Defending a client accused of killing her father, attorney Paul Madriani is drawn into a treacherous conspiracy dating to World War II in this enthralling installment in the New York Times bestselling series.

Paul Madriani and Harry Hinds have a new client: Emma Brauer, a woman accused in the “mercy killing” of her aged father, Robert Brauer. Insisting she’s innocent, Emma tells Paul about a package sent to her father shortly before he entered the hospital. Bequeathed to him by a member of his unit from World War II, the box contains a key and a slip of paper. Emma fears that this package is connected to her father’s death.

When Paul’s young assistant Sofia is murdered, Madriani is blindsided by the realization that Emma’s fears are well-grounded.

Digging into Robert’s military history, Madriani discovers that other members of the Army unit Robert served with have recently died—under similarly suspicious circumstances. When he finds that the box sent to Brauer relates to a mysterious talisman that went missing at the end of the war—a feared Nazi relic known as the “Blood Flag”—Madriani and Hinds realize they are in for the fight of their lives.

With Emma’s life on the line and their own safety in jeopardy, Madriani must uncover the truth before the evil of the Blood Flag is allowed to spin a new web.

**

Review

“The novel boasts the sure-handed, suspenseful storytelling that Martini’s fans have come to expect. Martini holds serve with his 14th Paul Madriani thriller, in which Hitler’s evil legacy continues to haunt survivors of World War II.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Get ready for a great read…. If 10 stars could be given, Martini rates them all.” (Suspense Magazine)

“Steve Martini’s writing is smooth, clear and easy to become immersed in. The integrity he writes into his characters feels as fresh as a Pacific Ocean breeze. A rewarding read with strong characters and an outstanding sense of realism.” (Mystery Scene)

“With plenty of surprises waiting just around each corner, Blood Flag is a fast-paced thriller that picks up steam on its way to a shocking, climactic ending that most readers will not see coming.” (Therealbookspy.com)

From the Back Cover

When Emma Brauer is blamed in the mercy killing of her father, Paul Madriani and his partner, Harry Hinds, step in to defend her. Insisting she’s innocent, Emma tells Madriani about a package sent to her father. Bequeathed to him by a fellow soldier from World War II, the box contains only a key and a slip of paper.

Madriani uncovers a trail leading to a mysterious talisman—a feared Nazi relic known as the Blood Flag. Soaked in the blood of a fallen Nazi follower, it went missing at the end of the war, turning it into a historic prize sought by collectors and others with darker motives. Racing to locate the artifact before it falls into the wrong hands, Madriani is in for the fight of his life.

In one of his most perilous cases yet, with Emma’s life on the line and his own safety in jeopardy, Madriani must uncover the truth before more people die in the struggle over the Blood Flag and its horrific legacy.