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Product Description
Product Description
The crime is remarkably heinous: veteran police detective Joe McNaughton is found savagely slain, mutilated, and hung from a public fountain in downtown Tulsa. The accused is a tabloid reporter’s dream: stunning, nineteen-year-old Keri Dalcanton, a stripper involved in a kinky affair with the married McNaughton. Crusading attorney Kincaid takes up her defense. But when a police raid on his office uncovers the bloodstained murder weapon, Ben himself is charged with conspiracy and murder. What follows is a breathlessly twisting battle of legal wits–and lethal surprises–in which no holds are barred, no secrets are left unexposed, and ultimately, nothing is what it seems. . . .
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Death came so suddenly he didn't even have a chance to scream. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
Death came so suddenly he didn't even have a chance to scream. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Dark and tightly plotted. I found I was as confused about who did it as when I I used to read Agatha Christie. I am always pleased when I find a new author who reminds me of the greats and Bernhardt did this. I just hope the rest of his books are as good.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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37 reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Ben Kincaid is back with another seriocomic thriller.
22 April 2001
Format:Hardcover
"Murder One" is the latest entry in William Bernhardt's series of legal thrillers featuring the nebbishy lawyer from Oklahoma, Ben Kincaid. Although Ben is far from macho, he is a true idealist, and he is an aggressive and smart courtroom attorney. Christina McCall, Ben's former legal assistant, has recently graduated from law school and she is now Ben's partner. The case in this book deals with the horrible murder and mutilation of a policeman, Joe McNaughton, who was a popular man on the Tulsa police force. McNaughton's cop buddies and his widow are sure that the killer is a nineteen-year-old stripper named Keri Dalcanton. Keri was Joe's lover until he ended their torrid affair. Ben faces formidable obstacles in his efforts to acquit Kerry. First of all, there is strong circumstantial evidence linking Keri to Joe's murder. In addition, several policemen have a vendetta against Ben and Keri in the form of "the blue squeeze," which consists of physical and verbal harassment by the police. As usual, Ben's case seems hopeless and dangerous. However, he and his loyal staff battle the D. A. and the police with some clever tactics of their own. As always, Ben and his cohorts are amusing and charming, and the case is complicated and involving. There are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing. However, Bernhardt goes overboard in several areas. There are graphic depictions of sadomasochistic and kinky sex that do not mix well with the gentle humor that pervades much of the book. The ending is way over the top and the plot becomes extremely contrived in an effort to "surprise" the reader. I enjoy a good surprise, but not at the expense of believability. All in all, "Murder One" is a serviceable legal thriller, but Bernhardt should have toned down the sensationalism and made the plot play out a little more realistically.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
William Bernhardt's Back but Not at His Best...
28 May 2001
Format:Hardcover
Tulsa, Oklahoma criminal defense attorney, Ben Kincaid, is fighting an uphill battle to keep his client, Keri Dalcanton, a nineteen year old kinky stripper, out of prison. She's charged with the grisly murder and mutilation of her married lover, police detective Joe McNaughton, and even though Ben believes her to be innocent, all the circumstantial evidence points in her direction and he doesn't see much chance of winning this case. That is until a technicality sets her free. The police and D.A.'s office is outraged at what they consider this miscarriage of justice and promise they'll avenge McNaughton's death by other means, if necessary. Ben is just thankful for the lucky legal break and that this media circus of a case is finally over. Unfortunately, he couldn't be more wrong. Within days, incrimminating evidence of the murder is found in Ben's office, Keri's technicality is thrown out and Ben, himself is facing charges for obstruction and murder one..... William Bernhardt has written a fast paced, legal thriller with an interesting premise, but he doesn't always deliver. His plot needs to be tightened up and is more complicated at times, than intricate and compelling. His characters could be better developed and fleshed out and there are so many, you need a scorecard to keep track of who's who and what's what. But it's the implausible and contrived "surprise" ending I found most disappointing. After 288 pages, you shouldn't have to suspend belief to finish the last 29 pages of the book. Murder One is adequate beach reading with decent courtroom scenes, but Mr Bernhardt has written better books.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
A legal procedural with a shocking twist
20 Feb 2001
Format:Hardcover
In Tulsa, Ben Kincaid defends stripper Keri Dalcarton against a charge of brutally killing police officer Joe McNaugton in a bestial manner left for public viewing. The trial goes badly as witness after witness provides testimony insures Keri's conviction. However, Ben notices that the two search warrants used to look inside Keri's car and home were illegal, forcing the judge to throw out the case on a technicality. The cops are outraged, as Keri is not only free, but also protected under the Double Jeopardy clause of the Constitution.
Officer Arlen Matthews, who looked incompetent on the stand, persuades his cohorts to pull the "blue squeeze" on Kincaid. With a legal search warrant in hand, the police rummage through Kincaid's office to find the McNaugton murder weapon. Initially Ben is accused of obstructing justice, but then the charge is changed to MURDER ONE. Ben's legal assistant now a lawyer of two days serves as his defense attorney with more trouble awaiting Kincaid.
The previous Kincaid legal thrillers were excellent novels, but the newest tale, MURDER ONE, is superior to even that high standard. William Bernhardt grips the audience with a thriller that never eases up until the final twist and turn. Kincaid and his crew remain fun to observe as they struggle with this too personal case and the potential second round in the Dalcarton defense in spite of the Double Jeopardy clause. Mr. Bernhardt has written a fabulous story that if justice were simple would lead to the top of the best seller lists.
Harriet Klausner
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