Part of Paul Madriani, book 9
First published 2008
Legal scholar Terry Scarborough publishes a provocative book that resurrects forgotten constitutional language and hints at a missing Thomas Jefferson letter. The work threatens to split the nation with its revelations about slavery and founding era scandals. During his publicity tour, someone murders Scarborough in his San Diego hotel room. Police arrest a young man with suspicious connections, and prosecutors build what appears to be a solid case. Defense attorney Paul Madriani sees through the surface evidence. He believes his client is being framed, caught in a web much larger than a simple murder. As the trial progresses, Madriani and his partner Harry Hinds search for Jefferson's missing letter, convinced it holds the key to understanding why Scarborough died. Their investigation leads them from California courtrooms to a Supreme Court justice who has mysteriously gone into hiding. The case exposes the brutal political machinations surrounding appointments to the nation's highest court.
Genres: suspense, mystery, political-thriller, legal-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: frame-up, hidden-secrets
Setting: California, San Diego
Period: Founding Era
390 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow