Customer Reviews

The Simeon Chamber

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

This is Martini's first book and had a limited printing. I wanted to get a 1st edition for my collection. I found it here at a reasonable price and decent condition. I will now hope to get it signed. Thanks.

Great thriller. Very intriguing plot with a historical twist. Unpredictatable ending. Steve writes a great novel from his extensive background in law and now shows a deep understanding of history.

I read this book cover to cover on an airplane. I was INFATUATED with it, because I could not belive how horrible it was! I kept thinking that the next page would jump to life unlike the rest of the book which is nothing more than empty characters and plot that was obviously written after many viewings of the movie CHINATOWN. I must admit, I found the ending stunning, stunningly predictable and depressing. It does have nice title and the history noir is well researched, but that simply isn't enough for me. It truely is one of the worst books I've ever. read.

The Simeon Chamber is the second Steve Martini book I have read (Compelling Evidence being the first) and I was thoroughly disappointed. The book tells the story of Sam Bogardus, a lawyer who is hired on what seems to be a simple adoption case at first. All of a sudden the plot evolves into a search for the lost journals of Francis Drake as well as trying to solve a murder that is 30 years past. Martini just fails to build a believable chain of events. Again, don't waste your time with this book. I will definitely give Martini another chance, because I found Compelling Evidence to be outstanding

Uh - what was that? One of the weirdest stories I've ever read, that's what. If you want a farcical story stringing together Sir Francis Drake, German Nazis, Chinatown, William Randolph Hearst, and a bunch of adventurous lawyers, then this book is for you. The ending was unexpected, and caused me to exclaim, "oh come on" out loud as I discovered who killed our hero's partner. For Martini fans, this one has none of the courtroom drama, but does weave in a lot of adventure. The story was well paced, but too incredible.