Hailed by the National Law Journal as one of the top ten trial lawyers in America--and a consultant in the prosecution of O.J. Simpson and the retrial of the Menendez brothers--John Martel is a legal superstar. He has brought his expertise to bear on two top thrillers, Partners and Conflicts of Interest. The Alternate is his boldest accomplishment yet.When a philandering ex-congressman is charged with killing his wife, it seems like an open and shut case. He is abusive, elitist, and unremorseful. He is also--he swears--innocent. Forced to piece together a puzzle that includes the mob, mistresses, double jeopardy, political ambition, and a tainted jury, both Grace Harris, the prosecutor, and Barrett Dickson, the defense attorney, find themselves closer to the murder investigation, and each other, than is comfortable. Risking their lives and careers to get to the truth of this case, these lawyers must confront their deepest fears and a killer determined to influence the outcome of the trial no matter how many lives it takes.This summer, John Martel combines his two talents in one sensational novel that will solidify his reputation as one of the best legal thriller writers today.