I feel as if I have read books by this author (featuring the same hero, Ben Kincaid) but nothing stands out about this Kincaid character except that he likes chocolate milk instead of alcohol.. that and his heart was broken once upon a time-- which is covered via a few flashbacks in this novel. Here's the setting-- two frat boys brutally beat a gay man-- leaving him in horrendous shape-- later, they are arrested after bragging in a local bar of their actions-- only to discover that the body of the gay man was found in their frat house, now dead. Kincaid refuses to accept the case, but his partner, Christine, accepts the case and begins to look for a way to prove that her client did not commit the murder, even though he has confessed to the beating. Bernhardt does a good job of mixing the action, legal wrangling, and red herrings-- however, the reader is left flipping back and forth between investigators, a murderer, a street prostitute, and the courtroom. The novel has some great twists and turns-- but the characters (with the possible exception of Charlie the Chicken, the male prostitue) aren't fleshed out very well at all. It is one of those novels where nobody (except the lawyers and the accused) are really what they seem to be. Bernhardt needs to read some Lescroart-- and learn something about creating real emotional tension. Still, I have to say that this one was worth reading, if only for the powerful anti-death penalty statement (that I cannot completely agree with) in the closing author's note at the end of the book. The author's note is a powerful essay and worth reading. The novel, while lacking the power and any real sympathetic characters, is also worth reading.
As posted in [http://www.amazon.com]:*Hate Crime* was just ok. While there were many things going on, some of them really took your attention away from the main story. My biggest gripe about this installment was that there was too much focus and unnecessary drama between Ben Kincaid and a mysterious woman, Ellen Christensen. Ellen comes into Ben's law firm in Tulsa, begging him to take her son's case, in Chicago. Her son, Johnny, has been accused of torturing and murdering a young gay man at his fraternity house. Ben, upon seeing Ellen, flat out refuses. Standing nearby is Christina McCall, who has recently been promoted at partner. Feeling for the mother's plea, Christina decides to take the case, without Ben's blessing. While Johnny freely admits to torture, he claims he's innocent of the murder. Meanwhile, everyone else would like to get their hands on Johnny, especially a gay activist group. Christina soon realizes that she has a nightmare of a case once she discovers that Johnny's fraternity brothers are members of a Christian organization that is openly opposed to homosexuality and toss Johnny "to the dogs". At the same time, Mike Morelli, Ben's former brother-in-law, is featured, working on a case with an FBI agent. They've just recently worked on a high-profile and mysterious kidnapping case. Overall, it was a good book, worthy of reading just to kill time while riding the public transportation. I just felt that almost half the book was focused on why Ben wouldn't help Ellen out. In addition, the sexual overtures were overused between characters, such as with Ben and Christina and Mike and his partner and FBI agent.
What do You think about Hate Crime (2004)?
I'm not sure how to rate this book. The mystery was absorbing and as always I enjoyed the main characters of Ben Kincaid, Christina and the rest of the office team. However, there was a LOT of objectionable content in this book: graphic violence and TMI about a male hooker's practice of his profession. As this was a download, disc by disc instead of track by track, I had to take the earbuds out for long stretches when I could tell that I didn't want to listen to and have unwholesome images that would stay in my head. I feel a bit foolish for not quitting the book right away.
—Bonnie
Lawyers tried to defend a man accused of a gruesome murder of a homosexual man. Public outcry, protests, and threats complicated their efforts, especially when they were targeted by an aggressive group. This story had graphic details of the murders and woven between the pages surprising twists connecting all the murders. Hidden between the main storyline were smaller background stories adding interest to the characters. The fears about homosexuality and the violence that followed was addressed and the assumption of guilt before a fair trial was detrimental. A difficult book to read but at the same time, an interesting way to present an issue that invaded society and must be handled with respect and acceptance.
—Lynda
