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The presence of Perry Mason is a persistent thread in my life as long as I can remember: watching original shows if I was allowed up that late, then reruns, then the Return of Perry Mason as TV movies (the early ones filmed right here in Toronto), buying occasional hardcover anthologies and later collecting original paperbacks on eBay (even old TV Guide cover story issues), and most recently devouring the DVDs as they are released, a half a season at a time, every six months. I love the back and forth of investigative leg work and court room drama.
So imagine my delight in discovering Steve Martini's Shadow of Power in which our latter day criminal lawyer, Paul Madriani and his partner Harry Hinds, take on the case of an angry young man caught at the scene of a murder with his finger and shoeprints all over the room ... and the murder weapon! Set against a backdrop of the run up to the 2008 presidential elections, and involving, from the sidelines an ailing Supreme Court Justice, and a delightful conceit in the form of an undiscovered "Jefferson Letter" on slavery which threatens to ignite race riots across the country, the story tumbles along sometimes patiently, sometimes briskly, as the trial wears on and new revelations come to light. Highly recommended!
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