Accused

August 12, 2013
Mary DiNunzio faces two daunting changes in bestseller Scottoline’s intriguing 12th novel featuring the all-woman Philadelphia law firm of Rosato & Associates (after 2010’s Think Twice): she has become a partner in the firm, which affects her relationships with former fellow associates; and boyfriend Anthony Rotunno gets a lot more serious. Mary’s first client as a partner is 13-year-old Allegra Gardner, who wants to retain the firm to prove that Lonnie Stall, imprisoned for the murder of Allegra’s older sister, Fiona, six years earlier, is innocent and to find the real killer. Allegra may be precocious, and she has her own funds, but her wealthy parents oppose her actions directly and forcibly. Myriad legal and ethical problems complicate the case, including Stall’s own confession, as does the help, wanted and unwanted, of the DiNunzio and Rotunno families. Mary follows her heart and gut into danger in this welcome series return after three stand-alones. First printing of 400,000. Agent: Molly Friedrich, Friedrich Literary Agency.

August 1, 2013
Scottoline returns to the Philadelphia law firm of Rosato & Associates, with Mary DiNunzio now a partner. Thirteen-year-old Allegra Gardner wants to hire the firm, and she has the trust fund to do it. The murder of her sister, Fiona, six years ago still haunts Allegra because she believes the confessed and convicted killer is innocent. Now she wants Mary to prove it. Mary falls for the sad little rich girl and takes the case despite serious misgivings expressed by her associates and the Gardner family. Mary starts digging, finding that Allegra is not the reliable witness she appeared to be. Nor is anyone else, for that matter. Mary gets support from her fianc', Anthony, her warm Italian parents, and their friends, who also inject some humor. Scottoline writes Nancy Drew mysteries for adults. Mary's navet' and belief in justice are heartwarming and believable, and all the characters are recognizable without being clich'd. This is a long-awaited (since Think Twice, 2010), solid entry into a terrific series that should appeal to fans of Sheldon Siegel, Rose Connors, and Steve Martini. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Everything Scottoline writes sells big, but her Rosato series leads the way. Fans have been waiting three years for this one and will respond enthusiastically.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)