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Paul Madriani #1
Compelling Evidence
Paul Madriani, a brilliant criminal defense lawyer, had a once-promising career with a prestigious law-firm, until an ill-judged affair with the senior partner Ben Potter's wife led to his resignation. Now he scrambles for work amid the ghosts of his doomed affair and the remains of a failing marriage.
Then Potter is found dead, an apparent suicide. But as details come to light, the case turns from suicide to murder and the needle of suspicion points towards the victim's seductive wife, Talia Potter. Indicted and arrested, Talia turns to Paul, her former lover, to defend her against the mounting evidence in a case that for her could result in the gas chamber.
379 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1992
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About the author
Steve Martini
96 books696 followersSteven Paul "Steve" Martini is an American writer of legal novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 338 reviews
April 27, 2021
Compelling Evidence by Steve Martini is a 1993 Jove Publication.
An oldie, but a goodie!
This is the first book in the Paul Madriani series. I remember reading a couple of Martini's books back in the nineties and I think I even remember a made for TV movie based on this series.
This old school legal thriller is the style I prefer if a book is to be categorized as such. There's actually some courtroom drama, not just lawyers doing the work of investigators, which is usually how things work in today's so called legal thrillers. So, while some things are a bit dated, I can deal with it.
Paul is stewing in the after- effects of having an affair with Talia, the wife of a good friend and colleague, Ben Potter. The fallout cost him a place in Ben’s law firm. But, when Ben calls him and asks for a meeting, Paul nervously agrees, not really knowing what to expect.
Turns out Ben may be headed for a stint on the higher courts and wishes for Paul to do him a personal favor, to which Paul readily agrees. Things between the two men seem to be tenuously cordial, but only a short time later, Ben is found dead. The initial cause of death appeared to be suicide, but evidence soon points to murder, with Talia becoming the number one suspect.
Paul becomes a part of Talia’s defense team, despite their history together, which only aggravated the situation with his estranged wife. Things go from bad to worse when the court learns of his connection to the defendant.
Once the trial starts, and the lawyers begin to match wits, things get really interesting! It’s a nail biter all the way to the end!
Although this book doesn’t necessarily have the same pizzaz as some legal thrillers of this era did- ala Scott Turow, for example, it is tightly plotted, with a stunning- I never saw that coming- conclusion.
As I mentioned earlier, the novel does show a little age, but overall, it stands the test of time really well. I guess to get the type of Legal Thriller's I enjoy I'll have to stick with the older books to get my fix.
To that end, reading the Paul Madriani series sounds like a good idea!
Looking forward to it!
An oldie, but a goodie!
This is the first book in the Paul Madriani series. I remember reading a couple of Martini's books back in the nineties and I think I even remember a made for TV movie based on this series.
This old school legal thriller is the style I prefer if a book is to be categorized as such. There's actually some courtroom drama, not just lawyers doing the work of investigators, which is usually how things work in today's so called legal thrillers. So, while some things are a bit dated, I can deal with it.
Paul is stewing in the after- effects of having an affair with Talia, the wife of a good friend and colleague, Ben Potter. The fallout cost him a place in Ben’s law firm. But, when Ben calls him and asks for a meeting, Paul nervously agrees, not really knowing what to expect.
Turns out Ben may be headed for a stint on the higher courts and wishes for Paul to do him a personal favor, to which Paul readily agrees. Things between the two men seem to be tenuously cordial, but only a short time later, Ben is found dead. The initial cause of death appeared to be suicide, but evidence soon points to murder, with Talia becoming the number one suspect.
Paul becomes a part of Talia’s defense team, despite their history together, which only aggravated the situation with his estranged wife. Things go from bad to worse when the court learns of his connection to the defendant.
Once the trial starts, and the lawyers begin to match wits, things get really interesting! It’s a nail biter all the way to the end!
Although this book doesn’t necessarily have the same pizzaz as some legal thrillers of this era did- ala Scott Turow, for example, it is tightly plotted, with a stunning- I never saw that coming- conclusion.
As I mentioned earlier, the novel does show a little age, but overall, it stands the test of time really well. I guess to get the type of Legal Thriller's I enjoy I'll have to stick with the older books to get my fix.
To that end, reading the Paul Madriani series sounds like a good idea!
Looking forward to it!
January 14, 2026
5 STARS
January 7, 2014
First time read for a Paul Madriani book and I really enjoyed the plot and character, Paul Madriani, and especially the courtroom scenes which were a good portion of the book. Great secondary characters too, well described and vivid.
Believe I might be a ‘frustrated wannabe lawyer.’ Always, always enjoy these genre of books. It's one of the reasons I loved The Lincoln Lawyer so much. I've read a lot of lawyer/courtroom books; more two hands worth, I'm sure.
Great storyline, too, and the ending, well, usually I don't get the 'whodunit' but this one, it was a total, complete surprise to me and was uncovered only in the last five pages or so. What a surprise, a total surprise.
Goodreads friend Jim said Martini got somewhat old to him, but now I'm anxious to read another. Not now, but in the near future so he'll be added to the vast collection of series that I'm reading. No worries though. What's another series when I like the character so much, in part, just because he's a lawyer.
My only gripe, why doesn't he fire his incompetent secretary? She gives women a bad name because of her lack of brains. Not that she has to be smart, just smart enough to be in the real world and function like she has something 'upstairs.' Only thing that rings now is S-T-U-P-I-D. OK, there I go trying to re-write portions of the book which I really hate for reviewers to do, including myself; but folks, I hate stupid and she just takes the cake. Paul (and Martini) please, just fire her fancy, dancy ass, no one would miss her.
Believe I might be a ‘frustrated wannabe lawyer.’ Always, always enjoy these genre of books. It's one of the reasons I loved The Lincoln Lawyer so much. I've read a lot of lawyer/courtroom books; more two hands worth, I'm sure.
Great storyline, too, and the ending, well, usually I don't get the 'whodunit' but this one, it was a total, complete surprise to me and was uncovered only in the last five pages or so. What a surprise, a total surprise.
Goodreads friend Jim said Martini got somewhat old to him, but now I'm anxious to read another. Not now, but in the near future so he'll be added to the vast collection of series that I'm reading. No worries though. What's another series when I like the character so much, in part, just because he's a lawyer.
My only gripe, why doesn't he fire his incompetent secretary? She gives women a bad name because of her lack of brains. Not that she has to be smart, just smart enough to be in the real world and function like she has something 'upstairs.' Only thing that rings now is S-T-U-P-I-D. OK, there I go trying to re-write portions of the book which I really hate for reviewers to do, including myself; but folks, I hate stupid and she just takes the cake. Paul (and Martini) please, just fire her fancy, dancy ass, no one would miss her.
November 24, 2014
I shrug my shoulders and make a face like, "it's okay."
However, in this book Martini falls in to the mystery writer's trap of being so concerned about hiding his eventual perpetrator that he obfuscates to the point of telling a whole different story than the one intended. The best mystery has the eventual reveal always just below the surface and between the lines, so that when it is delivered at the end, the reader may be surprised but also understanding that all the facts were there for them to figure out the entire time. Compelling Evidence nosedives badly in the final pages because of this, with the author scrambling to explain all the things he should have more subtly included earlier in the story.
However, in this book Martini falls in to the mystery writer's trap of being so concerned about hiding his eventual perpetrator that he obfuscates to the point of telling a whole different story than the one intended. The best mystery has the eventual reveal always just below the surface and between the lines, so that when it is delivered at the end, the reader may be surprised but also understanding that all the facts were there for them to figure out the entire time. Compelling Evidence nosedives badly in the final pages because of this, with the author scrambling to explain all the things he should have more subtly included earlier in the story.
September 24, 2021
Just the kind of courtroom drama that I like. Paul Madriani is like my other favourite fictional lawyers - Jake Brigance (John Grisham), Mickey Haller (Michael Connelly), Eddie Flynn (Steve Cavanagh). They are witty, articulate and are able to turn around witnesses to their benefit.
The 'whodunnit' was well done, and revealed only in the end. I feel proud that I guessed the killer mid-way through the book😊
The action was all in the court room at the trial. I was a little disappointed by the seemingly lack of preparation for the trial. No one- including the defense, were looking for other possible suspects and motives.
It was slightly dated but didn't hamper the fun.
The 3 female characters could have been better. If the wife and secretary were edited out, it would have not made any difference.
DUMB - His wife (soon to-be ex) Nikki is a replica of Mickey Haller's ex, Maggie and Flynn's ex-wife. - annoying, attention -seeking, assumes martyrdom due to the husband;s career ambitions.
DUMBER - The Client, Talia Potter did not know or care about the situation she was in. Even after she is a suspect in the case, she continues her indescretions. She keeps lying and keeps digging her own grave. Don't know why Madriani never reprimands her.
DUMBEST - The secretary DEE. She could have been replaced by a nice piece of furniture.
I would be reading the other books in the series. Don't know how I missed this till now.
The 'whodunnit' was well done, and revealed only in the end. I feel proud that I guessed the killer mid-way through the book😊
The action was all in the court room at the trial. I was a little disappointed by the seemingly lack of preparation for the trial. No one- including the defense, were looking for other possible suspects and motives.
It was slightly dated but didn't hamper the fun.
The 3 female characters could have been better. If the wife and secretary were edited out, it would have not made any difference.
DUMB - His wife (soon to-be ex) Nikki is a replica of Mickey Haller's ex, Maggie and Flynn's ex-wife. - annoying, attention -seeking, assumes martyrdom due to the husband;s career ambitions.
DUMBER - The Client, Talia Potter did not know or care about the situation she was in. Even after she is a suspect in the case, she continues her indescretions. She keeps lying and keeps digging her own grave. Don't know why Madriani never reprimands her.
DUMBEST - The secretary DEE. She could have been replaced by a nice piece of furniture.
I would be reading the other books in the series. Don't know how I missed this till now.
September 12, 2008
I started out thinking this book was boring, but quickly forgot about that as I got swept up in the plot. I forgot, too, that I feel the same way about every other Steve Martini book I've ever read. The first few chapters are a little slow, then it sucks you in.
In this, the first in the Paul Madriani series, he provides very good background on Paul without beating the reader over the head with it. Paul is a believable character. He is not perfect. He is not always likeable. He is shrewd and calculating, but in a way that doesn't come across as gross or crass. The use of 1st person allows readers a nice glimpse into his thoughts and shows a well developed character who is conflicted and unsure, both of his client and his own abilities, and of his faith in the law and the ability of those charged to uphold it.
I enjoy the complexity of Martini's plots. Maybe they aren't all that complex to those who are lawyers, but I'm not a lawyer, so it's complex enough to make me happy for a book to read just for fun. I enjoy Martini's stories a good deal more than, say, Grisham's. I think his characters are developed better and the stories are more interesting. They don't always boil down to "take the money and run." Yes, Martini is a little formulaic--what mystery writer isn't?--but I am more willing to overlook that because I enjoy his snarky writing style so much. I did have the twist at the end figured out, but it took me a while to get there and even then I wasn't positive I was right until I read it at the end. I like it when I can't figure it out at all, or it takes me a long time to get to it.
Sort of going along with the complexity of the story, I appreciate when issues aren't black and white. It irritates me to no end when the good guys are always good, and the bad guys are always bad, and there is never any overlap. That's what the fantasy genre is for. Martini's good characters are capable of committing--and do commit--morally ambiguous actions. In some cases, outright wrong or illegal actions. Similarly, his bad guys often are the honest ones, or the ones who end up doing something to save the case or acquit the person you were sure was guilty, etc.
I'd recommend his books to anyone who enjoys a good courtroom drama or mystery. I don't think he'll disappoint.
In this, the first in the Paul Madriani series, he provides very good background on Paul without beating the reader over the head with it. Paul is a believable character. He is not perfect. He is not always likeable. He is shrewd and calculating, but in a way that doesn't come across as gross or crass. The use of 1st person allows readers a nice glimpse into his thoughts and shows a well developed character who is conflicted and unsure, both of his client and his own abilities, and of his faith in the law and the ability of those charged to uphold it.
I enjoy the complexity of Martini's plots. Maybe they aren't all that complex to those who are lawyers, but I'm not a lawyer, so it's complex enough to make me happy for a book to read just for fun. I enjoy Martini's stories a good deal more than, say, Grisham's. I think his characters are developed better and the stories are more interesting. They don't always boil down to "take the money and run." Yes, Martini is a little formulaic--what mystery writer isn't?--but I am more willing to overlook that because I enjoy his snarky writing style so much. I did have the twist at the end figured out, but it took me a while to get there and even then I wasn't positive I was right until I read it at the end. I like it when I can't figure it out at all, or it takes me a long time to get to it.
Sort of going along with the complexity of the story, I appreciate when issues aren't black and white. It irritates me to no end when the good guys are always good, and the bad guys are always bad, and there is never any overlap. That's what the fantasy genre is for. Martini's good characters are capable of committing--and do commit--morally ambiguous actions. In some cases, outright wrong or illegal actions. Similarly, his bad guys often are the honest ones, or the ones who end up doing something to save the case or acquit the person you were sure was guilty, etc.
I'd recommend his books to anyone who enjoys a good courtroom drama or mystery. I don't think he'll disappoint.
January 22, 2018
How disappointing.
There was no action, no drama that kept you on the edge of your seat. No real mystery (ok there was a murder in which somebody was falsely accused but it wasn't even all that interesting). Just nothing of real substance here except a Perry Mason like courtroom story with a very minor (but disappointing) twist at the end.
I struggled to finish this book as it just couldn't capture my attention. First of all it's a first person perspective story. I hate first person perspective stories. Why are there so many of them? Is it really that hard to write a story in third person? Ok, that's just my pet peeve. But the plot moved at a glacial pace. It took forever to develop anything. And then as the story starts reaching it's climax and the author leads the reader down a path that is almost certainly leading to the real murderer it just kind of fizzles. I was absolutely sure there would be some high drama or better yet some action with the murderer that would ultimately prove the falsely accused's innocence.
But it all just fell flat and fizzled.
In the end Compelling Evidence was not a compelling read.
There was no action, no drama that kept you on the edge of your seat. No real mystery (ok there was a murder in which somebody was falsely accused but it wasn't even all that interesting). Just nothing of real substance here except a Perry Mason like courtroom story with a very minor (but disappointing) twist at the end.
I struggled to finish this book as it just couldn't capture my attention. First of all it's a first person perspective story. I hate first person perspective stories. Why are there so many of them? Is it really that hard to write a story in third person? Ok, that's just my pet peeve. But the plot moved at a glacial pace. It took forever to develop anything. And then as the story starts reaching it's climax and the author leads the reader down a path that is almost certainly leading to the real murderer it just kind of fizzles. I was absolutely sure there would be some high drama or better yet some action with the murderer that would ultimately prove the falsely accused's innocence.
But it all just fell flat and fizzled.
In the end Compelling Evidence was not a compelling read.
August 10, 2010
I originally read this way back when (pre-kids, which means 9+ years ago) and wanted to start re-reading the Paul Madriani series to see if I still enjoyed it.
The verdict? It's actually still a pretty good book. It's a murder mystery/trial story with some nice twists & interesting characters. OTOH, I don't remember having to wade through as much coarse language the first time I read this - maybe I'm getting more sensitive with age. (Next you thing you know, I'll be spraying kids with a water hose & telling them to "get off my lawn.")
The verdict? It's actually still a pretty good book. It's a murder mystery/trial story with some nice twists & interesting characters. OTOH, I don't remember having to wade through as much coarse language the first time I read this - maybe I'm getting more sensitive with age. (Next you thing you know, I'll be spraying kids with a water hose & telling them to "get off my lawn.")
December 9, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. This is the 1st book that I have read from this author, and it had lot of twists and turns. If you like a lot of courtroom drama, this is good. This is the first in a series for a young lawyer, I will definitely read the next one. I have read a Scott Turow (one of my favs) and this, so I have my satisfied my legal itch. Now, I need to finish A Little Life, which I like but I have been distracted.
February 13, 2012
This is the first Steve Martini book for me and I am pleased to say it won't be the last. I came in late to the Paul Madriani game, so there is a whole series still to be enjoyed. Martini excels in the courtroom scenes in this first edition, but some of the other chapters feel a little thin. That is not necessarily a bad thing. This author plays to his strength and that is always a plus for the reader.
July 3, 2021
Usually If I think a book is boring I stop reading after 50 or 75 pages. I wish I had stopped reading this after 50 pages. This is a legal thriller so the crime has taken place when the book begins. I do not expect all thrillers should be as suspenseful as James Bond. This book has 458 pages (Swedish edition)
At page 260 the trial begins. I prefer american legal mysteries on television.
The end is a surprise.
At page 260 the trial begins. I prefer american legal mysteries on television.
The end is a surprise.
June 14, 2012
69 pages in and I don't really care about the main character or how the murder investigation turns out. No reason to continue.
June 21, 2022
Please don't ever again make me read the words: "making a face like." Other than the very overused "making a face" stuff, I really enjoyed the book.
November 25, 2020
I really wanted to give this book a 4-star review but somehow couldn't do it. If Amazon had halvies, I'd give it a solid 3.5. It was a good book, my first by Steve Martini. It was the first featuring his series protagonist Paul Madriani. The story was interesting but I didn't find myself looking forward to reading it. Martini was a practicing attorney and journalist and obviously knows this material but I thought some of the legalese made the story drag at times. There were some uneven themes like the occasional mention of a call girl that I assumed would impact the story more than she did. It's dated (early 90's), and some aspects are a little offputting, like phonetically spelling out the testimony of an African American janitor that seemed a bit racist. He also refers to attorneys with expensive pens as "spear chuckers." Not in a racial way but it still doesn't sound good. He mentions things like pay phones that make you have to stop and remind yourself of when this story takes place. Good writing, solid character development, clever conclusion, definitely held my interest throughout. Liked it a lot, just didn't love it. I got a Goodreads deal on this book for $1.99. That seemed appropriate.
A year after he's fired from the California law firm of Potter, Skarpellos by Ben Potter, who's found out he's having an affair with Ben's wife Talia, corporate-turned-criminal lawyer Paul Madriani is asked to join Talia's defense—on a charge of murdering Ben on the eve of his nomination to the Supreme Court. It's the other partner, Tony ("the Greek'') Skarpellos, who inveigles Madriani to put aside two other investigations—helping county medical examiner George Cooper figure out who abandoned his daughter to burn to death after a car crash, and defending high- profile hooker Susan Hawley, who doesn't want to implicate her well- placed clients in "boinkgate'' even if she's granted immunity—and to sign on as assisting counsel to nitwit glamourpuss Gibert Cheetam, who promptly runs Talia's defense into the ground and jumps ship after the grand jury indicts her. So Madriani, his affair with Talia making him painfully vulnerable, takes over as chief counsel, infuriating his estranged wife Nikki even before he realizes that Skarpellos, who stands to inherit the hugely profitable firm if Talia takes the rap, has set him up. Martini (The Simeon Chamber, 1988), whose early scenes could have used some advice from assisting counsel too (the obligatory between-the-sheets flashback is introduced by noting ``the cold wetness of my own passions, a small portion of which had pooled in the creases of the sheets beneath where her loins had rested''), rouses himself for the well-paced trial scenes, which heat up even further when news of the Talia/Madriani affair reaches the ears of the presiding judge, determined that no mistrial's going to stand in the way of his reelection—and when Madriani decides to pin his hopes on an all-out assault on Skarpellos. The final surprise, though, is eminently guessable. Martini is no Scott Turow—his characters are thinner, his prose flabbier—but his legal intrigue will probably keep you up just as late.
Keep reading with this topic. For my first book, I find it quite interesting.
A year after he's fired from the California law firm of Potter, Skarpellos by Ben Potter, who's found out he's having an affair with Ben's wife Talia, corporate-turned-criminal lawyer Paul Madriani is asked to join Talia's defense—on a charge of murdering Ben on the eve of his nomination to the Supreme Court. It's the other partner, Tony ("the Greek'') Skarpellos, who inveigles Madriani to put aside two other investigations—helping county medical examiner George Cooper figure out who abandoned his daughter to burn to death after a car crash, and defending high- profile hooker Susan Hawley, who doesn't want to implicate her well- placed clients in "boinkgate'' even if she's granted immunity—and to sign on as assisting counsel to nitwit glamourpuss Gibert Cheetam, who promptly runs Talia's defense into the ground and jumps ship after the grand jury indicts her. So Madriani, his affair with Talia making him painfully vulnerable, takes over as chief counsel, infuriating his estranged wife Nikki even before he realizes that Skarpellos, who stands to inherit the hugely profitable firm if Talia takes the rap, has set him up. Martini (The Simeon Chamber, 1988), whose early scenes could have used some advice from assisting counsel too (the obligatory between-the-sheets flashback is introduced by noting ``the cold wetness of my own passions, a small portion of which had pooled in the creases of the sheets beneath where her loins had rested''), rouses himself for the well-paced trial scenes, which heat up even further when news of the Talia/Madriani affair reaches the ears of the presiding judge, determined that no mistrial's going to stand in the way of his reelection—and when Madriani decides to pin his hopes on an all-out assault on Skarpellos. The final surprise, though, is eminently guessable. Martini is no Scott Turow—his characters are thinner, his prose flabbier—but his legal intrigue will probably keep you up just as late.
Keep reading with this topic. For my first book, I find it quite interesting.
February 21, 2017
An old one, but still good.
February 26, 2012
The book that launched the series
Almost 20 years ago, the first book in the Paul Madriani series was released. Over time (and 12 books), it has morphed into less of a legal thriller series into more of an action series with a legal thriller bent to it. But, the first one is a good old-fashioned murder mystery and courtroom drama - and a surprisingly good one for a debut effort.
In Compelling Evidence we are introduced to Paul Madriani, a struggling solo practice attorney who has recently left a big league law firm...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...
Almost 20 years ago, the first book in the Paul Madriani series was released. Over time (and 12 books), it has morphed into less of a legal thriller series into more of an action series with a legal thriller bent to it. But, the first one is a good old-fashioned murder mystery and courtroom drama - and a surprisingly good one for a debut effort.
In Compelling Evidence we are introduced to Paul Madriani, a struggling solo practice attorney who has recently left a big league law firm...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...
March 6, 2013
I listened to this as an audio book loaned and downloaded as a mp3 from the library. I did not know I got the "abridged" version. It obviously was since it only took about four hours to listen to the thing. So my review is a little tainted in that way. With the shortness, it was really difficult to get a sense of the author's capabilities. However the story was good, with a nice trick ending, so I will be giving Steve Martini more opportunities to impress me later.
December 16, 2016
Great Old Fashioned Lawyer mystery
Really love the tone and the personal struggle of the lawyer. Not a whodunit, but good court room tension. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Really love the tone and the personal struggle of the lawyer. Not a whodunit, but good court room tension. Looking forward to the next in the series.
June 4, 2017
Wow!
I did not see that coming ! Very much enjoyed the writing. No excessive fluff or filler to take up space . Every word seemed relevant but I still didn't put it all together
I did not see that coming ! Very much enjoyed the writing. No excessive fluff or filler to take up space . Every word seemed relevant but I still didn't put it all together
November 29, 2015
I couldn't get into it. I did not finish the book.
October 22, 2012
Meh - it was okay. 1st offering from this author, and many reviews mention his later work is better. I like the premise - but too much legalese for those of us who are not attorneys...
December 19, 2014
Steve Martini is a good writer I enjoy reading series of Paul Madriani.
February 20, 2017
Good. Like Presumed Innocent and Murder in the First.
June 21, 2020
This was a good book. This new-to-me author really surprised me. So first, let me talk about some things that bothered me. I can't actually say I didn't like them, but these things bothered me. This author tried too hard. He wants the reader to think. And he wants the reader to think he is smart. He used a few big words that I didn't know, and that hasn't happened to me in a long while. One or two, maybe, but many, words like "venireman," "attrited," "percipient," and "subaltern," to name a few. He also uses the term "body English" instead of "body language" and that just bothers me. One more thing is that he uses this phrase tooooo often: "He makes a face like..." He makes a face like - is this for real. He makes a face like - are you kidding me. Instead of all the "makes a face likes" he could insert actual dialogue.
On to the good. The main character is Paul Madriani, a defense attorney now that he has struck out on his own. Newly separated from his wife, he had an affair with the boss's wife. That explains why he is no longer with Potter, Skarpellos. He comes to terms with Ben, his old boss, on the eve of Ben's death. It looks like suicide, but the medical examiner classifies it as homicide. Almost immediately, Ben's wife Talia is arrested. She goes to Skarpellos for help, and he pays for an attorney during the pre-trial hearings, but after she is held over for trial, she needs a real defense attorney. Naturally, she asks Paul, her former lover, for help. I won't spoil the rest.
Steve Martini does a good job humanizing his characters. Most of them are dynamic characters with both good and bad qualities, though there are two characters that are basically stereotypes. The main characters are well developed. The book was a little slow to start, and sometimes I felt like I had to plod through some areas where Paul is simply thinking, but, overall, it was interesting, and there is a super-twist at the end. This conclusion won't disappoint.
On to the good. The main character is Paul Madriani, a defense attorney now that he has struck out on his own. Newly separated from his wife, he had an affair with the boss's wife. That explains why he is no longer with Potter, Skarpellos. He comes to terms with Ben, his old boss, on the eve of Ben's death. It looks like suicide, but the medical examiner classifies it as homicide. Almost immediately, Ben's wife Talia is arrested. She goes to Skarpellos for help, and he pays for an attorney during the pre-trial hearings, but after she is held over for trial, she needs a real defense attorney. Naturally, she asks Paul, her former lover, for help. I won't spoil the rest.
Steve Martini does a good job humanizing his characters. Most of them are dynamic characters with both good and bad qualities, though there are two characters that are basically stereotypes. The main characters are well developed. The book was a little slow to start, and sometimes I felt like I had to plod through some areas where Paul is simply thinking, but, overall, it was interesting, and there is a super-twist at the end. This conclusion won't disappoint.
October 20, 2017
"Compelling Evidence" is the first Paul Madriani courtroom drama, and you can see glimpses of the beginning evolution of Steve Martini as a superb writer. He very aptly describes, in a great deal of detail, the capital murder case of Talia Potter, from the arduous process of jury selection to the decisions that prosecutors and defense attorneys make in putting together and presenting their cases. Martini's subsequent novels do not have quite that level of detail, instead focusing more on character development. In "Compelling Evidence", Talia Potter is arrested and tried for the brutal murder of her wealthy, much older husband. Talia has carelessly left a trail of large breadcrumbs pointing to her multiple extramarital affairs and has a very weak alibi. Paul Madriani is lured into representing her, even though he himself has a bit of a sordid history with the widow. The facts of the case seem to point in a particular direction, yet Martini pulls a rabbit out of a hat for a surprising ending. It's a well-written book and a great introduction to the Paul Madriani series. I highly recommend it.
May 4, 2018
This book popped up in my Goodreads recommended about a month ago. I was immediately intrigued by the Madriani / Martini parallel, but what truly captured my attention was the description. The brief summary did little to give away who was murdered and focused more on a lawyer, rather than the victim/perpetrator, which I found that many of the mystery-like books I had read did. I immediately added it to my want to read and once the opportunity arose to pick up a new book, I instantly gravitated towards this one.
Compelling Evidence is the first book of the series (something I hadn't realized until after finishing reading) and provides an introduction into the life of Paul Madriani, a defense lawyer who was recently catapulted from fame after a scandalous incident with his partner at the firm/long time best friend. After Ben, the partner/friend, asks Madriani to come back to help with the firm due to Ben's Supreme Court nomination, Ben is found dead in an apparent suicide. Closer examination of the evidence leads to a murderous cause of death. As cops scramble for clues, Talia, Ben's wife comes under scrutiny. A lack of an alibi, complicated with circumstantial evidence, lands Talia with a 1st degree murder charge. Madriani comes to the aid of Talia, the subject of the very incident that ended with him leaving the firm. The trial of Talia is complicated further by high-end prostitutes, money laundering at the firm, self-protective judges, and a scandal threatening to destroy the case.
I ended up liking this book more than I was expecting; while I knew lawyer + courtroom drama = clickbait heaven for me, this book was more than just another legal thriller. I truly think that this book resonated with me because of Paul Madriani as a character. I felt that Martini made Madriani an imperfect character who often straddled the line between unlikable and admirable. Madriani became the perfect example of overlap between good and bad, blurring the line with moral issues. I couldn't help but compare this book to another legal book I read recently by John Grisham, and I have to say that I feel like Martini developed his characters to a far better degree than Grisham. Even Martini's secondary characters developed throughout the story while I felt that even some of Grisham's main characters didn't. Another thing that truly stood out to me were the courtroom scenes. Often, these back-and-forth scenes can turn dry, yet I felt that the courtroom scenes in this book were some of the best pages.
A teeny tiny detail, but I did dislike the rather abrupt ending. I feel like Martini could have placed a few more breadcrumbs throughout the book alluding to the murderer rather than cramming in the clues at the last minute to end the book on a high-note. It seemed to me that Martini was scrambling to end the book on a twist after an unshocking verdict.
Compelling Evidence is the first book of the series (something I hadn't realized until after finishing reading) and provides an introduction into the life of Paul Madriani, a defense lawyer who was recently catapulted from fame after a scandalous incident with his partner at the firm/long time best friend. After Ben, the partner/friend, asks Madriani to come back to help with the firm due to Ben's Supreme Court nomination, Ben is found dead in an apparent suicide. Closer examination of the evidence leads to a murderous cause of death. As cops scramble for clues, Talia, Ben's wife comes under scrutiny. A lack of an alibi, complicated with circumstantial evidence, lands Talia with a 1st degree murder charge. Madriani comes to the aid of Talia, the subject of the very incident that ended with him leaving the firm. The trial of Talia is complicated further by high-end prostitutes, money laundering at the firm, self-protective judges, and a scandal threatening to destroy the case.
I ended up liking this book more than I was expecting; while I knew lawyer + courtroom drama = clickbait heaven for me, this book was more than just another legal thriller. I truly think that this book resonated with me because of Paul Madriani as a character. I felt that Martini made Madriani an imperfect character who often straddled the line between unlikable and admirable. Madriani became the perfect example of overlap between good and bad, blurring the line with moral issues. I couldn't help but compare this book to another legal book I read recently by John Grisham, and I have to say that I feel like Martini developed his characters to a far better degree than Grisham. Even Martini's secondary characters developed throughout the story while I felt that even some of Grisham's main characters didn't. Another thing that truly stood out to me were the courtroom scenes. Often, these back-and-forth scenes can turn dry, yet I felt that the courtroom scenes in this book were some of the best pages.
A teeny tiny detail, but I did dislike the rather abrupt ending. I feel like Martini could have placed a few more breadcrumbs throughout the book alluding to the murderer rather than cramming in the clues at the last minute to end the book on a high-note. It seemed to me that Martini was scrambling to end the book on a twist after an unshocking verdict.
July 23, 2017
Great trial stuff. Good story
August 23, 2023
A great storyline keeping the reader guessing until the very end who the guilty party was in a murder mystery with compelling evidence pointing at more than one suspect.
October 11, 2023
DNF. Dull.
April 26, 2024
I found this book a difficult read, but persisted in small intervals as I wanted to know the ending. At times the author’s vocabulary was frustrating to me and I had to stop and look up several word meanings. Certainly the major reason why I read it over such an unusually long period of time, which is out of character for me when it comes to reading.
The storyline was good, a few surprises and an unexpected ending answering the “who-done-it” question.
The storyline was good, a few surprises and an unexpected ending answering the “who-done-it” question.
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