an Assistant DA in Cape Cod. He is approached by a father whose daughter was murdered in 1999. This is when George gets drawn into wanting to know murdered this young girl. Everything seems to point to an elite family named the Gregory's.

Walter does a great job showing exactly how the rich, elite, privileged get away with more then the average Joe.

I had mixed feelings about this book.

On the plus side, the character development of George Beckett, the main character, is very good, his actions and motivations were natural results from his background. The second positive aspect of the story is that all of the questions raised throughout the book were answered, no threads left hanging. Flashbacks from the present to the crime itself are identifiable (I hate wondering where in time I am). Along that same line, the story progression in itself was logical, without jumps or gaps.

Best of all, the author did not fall victim to endlessly describing the various settings throughout the story. It honestly does not take three pages to describe a sitting room, and I appreciate that he avoided that trap. Do not think, however, that his settings were lacking. When George meets with one of his witnesses in a crowded cafe, the hustle and bustle are conveyed very succinctly.

Overall, the book is a thinly-veiled Kennedy-family-conspiracy/coverup affair. George's experiences involving Mr. Andrews, an integral part of the storyline, seem to me to be very far-fetched, and I found it to be not engrossing.

This starts as a fast paced a novel, loosely based on several Kennedy family members and a crime in Florida many years ago. The book moved from present day back to the time of the original incident Sometimes hard to follow and more implausible as it proceeded, I lost interest by the end and found it difficult to finish.½

A first rate thriller! As the guest of a guest at a party thrown by one of America’s wealthiest and most powerful families, college student George Beckett witnesses an incident involving several young members of the privileged elite. When asked if he’ll testify George can’t say for certain exactly what it was he witnessed… was it simply a little drunken “fooling around” or something far worse? As a reward for what the family perceives as his “loyalty” George is the recipient of a few high powered favors. Nothing as crude or obvious as a bribe but George knows he’s been paid off. Years later he still thinks about the incident, has dreams about what he saw… and he still isn’t sure. As an unremarkable assistant District Attorney George is just coasting through life doing the bare minimum when he finds himself thrust into the midst of another old case involving members of that same family, this time there can be no doubt as to what happened… it was murder.

The story starts out fairly quickly, and never stops doing a slow consistent build right up until the final chapters. It does a few time leaps back and forth but does it in a smooth style that isn’t hard to follow. The story is introspective, anyone expecting a thrill ride of nonstop action will be very disappointed, George is trying to come to terms with what he's done and what he has to do. The end doesn’t wrap up in a tidy little bow, there is closure to the story but rather than a black and white resolution the reader is left in a gray area – some things will change others will always be the same.

There’s an awful lot going on in this story beneath the surface. It contains much in social commentary on things like (corrupted) power, (unearned) privilege and the often unhealthy influence of family dynasties. There is also a strong sense of paranoia that weaves throughout the plot. In a lot of ways it’s a conspiracy theorists worst nightmare come true. I was completely riveted by the story.

The character of George Beckett isn’t a knight in shining armor, his heroic qualities are minimal. Some readers might be put off by his apparent ambivalence to the things going on around him. I thought it added a sense of realism to the character, here’s basically a working class guy who has spent most of his life in relative comfort around the edges of the rich and powerful, now he can rock the boat and possibly sink himself in the process or do nothing and try to live with himself knowing he never even tried.

The book contains adult language, sexual situations and some violence.

*** I received a free Advance Readers Edition of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. There were no conditions given or promises made as to whether the review would be good, bad or indifferent – only that it would be my honest opinion. It is.

George Becket, now an attorney in the district attorney office of Cape Cod, had “friends” and friends of friends while growing up. Some of the friends were part of a wealthy and privileged family, the Gregory’s.
Two young women, one from Cape Cod, the other visiting south Florida were involved with the family and friends. One committed suicide, the other was murdered.
George, years later, is tasked with the job of finding the murdered woman. The problems he deals with appear monumental due to the Senator’s powerful influence. The investigation takes him to Europe, Hawaii, and Central America.
The plot and characters were good but sometimes confusing. Overall I enjoyed the book although at times it was slow going.

I enjoyed reading this book while I was reading it but it left me slightly disappointed when I fiinished it. In the beginning I had some sympathy for the younger hero since we all make choices while we are young that we look back on and question. The long term deceit in the story is hard to accept as is the machinations of the wealthy loosely disguised family at the center of the crime in question. This is a pretty good book but not a great one as judged by what I would reread.

This is the story of George Becket a middle class man who is enamored by his wealthy friends.

The book begins with George at a party in the Palm Beach mansion of Senator Gregory of Cape Cod. George is with two college aged friends who offer to show an intoxicated co-ed the mansion. Upstairs, the two members of the Gregory family have sexual relations with the co-ed.

George has a moral dilemma of the wrongness of his friends actions but doesn't want to take any steps that would 'rock the boat.' Finally, he feels the action has gone too far and stops further sexual attacks on the unconscious woman.

Later, he's visited by an associate of the co-ed's family who want him to testify about her rape. George tells the man that he isn't sure if it was consensual. The man tells him that the co-ed's father is very wealthy and if George doesn't testify, they'll ruin his life.

Years later, George is a lowly DA in Cape Cod. A man approaches him and asks his help in the investigation of the man's daughter's murder. The case involves the Gregory family.

Although not wanting to take action, George is finally persuaded and begins to investigate in a half hearted manner.

The story is well told as George becomes more convinced in his actions and that the Gregory family is trying to hide their deeds.

George is an interesting but weak character. I felt that the story was entertaining but too lengthy. This caused the tension to lessen and I wished for a stronger conclusion.

Review of Crime of Privilege

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book with the expectation that I would provide an honest review. That review follows:

This story is about George (diminutively referred to by some as ‘Georgie’) Becket, an Assistant DA on Cape Cod who gets caught up in investigating a cold-case murder that the police and the DA’s office have abandoned. As George investigates further, he finds this crime is related to another crime with which he is himself involved.

I enjoyed the writing, the prose is natural and readable, but nothing spectacular.

I struggled with maintaining interest in a few places--the characters did not really captivate me and the plot took some illogical turns sometimes.

There was little masking the resemblance between the Gregory family in the story and a remarkably similar American family. While this interest drives the reader’s interest,for a while, ultimately, the story has to carry itself.

The most interesting aspects of this book were the insight into the power and influence that people can wield and--perhaps more significantly--how easily the rest of us let ourselves be awed and ‘bought’ by the equivalent of a few trinkets of attention of influence. It makes you wonder: how low is your price?

Possible spoilers follow:

The genre of this book is a little difficult to track, since it is presented as a mystery, but ultimately falls short of getting the reader to care. The story meanders so much that it obscures the real plot.

Ultimately, the story let me down and left me vaguely empty. There was an attempt at tying up some loose ends, but they felt more forced than natural and didn’t really help.The very last line of the book at first felt very satisfying, but after a couple seconds suddenly felt cheap, easy and predictable.