The Vendetta Defense by Lisa Scottoline

A murder in south Philly wasn’t what it seemed. It wasn’t a murder it was a vendetta execution. The courtroom isn’t the only place this unusual murder case is fought. The streets and pigeon coops of south Philadelphia provide the setting for an intriguing mystery.

I found Scottoline’s characters spot on. She captured the essence of the Italian community. Since I don’t know south Philly I can’t testify to the accuracy of her portrayal of that area but she nailed the ethnic culture from my own experience in the community I grew up in. The impetuous nature of Judy Carrier was a bit far fetched. I know a lot of attorneys and I can’t say I have met one with that level of impetuousness. The relationship between Pigeon Tony’s grandson and Judy was a bit predictable. I liked the way Scottoline showed the historic nature of the featured vendetta. I thought she did an excellent job portraying the depth of feeling and the length of animosity for perceived wrongs. The book was entertaining.

I recommend this book, particularly if you enjoy off beat courtroom drama and if you have a friend of Italian heritage, you have probably met some of the books more loveable characters.

Body of work of Lisa Scottoline

Review: http://www.themysteryreader.com/scottoline-vendetta.html

Web site: http://scottoline.com/Site/

No Second Chance By Harlan Coben

This book is not for faint of heart and if you have issues with children in danger you may not want to read it. I enjoy a good mystery but the tension in this one was almost too much. I actually put it down a couple of times because I was too worried about what I would read next. It has cops, doctors, FBI agents, private detectives, psychopaths, criminals, creeps, friends, lovers and kids, a little something for everyone. If you decide to read this you may want to block out some time because I think you may want to read it cover to cover in as short a time as possible while savoring every nerve stretching moment. Great book even if it made my skin crawl on occasion.

Body of work of Harlan Coben

Web Site: http://www.harlancoben.com/static/novels/nsc.htm

Review: http://www.allreaders.com/Topics/info_16701.asp

Point Blank by Catherine Coulter

Coulter writes a good mystery and keeps one captivated and entertained through out the story. Dillon Savich and his wife Lacey Sherlock are reoccurring likeable characters that grace this book. If you have read other Coulter novels you will be familiar with them, if not, enjoy their interaction. This is not a book to exercise your intellect or provide you with insights into your life, it is visual entertainment. There are murders, assaults, psychotics, fires, bombs, shootings, treasure hunts, history and love stories in this book. In other words, there is something for everyone. I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

Body of work of Catherine Coulter

Review of the book: http://www.themysteryreader.com/coulter-point.html

Site: http://www.catherinecoulter.com/

Fire in the Blood by P.N. Elrod

This is the 5th in a series of depression era detective stories. I mentioned in the last Elrod review that when I ran across a detective series set shortly after prohibition with a hard nose by soft hearted P.I. as the main character I tried it out. Jack Fleming the main character is a vampire. In this book he confronts areas of his condition and personality that cause him great emotional stress. The story lines are simplistic and even the style seems dated but that doesn’t seem to detract from the enjoyment. If you plan on reading it on a plane, take another book along unless it is a very short flight. It is a very quick read.


Body of work of P.N. Elrod
Site of P.N. Elrod: http://www.vampwriter.com/

The Cold Moon by Jeffery Deaver

This is the first Deaver book I have read. The main character is a quadriplegic ex-detective with a devious mind and an astounding ability to make intuitive leaps. I find that many mysteries I read aren’t terribly mysterious. Jeffrey Deaver’s plot is stupendous, superb, simply awe inspiring. He gave many, many clues. This was a good story, an outstanding read and a fiendishly clever plot. Well done Deaver!

Amzon link to body of work of Jeffery Deaver
The author’s site: http://www.jefferydeaver.com/
Book Reporter review:
http://www.bookreporter.com/reviews2/0743260937.asp