Dead Ringer by
Lisa Scottoline
hbk out June 03
Published by Macmillan
at £10
As the USA is reliably said to have seventy-eight percent of the world's
lawyers, it is hardly surprising that a sizeable proportion of American novels
are Grisham look-alikes. Faced with yet another book about a 'sassy, feisty
woman attorney' I feared the worst, but was pleasantly surprised by Lisa
Scottoline. This is one of her series about the undoubtedly-feisty Bennie
Rosata, a six-foot lady lawyer from Philadelphia. The writing is relaxed,
amusing and witty and once she had introduced me to Bear, her soppy
golden retriever, she could do no wrong.
Benedetta Rosato has her own all-woman law office in Philly, which goes
pear-shaped after a major client goes bankrupt. Unable to pay the rent or
even the phone bill, salvation appears in the form of a potential 'class-
action' brief, where she has the chance to fight off rival firms for a multi-
million dollar civil claim. Unfortunately, her new client gets murdered on
the same day that he signs up with her – and her psychopathic twin sister
begins trying to ruin her reputation and her life.
Bennie goes from one crisis to another, but the tale is told in such a bubbly,
engaging manner that it rapidly becomes a 'can't-put-downer'. There have
been a string of previous yarns about Bennie and no doubt there will be
more, as this writer seems here to stay.
(
Bernard Knight
ex Home Office Pathologist and author of the highly acclaimed Crowner John series)
Dead Ringer by
Lisa Scottoline
