Mary DiNunzio, Bennie Rosato's law associate, pursues her claim on behalf of the late interned family friend Amadeo Brandolini (Dead Ringer, 2004) to a rousing courtroom finale. The problem with pressing a case that's 60 years old--Amadeo Brandolini died a suicide in 1942 in the Montana camp where he was interned with hundreds of other Italian-Americans--is that so many leads are dead, along with so many potential deponents. Mary can't interview Amadeo's wife or his son Tony, her nominal client, or Missoula camp guard Aaron Nyquist, because they've all passed on. But when Frank Cavuto, the attorney for Tony's estate, gets shot in an apparent robbery shortly after telling her she's off the case, his death sounds like one too many. And when the man she's become convinced actually murdered Amadeo all those years ago dies hours after she confronts him and the evidence against him is stolen from her office and her pocketbook, the case seems as hopeless as her sex life. After all, the chances of a judge taking her word for an undocumented connection between the illiterate fisherman Amadeo and the powerful firm that's continued to benefit from his death are about as great as the chances that one of the million blind dates her family and friends force on the young widow will suddenly blossom into true love. But Mary soldiers on, her sense of humor bolstered by some timely assistance from her boss and her best bud Judy Carrier, till a bolt from the blue leaves a most unlikely grin on her face. No matter who carries the ball at Rosato & Associates, Scottoline keeps it fast, fleet, and funny. Her Philadelphia is both dangerous and aglow with the promise of justice and hot new men who'll steal your heart--if they don't kill you first. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

After Dead Ringer, Mary DiNunzio and the all-women law firm of Rosato & Associates are back in another installment of the popular series. While it's chock-full of Scottoline's trademark murder, mayhem, and merriment, this time she has a more important and personal story to tell-that of the little-known internment camps for Italian Americans during World War II. Scottoline discovered her own grandparents' alien registration cards, giving her the impetus and passion to bring this story to light. DiNunzio has taken on a pro bono case for the family of Amadeo Brandolini, an Italian immigrant fisherman who settled in Philadelphia but died under mysterious circumstances in one such camp in Montana; now, his family is seeking retribution. DiNunzio takes his case to heart, but her fervent research uncovers more subterfuge than she was supposed to find. Her crazy blind dates offer some comic relief, but the threats, violence, and bodies continue to pile up, and the truth remains elusive throughout this complex and riveting tale. Highly recommended for all fiction collections. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 2/1/04.]-Stacy Alesi, Southwest Cty. Regional Lib., Boca Raton, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In the latest installment of Scottoline's best-selling series starring the all-female Philadelphia law firm of Rosato & Associates, young Mary DiNunzio takes center stage. Mary has taken on a pro bono case representing her peeps --an Italian American business group (the circolo) working on behalf of the estate of Amadeo Brandolini, who committed suicide while interned during World War II. The estate seeks reparations, and Mary feels drawn to the case, so much so that others fear she's obsessed with it. Under the guise of taking a vacation, Mary visits the site of the internment camp in Montana where Amadeo killed himself and finds herself with still more unanswered questions. Interesting author's notes at the end of this engaging drama disclose Scottoline's own discovery of her grandparents' internment, lending this unusual story a welcome authenticity. Expect another hit from Scottoline, who has proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that legal thrillers are not a male-only subgenre. --Mary Frances Wilkens Copyright 2004 Booklist

Scottoline's previous thrillers (Dead Ringer; Courting Trouble; etc.) have featured the women of the all-female Philadelphia law firm Rosato and Associates, and have concerned the usual elements of murder, stalking, bribery and corruption. This novel by the former trial lawyer and Edgar Award winner, while embracing the requisite ingredients, is especially engaging because of its personal angle: growing out of Scottoline's discovery of her own grandparents' alien registration cards, the book involves the case of an Italian-American who was interned during WWII. Amadeo Brandolini emigrated from Italy to Philadelphia, where he started a family and worked as a fisherman. When the war broke out, the FBI arrested and imprisoned him (along with 10,000 other Italian-Americans). He lost everything and wound up committing suicide in the camp. Rosato and Associates' young star, Mary DiNunzio, steps up to represent Brandolini's estate as it sues for reparations. Mary "grew up in South Philly, where she'd learned to pop her gum, wear high heels, and work overtime" and silently prays to saints when she can't find things. This case, a pro bono one, means a lot to her; the local small business owners and family friends she grew up with want retribution for Brandolini as much as she does. Mary puts all of her energy into the job, and when clues suggest Brandolini's death may have been a homicide, she becomes even more enthralled. As Mary learns more, the enemy camp (another Italian-American family, the Saracones) turns its murderous eye on her. Scottoline skillfully weaves a complicated, gripping and fast-paced tale, at turns comical, nerve-wracking and enlightening. Agent, Molly Friedrich. (On sale June 1) Forecast: Scottoline's last book, Dead Ringer, debuted at #5 on the New York Times bestseller list-her personal best. Killer Smile is poised for similar success, aided by a 13-city author tour and national radio and print ads. Look for an Innovators profile of Scottoline in the April 26 issue of PW. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved