Product 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.

Customer Reviews (4)

An Excellent Narration
The story is a nice mystery.There are many plot turns and Ms Scottoline has a great sense of humor that makes one laugh when the tension grows.Vicki and Rahema are strong characters.I have to strongly disagree with the prior reviewer.I thought the narrator was superb.

Like the narrator!
One reason I chose another Scottoline book was because I like the narrator. She does a superb job with the characters and I will continue to look for her books.Great job.

Narrator is absolutley awful
enjoyed the book, however, the narration by Ms Rosenblat makes it extremely hard to listen to.It sounds like she has rocks in her mouth.The "mouth noises" was extremely annoying. This is the second book with her as the narrator that I have had to put aside.

SUPER SUSPENSE AND A STRONG VOCAL PERFORMANCE
Already entrenched as one of the most popular authors of legal thrillers, Lisa Scottoline shows no signs of success lag.Her twelfth book, Devil's Corner, is once more headed byspunky, bright heroine, Vicki Allegretti, and peppered with trenchant dialogue.

Vicki's the kind of gal who finds trouble wherever she looks, and determinedly faces it down.She packs a wallop and a gun, sometimes in her left coat pocket "where it could shoot out an ovary."Actress Barbara Rosenblat gives a strong vocal performance as Vicki allies herself with Reheema Bristow to break up a gang dealing in cocaine and death.

Meeting an informant can be standard procedure for Vicki but when she shows up at the appointed time what she confronts is a loaded gun.By dint of determination and a lot of luck she escapes a bullet but two others aren't so fortunate.She's at a loss to understand why and how a routine meet turned into a massacre.

Her investigation takes her to Philadelphia's sleazier neighborhood, one known as Devil's Corner, a haven for no one but dealers and thieves.It's easy to discover who deals; the big question is who's behind the dealers?

A former trial lawyer and Edgar Award winner, Scottoline has delivered another rousing ride through places both low and high with the indefatigable Vicki exceeding the suspense limit at every turn.

- Gail Cooke ... Read more

Product Description

Now, for the first time in hardcover, New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline's first two novels, Everywhere That Mary Went and Final Appeal, are available in one volume. A sure treat for Scottoline's legions of fans, Lisa Scottoline: The First Two Novels is the ultimate collectible.

Customer Reviews (3)

NOT SO HOT
This book was in not so great a shape and looked like it was very old.

If there were 10 stars, that's what I'd give all Lisa's books!
This gal will make you laugh out loud whether you're listening to one of her books or reading it.She's got a great banter with the characters and the Italian influence (if you are Italian or know Italians) is so great and so right on!Every book of Lisa's that I've read (and that's nearly all of them) has been just a terrific enjoyable ride.She's superb and on the level of Susan Isaacs whom I consider another great author.Take the time to research the books in order and read them that way.The female characters are just simply dynOmite!You'll love every one of them and the books take twists you'd never expect.Excellent mysteries and the all girl law firm is wonderful.

Barbara Rosenblat reads all of Lisa's books and she is such a skilled narrator...you've just got to listen to at least one on tape.I don't know how Lisa chose her, but she's a total delight and makes the books even more enjoyable!

Out of Stock
Timely communication to advise that there was a stock problem.Very professional. ... Read more

Product Description
In The Vendetta Defence, New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline delivers a wonderfully rich, vivid story of past sins, love and justice.Philadelphia lawyer Judy Carrier couldn't be less like Ally McBeal -- Post-it size skirts and makeup are alien territory where she's concerned. But she's smart, feisty, and packs a mean punch. In short, just the woman to turn to if you're charged with murdering the head of a particularly vicious family of crooks.With the aid of a posse of octagenarian pigeon fanciers, Judy takes on the mob and proves that there is justice after all. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Vendetta Defence: can it fly?
I picked this novel up as a light read, was drawn in by the characters and thoroughly enjoyed the story.

This is not a story that will withstand close forensic dissection but it gives a fine mixture of likeable characters, evil villains and moves at a fair clip to a satisfying conclusion. At least, I found it satisfying.

Along the way I learned a little about pigeon racing and quite a bit about human nature.This is the second Scottoline novel I have read, and I'll be looking for others.

Recommended.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Is the Idea of a "Vendetta Defense" Really Plausible?
When someone kills another, is it always murder, and can such killing of another be justified? Lisa Scottoline tackles these moral and legal dilemmas in THE VENDETTA DEFENSE, her newest work. And saying it right up front, this reviewer feels that it's her best work to date.

The very first line of this book states that Tony Lucia killed Angelo Colluzi that morning. Pigeon Tony, as he's known to his friends, is an elderly man who gets his name from the pigeons he loves and races, as he has done all his life. He is arrested for the murder of Colluzi, who it turns out, has had a vendetta going against Pigeon Tony and his family since the days when they both lived in Italy during the Fascist era.

The Philadelphia law firm of Rosato and Associates will be familiar to those who have read Ms. Scottoline's previous novels. Bennie Rosato and Mary DiNunzio make appearances, but in this one Judy Carrier takes the lead role of Pigeon Tony's defense attorney against the wishes of Bennie, who is her boss. And just to further complicate issues, Judy falls in love with Pigeon Tony's grandson, Frank.

A master at characterization, Lisa Scottoline writes about South Philadelphia, its environs and its people as if she's strolled through the streets, examining the cracks on the sidewalks, noting the walls that have peeling paint, remembering which parking meters are not functioning. Her attention to detail comes from one who has experienced the area and its people, not just imagined them. She makes one visualize her characters as real, multi-dimensional people, and not just flat caricatures.

And speaking of descriptions, look out for the details about Judy Carrier's new bright green VW Beetle if you want an example of how the author pays attention to visualizations, right down to the flower in the glass bottle in the console. This is just one small example.

As a mystery writer, Ms. Scottoline has successfully drawn on her experiences as an attorney. She further deals with touchy legal ethical issues in this book, something she has lectured on at law schools before.

As in her previous novels this book is at times movingly sensitive and compassionate. At other times it is humorous, funny in a subtle way, and at other times you'll want to laugh out loud.

I didn't think that a "vendetta defense" such as this was a plausible plot when I first read about it. Ms. Scottoline seems to bring her three-dimensional characters to life, and make the concept conceivable.

If you have come to enjoy Lisa Scottoline's writing style, her characterizations and her subtle sense of humor, then this is a book you will find to be amongst her best. And if you haven't read any of her previous works, you may want to pick up a few of them in addition to this one.

You won't be sorry you did!

Update: have bought a number of hardbound and paperback copies of this book for friends since I first read it in 2001. It's still one of Ms. Scottoline's best.

(This is a relisting of an original review of the hardback edition first posted in May 2001)

... Read more

Product Description
In No Rest for the Dead, betrayal, vengeance, redemption, greed, and love, are tied together by twenty contemporary masters of the genre. ... Read more

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James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet (Sundays at Tiffany's)Lisa Scottoline (Lady Killer)Donna VanLiere (The Christmas Promise)Mark Alpert (Final Theory) ... Read more