The Simeon Chamber [Paperback]

Steve Martini (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Jove Book (1996)
• ASIN: B00128HFS4
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling, edge-of-your-seat action, incredible finish, July 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Simeon Chamber (Mass Market Paperback)

This was the first book by Steve Martini that I read and it was superb. It was recommended to me by a friend and I just couldn't put the book down. He has an average cast of characters but a plot which keeps you going with every twist. Anyone who likes Clancy or Grisham, would really enjoy this book, with its slew of lawyers, and action hero sidekicks. Overall a wonderful read, and one of the best (unexpected) endings to a novel.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars First mystery novel from now successful author, not bad !, August 24, 2002

By 

Gerald M. Bull "Jerry Bull" (Fairview, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Simeon Chamber (Mass Market Paperback)

Unlike lawyers Grisham, Turow, and Scottoline, turned writers, Steve Martini is a journalism graduate and writer who went on to become a lawyer! (Seems there ought to be a good joke in there somehow!) He must be doing fine, as his booklist now numbers eight (five of which comprise the defense attorney Paul Madriani series), with a ninth hardback due out late this year. Let's get real here folks -- this is his first book, and we thought, not bad at all.

In a very complex plot, almost shades of Clancy, we're quickly engrossed into the hunt for possible survivors of a 1942 blimp crash; a search for 16th century documents, possibly the journal of the explorer/pirate Francis Drake; the murder of the partner (and former {?} love interest) of the leading man, lawyer Sam Bogardus; and some other crimes and problems too numerous to recount. There's really not much lawyering happening, and sure, some of this winds up a little silly and improbable, but hey, it's mystery fiction. We thought the goings-on, climaxed by a very neat wrapping up of all the puzzles and murders, plus one totally unexpected revelation in the epilogue, were indeed quite entertaining. And the huge surprise ending left us aghast -- we cannot imagine many at all will be the slightest bit prepared for this icing on the cake!

In sum, a fine plot with quite a neat ending, with good story telling hurt somewhat by a few weak characters and/or some improbable action, gives Martini's first effort a passing grade, leaving us anxious to try his second outing and first of the Madriani set. Why not!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I liked it!, July 11, 2002

By 

"mockingbird73" (Lee's Summit, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Simeon Chamber (Mass Market Paperback)

Some of the other reviews considered this to be a pretty poorly written book, but I found it to be very entertaining and the ending was a real surprise. The Simeon Chamber is not on the level of a Grisham or Turow novel, but I'd put it right there with a writer like William Bernhardt. It's a quick read and it is a page-turner. You may also learn a little about Sir Francis Drake that you didn't learn in high school or college. Give it a try.