Vol. 39, No. 1
Summer 2009

Book Talk

(Book Talk is presented by Reader Advisor Librarian Henry Hayden and is a review of a featured book and narrator. Comments and suggestions are invited either through emails Henry Hayden or by calling 602-255-5578)

Writer’s Note:
Feeling the need to beat the heat and looking for an author who excels in adventure, murder, courtroom drama, and has a setting cooler than Phoenix?  If you are, Steve Martini is your man.  His Paul Madriani series takes you to the ocean breeze city of San Diego for some cool non-stop entertainment.  Characters are vividly portrayed, plots are so believable that you’ll think you’re there, and the narrative twists and turns will keep you guessing right up to the last page!!  No doubt, as many critics claim, best-selling author Steve Martini is equal to if not better than John Grisham, Erle Stanley Gardner, and other masters of murder and courtroom intrigue.

Book Review:
The Attorney
RC 49308
By Steve Martini
429 pages on three cassettes
Narrated by Ray Foushee

From The Book Jacket
“Having moved to San Diego to be closer to the woman in his life, Madriani takes on the case of Jonah Hale, an elderly man in dire straits.  Because of the long time drug addiction of their only child, Jessica, Jonah and his wife have been raising their eight-year-old granddaughter, Amanda. After Jonah wins a multi-million-dollar state lottery, Jessica revives her interest in mothering.  When Jonah won’t deal – maternal rights for a megabucks pay-off – Jessica pulls out all the stops!

Enter Zo Suade, a flamboyant feminist activist with a talent for making children and their ‘vitimized ‘mothers disappear.  When the next move turns deadly, Madriani finds himself drawn into a web of deceit and high-stakes action, in and out of the courtroom.

Rich with characters drawn from today’s headlines, driven by motives both obvious and subtle, The Attorney marks the much anticipated return of Paul Madriani.”

About The Author:
Steve Martini was born in San Francisco and grew up in the Bay area and Southern California.  He was an honors graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz, and sought his first career in journalism. As a journalist, he worked as a newspaper reporter in Los Angeles and as a correspondent at the state capitol in Sacramento, specializing in legal affairs.  In 1974, after receiving a law degree from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law, Martini entered private practice in California, where he appeared in both state and federal courts.  During his legal career he was legislative representative for the state bar, a special counsel to the California Victims of Violent Crimes Program, and an administrative law judge and supervising hearing officer.

In 1984, Martini turned his talents to fiction.  Compelling Evidence ( RC34895 narrated on three cassettes by Ray Foushee) the novel that introduced attorney Paul Madriani, was published by Putnam and Sons in 1992.  A national bestseller, it earned Martini a critical and popular following.  Other legal thrillers  featuring Martini’s  lawyer alter ego Paul Madriani  are; Prime Witness (RC 37306 published in 1993 and narrated by Ray Foushee on three cassettes), Undue Influence ( RC 38592 published in 1994 and narrated by Ray Foushee on three cassettes), and The Judge  RC 41353 published in 1995 on three cassettes and narrated by Ray Foushee.  There are also Madriani novels that come after The Attorney and are available in the Arizona State Braille and Talking Book Collection.
( The above material was taken from both the print copy of The Attorney and from annotations listed in the National Library Service Catalogue.)
 
About The Narrator:

Ray Foushee has been a Talking narrator for the American Printing House for the Blind since 1984 and won the coveted Alexander Scourby Award in 1995 for his superior fictional narrative skills.  He was a television announcer for WDRB prior to becoming a Talking Book narrator and was the originator, producer, and hosted the award – winning “TV As It Used To Be” and “Hilarity Hall” series. Foushee also served as vice-president of a Louisville sports marketing firm and was consultant to athletic departments at the University of Louisville, University of Miami, and Texas A&M  University.  Since 1984 he has recorded over 300 books for American Printing House for the Blind and for fun is an avid fantasy football player.