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Paul Madriani #14
Blood Flag
Defending a client accused of killing her father, attorney Paul Madriani is drawn into a treacherous conspiracy dating to World War II in this enthralling installment in the New York Times bestselling series.Paul Madriani and Harry Hinds have a new client: Emma Brauer, a woman accused in the “mercy killing” of her aged father, Robert Brauer. Insisting she’s innocent, Emma tells Paul about a package sent to her father shortly before he entered the hospital. Bequeathed to him by a member of his unit from World War II, the box contains a key and a slip of paper. Emma fears that this package is connected to her father’s death.
When Paul’s young assistant Sofia is murdered Madriani is blindsided by the realization that Emma’s fears are well-grounded.
Digging into Robert’s military history, Madriani discovers that other members of the Army unit Robert served with have recently died—under similarly suspicious circumstances. When he finds that the box sent to Brauer relates to a mysterious talisman that went missing at the end of the war—a feared Nazi relic known as the “Blood Flag”—Madriani and Hinds realize they are in for the fight of their lives.
With Emma’s life on the line and their own safety in jeopardy, Madriani must uncover the truth before the evil of the Blood Flag is allowed to spin a new web.
546 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2016
453 people are currently reading
1388 people want to read
About the author
Steve Martini
94 books694 followersSteven Paul "Steve" Martini is an American writer of legal novels.
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May 25, 2016
“Anyone can deal with victory. Only the mighty can bear defeat.”
---- Adolf Hitler
Steve Martini, an American best-selling author, pens an exciting yet thrilling new book from his Paul Madriani series, Blood Flag and it is the fourteenth book in the series. This series is centered around a quite renowned Californian attorney, Paul Madriani, flanked by his partner, Harry Hinds and each book in the series unfolds an electrifying chapter and adventure and mystery in Paul's life. Similarly, in Blood Flag too, Paul comes face-to-face yet with a new case and a new challenge to win over until this challenge turns life-threatening and deadly, killing off people, Paul cares about.
Synopsis:
Defending a client accused of killing her father, attorney Paul Madriani is drawn into a treacherous conspiracy dating to World War II in this enthralling installment in the New York Times bestselling series.
Paul Madriani and Harry Hinds have a new client: Emma Brauer, a woman accused in the “mercy killing” of her aged father, Robert Brauer. Insisting she’s innocent, Emma tells Paul about a package sent to her father shortly before he entered the hospital. Bequeathed to him by a member of his unit from World War II, the box contains a key and a slip of paper. Emma fears that this package is connected to her father’s death.
When Paul’s young assistant Sofia is murdered Madriani is blindsided by the realization that Emma’s fears are well-grounded.
Digging into Robert’s military history, Madriani discovers that other members of the Army unit Robert served with have recently died—under similarly suspicious circumstances. When he finds that the box sent to Brauer relates to a mysterious talisman that went missing at the end of the war—a feared Nazi relic known as the “Blood Flag”—Madriani and Hinds realize they are in for the fight of their lives.
With Emma’s life on the line and their own safety in jeopardy, Madriani must uncover the truth before the evil of the Blood Flag is allowed to spin a new web.
Paul finds his new client, Emma, an aged woman, amidst the scandal of "mercy killing" of her already dying father. And Paul realizes that there is more to it, than just the accusation of "mercy killing", but before he could dig more about the confusing revelation made by Emma, Sofia, Paul's assistant-cum-friend, is found dead near Emma's house, where she went to take care of Emma's pet dog. Paul is baffled with the news and before he can recover, he jumps into the investigation to find out what led to the death of Sofia. And also to figure out on whether the murder of Emma's father is somehow connected to Sofia's, before the the body count stops decreasing. The path is not an easy one, as his investigation opens the secret door to Hitler's rule in Germany, where there are dark secrets that not many are aware of. Can Paul and Harry figure out what caused the deaths of handful of innocent souls?
This is the first book that I ever read by Steve Martini and I must confess that right now, I'm looking for Steve's previous books on Amazon as the series simply hooked me and I couldn't get enough of Paul and his "cool and sharp" demeanor. The story is fantastic and has lots of information about Hitler that can enlighten lots of minds. It seems the author has not only research well but has also portrayed the lesser known facts quite strikingly.
The author's writing style glittered with an unique sense of panache which is unmatchable with many popular crime fiction writers. The narrative is engaging to the very core and will keep the readers hooked into the depths of this very story till the end. The pacing is really fast and the story freely flows with unexpected twists and sudden development that will leave even the seasoned crime-fiction readers as puzzled.
The mystery is concocted by the author remarkably as he first builds up his mystery laced with enough suspense, misdirection and tension for his readers, and then peeling those layers of suspense one-by-one, hence each and every page will demand reader's attention to stay focused and keep anticipating.The author has not only portrayed the mystery with suspense, but has also painted with lots of actions and frightening moments that will make the readers feel it through their skin.
The characters are simply fantastic and the author did a great job in featuring the dynamic set of cast for this book. The primary character, Paul has an unbeatable flair found quite a handful of heroes. His sharp mind and his concern towards his own people will make him stand out in the rest.l The author succeeds in making his readers feel connected with Paul as his character his justified with a backstory. The supporting cast is a myriad of realistic characters among whom some are depicted with their insecurities and some with their scheming mindset.
Overall, this is a captivating story that will keep the readers turning the pages of this book till the very end.
Verdict: Crime fiction readers do not miss out this series, particularly this book from the intriguing series.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Steve Martini's publicist for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
---- Adolf Hitler
Steve Martini, an American best-selling author, pens an exciting yet thrilling new book from his Paul Madriani series, Blood Flag and it is the fourteenth book in the series. This series is centered around a quite renowned Californian attorney, Paul Madriani, flanked by his partner, Harry Hinds and each book in the series unfolds an electrifying chapter and adventure and mystery in Paul's life. Similarly, in Blood Flag too, Paul comes face-to-face yet with a new case and a new challenge to win over until this challenge turns life-threatening and deadly, killing off people, Paul cares about.
Synopsis:
Defending a client accused of killing her father, attorney Paul Madriani is drawn into a treacherous conspiracy dating to World War II in this enthralling installment in the New York Times bestselling series.
Paul Madriani and Harry Hinds have a new client: Emma Brauer, a woman accused in the “mercy killing” of her aged father, Robert Brauer. Insisting she’s innocent, Emma tells Paul about a package sent to her father shortly before he entered the hospital. Bequeathed to him by a member of his unit from World War II, the box contains a key and a slip of paper. Emma fears that this package is connected to her father’s death.
When Paul’s young assistant Sofia is murdered Madriani is blindsided by the realization that Emma’s fears are well-grounded.
Digging into Robert’s military history, Madriani discovers that other members of the Army unit Robert served with have recently died—under similarly suspicious circumstances. When he finds that the box sent to Brauer relates to a mysterious talisman that went missing at the end of the war—a feared Nazi relic known as the “Blood Flag”—Madriani and Hinds realize they are in for the fight of their lives.
With Emma’s life on the line and their own safety in jeopardy, Madriani must uncover the truth before the evil of the Blood Flag is allowed to spin a new web.
Paul finds his new client, Emma, an aged woman, amidst the scandal of "mercy killing" of her already dying father. And Paul realizes that there is more to it, than just the accusation of "mercy killing", but before he could dig more about the confusing revelation made by Emma, Sofia, Paul's assistant-cum-friend, is found dead near Emma's house, where she went to take care of Emma's pet dog. Paul is baffled with the news and before he can recover, he jumps into the investigation to find out what led to the death of Sofia. And also to figure out on whether the murder of Emma's father is somehow connected to Sofia's, before the the body count stops decreasing. The path is not an easy one, as his investigation opens the secret door to Hitler's rule in Germany, where there are dark secrets that not many are aware of. Can Paul and Harry figure out what caused the deaths of handful of innocent souls?
This is the first book that I ever read by Steve Martini and I must confess that right now, I'm looking for Steve's previous books on Amazon as the series simply hooked me and I couldn't get enough of Paul and his "cool and sharp" demeanor. The story is fantastic and has lots of information about Hitler that can enlighten lots of minds. It seems the author has not only research well but has also portrayed the lesser known facts quite strikingly.
The author's writing style glittered with an unique sense of panache which is unmatchable with many popular crime fiction writers. The narrative is engaging to the very core and will keep the readers hooked into the depths of this very story till the end. The pacing is really fast and the story freely flows with unexpected twists and sudden development that will leave even the seasoned crime-fiction readers as puzzled.
The mystery is concocted by the author remarkably as he first builds up his mystery laced with enough suspense, misdirection and tension for his readers, and then peeling those layers of suspense one-by-one, hence each and every page will demand reader's attention to stay focused and keep anticipating.The author has not only portrayed the mystery with suspense, but has also painted with lots of actions and frightening moments that will make the readers feel it through their skin.
The characters are simply fantastic and the author did a great job in featuring the dynamic set of cast for this book. The primary character, Paul has an unbeatable flair found quite a handful of heroes. His sharp mind and his concern towards his own people will make him stand out in the rest.l The author succeeds in making his readers feel connected with Paul as his character his justified with a backstory. The supporting cast is a myriad of realistic characters among whom some are depicted with their insecurities and some with their scheming mindset.
Overall, this is a captivating story that will keep the readers turning the pages of this book till the very end.
Verdict: Crime fiction readers do not miss out this series, particularly this book from the intriguing series.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Steve Martini's publicist for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 30, 2016
This is actually a two-and-a-half-stars review. I've always loved Martini's writing, but I think he's lost his way. Granted, he seems to be headed in the right direction, but, for me, it's not enough.
The issue here is I think he wants to write about espionage and government conspiracy, but he's using the wrong vehicle. Paul Madriani is a well-established character, and his job is a lawyer who gets innocent clients off, most times with wonderful reversals and twists. Better than Grisham in his prime (now light-years better).
But to use Paul as a conduit for international intrigue is... it's just wrong, in my opinion. And it's crystal-clear why in this book. He starts with a murder case, which leads to another murder, and it seems like he's going to go up against the prosecutors sooner rather than later....
Then it takes a turn when the murders are connected to something, an artifact of sorts, that involves Isreal, Germany, the FBI, and more. You can probably guess what kind of artifact it is based on the countries. Heck, the cover of the book will tell you.
Martini spends way too much time trying to figure out the other mystery (yes, it is connected to the two murders, but...), and so we never see the inside of a courtroom, never see plea bargains, never see "someone didn't tell us the whole story" scenes. I know those can get old. But Martini made a career out of them. And if he's going to use his best character, then he should use that character in stories where he and his cohorts fit.
My advice to Martini would be to either drop the spy intrigue from Madriani, or ditch Madriani to tell the espionage/spy/historical books you've been writing.
I'll read his next book, for sure, because he's a great writer. But my disappointment grows with each passing book.
The issue here is I think he wants to write about espionage and government conspiracy, but he's using the wrong vehicle. Paul Madriani is a well-established character, and his job is a lawyer who gets innocent clients off, most times with wonderful reversals and twists. Better than Grisham in his prime (now light-years better).
But to use Paul as a conduit for international intrigue is... it's just wrong, in my opinion. And it's crystal-clear why in this book. He starts with a murder case, which leads to another murder, and it seems like he's going to go up against the prosecutors sooner rather than later....
Then it takes a turn when the murders are connected to something, an artifact of sorts, that involves Isreal, Germany, the FBI, and more. You can probably guess what kind of artifact it is based on the countries. Heck, the cover of the book will tell you.
Martini spends way too much time trying to figure out the other mystery (yes, it is connected to the two murders, but...), and so we never see the inside of a courtroom, never see plea bargains, never see "someone didn't tell us the whole story" scenes. I know those can get old. But Martini made a career out of them. And if he's going to use his best character, then he should use that character in stories where he and his cohorts fit.
My advice to Martini would be to either drop the spy intrigue from Madriani, or ditch Madriani to tell the espionage/spy/historical books you've been writing.
I'll read his next book, for sure, because he's a great writer. But my disappointment grows with each passing book.
July 2, 2018
This was a very different Paul Madriani story, but it was a challenge for me. With the back story of WWII, and the legacy of Hitler, the Blood Flag features a mystery regarding the deaths of WWII veterans. When a daughter is suspected of killing her father, a WWII veteran, Paul steps up to represent her, and finds himself engaged in solving a mystery of a war relic that several groups are trying to find. Blood Flag was interesting, with plenty of action, that kept me guessing until the end.
Can anyone add more information as to the wherabouts of the Blood Flag?
There is so much going on in this book. As the story procedes they try to figure out what is actually happening and how it all fits together. Quite interesting that the real check points are such that it allows it to really happen.
This is possible to be speculation as to this day the flag has not yet to be seen. Many theories suggest a range between what Wagriff has stated..and a possible rescue by some SS faithful..... Show us the proof that it still exists...and not the fokelore. Here is what i found some days ago about the flag when i did a research on the net for general informations about german flags...
"BLUTFAHNE 'NAZI BLOOD FLAG'
The Blutfahne (Blood flag) was a Nazi Swastika NSDAP flag which was used in the attempted Nazi Beer Hall Putsch in Munich, Germany on November 9, 1923 and one of the most revered objects of the German Nazi Party. The flag was actually that of the 5th SA Sturm that was covered in blood from members of the Nazi Party who had been shot by the Munich Police (primarily from party member Andreas Bauriedl who fell on top of the flag when he was shot and killed).
Very unusual read. A lot of content and difficult to swallow it all. Strange book, not my favorite read!
Can anyone add more information as to the wherabouts of the Blood Flag?
There is so much going on in this book. As the story procedes they try to figure out what is actually happening and how it all fits together. Quite interesting that the real check points are such that it allows it to really happen.
This is possible to be speculation as to this day the flag has not yet to be seen. Many theories suggest a range between what Wagriff has stated..and a possible rescue by some SS faithful..... Show us the proof that it still exists...and not the fokelore. Here is what i found some days ago about the flag when i did a research on the net for general informations about german flags...
"BLUTFAHNE 'NAZI BLOOD FLAG'
The Blutfahne (Blood flag) was a Nazi Swastika NSDAP flag which was used in the attempted Nazi Beer Hall Putsch in Munich, Germany on November 9, 1923 and one of the most revered objects of the German Nazi Party. The flag was actually that of the 5th SA Sturm that was covered in blood from members of the Nazi Party who had been shot by the Munich Police (primarily from party member Andreas Bauriedl who fell on top of the flag when he was shot and killed).
Very unusual read. A lot of content and difficult to swallow it all. Strange book, not my favorite read!
September 15, 2018
This is my first Steve Martini novel, and this is where I'm going to apologize for rounding up. That usually doesn't happen. I actually liked the plot, even with its large leaps into fantasy land. I felt I wanted to see it through to the end. There were some nice twists and I enjoyed the idea of the MCs.
However, my pet peeves were alive and kicking with this one. The biggest problem was the dialogue and the descriptive strokes. My thoughts during most of the dialogue was either "People DON'T say that," or "Do people say that?" It felt awkward and/or flat and I can say the same about some of the outlandish details.
The second thing I'd mention was that this sounded so old. It was as if by throwing in cellphones and computers would modernize this....for the record, it didn't. The reason for rounding up is that the story hooked me. I wanted to know who killed the girl.
However, my pet peeves were alive and kicking with this one. The biggest problem was the dialogue and the descriptive strokes. My thoughts during most of the dialogue was either "People DON'T say that," or "Do people say that?" It felt awkward and/or flat and I can say the same about some of the outlandish details.
The second thing I'd mention was that this sounded so old. It was as if by throwing in cellphones and computers would modernize this....for the record, it didn't. The reason for rounding up is that the story hooked me. I wanted to know who killed the girl.
June 30, 2016
Stories that glorify Hitler and Nazis sicken and repulse me. 0 of 10 stars
June 20, 2016
Wow! Great mystery, fast pace and superb thriller. OMG why have I not read books by Steve Martini before? I'm hooked now!
Read
February 8, 2017I just finished "Blood Flag" by Steve Martini. The story is about Paul Madriani, an attorney in California. He and his partner, Harry Hinds, get a new client, Emma Brauer, who is arrested for the mercy killing of her father. This is more than what it seems on the surface. The story goes back to Hitler and WW II. It is very well written and builds to a suspenseful ending. -Bob K.
June 30, 2016
Another in the Paul Madriani series. This one could have been written a little better, but I enjoyed it. I liked that he took what seemed a little far fetched and made it more plausible.
June 11, 2016
I use to follow the Paul Madraini series but somehow I got sidetracked. I saw it listed on Audible’s suggest reading list and decided to buy it. I have always enjoyed Steve Martini’s writing.
Paul and his partner Harry Hinds have a new client, Emma Brauer. Emma is accused of murdering her father, Robert Brauer, for his money. Paul has his new legal assistant Sofia check into a package left at Robert Brauer’s home just before he was murdered. Paul is notified by the police that Sofia’s body has been found murdered near Robert Brauer’s home. Paul discovers that Robert Brauer was stationed in Munich at the end of WWII and his team was searching for a “blood flag” which was a Nazi flag used by Hitler. He also discovers all members of the unit are dead by mysterious means.
The book is well written and researched. The characters are interesting as is the plot, which twists and turns every which way. I remember the Martini books I read in the past were mostly courtroom dramas. This book is primarily an international thriller. I did find it interesting because of the World War II connection. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Dan Moren did a good job narrating the book.
Paul and his partner Harry Hinds have a new client, Emma Brauer. Emma is accused of murdering her father, Robert Brauer, for his money. Paul has his new legal assistant Sofia check into a package left at Robert Brauer’s home just before he was murdered. Paul is notified by the police that Sofia’s body has been found murdered near Robert Brauer’s home. Paul discovers that Robert Brauer was stationed in Munich at the end of WWII and his team was searching for a “blood flag” which was a Nazi flag used by Hitler. He also discovers all members of the unit are dead by mysterious means.
The book is well written and researched. The characters are interesting as is the plot, which twists and turns every which way. I remember the Martini books I read in the past were mostly courtroom dramas. This book is primarily an international thriller. I did find it interesting because of the World War II connection. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Dan Moren did a good job narrating the book.
June 16, 2016
A scattered mystery based on the provenance of a Nazi flag, rumored to be stained with the blood of an early follower of Hitler and now sought by several competing groups. There are several leaps of logic and coincidence that make this story impossible to stay interested in. The author again reveals, in less than subtle ways, his right wing leanings and will now be removed from my list of "must read" writers.
August 29, 2016
Another good book in this long-running series . Readers of legal thrillers , and especially fans of the San Diego , CA area , would do well to read these books . Books 1-3 give some added background to the characters and law practice , but each book can be read as a stand-alone .
June 30, 2016
Stories that seem the primary purpose is to glorify Hitler and his Nazi regime sicken me. 0 of 10 stars
March 30, 2017
Because I've read and liked other Steve Martini books, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and adding an extra star. But "Blood Flag" was a big disappointment. Not sure if it was written tongue-in-cheek, but it certainly was a preposterous plot and was also poorly executed. It was as if Martini was thinking to himself, "How can I make this book even more ridiculous?" The Paul Madriani series characters were interesting and somewhat endearing, as usual. But the storyline unfolds in a wobbly sort of way; it just doesn't flow. My main beef, though, is how outlandish the plot became. It begins innocently enough with Madriani representing an older woman arrested for the mercy killing of her elderly father, Robert Brauer. Turns out her father and two fellow WW II soldiers helped liberate Munich and helped themselves to Nazi souvenirs. Rumors abound about the existence of the "blood flag", a Nazi flag saturated in the blood of a Nazi killed during an early attempt by Hitler to take over the German government. The flag draws interest from collectors as well as white supremacist groups, the Israelis, and even Muslim terrorist groups. Madriani and his team are swept up in unraveling the clues and trying to find Brauer's real killer, with treachery at every turn. For me, "Blood Flag" was just a little too much. Martini should stick with his successful crime and courtroom dramas.
January 21, 2019
I was off of Martini the past 3-5 years, as I was not a fan of the government/espinoge/terrorist plots as of late, I just want a good lawyer murder mystery. This book was more to my liking, though it had a bit of international intrigue. It was also more interesting since I just visited the WWII Museum in New Orleans, and the basic plot of the book revolved around this era. There was just one area of the book I was critical of, but I went back and re-read it, and decided it was OK, though it was definitely meant to decieve the reader. All in all, probably a 4.5 on my scale. Maybe Beth's "Uncle" Steve is back!
June 28, 2020
It was shmeck!!
August 16, 2018
I practically always like Mr. Martini's books and this one was no exception. I got really involved by it. It did have a major surprise almost at the end that stunned me and it took me awhile to believe it.
July 8, 2016
This is another of Martini's books from the Paul Madriani series. This, like its more recent predecessors, does not involve courtroom action, which made Martini great but instead international action and intrigue. I wish Martini would get back to the courtroom.
However, this is a good book. Paul has a client who is accused of killing her elderly father-a mercy killing since he is sick. The father was a World War II vet who was in Munich when Hitler was brought down. It is believed that he and a couple of buddies have a Nazi flag that was soaked in the blood of a Hitler fanatic which Hitler waved at rallies to fire up his people. The two buddies died mysteriously prior to Emma's father being killed. Where is the flag? Who wants it? What is it worth? What will people do it get the flag?
I enjoy the witty back and forth between characters in Martini books. I can picture Paul's partner Harry. Harry is dating a local judge at the time which spices things up a little. Another fun read but not as good as his courtroom dramas. Return to your roots Steve.
However, this is a good book. Paul has a client who is accused of killing her elderly father-a mercy killing since he is sick. The father was a World War II vet who was in Munich when Hitler was brought down. It is believed that he and a couple of buddies have a Nazi flag that was soaked in the blood of a Hitler fanatic which Hitler waved at rallies to fire up his people. The two buddies died mysteriously prior to Emma's father being killed. Where is the flag? Who wants it? What is it worth? What will people do it get the flag?
I enjoy the witty back and forth between characters in Martini books. I can picture Paul's partner Harry. Harry is dating a local judge at the time which spices things up a little. Another fun read but not as good as his courtroom dramas. Return to your roots Steve.
September 8, 2016
Started out with a bang - then I got to Chapter 10 bringing in Mossad and I was afraid it was going to all about spies, terrorism etc which I hate to read! I had selected it for my day on the beach read so I had no option except to carry on and I'm glad I did. A very historically correct recap of Hitler and his rise to power. I had never heard of the infamous Blood Flag so it was a learning experience for me, as well as a very good murder mystery. Excellent conclusion. Haven't read Martini - maybe drank one - in years, after enjoying this one I'm going to look for more - novels not drinks!!
May 31, 2016
One of my go-to mystery writers, Steve Martini, takes us on a trip through military history as Paul Madriani probes the deaths of WWII vets. Martini has strayed from his courtroom drama roots -- there are no courtroom scenes in this one-- but it's an interesting and solid mystery, even for those who aren't big WWII history fans.
September 29, 2023
I’ve dipped into this series randomly for years. You can absolutely read this without having to read previous books.
Paul Madriani and his legal partner, Harry Hinds, came into a good bit of money because of a previous case. That’s going to be helpful in this book.
She is Emma Brauer. She’s in her 60s, she never married, has no current love interest, and she desperately needs legal help. You see, the cops think she killed her aging dad. She insists she didn’t, but they send her to jail on a manslaughter charge that they can eagerly amend to murder. Madriani and Hinds take the case. Emma explained that her dad got a package in the mail from someone with whom he associated in World War II. The package included a safety deposit box key and a folded paper that looked like a German officer ID from the war. He never told Emma what the paper represented, but he was afraid until the day he unexpectedly died in a veterans hospital.
Madriani’s young legal assistant agrees to drop by the house and rescue Emma’s little dog. While she’s in the act of rescuing the dog from a cellar into which someone threw it earlier, presumably the same person sets on her and murders her. They don’t find her body for two days.
As Madriani investigates, he learns that Emma’s dad isn’t the only one to die unexpectedly. A man in Oklahoma City got a package like the one Bob Brauer got, and he, too, died in a veterans hospital.
I should warn those of you who read this series and expect courtroom drama that there is none in this book. That frankly disappointed me just a little. This feels more like some kind of spy espionage thriller. It was good for what it did, and I enjoyed it, but I guess it didn’t quite align with my expectations.
Paul Madriani and his legal partner, Harry Hinds, came into a good bit of money because of a previous case. That’s going to be helpful in this book.
She is Emma Brauer. She’s in her 60s, she never married, has no current love interest, and she desperately needs legal help. You see, the cops think she killed her aging dad. She insists she didn’t, but they send her to jail on a manslaughter charge that they can eagerly amend to murder. Madriani and Hinds take the case. Emma explained that her dad got a package in the mail from someone with whom he associated in World War II. The package included a safety deposit box key and a folded paper that looked like a German officer ID from the war. He never told Emma what the paper represented, but he was afraid until the day he unexpectedly died in a veterans hospital.
Madriani’s young legal assistant agrees to drop by the house and rescue Emma’s little dog. While she’s in the act of rescuing the dog from a cellar into which someone threw it earlier, presumably the same person sets on her and murders her. They don’t find her body for two days.
As Madriani investigates, he learns that Emma’s dad isn’t the only one to die unexpectedly. A man in Oklahoma City got a package like the one Bob Brauer got, and he, too, died in a veterans hospital.
I should warn those of you who read this series and expect courtroom drama that there is none in this book. That frankly disappointed me just a little. This feels more like some kind of spy espionage thriller. It was good for what it did, and I enjoyed it, but I guess it didn’t quite align with my expectations.
September 3, 2024
I picked this book up off my TBR pile because the cozy mystery I had started bored me. I decided to see if this book could hold my attention. I glanced at it and was suddenly on chapter 12. I am mad at myself for not picking this up sooner. Granted this is my first Steve Martini book to read and I LOVED it. It was just what I needed. First off, I am a WWII history major, so the story had me right away. Not only that but for me, when Michael Crichton passes away, I was distraught. No one could write as fabulous has him, nor the subject matter. Mr. Martini may not cover science or medicine, but his use of the law and history was very well researched and used to entertain and tell a compelling story, much like Mr. Crichton. I cannot wait to buy more of his books. I am hooked and already suggested this book to a few friends. Very well written and paced, I was certainly in suspense for a few scenes, and as a Jeep driver really happy Paul drives one too. Wonderful mystery, and realistic characters that never made you roll your eyes are their actions nor did the writer have them do things that put them in danger for no reason.
August 16, 2020
Librarians and marketing department got it wrong: NOT a novel about assisted suicide.
As I noted about other books supposed to be about assisted suicide/medical killing, this novel has nothing to do with euthanasia, the killing of an elderly human being. It is, however, a suspenseful murder mystery involving an artifact from Nazi Germany.
Martini does write some rather suspenseful scenes. While the pages of question-and-answer format between characters can be cumbersome, history buffs will appreciate how much information is conveyed about things now forgotten by contemporary readers (World War II, September 11, the abuses of the Obama reign/dictatorship on the country, etc.).
If you’re researching contemporary fiction on euthanasia or medical killing, skip this novel. If you want a good read for the fun of it, then Martini’s style will please you.
As I noted about other books supposed to be about assisted suicide/medical killing, this novel has nothing to do with euthanasia, the killing of an elderly human being. It is, however, a suspenseful murder mystery involving an artifact from Nazi Germany.
Martini does write some rather suspenseful scenes. While the pages of question-and-answer format between characters can be cumbersome, history buffs will appreciate how much information is conveyed about things now forgotten by contemporary readers (World War II, September 11, the abuses of the Obama reign/dictatorship on the country, etc.).
If you’re researching contemporary fiction on euthanasia or medical killing, skip this novel. If you want a good read for the fun of it, then Martini’s style will please you.
May 30, 2020
This was a very interesting book. However, I wish there was more historical facts and that it focussed more around the blood flag itself. I found this book to be written more like a crime drama television show. This is not to say that the book is not interesting or good, because it is. I was just expecting something a little different and wanted more of the historical background and more of a treasure hunt. The characters are witty, smart and you find yourself caring about them as the novel progresses. The performance was great. It gave tension to those scenes that it should and the narrator provided distinct female and male voices for all characters. This was an intriguing novel I was just expecting something a little more different.
July 9, 2024
I rarely comment. There are many commenter's within Goodreads who are performing that job with exactisms.
However, a reader should be forewarned when a favourite courtroom drama author changes genre into spy novels. Bookreads BAD on them.
This book (draggggged) on and some text was repeated too often, simply as filler. Many times it was difficult to realize which character was speaking. Maybe that came from boredom.
None of Martini's characters came alive. They were dead before the author had them killed.
After 50 pages, and finding a dislike for the characters, I know better, rather than my completing this book. It was a challenge, I kept thinking it will get better, but no such much luck.
I do hope Martini doesn't go the way of a failed Grisham.
However, a reader should be forewarned when a favourite courtroom drama author changes genre into spy novels. Bookreads BAD on them.
This book (draggggged) on and some text was repeated too often, simply as filler. Many times it was difficult to realize which character was speaking. Maybe that came from boredom.
None of Martini's characters came alive. They were dead before the author had them killed.
After 50 pages, and finding a dislike for the characters, I know better, rather than my completing this book. It was a challenge, I kept thinking it will get better, but no such much luck.
I do hope Martini doesn't go the way of a failed Grisham.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2017
I've read previous Steve Martini books and always enjoyed them - but this one just didn't capture my imagination. The story was interesting enough, with a few nice twists and turns along the way. But about halfway through I found myself mimicking a small child on a long trip and constantly asking "Are we there yet?". Martini books focus on courtroom drama, and this one barely went inside the courtroom at all, blossoming instead into international intrigue and lost WWII artifacts. I hope that next time Paul Madriani stays in the courtroom where he shines. Not the worst book - but not Martini's best.
May 27, 2018
Mr. Martini is plots effortlessly and with conviction, and is among the best of modern mystery writers at holding back critical information to breed suspense. The action in the Madriani series is sparse but intense, and this is among the better entries in the series. Mr. Madriani is most comfortable in describing facts and exposition in the third person, and does this with the economy of a legal brief at times which can feel a bit dry. Motives in his stories are normally those of greed or revenge powered by greed, and there is an unreality to the banter between the recurring characters as regards their professional motives. I recommend it if the afternoon is rainy.
September 5, 2019
Herman started out in the series of 6‘6“, then down to 6‘4“, back up to 6‘6“, now he’s down to 6‘3“. Have some consistencies. One of the worst books to me. They said that Tony did not want to kill Sophia but he did not shut the dog up While he was hidden in the basement. The whole scene with Sophia going through that house was way too long. The author has a habit of doing that, Fills in a lot of areas of the book when his book would be much better if he shorten it up. Why in the heck did Paul go back in the house so he could of brought Tony out of the house. I am officially done
January 19, 2021
A daughter, Emma Brauer, is accused of murdering her father n a VA hospital. She claims innocence and hires partners Harry Hinds and Paul Madriani, attorneys, to help her. As they investigate, Emma tells them her father was very frightened in his last days, but he wouldn't tell her why. He had received a small box with a picture and a small a small key in it. Her father served in the army, along with Ed Pack and Walter Jones. They were in Munich after the 1923 Beer Hall Putch. During the Putch, one of Hitler's men, Andreas Bauriedl was shot and killed. He fell on the Nazi flag and bleed out. Hitler took the flag and whenever he was publicly speaking, had another man carry the flag. It was believed that Emma's father, Ed Pack and Walter Jones stole the flag from the wreckage of the building it was in after the war ended. Now, all three of them have died. It's evident someone is looking for the flag, believed to be worth millions. The U.S. government is looking to find it to destroy it. Finding the flag is critical to Harry and Paul's defense of Emma, but where and how?
June 8, 2017
The first I've read in this series , but there will be more. Paul and his team are sitting flush cash so they can afford to help their new client charged with the mercy killing of her father. Then it turns out his two closest army buddies from WWII also recently died under suspicious circumstances. Martini weaves together a legal thriller without having the reader dragged through court page after page. Ultimately all will be revealed and loose ends are tied up appropriately.
August 3, 2017
A woman is blamed for the mercy killing of her father, Madriani takes the case claiming she's innocent. While investigating her case Paul stumbles upon a WWII incident involving the taking of a Nazi artifact directly tied to Hitler. The veterans that took it have all ended up dead.
This isn't your typical court room drama but I enjoyed the bit of history and particularly the surprise at the end.
This isn't your typical court room drama but I enjoyed the bit of history and particularly the surprise at the end.
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