Readers' Comments for Crime of Privilege
In May, a select group of readers who participated in one of our special contests won copies of CRIME OF PRIVILEGE by Walter Walker. It’s the story of George Becket, who years ago witnessed the brutal murder of a young woman at an exclusive Cape Cod golf club, for which no one was ever convicted. Cornered by her father, lawyer George Becket can’t explain why certain leads were never explored --- leads that point in the direction of a single family --- and he agrees to look into it. Despite threats at every turn, George is driven to reconstruct the victim’s last hours while searching not only for a killer, but for his own redemption as well. Take a look at some of the readers' comments to give you more insight into this thrilling story about how power and money can’t always buy justice.
Ruth
From the very first page, this book captured my attention and I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. It was a good story that kept my interest at all times.
What I liked most about the book was that the characters were believable. This book would be great for book clubs because it will lead a good discussion about rich, powerful society, corruption and the law in America.
I would recommend this book to my personal friends, my book clubs and my friends on some of the social networks that I belong to. I would tell them about George Becket, the young lawyer whose investigation brings him deep inside the world of the rich and powerful. I would also explain to them how this book kept my interest at all times. I didn't want to put it down until I was finished!
John M.
Just finished CRIME OF PRIVILEGE, which uses the thinly veiled Kennedy clan lurid headline peccadilloes as a basis for the plot. The book runs more than 400 pages, but I read it in just a few days --- a pace that I never do. As cliché as it sounds, I really wanted to know how it would all turn out in the end! The plot was well thought out and presented and Mr. Walker’s writing style is excellent.
If I had a complaint, it would be that I could never be buddies with the main protagonist. I didn’t like him --- he often came across as a weak person who manages to muddle through. I didn’t care for most the folks who were major players in this book. Despite annoyances about the characters’ personalities, this was a very good read and will appeal to readers who enjoy investigative procedurals. Note: this book is not a courtroom drama, even though both the writer and the protagonist are lawyers.
Natalie
I found CRIME OF PRIVILEGE to be really engrossing and I loved the fast pace of the novel --- it certainly kept my interest and was definitely a page-turner. Not only is CRIME OF PRIVILEGE a thriller, but it is also an examination of society and how easily money and power can influence and corrupt people. Walker does an excellent job of developing characters and creating an intricate plotline to ultimately offer readers an engrossing novel.
I'd recommend this novel to fans of John Grisham legal thrillers, fans of Scott Turow, David Baldacci and I'd also recommend this to our Mystery Book discussion group. I'd also recommend this book to anyone looking for a gripping, fast-paced thriller or for a novel of suspense. I like how this compelling novel crosses several genres, making it easier to talk to a more diverse group of readers about. Fans of mystery, thriller, suspense, legal thrillers and police procedurals may all enjoy this novel. Truly, there is nothing not to like about this book and I think so many readers would enjoy it.
Jean K.
I found CRIME OF PRIVILEGE to be a very well-written book that I had a hard time putting down. The story kept me guessing and wanting to know more. It was not the ending I thought it would be, but that probably makes it a better book.
Bill S.
Walker places Becket in an environment where his values and ethics face constant challenges. Becket's choices have long-reaching influences not always known to him at the time. At each turn a new question seems to arise linked to those moments of the past and guiding his actions in the moment leading to an uncertain resolution. Fast paced, absorbing characters with an engrossing plot --- one is quickly swept along with Becket in his life-long journey. Highly recommend Walker's work CRIME OF PRIVILEGE.
Carla
Is the greatest crime silence? When the past comes out to haunt us --- where we once stood silent --- will we have the courage years later to stand up for what is right?
George Becket knows the Gregory family and a few of their darkest secrets. He knows what they are capable of and at what lengths they go to keep things quiet and make them disappear. It should come to no surprise that years after a rape --- a murder from years ago reaches his attention and leads him back to that family.
George finds himself a pawn between two rich and powerful families --- the Gregorys, who have a Senator on their résumé, and the Powells, who have several powerful businesses and a trained ex-special forces man, Roland Andrews. The rape he witnessed was that of Powell's daughter, and years since he has been watched and manipulated by the Gregorys, even though it was the Gregorys who gave him his job as ADA in a small cape town.
A young town girl is found dead on the green of a golf course. For years this murder was not truly investigated --- that is until George Becket meets with her father and begins to unravel the secrets of the past.
I loved the story and I found that I couldn't put the book down --- lots of twists, turns, dangers and secrets unfolding. However, the main character was two dimensional and unlikeable. This is a great beach read --- you will not want to put it down.
Mary
I was very excited to have won an advance reader copy of CRIME OF PRIVILEGE by Walter Walker. I was interested in it since I live in Massachusetts and saw that it was a suspense/thriller book, which I enjoy reading. I could relate to many of the Massachusetts locations, especially West Roxbury which he mentions frequently since this is where I live. I was a little disappointed in that I thought that the book was a little long winded and the many characters did make it a little confusing to follow. Overall, I did enjoy the book and will be passing it along to my husband to read next.
Linda --- This comment contains SPOILERS.
CRIME OF PRIVILEGE was a disappointment. The premise --- that the wealthy and privileged can and have gotten away with murder --- is not new, but it had promise. The promise it had was broken by page after page of repetitive writing and whining by the protagonist, George Beckett.
Georgie's involvement with the rich and influential began in college --- a graduate from a not quite top-notch prep school, he attaches himself to those he admires and envies. The readers never know any more of his background than that. After witnessing a particularly nasty and malevolent act by rich boys on a girl, Georgie manages to collect himself long enough to stop further abuse and get the girl to her car where she zooms out of his life --- or so he thinks.
Her suicide, prompted by the ugly violation against her, haunts Georgie. Her father, a wealthy and influential man, vows revenge on the vicious boy responsible. What follows is chapter after chapter of Georgie being used as a pawn in the game between two families and his angst at being used.
It takes the murder of a very young woman --- a townie from the area --- for George to finally wake up and attempt to help. So after 400+ pages of rather tedious reading, nothing is ever resolved, not even in Georgie's mind, and it’s business as usual for the wealthy and privileged. Some very minor victories are won and George finds a new friend, but that's it. I can think of better things to read with my time.
Reeca
I wish I could rave about this book, but I just cannot. It was just an okay read, but I thought it was very convoluted in places. It also had too many characters. I read a lot of pages in a day and there were times when I could not keep up with who was who. I did enjoy all the places you traveled to while reading this book. That really kept it interesting.
