Product Description

Tired of the corrosive politics of Capital City, hot-shot lawyer Paul Madriani has reached a watershed in his life. A new practice in San Diego, the mellow swells of the Pacific, and if things work out, a future with Susan McKay - that’s the plan.

But when Paul meets an old client, whose eight-year-old granddaughter has been abducted, he is drawn into a case which destroys everything he believes in.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #223227 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

From the Publisher
Critical acclaim for THE ATTORNEY
'The real drama, as usual in Martini's books, is in the courtroom. The exchanges between the opposing lawyers and their witnesses are often riveting and the eventual exposure of the guilty party comes as a genuine surprise' Sunday Telegraph

'A fine courtroom drama... Martini's writing is pacy but not rushed and he builds up to the courtroom climax with a steady hand, setting the scene in a completely believable manner... This is a back-to-basics courtroom thriller with a believable plot, a sympathetic hero who is not near-genius smart, and a little bit of downbeat humour stirred into the pot' Irish News Belfast

'Gripping and very good indeed, with a quite startling conclusion' Bookseller

About the Author
Steve Martini, a former trial attorney, has worked as a journalist and capital correspondent in the California State House in Sacramento. He has been engaged in both public and private practice of law. He lives on the US West Coast with his wife and daughter.

Customer Reviews

Another excellant title from the Martini stable
Paul Madriani has taken quiet a few knocks in his legal and personal career, his adventures ably and interetingly told by Steve Martini. 'The Attorney' is no exception, nothing is predictable, there are twists and turns before the final denouement and I thouroughly enjoyed the whole book. Making comparisons to other authors can sometimes be a mistake and Martini should been judged on his own merits. This title is far superior to 'The List' but my all time favorite of this author must be 'Critical Mass'. Well worth reading.

An entertaining book that will appeal to courtroom fans
I have to disagree with the prvious reviewer, as I really enjoyed this book. Martini sustains the tension throughout and although the ending can be spotted coming you're never quite sure that it will be as you expect - in fact, I thought the way Martini handled the ending was one of the most interesting features of the book. Rather better than recent Grisham books, although I'd agree it doesn't measure up to the master at his best.

What a complete and utter turkey..uuuuurrrrgh!
Normally, I'm an avid reader of the legal thriller genre. Authors such as Grisham, Turow and Baldacci are among my favourites. Being an individual who feels that you can never have too much of a good thing, I eagerly bought "The Attorney" by Steve Martini, and it was, without doubt, the most disappointing book I have ever read. The praise which is attributed to John Grisham on the front cover doesn't even apply to this particular book.

I simply cannot believe that anyone thought this book was any good, least of all Grisham. In fact I find it amazing that it even sold enough copies to get into paperback.

The plot is completely unoriginal and the conclusion can be guessed about 200 pages before end of the book. What makes it even more terrible is the repetition. Martini tells us of the events as they unfold and then we're forced to suffer the retelling of them (parrot fashion) in the courtroom. At times even the same sentences are repeated when dealing with a certain event, the only saving grace being that there may be up to 100 pages of drivel in between, so you'll be so bored you won't notice.

The worst thing about the book was that I ended up not caring less about any of the chracters, (least of all the supposed "hero" Paul Madriani) or what happened to them. They just don't come to life and leap off the page at you like Mitch McDeere of "The Firm" or Sandy Stern of "The Burden of Proof".

It really is a terrible book, please don't waste your time with it. I only write this review in the hope that someone else won't suffer the rigor mortis I endured for 472 pages. If I had to find one positive point with this book, it would be that it gives hope to unpublished writers everywhere...