Book Review Older-31st

Double Tap, written by Steve Martini.  The book was published by G.P. Putnam & Sons, July, 2005, and is 400 pages.

In La Jolla, California, the very wealthy drive fancy cars and buy expensive art.  At least Madelyn Chapman did, until she was shot in the head, very distinctively, with two shots in very close proximity.  This special skill in shooting is known as a double tap.  Before this early termination of her life, Madelyn ran one of the top software companies in the country, known as Isotenics.  Her company has regular contracts with the Pentagon and she frequently played high-stake games for high-stake fees.  One of her contracts may have been for stakes that were far too high.

Emiliano Ruiz was her once upon a time bodyguard.  He is ex-military and all that that entails, there is also a seven year time period that there are no records of his whereabouts or activities.  He is also the prime suspect charged with this horrible crime.

Paul Madriani and his partner Harry are defending Ruiz; they believe in his innocence and try every legal maneuver they can; along the way they discover things about Madelyn’s company, that not only were very dangerous to her health, but to every American with a computer.  In his effort to find evidence to free his client, he finds himself being warned off by strangers and aid coming from the strangest of places.

Paul is a regular character for Steve Martini, and he has written other novels involving him.  The book though interesting, was a slow read and very few of the characters were of redeeming quality and they were difficult to invest in or care about, though the real killer was a surprise.  The day and age of spy ware is here and now, and the threat in this book is clear.  Big Brother could be out there.