The Alternate

A former beauty queen is murdered, her body is discovered by her husband, millionaire Congressman Elliot Ashford, who the maid had overheard arguing with the deceased earlier, plus some of his blood had been found at the scene. After studying the evidence, Grace Harris, head of the D.A.s homicide trials team, finds gaps in the case, but she's ignored by her boss, DA Earl Field, because he has eyes on the governor's chair and sees this case as a stepping stone. Then Grace finds evidence missing. It looks as if someone is trying to rig the outcome of the case and she wonders if Mafia type connections of Ashford's have been paying off officials Attorney Barrett Dickson, once a superstar defense lawyer who is now ready for a comeback, becomes advisor to the defense and raises the stakes at the trial. Before the case is over there'll be a couple more murders, alternates will replace original jurists and the lead defense counsel will quit. THE ALTERNATE is a top notch legal thriller written by a top notch trial lawyer that will leave you sweating bullets. I swear, this book will make you believe you've been to court and it will keep your heart pumping right up until the end. Reviewed by Sara Hackett, who just adore's her husband Jack Priest's books Ragged Man, Gecko & Night Witch.

If you enjoy a reading cocktail of one half law,one quarter mystery and 2 jiggers of intrique(Mafia style) and a splash of intensity, this is the book for you. As late as the last sixty pages I could not fathom the final outcome. This is the first book of Mr Martel's that I have enjoyed, I certainly look forward to reading more, if they are even close in interest as this one, I know it will not be a mistake.

For anyone interested in courtroom thrillers, this is a "must read". John Martel captures the pressures and excitement of trying high visibility cases and masterfully passes it along to the reader. As a retired trial lawyer, who has tried high visibility cases, I can attest to the great job Martel does. I think it the best of his three novels to date.

In "The Alternate," Martel brings you into the world of a high-profile trial and never lets you go. Unlike many practioners of the genre, he doesn't stint when it comes to sudden plot turns and unpredictability--you feel like you're in the hands of an expert, but an EXCITING expert. Like a great Hitchcock film, the peripheral characters are just as interesting and engaging as the central characters. Check this out.

Wealthy Elliot Ashford resigns from Congress when the media learns that his spouse cuckolds him with a senator. Ashford and his spouse return to San Francisco where rumors soon surface that he has ties to the Mafia. He has become one of the city's celebrities, but that ends when his spouse is sexually mutilated and murdered in their bathroom. All evidence points towards Elliot. Assistant District Attorney Grace Harris expects to take the case to trial even though the proof seems a bit short to fully obtain a conviction. Apparently, the police lost some key DNA evidence that would have proved whether Ashford did the crime. Ashford swears he is innocent and has an alibi to back his testimony. However, he is unable to provide the alibi because it involves the Don's son. Defense attorney Barrett Dickson, who thinks the judicial system is a farce, agrees to represent Ashford. More murders follow, leaving Ashford and Barrett struggling to uncover the truth. Fans of legal procedurals will enjoy THE ALTERNATE, a work that includes two murder trials, three murders, and a witness with a personal agenda. John Martel paints the legal system as being unfair due to political interference with justice and the law. Once the book is started, it is impossible to not complete the novel in one sitting in spite of its length and complexity. After perusing this tale, many sub-genre fans will wait for Mr. Martel's next book rather than choose an alternate author.Harriet Klausner