Rating: 
Summary: Nod to Laura
Review: Courting Trouble by Lisa Scottoline continues the story of the all female law firm in Philadelphia led by Bennie Rosato. The protagonist Anne Murphy is the new kid on the Rosato legal team joining Mary DiNunzio and Judy Carrier, and Murphy carries this story quite well. She is a compulsive shopper and is the beautiful model type who fits in more easily with her male counterparts until she gets murdered, well sort of, and then the female bonding starts. The novel is nicely structured and Anne Murphy is likable, but I guessed who the murderer was early on. That's a definite negative, unless the novel has loads of atmosphere to make up for it, which this one doesn't. In addition, the entire murder scene was right out of a novel written in 1943 by Vera Caspary, Laura. Although the plot was different, the murder was absolutely the same. I would have thought that in the acknowledgements or somewhere Scottoline or the publisher would have given a Nod to Laura.
Rating:
Summary: Underwhelming at Best!
Review: Very disappointing effort for Ms. Scottoline. This plot concept was extremely difficult to believe and the whodunit so very easy to figure out at the onset. I expect much more than what I received from this contrived tale. Get real - at least part of the time! Borrow it from your public library, but definitely a buyer beware sticker should be placed on this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Mental Note: Cut out some of the mental notes
Review: While I enjoyed this book, I found myself getting annoyed with the lead character's "mental notes". These appeared on practically every other page and it got to the point that I began skipping over them. Other than that, this book was enjoyable, just not one of my favorites in Scottoline's series of female attorneys. My favorites are earlier ones that focused on Bennie Rosato, but this one still had a good premise, suspense and a sense of humor.
Rating: 
Summary: A great read
Review: Funny and fastpaced, just like we expect from Ms Scottoline. Anne Murphy finds out, while away on a spur of a moment holiday, that she's just been murdered. Feeling very much alive, she goes on a quest with our old friends, Judy and Mary (and Bennie) to find out who killed her? and, since she was very much alive, who was killed? I admit, some of the plot schemes were a little light for the members of the bar association, but you can't hold that against the book. Oh, and for those complaining that a completely new character was placed in the hot seat - Anne Murphy appeared, albeit briefly, in Vendetta Defense.
Rating: 
Summary: Summer Was Made For Books Like This!
Review: "Courting Trouble" is about a newly hired attorney, Anne Murphy, in an all female law firm. I read it the week before the 4th of July and got into the storyline. Anne is herself out of town on a last minute 4th journey. In her absence, the house sitter is murdered. Maybe it's being a redhead (who grew up watching "I Love Lucy" religiously) that inspires Anne to continue to be dead. She hopes by doing this to catch the killer. She is forced to ask for help from her co-workers, whom up to this point have not given her the time of day. Needless to say, sisterhood prevails and some memorable predicaments occur. The story is not a traditional mystery, as we find out who the prime suspect is early in novel. However, the tempo is consistent and there are some unexpected turns to keep you interested. There were a few things thrown at you that could have been left out. Anne's relationship with her mother left me unfulfilled and I would have appreciated more scenes with the opposing counsel. With that said, this was the first book by Lisa Scottline that I have read. I have since bought some of her earlier books with the anticipation that they will be as pleasurable. If you are a die-hard mystery fan, this will probably be a disappointment. On the other hand, if you enjoy entertaining, crisp written or suspenseful (with a dash of romance, but not on the level of Elizabeth Lowell) books, this should keep you busy on a lazy day.
Rating:
Summary: A QUICK, FUN READ!!
Review: This is a great novel brimming with typical Scottoline action and cutting-edge humor...; I love the books that revolve around Rosato & Associates, taking you into the head of each character. Where I disliked "Murphy" in "The Vendetta Defense," seeing her through the eyes of Judy, I developed a true affection for her in this novel. The author takes you into the head of Anne Murphy, where you find that everything isn't as it appears to be; where she appears to be the epitome of physical perfection, the truth is she struggled with a congenital birth defect during her younger years. While grappling with a newfound affection for her coworkers and her boss, and discovering the value of true friendship among the same, Anne must track down the man who thinks that he actually killed her...before he truly succeeds. Scottoline fans won't be disappointed....!
Rating:
Summary: Order it from the library!!
Review: This book reminded me of the original "Charlie's Angels girls" ...frothy, inane, and embarrassing. This is definitely not up to par with Scottoline's other books. My advice is to save your [money] and just order this from the library, if you really need to waste a few hours of reading time
Rating:
Summary: Lucy 'splain! Well sir, I just couldn't put this one down!
Review: This book answers the question: what do you get when you cross Alfred Hitchcock with "I Love Lucy"? The answer: a rip-roaring read. Anne Murphy is a Lucy fanatic who's memorized every episode (not that she'll admit it out loud). An aggressive Philadelphia attorney, she's not above Lucy-esque plans in and out of the courtroom. In fact, she had me at "uh ...Hello??" -- that is, from the first chapter where she engineers a um ... very interesting courtroom demonstration to prove a point about sexual harassment. But, life takes a far more serious turn in the days that follow. The chaos begins when Anne leaves town for a holiday weekend and awakens to headlines blaring news of her own very violent demise. Who was the real murder victim? And, what will the killer do when news gets out that Anne is still very much alive? Can she trust anyone under such dubious circumstances? And what about the big sexual harassment case Anne's supposed to take to trial three days hence? -- for a client who may or may not be telling her the truth?! Intrigue abounds as the story gets underway and surprises await in every chapter. Along with the unrelenting tension, Lisa Scottoline delivers wonderful turns of phrase, and a nice dose of Lucy-type schemes and references. As only a deft writer could, Scottoline perfectly balances the lighthearted with the deadly serious. Just as you think everything is tidily wrapping up, chilling chaos reigns down once more. I don't want to ruin the ending, but will just say that I happily ignored a sunny Saturday afternoon in favor of gluing myself to this book until I reached the end. It was worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Only so so
Review: I usually enjoy Lisa Scottoline's novels. But this one was lame. It spends way too much time on Anne trying to catch her stalker. There was no sense of reality about the whole story. Hopefully, the next book in the series is a improvement. I wouldn't waste by time reading this one.
Rating:
Summary: Lucy, you've got some 'slaining to do!
Review: Lisa has hit another Grand Slam with this well crafted tail of a stubborn Redhead on a mission. Anne Murphy is a gorgeous young redhead who is Lucy Ricardo with better footwear fashion sense. With the aid of her new colleagues at Rosato & Associates she sets out to solve her own murder. Along the way there is plenty of twists, turns, laughs and Footware.If you are looking for a GREAT summer reader, look no further.
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