"ACCUSED," by Lisa Scottoline, St. Martin's Press, $27.99, 354 pages (f)
Lisa Scottoline's "Accused," the 12th book in her Rosato and Associates series, is a satisfying and captivating story.
Starring an all-female cast, Bennie Rosato, Mary DiNunzio, Judy Carrier and Anne Murphy are lawyers that work for the same firm. At the beginning of the novel, Mary is promoted to partner.
Thirteen-year-old Allegra Gardner comes to the firm with a prospective case. Allegra believes that the man imprisoned for killing her sister is innocent, even though the accused pleaded guilty.
The law firm is reluctant to take the case because the Gardner family is one of the most powerful families in the country. But the challenge of this case — against a high-profile and practically untouchable person — is something that the lawyers, in the end, simply cannot resist.
"Accused" has a unique storyline — usually crime novels are about bringing people to justice. Despite the heavy storyline, there are multiple humorous moments between the female lawyers. Mary's father and his friends also provide comic relief.
"Accused" seems to be focused on Mary and her development as a person. The book also explores her family relationships.
Scottoline has the ability to write masterful novels that fit all genres. Scottoline goes from sentimental and melancholy in "Don't Go" to mysterious and adventurous in "Accused."
There are no inappropriate innuendoes or language in the book. The main characters occasionally meet for drinks throughout the novel.
Scottoline is a weekly columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer and her columns are collected into two books and optioned for television. She lives in Philadelphia.
Shelby Scoffield has a bachelor's in English from Brigham Young University and a master's in rhetoric and composition from Stanislaus State University. She is currently working on her teaching credentials so she can teach high school English.