Rating: 
Summary: Stalking Her Stalker
Review: I highly recommend that you listen to this performance rather than read the book. The comic character of the work will be hard for you to imagine through reading, but Ms. Rosenblat hits it just right. My only objection to the taping is that there is some problem with annoying background noise during pauses. It sounds like either pages turning or the performer clearing her throat. Those who want law, mystery, women being stalked, murder and other serious matters treated literally in a realistic way, like Law & Order does on television, will hate Courting Trouble. Those who enjoy the Stephanie Plum stories may discover a wonderful new heroine in Anne Murphy. The story itself is just the context for often remarkable, surprising comedy. Anne Murphy is a fairly new associate at the all-woman law firm, Rosato & Associates. Think of her as Lucy Ricardo from I Love Lucy, Anne's favorite show. She's a bright, zany red-head representing a former law school classmate in a sexual harassment case. In the book's opening, she is trying to get some testimony excluded. After sparring unsuccessfully with the judge, she uses an inflammatory (but very funny) tactic to get the judge to rethink his position. No law school teaches this kind of off-the-wall trick, and I'm sure no lawyer I know would do it. But that's what makes it funny, because it shows up in contrast to the stark formality of legal proceedings so well. At that point, I got it. This book is a witty satire of legal practice and the female detective genre. I suspect that many people will miss that point. The reversals of expectations just keep coming. Anne finds out that everyone thinks she has been killed while she is away at the New Jersey shore for the weekend. Coming back, she disguises herself outrageously in clown-like fashion (with an obvious reference to Shakespeare's fools) . . . and listens in while her colleagues speak their regrets about her death (with an obvious reference to Tom Sawyer attending his own funeral). Having left California to escape all thoughts of a convicted stalker who threatened her with death, Anne finds out the stalker has escaped. Rather than playing the victim, she stalker her stalker. The results can be hilarious (including her visits to bar for a tea -- or is it tee? -- dance and a hot sheet motel). It's almost like Blazing Saddles coming to life in a Philly law firm. Some of the reversals that work less well involve her shift from being unable to relate to women to becoming a well-appreciated hugger, adjusting to her birth defect and reacting to her client turning out to be a pawing wanderer. This is a great audio for a long plane trip or a lengthy drive. Keep smiling! After I finished the book, I found myself thinking about why certain subjects are not normally treated with humor. It's probably because the subjects are so repugnant to us, such as child molestation.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining, light read
Review: Overall an entertaining, light read that goes quickly. Good things: interesting characters, vivid descriptions, good pacing, imaginative situations Bad things: annoying "Mental note" thing, limited character development of some of the more interesting characters, mentions of products, name brands, etc. over and over again. Final: Good, quick read, nothing earth-shattering
Rating: 
Summary: What a terrific fun read!
Review: Appealing characters, witty dialogue, laugh out loud one liners... I loved it! Example: After coming in from jogging Anne says something like, "I'm convinced the Devil is alive and working for Champion." You figure it out. Funny stuff. It's a real kick to discover a new author... not that Lisa is new, she's just new to me. I'm now going to look for her other books and read them all.
Rating:
Summary: Good airplane reading and engaging once you get into it
Review: This is my second book by Scottoline. Although the book is well-plotted and moves right along (after the first 15 pages or so), the literary quality just wasn't there. I was surprised to read that the author is an attorney given some of the more preposterous plot turns. I also felt at times that she was trying to imitate Janet Evanovich rather than concentrate on what she's good at (plotting). The story begins with a trial attorney Anne staging a stunt in the courtroom to win a motion -- a stunt that it's difficult to believe could or would ever happen. She's defending an old friend accused of sexual harrassing an employee. New to Philadelphia, Anne feels isolated in general but particularly from the other women in the all-female law firm she has joined. She decides to go to the Jersey shore for the 4th of July weekend, and as a result, someone misidentified as her is killed. For rather unconvincing reasons, she lets her legal partners know she is still alive and keeps the police in the dark while they track down the killer. There are several twists and turns of the plot, some of which I anticipated. The attempts of the women to solve the murder lead to some wild antics and romance for Anne (a la Janet Evanovich). This book kept me entertained enough to pass the time but it's the kind of book you pass on and have no desire to keep in your own collection. I will continue to read Scottoline but I don't think this is the best example of her work.
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