Rating:  Summary: Not her usual fare....she's better than this! Review: I've read most of Scottoline's books and liked them. They're not Grisham or Turow, but they're good for a couple of nights' reading. This particular offering, however, never pulled me into the story, nor did I for one minute believe that Bennie Rosato -- tough girl that she is -- would fall for such a con artist as her "twin" sister...the entire thing just didn't ring true. And the stereotypes Scottoline used are so tired and overdone. I've worked for lawyers and am pretty sure that no judge worth his robes would deny a continuance after an attorney's parent died, so that part didn't work for me either. I think Scottoline ought to go back to what works for her rather than trying to turn out a book every 6 months or so. Her writing, timing, plot development and characterizations are suffering.
Rating:  Summary: Worse than Brad Meltzer! Review: When I finished the Tenth Justice by Brad Meltzer I was sure I would never find a book as contrived and with so many gaping plot holes as it had. So you can imagine my surprise, and disappointment, when over one hundred books later I found the worst book in this genre ever, "Mistaken Identity". Everything about this book was wrong from the patronizing, obnoxious main character who treats the associates in her firm, opposing counsel, and her boyfriend like dogs to the glaring plot holes that left me wondering how this writer is so popular. I will say three particular plot devices really left me shaking my head: (1) a big break in the case coming when the main character was able to tell who a witness was looking at across a packed court room; (2) the main character discovering someone's identity when a piece of paper with the persons picture on it falls out of a book unto the floor; and (3) having to rely on the dreaded mysterious informant to fill in details that the author could not find any other way to bring out. Please don't wast your time reading this nonsense -- and instead try the wonderful and very underrated Baine Kerr or Donna Tartt.
Rating:  Summary: My first book by Lisa Sottoline definitely not the last! Review: The book is a real page turner. A curve ball when not expected and a slider when you expect a curve. She keeps you guessing right up to the end.....her legal detail is excellent and story telling outstanding. I do think I know a better place for steak sandwiches....in Roxborough but that is my only complaint! Keep writing Lisa!
Rating:  Summary: Not up to Lisa Scottalina's usual suspense Review: Book was good, however too long and characters became confusing. This is a book you can lay down where others were page turners. Story is good but could be condensed to make it more readable.
Rating:  Summary: Writes great dialogue but needs work on plot Review: This book is easy to read but there are too many holes in the plot. Also, the ending was just tacked on leaving unanswered questions... a sequel is in the works I'm sure. This was the first book I read by this author and was especially interested because I work in Philadelphia and know the two female lawyers that she acknowledges. I'll give her next book another chance but this is only a 3-star book in my humble opinion.
Rating:  Summary: This book was not "all that" Review: I was dissapointed with this book. It seemed very drawn out and because of this you wound up forgetting who the characters were. There were too many names, characters, etc. to keep track of. On the positive side, the dialog and writing was fun to read...
Rating:  Summary: Whose scalp is it? Review: I agree, this author is no John Grisham--but I don't read John Grisham so that's a plus for me! I agree with comments that the plot is a little contrived--sometimes hurried and then strung out-- and I still don't know the 'sister's' eventual fate--guess I'll have to wait for the next book. I would like to see some more development of the relationship between Bennie and her love interest. Definitely a stay up all night to finish book!
Rating:  Summary: Good, but not outstanding. Review: Based on the chronology of the reviews for this book, it appears that the early conventional wisdom was that it was a 5-star book while the more recent conventional wisdom is that it is something less. I am in the latter category. This was the first book I have read by this author, and I must admit I was somewhat surprised by the effusive praise that her work has received, particularly if, as some of her fans have said, this Philadelphia travelogue is her very best work. It was enjoyable enough to read, but for me it had an artificial, connect-the-dots, or paint-by-numbers, feel to it. I can picture the author preparing an exhaustive outline, carefully playing out the different strands of the plot, and then (barely) putting some flesh on the bones of the outline. In fact, I was surprised by those below who felt that there was not enough plot, because I felt that perhaps the book suffered from the opposite problem: too much plot. That is why it seemed to me as if the author wrote a 500-page book out of a 400-page outline: when she wasn't slavishly moving the plot along (as per the outline), she had little left to say. It also seemed as if every hunch of each of the "heroes" is right on the money, and every lead followed hits paydirt. It also seemed that Bennie's boyfriend was just a bit too perfect, particularly given that Bennie more or less ignore him the entire time. Could I have written a book this "good"? No. But by the same token, it didn't seem to me to have the same professional feel that I found in works by Grisham and Turow and Richard North Patterson.
Rating:  Summary: Nearly 500 pages is way too much for this slim plot Review: I have read the many readers reviews of this book and I respectfully disagree. In this book, the two associates of Bennie, the heroine, are far more interesting than she is, and much more sympathetic.It is hard to believe that Bennie's live-in-lover would put up with her total lack of interest in him. This is, of course, what you might expect with her in-your-face, all female employee firm senior partner status. As for the plot, given what Bennie knows about her "sister" (and I am being careful about giving up any of the plot, such as it is), it is impossible to understand her conviction that her sister is not guilty of the crime she is charged with. There is absolutely no information she has(or has revealed to the reader)that could lead her to that conclusion, particularly in light of the horrible, unrelated acts she knows her sister is guilty of. This is (possible)sister love, taken to its most ridiculous. Lou, her retired cop investigator, is impossible to believe. The conclusion, given all that you then know, is most unsatisfying although I understand that fairy tale endings are the usual conclusion to most thrillers. She is no Grisham, but that's OK, because his last few books have been preachy(Street Lawyer, Testament, etc)and more interested in politically correct themes.
Rating:  Summary: This is an ecellent book. Review: If you have not read Lisa Scottoline before please do this is her third book and it is truly good. I thourghly enjoyed it and read it in 2 days. It's 5 stars in my book.
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