In truth, I was torn between giving this book one or two stars. To date, two network mini-series have been produced and broadcast based on Martini’s works, Undue Influence by CBS, and The Judge on NBC. Other novels by Martini include: The Jury, The Arraignment, Double Tap, Shadow of Power, Guardian of Lies, The Rule of Nine, and Trader of Secrets. It was a topic to which Martini would return in later years. Critical Mass addressed issues of terrorism and the threat from weapons of mass destruction two years before the events of 9/11.

Critical Mass, his next novel published in 1998, continued the departure from the courtroom as well as the Madriani series, though it involved a lawyer protagonist and was well within the legal-thriller genre.

The List, published in 1997, a novel and thriller about the commercial book publishing industry, was the first Martini novel to depart from the series characters since the author reached the best sellers list. It was followed quickly by New York Times bestsellers Prime Witness, Undue Influence, The Judge, and The Attorney, each featuring the series character Madriani and his contrarian and irrepressible law partner, Harry Hinds. A national bestseller, the novel earned Martini a critical and popular following. Compelling Evidence, his second novel, introduced his series character, attorney Paul Madriani, and was published by G.P. His first attempt at a novel, The Simeon Chamber, was represented by an agent and sold to the New York publisher D.I. In the mid-1980s Martini began his fiction-writing career. He is currently inactive with the State Bar of California, choosing writing instead as a full-time occupation. He has worked as an administrative hearing officer, a supervising hearing officer, an administrative law judge, and for a time served as Deputy Director of the State Office of Administrative Hearings. During his law career, in addition to other activities, he worked as a legislative representative for the California Department of Consumer Affairs, the State Bar of California, and served as special counsel to the California Victims of Violent Crimes Program. Martini has practiced law both privately as well as for public agencies appearing in state and federal courts. He was admitted to the Bar in January 1975. During this period he attended night law school and in 1974 took his law degree from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. There he specialized in legal and political coverage. In 1970 he became the newspaper’s first correspondent at the State Capitol in Sacramento and later its bureau chief. He worked as a newspaper reporter for the Los Angeles Daily Journal, the largest legal newspaper in the country covering the state, the local courts and the civic center beat. Martini's first career was in journalism.

The Simeon Chamber by Steve Martini