Scottoline, Lisa

Average customer rating:

Twisty, thrilling and tightly plotted -- a winner from beginning to end!
best scottoline yet.
Still the glass ceiling!
Very Good
A thriller to the end!

Daddy's Girl
Lisa Scottoline
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Simple Genius

ASIN: 0060833149
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Book Description

Natalie Greco loves being a law professor, even though she can't keep her students from cruising sex.com during class and secretly feels like Faculty Comic Relief. She loves her family, too, but as a bookworm, doesn't quite fit into the cult of Greco football, headed by her father, the team captain. The one person she feels most connected to is her colleague, Angus Holt, a guy with a brilliant mind, a great sense of humor, a gorgeous facade, and a penchant for helping those less fortunate. When he talks Nat into teaching a class at a local prison, her comfortably imperfect world turns upside down.

A violent prison riot breaks out during the class, and in the chaos, Nat rushes to help a grievously injured prison guard. Before he dies, he asks her to deliver a cryptic message with his last words: "Tell my wife it's under the floor."

The dying declaration plunges Nat into a nightmare. Suddenly, the girl who has always followed the letter of the law finds herself suspected of a brutal murder and encounters threats to her life around every curve. Now not only are the cops after her, but ruthless killers are desperate to keep her from exposing their secret. In the meantime, she gets dangerously close to Angus, whose warmth, strength, and ponytail shake her dedication to her safe boyfriend.

With her love life in jeopardy, her career in the balance, and her life on the line, Nat must rely on her resources, her intelligence, and her courage. Forced into hiding to stay alive, she sets out to save herself by deciphering the puzzle behind the dead guard's last words . . . and learns the secret to the greatest puzzle of all—herself.

Filled with the ingenious twists, pulse-pounding narrative drive, and dynamic, flesh-and-blood characters that are the hallmarks of her bestsellers, Daddy's Girl is another wild, entertaining ride about love, family, and justice from the addictively readable Lisa Scottoline.

Customer Reviews:

Twisty, thrilling and tightly plotted -- a winner from beginning to end!.......2007-06-22

At the beginning of DADDY'S GIRL, heroine Natalie Greco can't get no respect: not from the nine students who signed up for her less-than-thrilling History of Law class at Penn; not from her family, who are loud and Italian and sports-obsessed; and not from her boyfriend, who seems to be more interested in hanging out with her family than he is in a future with her. Enter Angus Holt, a fellow professor, bright-eyed and hippy-esque and sporting an irresistible blond pony-tail, who invites Nat to come along with him to a law class he and his students teach at the local minimum-security prison. Nat readily agrees, but she doesn't know what's in store for her...At the prison, a violent riot breaks out, and Nat narrowly escapes being raped by one of the inmates. She rushes to the aid of a dying correctional officer, who with his last words gives her a message to deliver: "Tell my wife it's under the floor."

But once she delivers this cryptic message, Nat finds herself accused of attempted murder and on the run from the very law she seeks to uphold. She has no choice but to hide out and try to find a way to prove her innocence, despite the corrupt forces framing her for a crime she didn't commit.

DADDY'S GIRL, the newest outing by lawyer-turned-novelist Lisa Scottoline, is a rollicking read from start to finish. The action starts early, and it literally doesn't let up until the final pages. I read this one in a matter of hours; I just couldn't seem to put it down. The novel is well-paced, and there's never a dull moment for our heroine as she runs, literally, for her life. Nat Greco is such an endearing heroine, a down-to-earth girl you really root for. Although she's short and easily overlooked, both literally and professionally, she's got a lot of toughness -- and it really shows through in Scottoline's able hands. In fact, all of the characters in DADDY'S GIRL are really well written -- from Hank, the distracted boyfriend, to baby brother Paul, who couldn't whisper if his life depended on it.

The writing is at times light and funny, at others serious and insightful. At one point in the novel, Scottoline describes the dress code at Penn as "academic casual, which is like business casual only with footnotes." Pages later, readers are in the middle of a violent prison riot, watching our heroine fight for her life. The overarching theme of the novel centers on the differences between law and justice -- how even though we want to believe they're related, sometimes they're much more mutually exclusive than we'd like to think.

DADDY'S GIRL is yet another success for Lisa Scottoline. The twists at the end were totally unexpected, yet they brought the novel to a perfect conclusion. I liked DADDY'S GIRL so much, I recently asked Lisa to be my MySpace friend! (She approved me.) :o)

Pick up DADDY'S GIRL this evening. I'll bet you're finished by tomorrow morning, utterly exhilarated and ready for Scottoline's next book!

best scottoline yet........2007-06-14

Whip-smart humor, great suspense. This even surpassed Dead Ringers as my favorite Scottoline book.

Still the glass ceiling!.......2007-06-12

Natalie Greco is a law professor who teaches law history at a university in Pennsylvania. She is 30 years old and the only girl in a family of jocks who remind me very much of the Kennedy family, with the patriachal father, indulgent mother whose boys can do no wrong and her brothers who all josh her constantly, refusing to take her or her career seriously. Her boyfriend Hank was introduced to her by her brothers and regards himself as one of the family. A colleague at the university, Angus Holt, suggests that she accompany him to his pet project, a law class at the local jail where she is injured in a nasty incident during a prison riot. She goes to the rescue of a prison guard who had been stabbed and promises to give his wife a final message. This precipitates a series of dramatic events which puts Nat in grave danger and places her in the role of fugitive. It's a pacy, exciting story which would make a good movie, with some very unexpected twists to it.

Very Good.......2007-06-12

This book is very good. I enjoy most of Ms. Scottoline's books. This one is not part of her normal cast of characters. I enjoyed how her main character, Nat, grew throughout the book to find how who she was. I liked the twists and turns throughout the book. Yes, there were some improbable events in it but nothing major and they fit with what Ms. Scottoline was doing. I enjoyed her historical approach and learned a lot. I hope we get to see Nat and her family again soon. I highly recommend this as a book to relax to.

A thriller to the end!.......2007-06-05

This book has a captivating and mysterious storyline that quickly carried me through the entire book. I read the audiobook version of this story and really enjoyed it.

Average customer rating:

Selling out to product endorsements....
Dirty Blond
The Judge Wears Prada ...
not bad, not great
More psychological, less consumerist than before

Dirty Blonde
Lisa Scottoline
Manufacturer: Harper
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0060742917
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Book Description

Cate Fante is strong and sexy and wears designer suits like overpriced armor. She's just become a judge but leads a dark double life that she hides from everyone.

Her cover is blown when a high-profile case in her courtroom takes a stunning turn. Overnight the tabloids tell her secret, her boyfriend dumps her, and her new career hangs in tatters. But Cate's troubles are only beginning. An enemy no one anticipated sends her running for her life, and she'll have to fight her way back to the truth . . . or die trying.

Download Description

This time, justice is blonde. . . . </center>

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottolinedelivers a riveting page-turner about love and murder that starts in the elite chambers of a sexy female judge and ends on the cold, gritty streets of Philadelphia.

Cate Fante is strong and smart, but when she becomes a federal judge, even she wonders if she can do the job justice. She's in her thirties, so she feels as though she's joining the world's most exclusive retirement village. She worries inwardly that she only looks the part, in a designer suit donned like overpriced armor. After all, a job described in the United States Constitution would intimidate anybody.

But Cate keeps her doubts a secret. And, as it happens, much else. For she leads a dark double life that she hides from everyone, even her best friend.

Then a high-profile case in her courtroom explodes into a shocking murder-suicide, and it blasts her cover wide open. Overnight the tabloids tell her secrets, her boyfriend dumps her, and her new career hangs in tatters. But Cate's troubles are only beginning. An enemy no one anticipated sends her running for her life -- -embarking on a journey that begins in the mystery of her own childhood, where she first learned to lie. She'll have to fight her way back to the truth, or die trying.

Dirty Blonde is Lisa Scottoline's most suspenseful and gripping thriller to date. Mixing poignancy with her trademark wit and wonderfully compelling characters, it showcases her remarkable talents as never before, and questions whether law and justice are always the same thing."

Customer Reviews:

Selling out to product endorsements...........2007-06-20

I have enjoyed Lisa Scottoline's books in the past, but I didn't finish this one because I found the numerous product endorsements to be ridiculous and distracting. I first noticed them when Diet Coke was mentioned 3 times within 2 pages, then the list was endless...Glenlivet, Miller, Prada, Cheerios, Wal-Mart, Minute Maid, Reebok, CVS....the list goes on and on. Aren't we surrounded by enough advertisements in our daily lives? How could she concentrate on writing a good story when she's thinking about where to best place the next product? Very disappointing.

Dirty Blond.......2007-06-09

This story line was tough to swallow. Even the most air-headed among us wouldn't do what this babe did to herself and supposedly she had a law degree and thus I assume is not supposed to be considered an air-head.

Quality of writing was alright but it is not a book I would recommend.

The Judge Wears Prada ..........2007-05-14

... and Blahniks, and shops the Neiman-Marcus catalogue, and drops all sorts of other trendy names. If this book doesn't make you yawn, it will certainly make you snort with derision. Ms. Scottoline also needs to find out how many shots can be fired from a gun without reloading. All the ping, ping, pinging by the amateur gunslinger during the contrived climax is unintentionally hilarious. I grabbed the audiobook off the library shelf for a car trip, but won't make the same mistake again. Hard to believe that people actually shell out hard-earned money for such dreck.

not bad, not great.......2007-04-06

the story moves quickly and is fairly engaging. however, the characters are not developed with a lot of depth and the storyline gets a little hard to believe.

some interesting real life touches on a mysterious town in Pennsylavania and a parent raising a child with autism.

More psychological, less consumerist than before.......2007-03-11

Lisa Scottoline is by now a well known commodity. Her women have heretofore been bright, attractive and starkly consumerist. Good people but obsessed with the things that are the tokens of success. This novel marks a move in a more human and humane direction. Her judge finds herself in a situation requiring a ruling according to law not justicewhich becomes tangled with the judges private life. Friends and associates also become involved (pay close attention to cell phones)and attitudes clash and shift. While deep motivations -childhood, friendship, family- make sense, there are alsosome unrealistic bits. The conclusion is somewhat scurried after the lingering development, but this is a real improvement over arlier works. One little thing, I really could do without the expression :aargh" regularly appearing throughout.

Average customer rating:

Suspend disbelief to enjoy this one
Sassy, wise-cracking heroine
Don't waste your money or your time!
Early signs of greatness
A "FUN" Legal Thriller

Running from the Law
Lisa Scottoline
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0061094110

Book Description

Whether it's poker or trial law, wisecracking Rita Morrone plays to win, especially when she takes on the defense of the Honorable Fiske Hamilton, a prominent federal judge accused of sexual harassment. And it's no coincidence that the judge is her live-in lover's father. Then the action turns deadly, and Rita finds herself at the center of a murder case. She probes deep into the murder, uncovering a secret life and suspects in shocking places. When the killer viciously ups the ante, Rita decides to end this lethal game. She lays it all on the line for the highest stakes ever—her life.

Download Description

"Whether it's poker or trial law, wisecracking Rita Morrone plays to win, especially when she takes on the defense of the Honorable Fiske Hamilton, a prominent federal judge accused of sexual harassment. And it's no coincidence that the judge is her live-in lover's father. Then the action turns deadly, and Rita finds herself at the center of a murder case. She probes deep into the murder, uncovering a secret life and suspects in shocking places. When the killer viciously ups the ante, Rita decides to end this lethal game. She lays it all on the line for the highest stakes ever. "Sharp, intelligent, funny, and hip. [Scottoline] gives fans of legal thrillers a good, twisty plot" (USA Today).

Customer Reviews:

Suspend disbelief to enjoy this one.......2006-09-16

Rita Morrone is a trial lawyer in Philadelphia who not only defends her clients, but upstages the entire local police force by single-handedly solving the crimes for which her clients are charged. Believable? Well, hardly, but it does make for an intriguing plot.

Rita's live-in boyfriend Paul is a forensic architect (a WHAT? do I hear you gasp?) and his father a respected and well-off federal judge. When Daddy is accused of sexually harassing his young secretary, Patricia, Rita naturally takes on his defence. Then the secretary is found murdered, and the judge and son Paul, who had also been carrying on an affair with Patricia, both come under suspicion. The judge is charged with the murder, and Rita not only takes on his case, but determines to prove him innocent, at tremendous risk to herself, by attempting to uncover the true identity of the killer.

Lisa Scottoline has written a fast-moving tale, with plenty of plot twists and more than a couple of red herrings. The dialogue is feisty, witty, and very bitchy in places. The characterisations are sharp, particularly those of Rita's butcher father and his poker-playing cronies, who come across as full of spirit and humour, and the book makes for an entertaining read -- if you can suspend disbelief long enough to accept the basic plot.

Sassy, wise-cracking heroine.......2006-07-24

Rita Marrone thinks that she has her life in order. She is a samrt, young lawyer who lives with a handsome architect, plays poker with her Italian father and his friends, and wise-cracks her way through life. All of this changes when she agrees to take on a sexual harrassment case against federal judge Fiske Hamilton, who just happens to be the father of Paul, her live-in boyfriend. Things get complicated when the woman bringing the case against Hamilton is killed, and Rita hears from an eye witness who saw the judge near the victim's house at the time of the murder. Her own life and that of her friends and family are threatened when Rita begins to get too close to the truth. This is an entertaining read, and I especially liked the thoughts that go through Rita's head when she is trying her best to be polite to whomever she's talking to. I will be looking for more books by this author.

Don't waste your money or your time!.......2006-06-07

One of the absolute worst books I have read from the genre! It starts out with a promising storyline. Young, female lawyer hired to defend her live-in lover's father, who happens to be a judge. As the story moves along, rather slowly, there are a couple of small twists and turns. Then the reader is flat-out insulted. Rita, our young, hotshot lawyer dresses up her elderly father's mostly geriatric poker buddies and takes them to a car dealership to do some investigating on the Judge's case. The so called investigating continues at the crime scene as a one-armed, yes...one-armed, geriatric, poker buddy portrays a hedge trimming landscaper while Rita combs the grounds of the property. Give me a break! I have four other Scottoline books on the shelf that will not be read. It's no wonder I was able to pick them up for $2 each at a charity book sale for the library! I don't even that the heart to donate them back for this year's sale. I would hate to see another reader sucked in my Ms. Scottoline's credentials or an appealing back cover summary of the novel.

Early signs of greatness.......2005-09-19

Who knew in 1996 that Lisa was going to be a superstar in the legal fiction field. I grew up in a 95% Italian immigrant community. Her character development is so real I was continually picturing all the beautiful people I grew to know and love.
The plot has great twists and really moves quite well. If you haven't read many of Lisa's newer books, you would do well to digest these earlier offerings. It really helps to see how her style has developed and improved. I would recommend all of Lisa's works if you enjoy strong, intelligent, and resourceful female characters - supported entirely by wonderful ethnic family and friends. If you don't like plots and characters that are well developed and real, you'll be in that small minority that don't enjoy Lisa's work.
I love these components and look forward to every new work that Lisa grinds out.

A "FUN" Legal Thriller.......2005-08-05

I thoroughly enjoyed this book; I even laughed out loud a few times. I don't ever re-hash the storyline when I take the time out to do a review - it is done again & again - so you already know the essence. I will say that the plotline is sound, the dialog refreshing & the characters are endearing. RECOMMENDED!

Average customer rating:

A father's love
More Twists than a Philly Pretzel
More Foul Language
Funny book
Fast, entertaining read

Moment of Truth
Lisa Scottoline
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060196092
Release Date: 2000-02-22

Amazon.com

Moment of Truth begins with what appears to be an open-and-shut case. Jack Newlin, a wealthy attorney with one of the most influential law firms in Philadelphia, killed his wife in a moment of drunken passion, stabbing her repeatedly when she announced she wanted a divorce. Or at least that is what he is claiming to the police.

The fact is, Jack is framing himself because he fears his wife's murder was his daughter's crime of passion. Sixteen-year-old Paige Newlin is a successful model whose relationship with her manager-mother had been famously rocky. To make sure that he's convicted, Jack hires rookie lawyer Mary DiNunzio to defend him. But Mary doesn't buy Jack's story, and neither does the senior detective on the case. In a fascinating turn on the usual courtroom tale, then, Jack struggles to maintain his false story of guilt while his lawyer and the police struggle to prove him innocent. Meanwhile, Mary wrestles with both her uncertainty as a lawyer and with her attraction for her client.

Lisa Scottoline, often identified as the "female John Grisham," has led the pack of female authors in the legal thriller genre, winning an Edgar for her second novel, Final Appeal. Moment of Truth does have moments that don't, in fact, ring true. Why is Jack Newlin so quick to forgive his daughter when he thinks she's killed her own mother? And if he's so concerned with her welfare, why did he absent himself from her upbringing? But it's nonetheless interesting for its innovative plot conceit and its examination of high-profile murder trials. If one is able to overlook the problems with Newlin's motivation, the story Scottoline weaves is a compelling one, and her heroine, Mary, is an enjoyable, self-doubting twist on the super-lawyer at the center of most legal thrillers. --Patrick O'Kelley

Book Description

A winner of the Edgar Award and the bestselling author of six acclaimed novels, Lisa Scottoline has unabashedly earned the distinction "queen of the legal thriller." Critics have celebrated her storytelling talents, noting that she skillfully depicts "personal quirks that give her characters dimension." Publishers Weekly has raved that "Scottoline's legal background lends verisimilitude" to her stories, and Kirkus Reviews has praised her ability to devise terrific plots, proclaiming that she "comes up with the best hooks in the legal trade." Now this gifted author has summoned her array of talents to pen Moment of Truth, her most exciting and unpredictable novel yet--a riveting story of a man who frames himself for murder.

Attorney Jack Newlin comes home one evening to find his wife, Honor, dead on the floor of their elegant dining room. Convinced that he knows who killed her--and determined to hide the truth--Jack decides to make it look as though he did it. Staging the crime scene so that the evidence incriminates him, he then calls the police. And to hammer the final nail in his own coffin, he hires the most inexperienced lawyer he can find, a reluctant rookie by the name of Mary DiNunzio, employed at the hot Philadelphia firm of Rosato & Associates.

Unfortunately for Jack, hiring Mary may turn out to be his only mistake.

Though inexperienced, Mary doubts Jack's confession and begins to investigate the crime. She finds that instead of having a guilty client who is falsely proclaiming his innocence, she has an innocent client who is falsely proclaiming his guilt. Her ethics and instincts tell her she can't defend a man who wants only one thing--to convict himself. Or can she? Smarter, gutsier, and more determined than she has any right to be, Mary decides to stick with the case. With help from the most unexpected sources, she sets out to prove what really happened--because as any lawyer knows, a case is never as simple as it seems.

And nothing is ever certain until the final moment of truth.

Download Description

"Jack Newlin had no choice but to frame himself for murder."When attorney Newlin discovers his wife dead in their elegant home, he's convinced he knows who killed her - and is equally determined to hide the truth. He decides to take the rap, and to seal his fate he hires the most inexperienced lawyer he can find, a reluctant rookie by the name of Mary DiNunzio, from the hot Philadelphia firm of Rosato & Associates. But hiring Mary may turn out to be his biggest mistake. Mary doubts Jack's confession, and her ethics and instincts tell her she can't defend a man who wants to convict himself. Smarter, gutsier, and more persistent than she has any right to be, Mary sets out to prove what really happened -- because, as any lawyer knows, a case is never as simple as it seems. And nothing is ever certain until the final moment of truth. "An edgy tale, full of surprises" (USA Today). "A carefully crafted tale of immorality, dark secrets, and family values gone awry?

Customer Reviews:

A father's love.......2006-12-11

Jack Newlin is a successful lawyer whose home life is less than ideal. His wife Honor is obsessed with making their daughter Paige into a model and she stops at nothing to realize her dreams through her child. Paige rebels and moves into her own apartment at age 16. When Jack comes home and finds Honor dead, he feels that Paige is the murderer, so he turns himself in to the police and confesses to the killing in order to protect his daughter. He hires Mary DiNunzio to defend him because he knows that she is a novice where murder cases are concerned. What he doesn't count on is Mary's investigative skill and dogged perserverance, along with a more personal reason for her wanting Jack to be exonerated. This is one of Scottoline's usual fast-paced, female attorney tales. It lacks some suspense as some of the early pieces to the puzzle become evident fairly early in the book, but Scottoline manages to keep a few secrets until the end to keep her readers turning the pages.

More Twists than a Philly Pretzel.......2006-05-27

Overall I enjoyed listening to this book. However, I felt as though it had a little too many twists and turns. I agree with another review that it sort of tanked at the end. But, I would still recommend it.

The book takes place in Philadelphia. Since I am originally from this city and I currently work down there is was pleasant to hear all of the references to Philly's land marks.

Also, there were a lot of Catholic references through out the book. Considering that is how I was raised, I could relate very much to the main character.

Finally one of reviews on this site mention a lot of foul language. Give me a break. That is how people talk. Especially when they are going through what all of the characters of this book are dealing with. It made the dialog more genuine. Get over it.

More Foul Language.......2006-03-24

Mystery with an interesting twist. Why not write good stuff WITHOUT all the foul language? The cursing and taking God's name in vain doesn't make it more of a mystery, it makes it low level reading. How about raising the standard and give your characters something new to say when excited and scared??

Funny book.......2006-03-15

For those who have never read Ms. Scottoline's books, please pick one up and start. Ms. Scottoline is a beautiful woman who projects her beauty and intellectual to her writing. This book is fills with suspenses and fun to read. So who kills the lady?? The rich successful husband?? Well, I will tell you. It's the ...................
How will the lawyers save him, he's so guilty!!!!!!!!

Fast, entertaining read.......2006-02-01

I like Lisa Scottoline. Her novels read fast, have a good balance of drama inside and outside the courtroom, and feature characters that are reappear in various novels and are easy to get attached to. This novel features Mary DeNunzio, a young, somewhat sheepish lawyer who gets involved in her first murder case, which turns out to be even more complicated than she expected. It's a good story, and I finished it wanting more.

Average customer rating:

Just a little TOO unbelieveable
Lifelong feud
Inside Judy Carrier's Head
My First Scottoline Book!
the vendetta defense

Vendetta Defense, The
Lisa Scottoline
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Courting Trouble
Moment of Truth
Legal Tender
Running from the Law
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ASIN: 0061031429
Release Date: 2002-03-05

Amazon.com

You can't read past the first chapter of Lisa Scottoline's newest legal thriller without mentally casting the actor who might play Pigeon Tony, the charming and totally authentic defendant who's on trial for killing the man who raped and murdered his wife, destroyed his son and daughter-in-law in a staged "accident," and has threatened the life of his grandson. Robert De Niro's too threatening, Joe Mantegna's too young, Marlon Brando's too fat, but somewhere there must be a celluloid counterpart to one of the most delightful antiheroes in recent crime fiction. Meanwhile, this wonderful character study of a man of conscience on trial for a crime of passion will divert and entertain fans of Scottoline's previous novels about Bennie Rosato's high-estrogen Philadelphia law firm (Moment of Truth, Mistaken Identity).

When Judy Carrier, one of Bennie's attorneys, takes on Tony's defense, she's faced with a legal and moral dilemma. Tony admits that he killed Angelo Coluzzi, but insists it wasn't murder but vendetta, a justifiable payback for a blood crime committed nearly half a century ago and a continent away. The Coluzzi family knows about vendetta, too--they've got their own payback planned, and the trick for Judy is keeping Pigeon Tony (and herself) alive long enough to get them to trial. There's a complication de coeur when Judy falls in love with Tony's grandson, a hunky stonemason who will do for fences what Robert James Waller did for covered bridges (Clint Eastwood's too old, Brad Pitt's too young, etc.). But all's well that ends well in a tidy little read that will probably earn Scottoline another well-deserved shot at the bestseller list. --Jane Adams

Book Description

Judy Carrier takes the case of her career to defend Anthony Lucia, fondly known as "Pigeon Tony," who freely admits to killing his lifelong enemy in order to settle a personal vendetta. Her client's guilt, however, is only the beginning of Judy's problems. The victim's family wants revenge and is determined to finish off Pigeon Tony and Judy before the case goes to trial. Then there's Pigeon Tony's hunky grandson, who makes Judy think about everything but the law. In a case steeped in blood and memory, it will take brains and a lot of luck to save Pigeon Tony. But if anyone will see justice done, it's this gutsy girl who'll risk everything to win -- including her life.

Download Description

"In The Vendetta Defense, New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline delivers a wonderfully rich, vivid story of past sins, love, and justice. Lawyer Judy Carrier takes the case of her career when an elderly pigeon racer named Anthony Lucia is arrested for the murder of his lifelong enemy, Angelo Coluzzi. ""Pigeon Tony,"" as he's known to all his South Philly neighbors, confesses he killed Coluzzi because of a vendetta begun more than fifty years ago, a blood feud that has brought great tragedy to Pigeon Tony's life. Her client's guilt, however, is only the beginning of Judy's problems. The Coluzzi family wants revenge, and they are determined to finish off Pigeon Tony and Judy before the case can go to trial. And if that isn't enough, Judy's got to contend with Tony's magnetic grandson, Frank, a man who makes her think about everything but the law, and her boss, the no-nonsense Bennie Rosato. In a case steeped in blood and memory, it will take a stroke of brilliance to save Pigeon Tony. But if anyone just might see justice done, it's this gutsy young attorney who'll risk everything to win ... including her life."

Customer Reviews:

Just a little TOO unbelieveable.......2007-01-13

I'm normally kind with my reviews of this type of literature. It's not meant to be a novel of great significance - just lite entertainment.

BUT . . . this one has just a few too many holes.

It's not awful - I did finish it after all - but there were a number of negatives. Here are the pluses and minuses, as I see them:

*1* - I was not annoyed enough to turn off the tape and stop listening.

-2- - the cast of characters tended to be a little too annoying in their "goodness" vs. "evil." Pigeon Tony was a little "too" sweet for my taste. Even under the given circumstances, he needed a little more grit.

-3- - As mentioned by another reviewer, what was with the 1st degree murder charge? Can't imagine any prosecutor worth his salt pursuing anything over manslaughter, given the circumstances.

-4- - The romance angle was a little heavy-handed.

-5- - The total inaction of the authorities when Judy's life was threatened strains credibility.

Overall, I like Scottoline. I've read several of her other novels. This one, though, just left me feeling kind of "blah-humbug". Here's to a better story next time!

Lifelong feud.......2006-12-25

Judy Carrier goes to visit her lawyer friend Mary who is recuperating from an attack she suffered during a previous case. As they are talking, Judy learns of a friend of Mary's family who has been arrested for murder. Thus we are introduced to Pigeon Tony, surely one of Scottoline's most endearing and memorable characters. He is a man who has only his grandson Frank and his pigeons because his wife and son have been killed, Tony believes, by his lifelong enemy, Angelo Coluzzi. Pigeon Tony readily admits to the murder of Coluzzi but feels that he is justified because of the ancient customs associated with the Italian vendetta in which a person can avenge serious wrongs which have been done to him. Unfortunately, when Judy agrees to defend him, she must do so in a U.S. court which does not recognize the Italian vendetta. Also she subjects herself to reprisals by the powerful Coluzzi family who are very protective of their relatives. This book also throws in some romance for Judy, which sometimes conflicts with her job as Pigeon Tony's attorney. This is one of Scottoline's better books and is recommended reading.

Inside Judy Carrier's Head.......2006-01-12

I've read all of Scottoline's books, including those not about the all woman law firm, but this one is the best. Judy Carrier, who at most was a snarky side kick in Scottoline's other books, turns out to be athletic, smart and wickedly funny in this story. She's always been reckless and brave, but without her conscience, Mary, around and faced with the annoying younger associate, Murphy, Judy has to keep her off the handle client from torching her case and putting them both in danger. The story is believable, and finally, we get to see what Judy is really like.

My First Scottoline Book!.......2006-01-03

I happened to pick this book up at a garage sale ~~ and this past week was just perfect to unwind from the holiday craziness with a good book and this one just happened to beckon my name! I couldn't put this one down for the world! Thankfully, my husband was home to entertain the kids (thankfully also, the kids were entertained by their new toys) ~~ and I was able to sit and read this book through. Like I said, this is my first Socttoline book and it won't be the last either!

Judy Cartier agrees to take on the case of Pigeon Foot Tony, an Italian man accused of murdering another Italian man. What makes this case even more difficult is that he didn't deny killing the man. Digging deeper into the backgrounds, Judy finds out what vendetta really is and fighting against a top Italian family as well as the police force, Judy races to find a way to defend her client. The investigation takes several twists and turns and digging deeper into a feud that has lasted over 50 years.

This is an enjoyable mystery novel ~~ for one thing, it really gives an idea of who the clients are and it gives a background history of the client that brings the reader to an understanding of the vendetta and the characters are better developed than most mystery novels are. It wasn't predictable like I thought it would be ~~ I find myself holding my breath in several spots. And it wasn't a typical mobster story either. It was a great read ~~ perfect for a lazy winter afternoon by the fireplace. Scottoline is definitely an author I will keep an eye out for!

1-2-06

the vendetta defense.......2005-08-04

awesome book, very good read.... can't waitot read morre by the author

Average customer rating:

Probably my favorite of Scottoline's many books
totally forgettable
TRUELY AWESOME LISA SCOTTOLINE
A Passable Thriller
Lawyer on the run

Legal Tender
Lisa Scottoline
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Running from the Law
Rough Justice
Moment of Truth
Final Appeal
Everywhere That Mary Went

ASIN: 0061094129

Amazon.com

Philadelphia lawyer turned novelist (what a concept!) Scottoline has already won a best original paperback Edgar for Final Appeal. Now she might just nail down a hardcover one for her latest book -- a lovely combination of high energy, imagination and nasty good humor mostly directed against lawyers. Her central character this time out is a definite keeper: Benedetta Rosato, "Bennie" to everyone but her mother, a towering blonde who rows to keep her body in shape and duels with the police on a daily basis to keep her legal talents sharp. Most of Bennie's clients have a gripe against the cops, so Philadelphia's finest are less than sympathetic to her cause when she becomes the chief suspect in the murder of her ex-lover and soon to be ex-law partner. Hiding out in a truly original way, Bennie uses (and abuses) a big law firm to help find the real killers; you'll find yourself laughing and gasping all the way.

Book Description

Bennie Rosato is a maverick lawyer, and business at her law firm has never been better. Then, without warning, a savage murder tears the firm apart. All evidence points to Bennie, who has motive aplenty and an unconfirmable alibi. Her world turns upside-down as the lawyer becomes the client, and the law is now after her. When another killing takes place, Bennie runs for her life, a fugitive armed only with her wits and courage. She is determined to find the real killer -- or die trying.

Download Description

"Benedetta "Bennie" Rosato is a maverick lawyer who prosecutes police misconduct and excessive-force cases, and business at her firm of Rosato & Biscardi has never been better. Then, without warning, a savage murder tears the firm apart. All evidence points to Bennie, who has motive aplenty and an unconfirmable alibi. Her world turns upside down as the lawyer becomes the client, and the cops she once prosecuted are now after her, with a vengeance. To prove her innocence, Bennie probes deep into the murder. Then another killing takes place. Running for her life, Bennie is a fugitive armed only with her wits and courage. She will find the real killer - or die trying. "A fast-paced, suspenseful and tongue-in-cheek legal thriller" (Los Angeles Times).

Customer Reviews:

Probably my favorite of Scottoline's many books.......2007-06-10

I have a soft spot for Lisa Scottoline. Many years ago I was working in a used book store when I ran across her first book, 'Everywhwere that Mary Went' and I loved it. We had two copies of that book and we must have re-sold them a dozen times after I started recommending them to people who asked for someone new to read. Pretty soon, Lisa Scottoline was one of our hottest items - we even special-ordered in some new copies! I like to think that I had a very, very small part in her success, even though the used book store is now defunct.

But, when you write zingers like "Legal Tender" you really don't need the help of a used book store cashier. "Legal Tender" is fun, light, full of quirky characters and also comes with plenty of serious moments. It just hums along and is just perfect for escapist, summer reading.

So, I give this one a solid "A".

totally forgettable.......2007-03-31

If you are 14, blonde and female, Scottoline's novels are for you. Like science fiction,it helps if you can suspend your reality testing. There are redeeming features in many of her novels--the clever banter among the lawyer colleagues, for example. But most of the time the plotting is full of holes. It seemed that the narration by Kathleen O'Malley was geared for the mentally challenged.

TRUELY AWESOME LISA SCOTTOLINE.......2007-02-15

I simply cannot say enough good things about this book. I won't go into any specific plot descriptions since there are already plenty. If you like legal thrillers and strong willed bossy heroins you'll like this one. I'm a big Scottoline fan anyway. I just discovered her about 2 months ago. I started out on Mistaken Identity and since have gone and bought every one of her books up to now. She's really good, great plot detail, great characters and I simply love Bennie!
I think anyone who likes the Legal Suspense Thriller genre will like this one and really like the author.

A Passable Thriller.......2006-11-08

I must begin by saying that I actually listened to this in an abridged audio version. Perhaps the abridgement affected my view of the plotting and writing style - always a possibility.

Otherwise, this novel is most of the things that other reviewers have listed. It is fast-paced. There are lots of chases. There is the typical (though not particularly believeable) love relationship that develops in the midst of the bru-ha-ha. And of course the vivid descriptions of what outfit the heroine is wearing.

I liked it. It wasn't a waste of time. It also wasn't a great work of literary significance. It was exactly what escapist fiction is supposed to be - an escape. Sure there are some areas that are a little far-fetched, but does everything we read need to be absolutely realistic?

Overall, it's not a terrible way to spend an afternoon or evening. Read it and enjoy Bennie Risotto's troubles. At least you know her troubles will be over by the time you reach the last page.

Lawyer on the run.......2006-09-21

Things can't get much worse for female attorney, Bennie Rosato. After building a law firm and a relationship with Mark Biscardi, she finds herself losing both her boyfriend and her law firm. Bennie and Mark have an argument at their office, and after she leaves, Mark is found dead. Bennie is a logical suspect and soon some evidence points the police in her direction. For the rest of the book, Bennie is simultaneously fleeing from the law and trying to find out who killed Mark. This fast-paced novel is readable and enjoyable. Author Scottoline has a way of creating interesting, spunky, and humorous leading ladies and using them to poke fun at the stodgy lawyers who also populate her books. This is my second Scottoline book and it won't be the last.

Average customer rating:

Wow
Still wondering
Misandry Personified
Fast-pace legal thriller
F word abounds

Rough Justice
Lisa Scottoline
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Running from the Law
Legal Tender
Moment of Truth
Courting Trouble
Final Appeal

ASIN: 0061096105

Book Description

Criminal lawyer Marta Richter is hours away from winning an acquittal for her client, millionaire businessman Elliot Steere, on trial for the murder of a homeless man who had tried to carjack him. But as the jury begins deliberations, Marta discovers the chilling truth about her client's innocence. Taking justice into her own hands, she furiously sets out to prove the truth, with the help of two young associates. In an excruciating game of beat-the-clock with both the jury and the worst blizzard to hit Philadelphia in decades, Marta will learn that the search for justice isn't only rough—it can also be deadly.

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Customer Reviews:

Wow.......2007-04-09

How on earth did this rubbish get published? To quote another reviewer..
"I don't believe I'm still reading this thing."

Warning: Spoiler !

We are immediately led to believe that a criminal defense lawyer with 15 years experience is shocked that her client is guilty. She feels used and vows revenge even though the jury is due back before lunchtime the next morning. I am sure had the lawyer been male, he would have laughed with the client, but we are led to believe that this female attorney is outraged that her client lied to her!!

Even the case itself is stupid. An apparent clear case of self defense. The DA has nothing and yet not only does the trial last 2 months, but the defendant has been remanded in jail for a year without bail !!

The judge on the case is up for the state supreme court even though he is only a district court judge.

What follows is a disastrous, unbelievable race to find evidence that will somehow enable the client to be convicted. Most of the 'evidence' that is found would never be admissible anyway.

Our `hero' tampers with the jury, drives to her clients beach house, breaks in, finds papers for a boat, breaks into a boat yard, breaks into storage, finds a boat, finds a map with a pin hole, spends hours digging in the freezing cold, finds a box, finds a computer printout. Why her client has kept this printout is beyond me since it became worthless a few hours after they used it.

Everyone treaks across the city in knee high snow. Spend hours outside in driving blizzard conditions. Then, everythings falls into place, everything becomes clear and it is a race to the court house. The end comes quickly. Then the really stupid part, the police show up with WARRENTS!! I mean, how? why? There would be no warrant without an investigation and evidence. The only person who spoke to the police in the whole book was the jurist who knew next to nothing.

Our hero would be charged with countless offences and would probably never practice law again.

Stressing me out just writing this review.. stupid book.

Still wondering.......2007-04-06

I really love Lisa Scottoline's other books and this one did have her fast pace, but it was a bit confusing. I have to agree w/ other comments about the entire plot not being plausible. The characters all kept information regarding their client a secret from eachother. They were being attacked, shot, hunted down and never thought once about calling the police. Also, there were soooo many characters introduced- at length and then not another word about them. I skipped some parts ( like an entire chapter on the heroine trying to dig up and open a lock box).
Not my favorite of Lisa's , but I plan to keep reading her work.

Misandry Personified.......2007-01-04

Rough Justice is little more than an exercise in exaggerated formulaic writing. All of Ms. Scottoline's characters are two dimensional caricatures. The heros are all female. The villains are all male. The situations overreach and are scarcely believable. The interactions between male and female characters are so misandrous that even male children are portrayed as mean spirited, dishonest and corrupt. The primary antagonists are shown to be either murderers, brutes, and malicious malefactors of one kind or another, or utterly emasculated wimps with nothing better to do than fetch baby formula and cower before the tirades of other overbearing males. I found this book to be shallow, uninteresting and fundamentally bereft of any redeeming value. I would not recommend reading it to anyone, except perhaps those who share Ms. Scottoline's investment in misandry.

Fast-pace legal thriller.......2006-10-13

Marta Richter is a criminal lawyer who is about to win an acquittal for her client, Elliot Steere, a powerful real estate mogul. In a moment of hubris, Steer admits to her that he is indeed guilty of killing a man he claimed had hijacked him. Furious at her client, Marta is determined to reveal the truth about him and have him convicted. What follows is a fast-paced plot, full of twists and turns. The action switches from Marta to her associates Mary and Judy, to the presiding judge, to the assistant DA, to the jury foreman. Each one has a vested interest in the case and each one will do whatever it takes to win. Much of what happens falls into the category of "highly unlikely", but nevertheless it's great fun and an interesting read. Author Scottoline is amazingly creative with her plots and characters and always provides an entertaining
book.

F word abounds.......2004-09-10

Apparently the author hoped you wouldn't notice the plot problems if she through the F word in every other sentence. Reading this book is like spending the afternoon with outspoken sailors.

Average customer rating:

Good, but not Scottoline's best (but she's written more than a dozen books so a bunch of them are not her "best"...)
Good read
Bad Ending?
New heroine from Scottoline
Fast-moving, entertaining read

Devil's Corner
Lisa Scottoline
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Similar Items:

Dirty Blonde
Killer Smile (Scottoline, Lisa)
Legal Tender
Running from the Law
Moment of Truth

ASIN: 0060742895
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Book Description

Prosecutor Vicki Allegretti goes to meet a confidential informant, is almost killed, and a cop is gunned down before her eyes. She saw the killers, now all she has to do is find them. The deeper Vicki probes, the more she becomes convinced that the murder wasn't random. When another murder takes place, Vicki is thrown together with an unlikely ally -- The Girlfriend from Hell. Will they find the killers before they kill each other?

Download Description

When prosecutor Vicki Allegretti arrives at a rowhouse to meet a confidential informant, she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time -- and is almost shot to death. She barely escapes with her life, but cannot save the two others gunned down before her disbelieving eyes. Stunned and heartbroken, Vicki tries to figure out how a routine meeting on a minor case became a double homicide.

Vicki's suspicions take her to Devil's Corner, a city neighborhood teetering on the brink of ruin -- thick with broken souls, innocent youth, and a scourge that preys on both. But the deeper Vicki probes, the more she becomes convinced that the murders weren't random and the killers were more ruthless than she thought.

When another murder thrusts Vicki together with an unlikely ally, she buckles up for a wild ride down a dangerous street -- and into the cross-hairs of a conspiracy as powerful as it is relentless."

Customer Reviews:

Good, but not Scottoline's best (but she's written more than a dozen books so a bunch of them are not her "best"...).......2007-06-15

Scottoline steps away from Bennie Rosatto and her crew of female lawyers and takes up with a new layer - Vicki Allegretti, a 5'2" Asst. U.S. Attorney in Philadelphia. So, Scottoline remains on familiar ground with an attractve female Italian-American, young, up-and-coming attorney.

This one probably has the most potential of any of Scottoline's books of being made into a movie. Essentially, it's and odd couple female buddy book, and it works with the snappy banter back and forth between the two "buddies." The ending is a bit too saccharin, but it doesn't ruin a fun story.

A quick, fun summer read for this reviewer. I give this one a grade of "B".

Good read.......2007-05-12

I usually listen to rather than read books these days. I did enjoy this one and it kept my interest.

Bad Ending?.......2007-03-25

This wasn't a bad book until the ending. I'm not going to write a plot summary but the ending wrapped up way too fast without proper explanation. It was almost out of the blue. I really enjoy Lisa Scottoline's books but this wasn't one of her best. I enjoyed having a new character that wasn't a defense attorney. I didn't know much about how assistant US attorneys do their thing. I didn't like how she overstepped her bounds and went into police work but it was still exciting. I liked how several mysteries were interworked at once but thought it was too simple how they all came together at the end. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a mystery.

New heroine from Scottoline.......2007-02-27

After writing a series of books about an all-female law firm, Lisa Scottoline introduces a new character, prosecutor Vicki Allegretti, in this novel. Vicky and her partner Morty go to meet an informant on an ATF case and before the meeting takes place, there is a fatal shooting. Vicki is determined to find the perpetrator and in doing so she becomes involved in the tangled, drug-ridden Philadelphia neighborhood named Devil's Corner, where her own father grew up. During the investigation, she forms an unlikely partnership with an ex-con and becomes involved in a surprising romance. Vicky is a fresh new face in Scottoline's collection of strong female characters and hopefully the likeable prosecutor will be the heroine of other books in the future.

Fast-moving, entertaining read.......2006-11-13

I'm a fan of Scottoline, and I enjoyed this book thoroughly. Vicki Allegretti--a prosecutor rather than a defense attorney (like her other heroines) shows great promise. I won't repeat the plot here, but I found the characters interesting and engaging, as usual. I enjoyed the "girl buddy" aspect with Reheema as well. I definitely recommend this book, as well as Scottoline's other work.

If you like this book, check out a new author I've recently discovered. I highly recommend Thirst by Dania Deschamps.

Average customer rating:

About 150 pages too long...
Mental note: Sometimes great books fall from the sky
One of the worsts books ever!
Stalker
Courting Three Stars

Courting Trouble
Lisa Scottoline
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Similar Items:

Vendetta Defense
Rough Justice
Moment of Truth
Running from the Law
Legal Tender

ASIN: 0061031410
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Amazon.com

Anne Murphy thought she'd put her unhappy past a continent behind her when she joined Philadelphia attorney Bennie Rosato's all-woman law firm. Then a friend who's housesitting for Anne is murdered in what's clearly a case of mistaken identity, and Anne realizes that the past has caught up with her and that the only way to outrun it is to catch the killer before he realizes that she's still alive. But how can Anne play dead with a high-profile case just days away from starting? The only way to pull it off is to let her new colleagues in on the secret, which would mean telling them her other secrets, too, including the fact that she's in love with opposing counsel and the probability that her client may not be as innocent as she thought he was. The author deftly weaves the threads of plot and subplot together, helped by Mary DiNunzio, Judy Carrier, and Bennie herself, the familiar and well-drawn mainstays of this lively and solidly paced series (Moment of Truth, The Vendetta Defense, Rough Justice). It's vintage Scottoline, featuring some nice touches; a little suspense, a lot of female bonding, a few pithy asides on the human condition, and a surprise in the penultimate chapter. --Jane Adams

Book Description

Anne Murphy is the redheaded rookie at the Philadelphia law firm of Rosato & Associates, and one morning she wakes up to front-page headlines proclaiming lawyer murdered -- above her own picture. If she wants to stay alive, she's got to play dead. She'll have to trust people she barely knows -- colleagues who hate her, homicide cops who want her out of the crime-fighting business, and a new love who inconveniently happens to be opposing counsel. But her knack for courting trouble makes it almost impossible for Anne to play well with others, and an unexpected event places her in lethal jeopardy and leaves her with everything to lose.

Download Description

E-book extras: "A Little More About Lisa"; "One Night on My Book Tour": Essay; "The Novels" (Chapter One from each of Lisa's eight prior novels). How many people get to solve their own murder? In Courting Trouble, New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline is back with another fast-paced thriller that sends a young woman lawyer racing to find out who's trying to kill her -- after she's wrongly been reported murdered. Anne Murphy is smart, gorgeous, and young -- the red-headed rookie at the Philadelphia law firm of Rosato & Associates. She leaves town for the Fourth of July weekend to prepare for a high-profile trial, but when she buys her morning newspaper, her own photo is plastered all over the front page. And the headline - LAWYER MURDERED - supposedly refers to her. Anne sets out to find her killer, playing dead in order to stay alive. The investigation takes all of Anne's boldness and ingenuity - plus a pair of red satin hot pants. But her knack for courting trouble makes it almost impossible for Anne to play well with others, defend the lawsuit, and fight her urge to sleep with the enemy. Then an unexpected event places her in lethal jeopardy and leaves her with everything to lose - including her life.

Customer Reviews:

About 150 pages too long..........2007-04-19

After reading the terrible 1st to Die by James Patterson and being exceedingly disappointed, I picked up another mystery, hoping this one would have good characters and a good plot.

Plot:
Anne Murphy is a lawyer for an all-female firm who is defending a CEO friend who is accused of sexual harassment. Anne goes to the coast for a break to study her case when she sees in the newspaper she is dead. She rushes back to Philadelphia to find her murderer before he/she realizes that she didn't die.

Good:
This was a rather enjoyable book. I liked Anne Murphy, her sense of humor (which frequently had me in stiches, particularly at the beginning), the overall plot line (never have read anything quite like this), and even the scenes with her cat (which I found rather cute, but that is just me).

Bad:
There were a few problems that keep me from wholeheartedly recommending the book. The first problem I had was that the book was too long. About halfway through, I grew tired and had to force myself to continue reading. By the time I got to the end, I should have been excited. However, I was just glad it was over.
Next, Anne's character was a little all over the place. Her infatuation with I Love Lucy, while good in and of itself, seemed way too much. I have a hard time believing that someone could remember airdate, episode number, and name (maybe episode number or name, but airdate?). I love LOST, but I can't remember the the episode name or number much less the airdate (and most of those episodes aren't even three years old!). But, even assuming that this made sense (it theoretically could for an obsessive freak), I felt that the references were placed into the story inappropriately. What also made Anne's character more than a little annoying was how stupid she was one moment (leaving her underwear at someone's house) and then how clever she was the next minute (stealing Judy's keys and car). I know we all have ditzy moments, but I felt some of her actions were out of character. Further, why does Anne even leave her friends? One minute, she's cozying up to them, thankful to have friends, and the next, she rushes away to draw her murderer out. Huh?
Every single opportunity, the author wants to make sure we have it memorized (and preferably tattooed) that Anne is absolutely, positively, excrutiatingly gorgeous (even with her scar). Oh, please! We get the picture! Not every man is going to fall all over her for goodness sake! And it made me kinda upset when Mary's parents kept saying (like twice a page) how pretty Anne was. If I was Mary, I would be half tempted to run to my room and cry!
Last beef: what is up with the whole Mrs. DiNuzzio scene? What was that for? It had almost nothing to do with the plot!

Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
F-word is a favorite, along with typical d***, h***, sh**. Anne sleeps with opposing attorney; a case centers around whether or not her CEO friend forced an employee to sleep with him. We get vivid descriptions of the woman mistaken as Anne after she has been shot and how the room looks like afterward.

Overall:
This wasn't a bad book. I loved the humor, grew attached to Anne (and her history with her mother), and the plot. However, Anne is not consistent as a character and many of the things she does are completely off-the-wall. Definitely a funny read, but not for everyone.

Mental note: Sometimes great books fall from the sky.......2007-04-15

I was getting something from my "library closet" which is a series of shelves in my guest bedroom closet that I use for stuffing away tons of books, and this book literally hit me in the head. I had never read Lisa Scottoline yet, and I thought, "hmmm, OK." Wow! Characterization is awesome in this book. The reader really gets into the brain of main character Anne Murphy. The "mental notes" all through the book were hilarious and well-said. (Such as, "mental note: life is too short to be anything but a readhead.")
In this comedy-thriller, Anne Murphy awakes to find out by looking at the newspaper that she had been murdered. Obviously not dead, Anne must discover why someone would want to kill her, and more importantly, who! This takes the reader on an Odyssey to find Kevin Saturno, a crazy stalker who tried to kill her before, and a journey involving disguise, including Anne and three of her lawyer associates dressed as hookers, during which time Anne comes face-to-face with her newest client. She even dates opposing counsel. Characters make the book a fun ride -- including scenes with an estranged mother Anne would rather clobber.
I knew who the murderer WASN'T, and I knew who the murderer COULD BE, but I did not guess the actual murderer and reason until the fire-cracking end.
I will definitely read more of Lisa Scottline!

One of the worsts books ever!.......2007-02-13

I only write reviews if I feel strongly for a book, and this is one book I feel strongly about, because it was so BAD!!! I can't believe this book was even published, seriously. It appears to have been written by a novice. The plot is lame, the characters are unrealistic, the details are dated, as in this author probably hasn't had a fashion sense since the late 80's, and what is with all the "mental notes" and stupid descriptions of her cat??? I am just angry with myself for wasting time actually finishing the book. I did enjoy one other book by this author, which is why I bought this book, but never again will I waste my time.

Stalker.......2007-01-12

Anne Murphy is defending a man who is on trial for sexual harrasment. She goes to the Atlantic shore to relax and work on the case and asks a friend to house sit for her. While she is gone, the friend is murdered and she realizes that a stalker from her past has caught up with her and has committed this terrible crime. The rest of the book involves Anne trying to catch the stalker before he catches her. Having read several other Lisa Scottoline books, I am used to much more creative and involved plots than this one. The characters also make some pretty dramatic changes without much reason. For instance her colleagues, who have been cool and distant to her, suddenly become her best friends when they discover that she hasn't been murdered, as they had thought. Also her mother and her client display sudden character changes which just don't ring true. If you want to read a Lisa Scottoline book, don't start with this one or it may discourage you from reading the rest.

Courting Three Stars.......2006-11-08

Courting Trouble, by Lisa Scottoline, is a decent enough book. It offers several twists and turns and just enough suspense to keep one guessing and interested. I found the book enjoyable, but nothing to write home about. The plot reminded me of vintage Sidney Sheldon, which is not a bad thing; it is just not a new thing. I give this book a solid three (3) Stars.

Average customer rating:

More history than mystery
Don't waste your time...
Fast-paced Murder Mystery
Not Her Best Work
First and Last

Killer Smile
Lisa Scottoline
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060514965
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Book Description

Lawyer Mary DiNunzio's new case is a mystery—the strange suicide of an Italian fisherman interned during a dark, unspoken chapter in American history. Armed only with the puzzle pieces of a lock of hair, an old photograph, and a paper covered with indecipherable doodles, Mary digs deep into the case and suspects betrayal—and murder.

Meantime, Mary's friends worry that her investigation is becoming an obsession, so they set her up on a series of truly disastrous blind dates. She escapes romance only to risk life and limb to hunt down a ruthless killer. But someone in the shadows—powerful, cold-blooded, and very deadly—will stop at nothing to keep Mary from the truth.

Download Description

Attorney Mary DiNunzio gets a terrifying telephone call while she's working late, then finds a shadow lurking at her front door. When a lawyer close to her turns up dead, Mary begins to suspect that her new case, involving the suicide of an Italian-American in an internment camp during World War II, may not be ancient history after all.

Everybody around lawyer Mary DiNunzio has decided she isn't allowed to be a Young Widow anymore, even though she didn't know there was an official cutoff. They're all trying to fix her up -- her South Philly Italian parents, her best friend Judy Carrier, even the office security guard.

All Mary wants to do is immerse herself in a case everybody else calls ""The History Channel"", a pro bono representation of the Brandolini estate. The roots of the matter sink deep into the past, when Amadeo Brandolini emigrated to Philadelphia, started a family, and built up a small fishing business. At the outbreak of World War II, Brandolini was arrested by the FBI as part of a mass internment of Italian-Americans and was sent to a camp in Montana, where he eventually committed suicide. Now, more than sixty years later, his son's estate hires Mary to sue for reparations.

Customer Reviews:

More history than mystery.......2007-02-16

Lisa Scottoline uses some of her family history in writing this book which features lawyer Mary DiNunzio. Mary has taken on a case for the estate of Amadeo Brandolini, an Italian who was interned during WWII. While in the internment camp Amadeo died, supposedly by committing suicide. His son's estate is asking Mary to seek reparations for Amadeo's death. While investigating the case, Mary begins to unlock secrets which have been covered up for many years. Because of her knowledge, she is pursued by people who have a lot to lose if her story comes to light. She dodges all sorts of bodily harm, while her well-meaning friends try to fix her up with an interesting variety of bachelors.
Scottoline's paternal grandparents, while not interned during the war, were required to register as enemy aliens, despite the fact that they had lived in the US as law-abiding citizens for several decades. In this book, author Scottoline brings these injustices to light. Many people know that Japanese were interned during the war, but I,for one, was unaware that Italians were also being arrested during this time.
Despite the interesting historical background of the book, it lacks the pace and suspense of many of Scottoline's other novels.

Don't waste your time..........2006-07-08

I was looking for a new author but I don't know if Scottoline is it. I got to page 182 and dumped this one. Too much history and not enough intrigue!

Fast-paced Murder Mystery.......2006-06-16

This is my second Scottoline book and while she's not my absolute favorite mystery writer, I sure enjoy her books! They are entertaining and in this case, a bit informative especially regarding WWII and the internment of the Americans of German, Italian and Japanese descents.

Mary DiNunzio, an attorney, has a new case ~~ the strange suicide of an Italian fisherman who was interned during a dark chapter of American history. The deeper Mary digs into the case, the more bizarre it becomes. Then a lawyer who she grew up with is murdered and the case takes off, sending Mary off into a chase to find out the truth of who murdered her friend and if exactly it was a suicide at the camp all those years ago.

It is a fast-paced novel for me ~~ like one reviewer here mentioned, it's a bit far out to have a lawyer spilling her guts out to a reporter and messing with a crime scene ~~ but to me, it is what makes it fiction and fun. So this is a fun read ~~ nothing too spooky that you can't read in the middle of the night. Perfect beach reading, really.

If you like Scottoline's other books, then you will enjoy this one. If you're looking for a fast-paced murder mystery that keeps your mind occupied, this is a good one to try!

6-15-06

Not Her Best Work.......2005-12-03

Normally I enjoy Lisa Scottoline's books and the gang at Rosato and Associates. However, this one left a lot to be desired.

The camaraderie between the main characters is usually fun, but in this book I found it highly annoying -- I kept wondering when Mary and Judy would just get a room already and be done with it.

I also found Mary, usually the wallflower of the group, to be highly annoying as the lead character. Her hundreds of apologies got old really fast, and her stupidity made me want to put the book down several times without finishing it. The worst came when she broke into a crime scene to steal evidence and basically got off with a slap on the wrist when she confessed what she'd done to the lead detective. Close behind were the two scenes at the Saracone house, when she broke away from the wife at a run to storm in on Gio on his deathbed, and when she waltzed into the house pretending to be a "funeral planner" in order to snoop. None of this was realistic and all these things made me dislike the character even more than I already did. She was wimpy, stupid and annoying.

Normally I enjoy Ms. Scottoline's writing style, but I found it annoying during this book. The constant "Crak Crak Crak" of the gavel throughout the trial, the "Kick Kick Kick" when Mary was being kidnapped, and everything her father said being typed in all caps nearly drove me insane.

If we see the gang from Rosato and Associates soon, I hope the book is better, or I may just give up on this group.

First and Last.......2005-11-27

This the first of Ms. Scottoline's books I have read and it will most likely be the last. Poor writing and a totally implausable plot had me shaking my head. With so many good thriller writers out there I can't see myself giving this one a second try.

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