Rating: 
Summary: A deep and juicey legal thriller
Review: Wealthy Elliot Ashford resigns from Congress when the media learns that his spouse cuckolds him with a senator. Ashford and his spouse return to San Francisco where rumors soon surface that he has ties to the Mafia. He has become one of the city's celebrities, but that ends when his spouse is sexually mutilated and murdered in their bathroom. All evidence points towards Elliot. Assistant District Attorney Grace Harris expects to take the case to trial even though the proof seems a bit short to fully obtain a conviction. Apparently, the police lost some key DNA evidence that would have proved whether Ashford did the crime. Ashford swears he is innocent and has an alibi to back his testimony. However, he is unable to provide the alibi because it involves the Don's son. Defense attorney Barrett Dickson, who thinks the judicial system is a farce, agrees to represent Ashford. More murders follow, leaving Ashford and Barrett struggling to uncover the truth. Fans of legal procedurals will enjoy THE ALTERNATE, a work that includes two murder trials, three murders, and a witness with a personal agenda. John Martel paints the legal system as being unfair due to political interference with justice and the law. Once the book is started, it is impossible to not complete the novel in one sitting in spite of its length and complexity. After perusing this tale, many sub-genre fans will wait for Mr. Martel's next book rather than choose an alternate author. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: One Bad Apple Destroys the Novel
Review: When John Martel started this novel, he had all the beginings of a great courtroom novel. Then he made his first mistake. He titled it, and made a title character that is so unbelievable that the novel just dissolves into a poor effort. The story revolves around the murder trial of Elliot Ashford an ex-congressman with possible mob ties. All the lawyers in this case have hidden agendas and are well thought out. Barrett Dickson and Grace Harris are very well rounded and likeable. Then enters the alternate juror Amanda Keller. An ex-actress with delusions of grandeur. She starts by slowly breaking all the rules of being a juror and then things get messy. The Keller character is so unrealistic in this novel. Martel portrays the lawyers to be very competent, but even they get fooled by Keller which is hard to believe. Martel gets two stars for the surrounding characters, but no more due to Keller
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