Courting Trouble

Rating:
Summary: excellent crime drama
Review: Beautiful, sassy and bright lawyer Anne Murphy left California and moved to Philadelphia, where she took a job at the legal firm of Rosato & Associates. In her present case, she is representing her old friend in a sexual harassment lawsuit and is particularly pleased when a legal point goes her way. She decides to head out to the Jersey Shore for the Fourth of July Weekend and has her friend Willa is cat-sitting her precious feline.

When she reads about her own "death" in the newspaper, Anne immediately realizes that Willa was shot in the face and since there is a strong resemblance between them, the media and Bennie and friends thought it was she who died. When she reveals herself to them and explains it was probably her stalker who followed her to Philadelphia after he escaped from jail, the gang puts a ring of protection around her. Although she is grateful for their friendship and kindness, she is determined to take control of the situation, which comes to a head on the night of July 4th.

Lisa Scottoline, renowned for her legal thrillers, has written an excellent crime drama starring characters from previous novels. The friendship between the women is a beautiful thing to behold and is only one of the reasons readers will stick with this book until the perpetrator either is caught or succeeds. COURTING TROUBLE is Ms. Scottoline's best work to date.

Harriet Klausner

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: Loved the book
Review: I was surprised to see the negative things said about this book. This is the first book of Lisa's that I have read but I plan on reading all of them. I loved the story and characters. I usually don't waste time writing reviews but I really wanted to for this book. Dont listen to the negative posts, read it and decide for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Fun, light read
Review: I'm a fan of Ms. Scottoline. And I'm quite happy with her newest book, Courting Trouble. The book is a fun light read. Fast moving and never boring. One of the things I like about Ms. Scottoline's books are that most of them take place in the law firm of Rosato & Associates. What makes this different is that each book deals with a different person in this firm. This one deals with new associate Anne Murphy. Don't worry Mary, Judy, and Bennie are around too. Since Ms. Scottoline makes a different person at this firm the main character of the books, she is always building her characters and giving them a rich background. She has come a long way since her first book, Everywhere that Mary Went.

Anne learns that she was killed at home when she was on a little holiday. Anne decides to find her killer while acting dead. And this is the worst best kept secert in the book. First the woman at Rosato & Associates learn the truth, then Anne's client, then the opposing counsel, and finaly the police. With that many people trying to keep it a secert it is amazing she isn't found out sooner. To make matters worse she is being stalked by a guy from her past, Kevin Satorno. Anne plays cat and mouse with Kevin in the city of Philadelphia during the city celebration of the Fourth of July. As the city celebrates our nation birth and Independence, Anne is if fight for her own Independence.
This book reminded me of Ms. Scottoline's earlier book Running from the Law. I found it very funny. Mental Note: Watch I love Lucy reruns. Anne is a Lucy fanitic. And the scene of Judy, Mary, and Anne in red, white, & blue hooker outfits is great. It reminded me something that Janet Evanovich would write. If your looking for a new author to read and you like legal thrillers Ms. Scottoline is a winner.