William Morrow, May 2008
A "celebrity" legal expert hungry for publicity; forgotten, racially charged language in the U.S. Constitution brought back to light; rioting across the country; rumors of a mysterious letter of Thomas Jefferson's that is even more scandalous - all leading to a violent murder and an intense trial in Steve Martini's Shadow of Power.
Martini's ninth book featuring Paul Madriani, a defense attorney in San Diego, Shadow of Power was my first Madriani case. I immediately liked the way Martini takes readers through the thought processes behind every move in the murder trial. Although the book flows along well, this is not a breezy beach read. It's a satisfyingly detailed courtroom drama that's both suspenseful and unhurried.
A "celebrity" legal expert hungry for publicity; forgotten, racially charged language in the U.S. Constitution brought back to light; rioting across the country; rumors of a mysterious letter of Thomas Jefferson's that is even more scandalous - all leading to a violent murder and an intense trial in Steve Martini's Shadow of Power.
Martini's ninth book featuring Paul Madriani, a defense attorney in San Diego, Shadow of Power was my first Madriani case. I immediately liked the way Martini takes readers through the thought processes behind every move in the murder trial. Although the book flows along well, this is not a breezy beach read. It's a satisfyingly detailed courtroom drama that's both suspenseful and unhurried.
The victim is "ultimate media monger" Terrance Scarborough, a muckraking legal expert who writes sensational books and is never far from a television appearance. "Set up a camera with a red light and Scarborough would cut a swath through humanity to get to it." Clearly, readers are not expected to like him, despite his on-air charisma and ability to look good in a suit. Scarborough is pleased with the attention and racial controversy sparked by his latest book, which is filled with historical implications about the Founding Fathers and slavery. Others are less pleased, and during a hotel stop on his book tour, one of them bashes in his skull, rather tempering the platitude that there's no such thing as bad publicity.
Among the limited but equally viable suspects, the accused is Carl Arnsberg, a young hotel worker with motive, opportunity, and a load of circumstantial evidence against him. But Carl is also somewhat hapless, and his attorneys - Madriani and his law partner, Harry Hinds - just don't buy him as the killer. Shadow of Power mixes their courtroom action with outside investigations and legwork. Even with the occasional action scene, though, this is a book of strategy and timing more than physicality. Think baseball over football, or chess over, say, Twister.
Among the limited but equally viable suspects, the accused is Carl Arnsberg, a young hotel worker with motive, opportunity, and a load of circumstantial evidence against him. But Carl is also somewhat hapless, and his attorneys - Madriani and his law partner, Harry Hinds - just don't buy him as the killer. Shadow of Power mixes their courtroom action with outside investigations and legwork. Even with the occasional action scene, though, this is a book of strategy and timing more than physicality. Think baseball over football, or chess over, say, Twister.
I gather that a few of Martini's earlier books have been criticized for unrealistic dialogue, but Shadow's dialogue, which constitutes much of the book, is quite solid and well juxtaposed with Madriani's narration. If anything, it's Madriani's personal political commentary that distracts from the story. Whether one agrees with it or not, it takes a different tone from the general narration. As well, the side story about how prosecutor Bob Tuchio got the nickname "Bob the Tush" seems campy compared to the rest of the book's subtle humor.
Shadow of Power's resolution is interesting in itself, but it's the journey getting there - with unusual twists, historical mysteries, clever legal strategies, and good old-fashioned sleuthing - that makes it worthwhile.
Shadow of Power's resolution is interesting in itself, but it's the journey getting there - with unusual twists, historical mysteries, clever legal strategies, and good old-fashioned sleuthing - that makes it worthwhile.
