# Robert K. Tanenbaum

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American novelist (1942–2026)

Robert K. Tanenbaum Born (1942-12-17)December 17, 1942 New York City, U.S. Died January 3, 2026(2026-01-03) (aged 83) Education University of California, Berkeley Occupations Attorney politician novelist Spouse Patti Tyre Tanenbaum ​ ​ (m. 1967)​ Children 3 Relatives Michael Gruber (cousin)

**Robert Karl Tanenbaum** (December 17, 1942 – January 3, 2026) was an American [trial attorney](/source/Trial_attorney) and novelist who was the mayor of [Beverly Hills, California](/source/Beverly_Hills%2C_California).

## Early life and education

Robert Karl Tanenbaum was born in [Brooklyn, New York](/source/Brooklyn%2C_New_York), on December 17, 1942. He attended the [University of California, Berkeley](/source/University_of_California%2C_Berkeley) on a basketball scholarship where he earned a B.A. Tanenbaum received his [J.D.](/source/Juris_Doctor) from [Boalt Hall School of Law](/source/Boalt_Hall_School_of_Law) at the University of California, Berkeley.[1]

## Legal career

Under the leadership of District Attorney [Frank Hogan](/source/Frank_Hogan), Tanenbaum learned about trial preparedness and presenting evidence to a jury as an Assistant [New York County District Attorney](/source/New_York_County_District_Attorney) in Manhattan. Later, Tanenbaum became head of the Homicide Bureau, served as Chief of the Criminal Courts, and was in charge of the D.A.'s legal staff training program. During his time in the D.A.'s office, Tanenbaum never lost a felony case.[2]

After his tenure in Manhattan's D.A.'s office, Tanenbaum served as Deputy Chief Counsel for the [House Select Committee on Assassinations](/source/House_Select_Committee_on_Assassinations) to investigate the [John F. Kennedy assassination](/source/John_F._Kennedy_assassination) and the [Martin Luther King Jr. assassination](/source/Martin_Luther_King_Jr._assassination). He later resigned from the post shortly after being named.[3] In 1988 he appeared in the documentary *[The Men Who Killed Kennedy](/source/The_Men_Who_Killed_Kennedy)* and on 17 September 1996 he testified at a public hearing of the [Assassination Records Review Board](/source/Assassination_Records_Review_Board) in Los Angeles.[4] He wrote the introduction to [Mark Lane](/source/Mark_Lane_(author))'s 2011 book *Last Word: My Indictment of the CIA in the Murder of JFK*.[5] He was interviewed for the 2023 documentary *JFK: What the Doctors Saw*.[6] In 2025 he published the book *That Day in Dallas*, featuring an introduction by [Robert J. Groden](/source/Robert_J._Groden).[7]

In private practice, he was a special prosecution consultant on the [Hillside Strangler](/source/Hillside_Strangler) case in Los Angeles; defended [Amy Grossberg](/source/Amy_Grossberg) in her sensationalized baby death case; and represented eight black plaintiffs in a significant racial profiling case against the [Beverly Hills](/source/Beverly_Hills) Police Department.[8]

He taught Advanced Criminal Procedure for four years at Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. He conducts continuing legal education seminars for practicing lawyers in [California](/source/California), [New York](/source/New_York_(state)) and [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania).[3][9] He was a member of the State Bars of New York, Pennsylvania and California.

## Political career

Tanenbaum served two terms as Mayor of [Beverly Hills](/source/Beverly_Hills) and was a City Councilmember for eight years, from 1986 to 1994. He ran unsuccessfully for [Los Angeles County District Attorney](/source/Los_Angeles_County_District_Attorney) in 1992. He was defeated for re-election to the City Council in 1994.[1][10][11] He also ran D.A. [Frank Hogan](/source/Frank_Hogan)'s re-election campaign for District Attorney in 1973.[12]

## Literary career

His byline appears on 33 books; 29 novels and 4 nonfiction works. His cousin [Michael Gruber](/source/Michael_Gruber_(author))[13] was the ghostwriter of the first part of the popular Butch Karp -Marlene Ciampi series of novels, starting with No Lesser Plea and ending with Resolved.[14] After the partnership with Tanenbaum ended, Gruber began publishing novels using his own name.[15]

Tanenbaum's *The Piano Teacher*, co-written with Peter S. Greenberg, is the true story of a psychotic killer, *Badge of the Assassin* recalls the true account of Tanenbaum's investigation and trial of self-proclaimed members of the [Black Liberation Army](/source/Black_Liberation_Army) who assassinated two [NYPD](/source/NYPD) police officers, Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini. It was later adapted into a movie titled [Badge of the Assassin](/source/Badge_of_the_Assassin), starring [James Woods](/source/James_Woods) as Tanenbaum.

Tanenbaum's signature work, *Echoes of My Soul* was published in May 2013 by [Kensington Books](/source/Kensington_Books) and was named 'Pick of the Week' by *Publishers Weekly* in its April 22, 2013 edition. It is about *[Miranda v. Arizona](/source/Miranda_v._Arizona)*, the United States Supreme Court decision that laid the groundwork for [Miranda rights](/source/Miranda_rights).

A later novel, *Without Fear or Favor*, was published by [Simon & Schuster](/source/Simon_%26_Schuster) Gallery Books in August 2017.[2]

## Death

Tanenbaum died from cancer on January 3, 2026, at the age of 83.[16][17]

## Bibliography

### Non-fiction

- (with [Peter S. Greenberg](/source/Peter_Greenberg)) *The Piano Teacher: The True Story of a Psychotic Killer*. [Gallery Books](/source/Gallery_Books). 1987. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1501119255](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1501119255).

- (with Philip Rosenberg) *Badge of the Assassin*. E.P. Dutton. 1979. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0525060703](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0525060703). (1985 TV film adaption *[Badge of the Assassin](/source/Badge_of_the_Assassin)*)

- Introduction to [Lane, Mark](/source/Mark_Lane_(author)) (2011). *Last Word: My Indictment of the CIA in the Murder of JFK*. [Skyhorse Publishing](/source/Skyhorse_Publishing). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1616084288](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1616084288).

- *Echoes of My Soul*. Kensington Publishing Corp. 2013. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0758285355](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0758285355).

- (with Steve Jackson) *Coal Country Killing: A Culture, a Union, and the Murders That Changed It All*. [Simon & Schuster](/source/Simon_%26_Schuster). 2023. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1637588499](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1637588499).

- *That Day in Dallas*. Regnery. 2025. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1510783669](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1510783669).

### Fiction

- 1987: *No Lesser Plea*

- 1989: *Depraved Indifference*

- 1991: *Immoral Certainty*

- 1992: *Reversible Error*

- 1993: *Material Witness*

- 1994: *Justice Denied*

- 1994: *Corruption of Blood*

- 1996: *Falsely Accused*

- 1997: *Irresistible Impulse*

- 1998: *Reckless Endangerment*

- 1999: *Act of Revenge*

- 2000: *True Justice*

- 2001: *Enemy Within*

- 2002: *Absolute Rage*

- 2003: *Resolved*

- 2004: *Hoax*

- 2005: *Fury*

- 2006: *Counterplay*

- 2007: *Malice*

- 2008: *Escape*

- 2009: *Capture*

- 2010: *Betrayed*

- 2011: *Outrage*

- 2012: *Bad Faith*

- 2013: *Tragic*

- 2014: *Fatal Conceit*

- 2015: *Trap*

- 2016: *Infamy*

- 2017: *Without Fear or Favor*

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-robertktanenbaumbooks.com_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-robertktanenbaumbooks.com_1-1) ["About the Author"](http://robertktanenbaumbooks.com/about/). Retrieved 19 January 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-authors.simonandschuster.com_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-authors.simonandschuster.com_2-1) ["Robert K. Tanenbaum"](http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Robert-K-Tanenbaum/16158707). *Simon & Schuster*. Retrieved 21 October 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Probe_interview_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Probe_interview_3-1) ["The Probe Interview: Bob Tanenbaum"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070702092119/http://www.ctka.net/pr796-bti.html). July–August 1996. Archived from [the original](http://www.ctka.net/pr796-bti.html) on July 2, 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** *Final Report of the Kennedy Assassination Records Review Board*. DIANE Publishing Company. 1999. p. 208.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Last Word: My Indictment of the CIA in the Murder of JFK"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781616084288). *Publishers Weekly*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["JFK's E.R. doctors share new assassination details"](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jfk-assassination-john-f-kennedy-doctors/). *CBS*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Tanenbaum, Robert K. (2025). *That Day in Dallas*. Regnery.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["PW Talks with Robert K. Tanenbaum"](http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20020527/34406-pw-talks-with-robert-k-tanenbaum.html). *Publishers Weekly*. Retrieved 19 January 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Robert K. Tanenbaum author biography"](http://www.bookbrowse.com/biographies/index.cfm?author_number=473). *www.bookbrowse.com*. Retrieved 2008-08-01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** "Bob's Back: (And He's Better Than Ever)", Beverly Hills Weekly, Issue #281, February 17, 2005, Pages 17-19

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mathischazanov_11-0)** Mathis Chazanov, [Victory Vow : Beverly Hills Mayor Says He'll Finish Civic Center, 'Even If I Have to Do It Myself'](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-04-20-we-2505-story.html), *The Los Angeles Times*, April 20, 1989.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["A Resonant Crime: Robert K. Tanenbaum"](http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/profiles/article/57602-a-resonant-crime-robert-k-tanenbaum.html). *Publishers Weekly*. Retrieved 19 January 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Weinman, Sarah. ["Ghostwriting, Part I: The Ballad of Michael Gruber"](https://www.sarahweinman.com/confessions/2004/10/the_ballad_of_m.html). *Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind Crime fiction, and more*. Retrieved 21 April 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Snyder, Diane (March 2003). ["A Killer Debut: Former Ghostwriter Michael Gruber Dredges Up Demons for Debut Thriller"](http://www.rtbookreviews.com/message/tropic-night). *Book Reviews*. Romantic Times. Retrieved 2008-06-02.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Done, Norelle. ["Seattle Author Michael Gruber: What's In A Name?"](http://www.seattlewrote.com/2011/03/seattle-author-whats-in-name.html). *Seattle Wrote. Featuring Seattle's authors and writers*. Retrieved 21 April 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** DiEugenio, James (8 January 2026). ["In Memory of Robert Tanenbaum"](https://www.kennedysandking.com/john-f-kennedy-articles/in-memory-of-robert-tannenbaum). *Kennedys and King*. Retrieved 10 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Ogilvie, Jessica (8 January 2026). ["Robert K. Tanenbaum, Former Mayor, Dies at 83"](https://beverlyhillscourier.com/2026/01/08/robert-k-tanenbaum-former-mayor-dies-at-83/). Beverly Hills Courier. Retrieved 10 January 2026.

## External links

- [Appearances](https://www.c-span.org/person/robert-k-tanenbaum/72975/) on [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN).

- Addresses to the [2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-KRVoJTPfI) and [2019](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2xvkzIniyc) JFK Assassination Conference.

- [Address](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR0pMVxxwfU) at the [University of North Texas](/source/University_of_North_Texas) in 2023.

- [robertktanenbaumbooks.com](http://robertktanenbaumbooks.com/)

- [Interview with Len Osanic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s308-agvmz0) on Black Op Radio (Ep. 731).

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Robert K. Tanenbaum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_K._Tanenbaum) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_K._Tanenbaum?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.