So much of the action in this courtroom thriller happens outside the jury's purview that it makes one wonder if there's a touch of irony intended in the title. Paul Madriani, the lawyer-hero of five previous Martini novels set in San Francisco, has moved to San Diego for reasons that are never made clear. He's taken on the case of David Crone, a doctor involved in mapping the human genome, who's been charged with the murder of his colleague, a young African American research physician whose ambitions threatened Crone's career.
Crone seems to have had ample motivation for killing Kalista Jordan: witnesses have testified to the friction between them, and Crone himself seems less concerned about the capital murder charge than about what may be going on in his lab. When a key witness for the prosecution dies in what looks like a suicide and leaves a note confessing to the murder, Crone is freed. And in an O. Henry-like twist in the last chapter, a most unlikely killer emerges and threatens Madriani's life.
But even this doesn't do much to enliven this slow-moving novel. There's very little tension on the page or in the plot, and neither the narrative nor the characters offer the reader the kind of excitement found in Martini's previous novels. --Jane Adams
From Publishers Weekly
Lean, speedy and packing a wallop of a plot twist at the end, the latest Paul Madriani legal thriller shows why Martini remains one of the form's most popular practitioners. Madriani, still struggling to establish his law practice in San Diego, is defending Dr. David Crone, a brilliant genetic researcher accused of killing colleague Kalista Jordan: her strangled and dismembered body was found washed up on a beach. Not only does all the evidence point to Crone, but his lies and deceptions are starting to test the patience of Madriani and his partner, the quick-tempered Harry Hinds. There may be motives aplenty was Jordan stealing trade secrets about human genome research from Crone's clinic and taking them to a rival company? Was Crone a spurned lover of the strikingly beautiful African-American Jordan? Did he catch her trying to sabotage his research because he previously had conducted controversial studies about the intellectual capacities of the different races? Unfortunately for the prosecution, the main witness who can shed light on motive is found dead the day before he is scheduled to testify. Not only does the apparent suicide break the prosecution's momentum, it throws the whole case into chaos. In his sixth Madriani novel, Martini (The Attorney) takes the moving parts of a standard plot and spins them for maximum effect. His secondary characters, while filling stock roles, are memorable in quirky ways, and a subplot about genetic illness in the family of one of Madriani's friends is executed with skill. Fans will happily overlook the frequently awkward, listless prose the most glaring drawback in what is otherwise one of Martini's best novels to date. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
The Jury is the sixth installment in Martini's popular legal thriller series featuring attorney Paul Madriani. This time Madriani is defending David Crone, whose colleague, the beautiful and manipulative research physician Kalista Jordan, he is accused of murdering. Although the story line is generally interesting, set in the highly competitive world of research medicine, there are flaws that will distract the listener from total enjoyment. Prominent among these is the irritating Crone, who is too stupid or na‹ve about the legal process to be believed. Also puzzling is the titular "jury," which is only superficially present during the courtroom scenes and has no role in any important plot point. The reading by TV and movie actor John Slattery is enjoyable and competent, but it's not enough to redeem this audiotape. Definitely not Martini at his best; not recommended. Kristen L. Smith, Loras Coll. Lib., Dubuque, IACopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From AudioFile
Attorney Paul Madriani's defends a research scientist accused of murdering his assistant, who had charged him with sexual harassment. Since the doctor's research involved genetic profiling, it's a doubly sensational case. The suspense of the investigation makes for an engaging story, and John Slattery has an easy, likable voice and style that mesh well with the first-person narrative. Slattery uses regional accents to voice the characters, who are easily differentiated. His emotional pitch is on target throughout a story in which murder, guilt, and innocence are key factors. This legal thriller has a lot of surprises, and the production keeps one listening. M.A.M. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
From Booklist
Martini's ninth legal suspense thriller, starring the intellectual defense attorney Paul Madriani and his acerbic partner, Harry Hinds, again demonstrates the deft blend of courtroom finagling and outside discovery work that makes Martini's books so popular. This time out, Madriani is called upon to defend the head of a human genome project research lab, who is accused of murdering a young, ambitious, brilliant female colleague about to unseat him as head of the lab. Martini's description of the murder is a heart-stopper in itself (and offers a sort of James Bond-like cunning in the choice of murder weapon). The actions of the accused, Dr. Crone, seem to offer Madriani and Hinds very little room for defense: Crone had motive to spare, plus opportunity and the fiendish inventiveness to commit this particular crime. The ways the defense team shores up the seemingly hopeless case, with both outside discoveries and courtroom showdowns, provide most of the excitement in this fast-moving thriller. Connie Fletcher
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Description
Lawyer Paul Madriani is called on to defend a brilliant research physician -- who just may be a killer -- in the most daunting capital case of Madriani's career. Paul Madriani has ample reason to suspect he's representing a guilty man. Dr. David Crone, a respected medical researcher and principal in mapping the human genome, is charged with the murder of a young colleague: Kalista Jordan, an African-American research physician whose dismembered body was found in a nearby bay. Madriani's defense is hindered by the secrecy surrounding Crone's research -- which has involved his controversial use of genetic racial profiling. The murdered woman had filed charges of sexual harassment against Crone. Paul is left to piece together a defense while Crone and his colleagues conceal parts of the puzzle. When a key witness for the prosecution ends up dead, Crone's acquittal is all but assured. Paul's nagging doubts concerning his client are answered with a stunning revelation and a shattering climax.
About the Author
Steve Martini's novels include five bestsellers featuring lawyer Paul Madriani, most recently The Attorney. He lives on the West Coast.
The Jury FROM OUR EDITORS
The case seems hopeless. Lawyer Paul Madriani's scientific researcher client has been tied tightly to the murder by forensic evidence. Moreover, Dr. David Crone had motive to kill his attractive, 26-year-old colleague: She had recently broken off their affair. But after a key prosecution witness dies, Madriani begins to rethink the crime. Another triumph for Martini's intense investigative lawyer.
ANNOTATION
The Attorney, which marked the return of Steve Martini's lawyer-sleuth Paul Madriani, was hailed for its "well-observed courtroom maneuverings" and "crisp dialogue and tart observations" . Now Martini delivers the most daunting capital case of Madriani's career.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Paul Madriani has ample reason to suspect that he's representing a guilty man. Dr. David Crone, a respected medical researcher and principal in mapping the human genome, is charged with the murder of a young colleague: twenty-six-year-old Kalista Jordan, an African American research physician whose dismembered body was found in a nearby bay. Forensic evidence links her murder with items discovered in Crone's garage. Madriani takes Crone's case, but his defense is hindered by the secrecy surrounding Crone's current research. As the trial unfolds, a scandal from Crone's past, involving his controversial use of genetic racial profiling, is revived. The murdered woman had filed charges of sexual harassment against Crone, and taken secret documents from his files. Paul is left to try to piece together a defense while Crone and his colleagues are hiding parts of the puzzle. When a key witness for the prosecution ends up dead, leaving an incriminating note behind, Crone's acquittal at trial is all but assured. Yet Paul is left with nagging questions concerning his client, doubts that are answered with a stunning revelation and a shattering climax.
SYNOPSIS
Lawyer Paul Madriani is called upon to defend a brilliant research physician-who just may be a killer-in this riveting new novel by the bestselling author of The Attorney.
The Attorney, which marked the return of Steve Martini's lawyer-sleuth Paul Madriani, was hailed for its "well-observed courtroom maneuverings" (The Christian Science Monitor) and "crisp dialogue and tart observations" (Publishers Weekly). Now Martini delivers the most daunting capital case of Madriani's career.
Paul Madriani has ample reason to suspect he's representing a guilty man. Dr. David Crone, a respected medical researcher and principal in mapping the human genome, is charged with the murder of a young colleague: twenty-six-year-old Kalista Jordan, an African-American research physician whose body washed up on a beach in San Diego Bay. Forensic evidence links her murder with material in Crone's garage. Crone had both opportunity and motive: Kalista had recently ended their affair, and may have been deserting him professionally as well, moving on to a rival genetic research facility. However, when a key witness for the prosecution dies unexpectedly, leaving an incriminating note behind, Crone's innocence seems confirmed-until Madriani hits upon a potentially damning loose end.
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
The Jury is the sixth installment in Martini's popular legal thriller series featuring attorney Paul Madriani. This time Madriani is defending David Crone, whose colleague, the beautiful and manipulative research physician Kalista Jordan, he is accused of murdering. Although the story line is generally interesting, set in the highly competitive world of research medicine, there are flaws that will distract the listener from total enjoyment. Prominent among these is the irritating Crone, who is too stupid or na ve about the legal process to be believed. Also puzzling is the titular "jury," which is only superficially present during the courtroom scenes and has no role in any important plot point. The reading by TV and movie actor John Slattery is enjoyable and competent, but it's not enough to redeem this audiotape. Definitely not Martini at his best; not recommended. Kristen L. Smith, Loras Coll. Lib., Dubuque, IA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
AudioFile
Attorney Paul Madriani's defends a research scientist accused of murdering his assistant, who had charged him with sexual harassment. Since the doctor's research involved genetic profiling, it's a doubly sensational case. The suspense of the investigation makes for an engaging story, and John Slattery has an easy, likable voice and style that mesh well with the first-person narrative. Slattery uses regional accents to voice the characters, who are easily differentiated. His emotional pitch is on target throughout a story in which murder, guilt, and innocence are key factors. This legal thriller has a lot of surprises, and the production keeps one listening. M.A.M. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
The San Diego power shortage must be affecting Paul Madriani: his latest high-profile legal suspenser is his weakest yet. Who stopped African-American ex-model Kalista Jordan, a Stanford Ph.D. in molecular electronics, from assuming her natural place as empress of the universe, or at least head of Prof. David Crone's Genetic Research Project by strangling and dismembering her? Veteran prosecutor Evan Tannery is convinced Kalista's killer was Dr. Crone, rattled by the sexual harassment suit she'd filed against him and jealous of the meteoric ascent that marked her as his inevitable usurper. The prosecution has a device very much like the unusual weapon, complete with nylon bundling cords, in Crone's possession, along with evidence of mounting hostility between the decedent and the accused; the defense attorneys, Paul (The Attorney, 2000, etc.) and his partner Harry Hinds, have a client who won't even tell them what his lab was working on because it was so secret, and whose biggest concern throughout the booklength trial is whether the university will take him back. It gets worse, of course, when Kalista's mother turns up at the last minute to offer evidence of a powerful motive for murder that goes far beyond sexual harassment, and the word goes out that William Epperson, the nanorobotics expert who's been working with Crone and geneticist Aaron Tash at the lab, is prepared to back her up. But in the latest of many anticlimaxes—experts whose testimony doesn't matter, forensic debates that go nowhere, charges of politically explosive scientific research that never get off the ground—the case against Crone suddenly collapses, though Martini has been provident enough to savePaul his customary final surprise. The outline for a much better novel is here: glamorous victim, well-connected defendant, bulldog prosecutor, resourceful defender, weighty issues. What a shame that everything that would make it memorable has been left blank, right down to the jury.
Art & Photography
Book Info
