Hate Crime: A Novel Of Suspense (2025-2026)

Originally released in 2004, this 13th installment of the Kincaid saga remains hauntingly relevant today. It doesn't just ask "who did it?"—it asks "how do we defend the indefensible?"

If you enjoy the fast-paced, "just one more chapter" style of authors like James Patterson, you’ll find Bernhardt’s pacing equally addictive. It’s a gut-wrenching ride filled with twists that will make you second-guess every judgment you make in the first fifty pages. Hate Crime: A Novel of Suspense

While it is part of a series, Hate Crime works remarkably well as a standalone thriller for anyone interested in the intersection of law and social justice. Just be prepared: the truth in this courtroom is rarely pretty. Originally released in 2004, this 13th installment of

The story kicks off when a mother pleads with Tulsa defense attorney Ben Kincaid to represent her son, Johnny Christensen. The catch? Johnny is a self-proclaimed bigot with a national reputation for hate, accused of the brutal murder of a gay man in Evanston, Illinois. While it is part of a series, Hate

Initially, Ben refuses. He has personal reasons—secrets that tie back to his own past—that make the case a non-starter. But his partner, Christina McCall, sees things differently. She takes the case to Chicago, stepping into a firestorm of public outcry and deadly violence.