Η πανεπιστημιούπολη του Ντάβενπορτ συγκλονίζεται από 4 άγριους φόνους που συμβαίνουν μέσα σε διάστημα 5 ημερών. Τα θύματα είναι δεμένα και καρφωμένα στο χώμα στις όχθες του Πούτα Κρικ. Αργότερα ανακαλύπτονται άλλα δύο πτώματα. Η Αστυνομία συλλαμβάνει έναν ύποπτο, ένα Ρώσο μετανάστη, φύλακα του πανεπιστημίου αλλά η υπόθεση κρύβει πολύ περισσότερα. Η ανάμιξη του Ρώσου στις δύο τελευταίες δολοφονίες αμφισβητείται. Μάλλον κάποιος αντέγραψε τον δολοφόνο, κρύβοντας τα δικά του κίνητρα.Μην περιμένετε ανατροπές και αγωνία σε πραγματική δράση και χρόνο. Όλα διαδραματίζονται κυρίως μέσα σε δικαστικές αίθουσες. Ανατροπές, πλοκή κλπ. μόνο με δικανικούς ορους και παραθυράκια του νόμου. Ο Ρώσος έκανε τους φόνους κι ένας άλλος τον αντέγραψε για να καλύψει τα δικά του ίχνη. Αυτό είναι δεδομένο από την αρχή. Από κει και πέρα πότε θα δικαστεί, βάσει ποιων μαρτύρων, τι δολοπλοκίες και ιστοί εξυφαίνονται για την επίλυση της υπόθεσης και κυρίως ποιος είναι ο δεύτερος δολοφόνος όλα εκδικάζονται και ανατρέπονται πριν ή μετά τις ακροαματικές διαδικασίες. Πολύ καλή η ανατροπή και η τελική αποκάλυψη και οι σκηνές κυνηγητού μες στο δικαστικό μέγαρο. Όντως δεν περίμενα ότι αυτός θα ήταν ο δολοφόνος και είναι και πολύ καλά δομημένο το προφίλ του και η συμπεριφορά του στο βιβλίο. Το βιβλίο είναι καλό και αγωνιώδες μόνο αν έχεις διαβάσει Γκρίσαμ και σου αρέσουν τα έργα του. Είναι καλό θριλεράκι αλλα κλειστοφοβικό και με πολλούς δικανικούς όρους και ανατροπές επί των δικών και επί των εγγυήσεων κλπ. που ίσως κουράσουν και ξενίσουν.Στα ελληνικά από τις εκδόσεις Bell το 1996 (Ουσιώδης μάρτυρας).
I had to listen to the abridged version (cassette) and I realized I do not care for these. I read one and it was great, this was not. Giving them one more try..may have to skip over these in the futureTHIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY2nd in the Madriani series)- "When Paul Madriani agrees to fill in temporarily as Special County Prosecutor, he has no idea that he will become involved in a serial murder case. The search for the "Putah Creek Killer" leads to the arrest of a college security guard, Andre Iganovich. Adrian Chambers, the defense counsel, has a shady professional past and a deep-seated dislike for Madriani, who was instrumental in the attorney's previous suspension from the bar association. As the evidence unfolds, discrepancies between the first two double murders and the third one become apparent, leading the prosecution to believe that a copy-cat murderer is on the loose. Threats against Madriani's family, legal posturing, the identification of a witness to the third set of murders, and a killer's desperation combine to produce a thrilling story."To me, Martini is a master at writing courtroom drama. He is excellent about explaining everything so the reader doesn’t feel lost. I liked this a lot better than the 1st one. (less)
What do You think about Prime Witness (1994)?
(2nd in the Madriani series)- "When Paul Madriani agrees to fill in temporarily as Special County Prosecutor, he has no idea that he will become involved in a serial murder case. The search for the "Putah Creek Killer" leads to the arrest of a college security guard, Andre Iganovich. Adrian Chambers, the defense counsel, has a shady professional past and a deep-seated dislike for Madriani, who was instrumental in the attorney's previous suspension from the bar association. As the evidence unfolds, discrepancies between the first two double murders and the third one become apparent, leading the prosecution to believe that a copy-cat murderer is on the loose. Threats against Madriani's family, legal posturing, the identification of a witness to the third set of murders, and a killer's desperation combine to produce a thrilling story."To me, Martini is a master at writing courtroom drama. He is excellent about explaining everything so the reader doesn’t feel lost. I liked this a lot better than the 1st one.
—Kellie
I read the paperback version of this book.The story is long and contains a lot of extraneous detail about gathering evidence. Paul Madrani becomes the acting District Attorney to prosecute several murders which appear to have a serialquality but he discovers that there are several clues which do not link up and he decides that hemust separate the murders at the trial.He is opposed in this by the judge and by the opposing counsel who persists in bringing all themurders in even when the judge has agreed to separate them.
—Phyllis
I first got interested in Steve Martini after watching The Judge, an interesting movie that had some nice courtroom scenes for which I am always a sucker. I had already purchased Prime Witness in audio so decided to make it my chores listening. I enjoyed it. Several characters pop up who were in The Judge. This one is unusual int hat Paul Modriani, Martini's protagonist plays the role of district attorney, rather against his will and he is thrown into the middle of a case that pits him against an old antagonist. No point repeating the plot, that's available everywhere.Some reviewers have downgraded this book because of the level of detail supplied in the investigation. That's the kind of stuff I like. I especially enjoyed the courtroom and lawyerly battles using obscure features of the law in an attempt to gain the upper hand in the battle to gain the advantage.One negative, I thought, was the side plot that involved threats against Modriani's wife. I thought that was unnecessary and not well explicated. The ending is perhaps a bit preposterous; nevertheless, solid entertainment.
—Eric_W
