Lady Killer

March 31, 2008
Scottoline's latest thriller presents a successful businesswoman's journey to confront her past, and Rosenblat draws upon her theatrical experience to create a fun listening experience. With a variety of tones and dialects on her palette, Rosenblat creates a colorful cast of characters (with even a little singing thrown in). While her omnipresent narrator is somewhat overbearing at times, this is downplayed by her wonderful character creations. While not exactly the most thrilling or believable story, the brilliant Rosenblat grabs the spotlight and owns it from start to finish. The final disc offers a noteworthy interview with Scottoline. Simultaneous release with the Harper hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 3, 2007).

December 3, 2007
Philadelphia attorney Mary DiNunzio, last seen in Killer Smile
(2004), agrees to help her high school nemesis, Trish Gambone, at the start of this less than convincing thriller from bestseller Scottoline. Trish, whom Mary used to regard as “the quintessential Mean Girl,” has turned in desperation to the lawyer, “the all-around Most Likely to Achieve Sainthood” at St. Maria Goretti High School, because she wants to escape from her abusive, and possibly Mafia-connected boyfriend, Bobby Mancuso. Trish rejects Mary's practical suggestions for dealing with Bobby, but once Trish disappears, Mary finds herself under pressure from other high school classmates as well as people from her old neighborhood who blame her for not doing enough. Mary unwisely hides a connection with Bobby from the Feds, who then shut her out of the search for Trish when they learn of it. Scottoline fans will cheer Mary as she stumbles toward the solution, but others may have trouble suspending disbelief.

Scottoline and Rosenblat team up to bring us another suspenseful mystery featuring Philadephia lawyer Mary DiNunzio. Mary's high school nemesis, Trish, hires her to deal with her abusive husband and then disappears. The husband, once Mary's lover, then turns up dead. Barbara Rosenblat could not have read this any better--her portrayals of Philadelphia Italian-Americans of all ages, a Chinese witness, Trish's anxious friends and mother, and Mary herself, feisty and headstrong, are perfect. Special challenges include a cell phone breaking up and an Indian youngster with learning problems. Scottoline usually ends her scenes with an attention-grabbing sentence. Rosenblat emphasizes these by inserting long pauses to heighten suspense. An enlightening author interview concludes this superb listening experience. J.B.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine