Listened for Fun (Library)Overall Rating: 4.00Story Rating: 4.00Character Rating: 4.00Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought when Finished: Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline was my first book by this author and it was a hit for me.Story Thoughts: I admit that the best part of this story was that the main character(Mary DiNunzio). The fact that she has to help her high school nemesis (Trish Gambone) out of a pickle is just icing on the cake. How many of us have hoped to "be better" than the ones who bullied us in High School only to find out that we didn't really want them suffering (at least not anything drastic)? I have been there so I identified with Mary's journey in this story. The action was great. The case was twisty. I have a new series to add to my TBR (Clearly I read these out of order as this was book 10)Character Thoughts: I loved Mary! Seriously I could totally identify with being good at your job but not wanting to overstep where you are because of fear of being deficient. She is just brilliant but doesn't realize her brilliance. I am glad that those around her (sans her boss but I think even she does) see how talented she is! I loved all the side character too (even the mean girl club). Lisa Scottoline evidently knows how to write good characters. Audio Thoughts: Narrated By Barbara Rosenblat / Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins I am always shocked when an audiobook circa anything before 2010 is done really well. However other than some music ques (which always get on my nerves) this one was done really well. Barbara had a great voice for Mary and Co. The pacing was excellent and the "feel" of the story was real. I enjoyed this one on audio.Final Thoughts: Clearly you can read these books out of order and find them enjoyable. I will be reading more in this series!
So first, I just have to say that Mary DiNunzio is part Stephanie Plum and part Kinsey Milhone. I like both those chicks ok, but not necessarily enough to think that we need another one of them on the planet. That is, this book was ok but didn't blow my skirt up. I think I had higher hopes for Mary, maybe, from reading "Think Twice". I can't even tell you why I thought I'd like her better, but in general, she just sort of bugged me.Her family and friends are all caricatures from a specific neighborhood, much like the Stephanie Plum books, and there was plenty of comedy in this one too, but I think I got frustrated with ALL of the really very bad decisions she kept making. She's supposed to be the smart one, right?That said, I really do love Judy: "Only a true girlfriend would hate someone on your say-so. In fact, that's what girlfriends were for."About a gay guy she was introduced to, I giggled at this: "His cologne was on the strong side, but it only reminded Mary of her old friend Brent Polk, who was also gay. Brent had passed years ago, and she still missed him. She felt instantly comfy with Anthony because of Brent, like a gay associative principle."I think it was at this point that I thought of Stephanie Plum: "Mary couldn't hear anymore. Catholics shouldn't get Brazilians. In fact, the words Catholic and Brazilian should never appear in the same sentence, except for: Brazilians are very good Catholics."Anyway, it was a quick read, and rather entertaining, so there's that.
Do You like book Lady Killer (2008)?
where did the time go that I am just getting to this one?Sorry Lisa :-)Excellent writing! Mary is my favorite character so I loved this book written with her in the lead. I also loved the twist Lisa added that I didn't see coming...Mary had an abortion! I love her parents as well as the rest of the Italian community and wish I lived there...even if they do always get into each others business...lol
—Chris
I haven't read a Scottoline for a while and I really enjoyed this one. She went back to her original characters and that was fun. Her wit and one-liners are just awesome. I love the humor that's on so many pages. It's a very fast-paced book and I was able to read it over the weekend. There wasn't any language as an issue in this book, which was very nice (although I think there might be in some of her earlier books, I've forgotten). There are a few references to earlier novels with the main characters, but not enough that you need to know the history to understand this book, although I do like to read them in order. There's a little plot twist at the end and a few other things revealed along the way that I wasn't prepared for. I did find it intriguing that she never mentions the "bad guy's" name until halfway through the book. I kept waiting to see how long she could not use it and the different ways she could refer to him without saying his name. Another fun female legal thriller by a very witty, great, approachable author. I love a Scottoline novel.
—Nicole
Scottoline used to be more legal thriller and less chick lit, but she seems to have reversed the balance in this one. Cute story, but the protagonist (Mary DiNunzio)does virtually no lawyering in this story. She's more like a cross between super sleuth and secret squirrel.Kinda silly in a way, but fun to read. The "Mean Girls" from when Mary was in high school come to her for help, and they act like they're still in high school, even though they're in their 30's. She throws in a lot of humor, and much of the silliness is intentional, I think. Some funny lines worth remembering, like "I don't want you dead unless I kill you myself."
—Jeanette "Astute Crabbist"
