Rating: 
Summary: Missing Details
Review: Martini's, The Attorney, has a good story plot and good characterization though it does drag in places. The main fault is in the lack of accounting for details in the finale. For example, if the killer was never in Jonah's car then how did the marlin blood and scales get on the victim's clothes?Not up to Martini's usual standards--and I have read them all.
Rating: 
Summary: Exciting but a bit unbelievable
Review: WOW - these Paul Madriani books are pretty exciting... and this one is no exception... The plot is fairly interesting, full of twists and turns about child custody and ethical issues. But I didn't find Paul's relationship with Susan very real - her kids, for example, have no names, they are "twins", and Paul's relationship with his daughter is virtually non-existent... Susan and Paul seem to be in it for the sex(and we do have a couple of nice sex scenes, but where does he get off dumping his kid there for days on end and why does Susan mysteriously have time to take care of her when she seems pretty tapped out herself?- Susan's sense of ethics are pretty strange, and much of the plot revolves around this...the climax in Mexico is beyond believable in so many ways, and the "surprise" ending is a bit of a steal from Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent but if you like a page turner.....
Rating: 
Summary: Aweful! I couldn't finish it.
Review: I have always loved Martini's books - and his character, Madriani - so I was eagerly awaiting this new one. Have I been missing something? In the hiatus between Martini's published works I've been reading Elizabeth George, Michael Connelly, Scott Turow, Ruth Rendell, Elizabeth Peters . . . and wow, does Martini come off as shallow and gender-biased by comparison (well, not with Peters, but thats all tongue-in-cheek anyway!) Why does every woman of worth have to be perfectly cotoured, tall, slender, muscle-bound,...? Why does the hero have to be SO very stereotypical? I felt like I was reading the script for a B-grade TV movie! All I can be thankful for is that I did not buy this book, but checked it out of the library!
Rating: 
Summary: A hellava whodunit!
Review: I love a good courtroom drama, and this one delivers with a wallop. Zolanda Suade is a man-hating childrens' advocate from hell who runs an underground network for the protection of abused children, whether the accusations of abuse are founded or not. When Jonah Hale, a wealthy lottery winner who has custody of his 8-year-old granddaughter, Amamda, is accused by his junkie daughter, Jessica, of raping her and molesting Mandy, Suade orchestrates the child's abduction and subsequent disappearance into her vast underground. Jonah, who had clashed with Suade shortly before Mandy's disappearance, vows in the presence of 2 law enforcement officials to kill Suade unless she returns Mandy to him and his wife. When Suade is shot to death outside her office and one of Jonah's rare and expensive cigars is found near the body, to say nothing of other damning circumstantial evidence, he is predictably charged with murder. Attorney Paul Madriani, whom Jonah had retained to help find Mandy and secure her return, must now prepare a murder defense in the face of nearly overwhelming evidence against his client. Matters aren't helped by the fact that Paul's girlfriend, Susan, directs the local Childrens' Protective Services, heard Jonah's threat, knew Suade personally, and is compelled to give evidence against Jonah. The ending is an absolute surprise which I had no clue was coming! This is spellbinding Martini at his best.
Rating:
Summary: Good, not up to Martini standards
Review: After reading the fabulous UNDUE INFLUENCE and CRITICAL MASS, I was expecting great things from Martini's latest, but was somewhat disappointed. The book is good, but unlike the others its slow getting started, and not as compelling.
Rating:
Summary: He's back and he's better
Review: Martini has brought Paul Madriani, one of his best characters, back. Though it starts slow, if you stay with it you won't be disappointed. No one dies for the first 100 pages, and that is what makes this mystery so engrossing, one twist after another until a most unexpected conclusion. Even the characters and the sub-plots don't slow it down. The romance with long time love, Susan, and their three girls rings true, and Paul's law partner, Harry give this plot enough juice to be worth the effort. I always expect a lot from a Steve Martini book, and he seldom falters. Just keep bringing Paul back, he's real.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: Martini at his best! Whether you are familiar with the Madriani character or not, you get to know him (and the other great characters in this book) quickly. And, if you're like me, you will be unable to work, eat or sleep until you finish the wild ride that takes you through the last chapter! Thoroughly enjoyable! Looking forward to the next one!
Rating: 
Summary: Boring
Review: I read over half, started skipping pages & decided not worth the time. Cannot believe it is Martini, no suspense, drawn out courtroom dialogue, slow moving. Twisted plots not even exciting.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous story and characterization
Review: Power house attorney Paul Madriani and his daughter Sarah have moved to San Diego so that they can live closer to his beloved Susan McKay and her two daughters. Susan is the director of Children's Protective Service, a fierce advocate of children's rights. Her archenemy is Zolanda Suade, a fanatical self-appointed child advocate. Jonah Hale retains Paul to find his beloved granddaughter Amanda, who has been abducted by her own mother Jessica with the help of Zolanda. When Jonah realizes that the law cannot help him or protect Amanda from her uncaring abusive mother, he vanishes. During his disappearance, someone kills Zolanda. The police arrest Jonah who has no alibi. Paul tries to help his client, but it is Susan who constantly crosses the legal line that leads everyone into danger. Steve Martini has written a legal thriller that will stun everyone with its sucker punch ending. THE ATTORNEY returns Paul Madriani to his fans in a story line that is his most suspenseful and tragic to date. Steve and Susan act believable even when she propels them to choose justice over the law. Mr. Martini needs to bring back this delightful cast in future novels that are sure to be thought provoking and exciting. Harriet Klausner
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