I didn't get to sleep until 3:45 this morning. Steve Martini's Shadow of Power has a way of doing that to you.The last time I read from the book was a few weeks ago on a plane trip and I put it aside when we got home. We're traveling again.
I had stopped quite conveniently a quarter way through before the trial of Carl Arnsberg began. Last night, the trial got underway and I just couldn't put the book down until the end.
Arnsberg had been accused of killing famous and controversial author Terry Scarborough, who has written a book revealing the existence of racial language in the U.S. Constitution. He is being defended by Paul Madriani, the hero of several Martini novels.
Martini writes masterful courtroom scenes, going into the thoughts and strategies of the opposing attorneys, sweeping the reader along for the ride. The incisive cross-examinations of witnesses and off-venue pursuit of defensive material gives powerful insight into courtroom strategy and are an education in themselves.
Every little detail counts, every little verbal misstep can herald a setback in the prosecution's or defense's plans, critical when a defendent's life is at stake.
There are red herrings, twists and surprises. And at the end, all is revealed.
I'd tell you what happened to Supreme Court Justice Arthur Ginnis and why he is so important to this case ... but THAT you have to find out for yourself.
2 comments:
Hmmmm . . . will have to try this author. Did you read Women's Murder Club #8 yet? Just started on it. I think I'm getting tired of Patterson's particular writing style. He used to reserve it for his non-series books, but now it's creeping into the Alex Cross and Women Murder's Club books and I don't like it. A lot of unnecessary italics for emphasis. And just too much calling out the drama of the plot.
Haven't read WMC #8 yet. But am thinking of getting it while I'm here in San Jose to read on the flight back home.
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