The Judge (Paul Madriani Series #4)

by Steve Martini

Overview

Lawyer Paul Madriani tackles another thrilling case in this explosive mystery from New York Times bestselling author Steve Martini.

When Judge Armando Acosta is charged with soliciting a prostitute, attorney Paul Madriani is less than sympathetic. Nevertheless, Madriani is forced to defend his old nemesis. And when the policewoman who snared Acosta is brutally murdered, Madriani wonders if the judge is also the executioner.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780515119640
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	11/01/1996
Series:	Paul Madriani Series , #4
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	512
Product dimensions:	6.76(w) x 10.88(h) x 1.14(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Steve Martini worked as a newspaper reporter in Los Angeles and as a capital correspondent at the state house in Sacramento, California. An honors graduate at the University of California at Santa Cruz, Mr. Martini holds his law degree from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. He has written widely on the law and politics, having covered both state and federal courts, the state legislature, and the administrations of governors Ronald Reagan and Jerry Brown. In 1984 Martini turned his talents to fiction, quickly earning positions on bestseller lists and garnering both critical and popular praise for his New York Times–bestselling novels, including The Simeon Chamber, Compelling Evidence, Prime Witness, Undue Influence, The Judge, The List, Critical Mass, The Attorney, The Jury, and The Arraignment. Mr. Martini lives on the West Coast.

Hometown:

California

Date of Birth:

February 28, 1946

Place of Birth:

San Francisco, California

Education:

B.A., University of California, Santa Cruz, 1968; J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 1974

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Judge

“A tense and witty courtroom drama.”—San Francisco Chronicle

From the Publisher

When Judge Armando Acosta is indicted on charges of soliciting a prostitute, attorney Paul Madriani is forced to take up the case. But when new developments lead to the death of Acosta's arresting officer, Madriani wonders if the judge is involved. Has he unwittingly pick up a client who may send him to an early grave? The Judge is all-out thrilling entertainment.

bn.com

Judge Amando Acosta is out to break the police union. A labor dispute is looming and this strikes fear into the hearts of the city fathers. Striking fear into the heart of policeman and union bigwig Phil Mendel is Acosta's grand jury investigation. Caught between the two is Tony Arguillo, policeman and union bookkeeper determined to protect the blue, and his lawyer, Paul Madriani. Acosta wants Tony to testify about union financial improprieties and its bosses or Acosta will put Tony in jail. The judge has also leveled the same threat at Tony's lawyer. To break the impasse some of the more faithful union members set up a sting operation. The judge is arrested for soliciting an undercover reserve deputy for sex. But fate has something else in mind for the lawyer and the judge. The sting operation decoy, Brittany, is murdered. The judge is accused and arrested again. As Acosta's defense lawyer, Paul Madriani, prepares his case with the help of ex-assistant D.A. Lenore, the mystery deepens and the evidence piles up against His Honor. It is not until the final pages that the real killer and motive is revealed. Martini (Undue Influence, LJ 6/15/94) has again written a winner. Highly recommended. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/95.]-Dawn Anderson, North Richland Hills P.L., Tex.

Library Journal

Martini has established himself as one of the leading practitioners of the courtroom drama. Already picked as a Literary Guild main selection, a Mystery Guild selection, and a Doubleday Book Club main selection, his fourth novel in the genre seems certain to add to his renown. Judge Armando Acosta has been summarily dismissed from the bench after being arrested on what he maintains is a trumped-up charge of soliciting a prostitute. When the key witness in the case against Acosta is found murdered and all the evidence points to Acosta as the killer, the former judge suddenly finds himself in desperate need of a tough, savvy lawyer to handle his case. An ironic set of circumstances eventually leads him to his longtime enemy Paul Madriani, who must combat police corruption, slurs against his own reputation, physical attacks, uncooperative witnesses, and a flamboyant, politically ambitious prosecutor who's as dangerous as a cobra. In a series of suspenseful courtroom scenes, Madriani mounts a tenuous but ultimately brilliant defense, racing against time to find the evidence he needs--and is certain exists--to prove his client's innocence. A keep-'em-guessing page-turner that will keep readers riveted.

Emily Melton

Attorney Paul Madriani’s attraction to Assistant District Attorney Lenore Goya catapults him into a sordid mix of corrupt police and a universally despised judge who is framed for prostitution solicitation and murder. This whodunit is skillfully conveyed by master audio performer George Guidall, who never fails to draw the listener into the thick of the plot. Every character is believably voiced and unerringly maintained. Courtroom scenes are dramatically enhanced by Guidall’s sense of ebb and flow in attorney confrontations. Since no characterization is portrayed more sinisterly than any of the others, the listener can use only the clues provided by the author to identify the guilty party. J.L.R. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine

NOV/DEC 97 - AudioFile