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afro8921's review against another edition
Bennie Rosato shows a softer side in the latest addition of Lisa Scottoline's Rosato and associates series. Love, duty, and a decade old promise collide in this story of redemption. Told with Scottoline's trademark wit and humor. Great read for readers who like crime drama fiction.
bbwolf59's review against another edition
2.0
I usually really like Scottoline, and this series, but this one just can't get going - and I got to the point where I really didn't care at all - about any of the characters, plot, setting... I tried to read it 4 or 5 times after I got the advance copy, and was so uninterested that I have read 23 books since I got it. Not what I expected, and this one in the series is a real disappointment.
canada_matt's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Lisa Scottoline continues developing the spin-off Rosato and DiNunzio series, providing the reader with stunning legal thrillers that will keep everyone thinking. While the law can sometimes be straightforward, Scottoline knows how to bend things and create unique perspectives for all to enjoy. Bennie Rosato is known in the Philadelphia legal community as being a tough brawler, inside the courtroom and while defending her clients. However, a case from her past, when Bennie sought to defend a juvenile in rural Pennsylvania, impacted her a great deal, especially when justice was not able to prevail. Now, when her client, a full grown adult, has been accused of murdering his life-long enemy, Bennie is happy to return to help and hopes to bring justice to a case where no one is giving the defendant a chance. Bennie has made an impact before, but this will take more than all she has to give, as she tries to correct a wrong and prove her worth to someone who has all but given up on her. Scottoline does a stunning job with these parallel cases and keeps the reader enthralled until the final pages.
Bennie Rosato has been a successful trial attorney in Philadelphia for years, having founded Rosato & DiNunzio and watched it rise to glory. However, her rough exterior hides a softer side, particularly when outcomes to those who cannot defend themselves. A case crosses her desk that has her remembering a time thirteen years ago when she saw justice fail a young boy. Jason Leftavick was not yet a teenager when he was sent away to a juvenile detention centre for fighting the local bully. Working to forge new law in Pennsylvania, Bennie was not able to get a rural community to see the error of its way and Jason was left to suffer until his sentence ended, leaving him defeated. Bennie did, however, forge a close relationship with the bully’s uncle, believing that it was the state that had messed three both up, even though Jason’s family could not see things that same way.
Now, Jason has been arrested for killing that same bully after a barroom incident. Jason is twenty-five and yet still holds onto the animosity that he had as a youth. Bennie wants nothing more than to redeem herself and show the state that they made a horrible mistake all while ensuring her client’s pleas of self-defence do not fall on deaf ears.
Feeling guilt to represent him, Bennie cannot be sure that Jason is innocent, but she will do everything she can to ensure he gets a fair trial. When evidence clouds the truth, Bennie will have to clear her own clarity for the jury, in hopes of having them see that Jason is truly a good person who has been dealt a horrible hand. Scottoline offers up a wonderful story that touches the series fan, particularly when they learn of some secrets Bennie has been keeping for over a decade.
My discovery of Lisa Scottoline’s series led to a great binge reading experience that is ongoing. I cannot get my fill of these books, filled with great legal stories and populated with stunning characters. While the book returns to one of its core protagonists, the reader is able to take much away about Bennie Rosato and much of her untold past. The foundation of the novel remains its strong narrative, but this helps prepare the reader for two time periods and an in-depth look at Bennie’s life, her love, and how deeply she cherishes justice within the law. Plot points emerge and help the reader to discover wonderful aspects of the series not touched upon before, but it is the sentimental moments surrounding Bennie and her darkest hours that really had me pushing forward to learn even more. I cannot wait to see what is to come with the next novel, only hoping that I will be able to express it as well in my ongoing reviews.
Kudos, Madam Scottoline, for a definite thinker with this one.
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weaselweader's review against another edition
5.0
“Nobody comes out of prison better than they went in”
In 2008, the breaking US story of the Kids-for-Cash scandal shocked the world. Two corrupt Pennsylvania judges had unjustly stolen the childhoods and destroyed the futures of thousands of minors by unjustly incarcerating them in a harsh juvenile prison system for their own enrichment. Lisa Scottoline has brilliantly riffed off this real-life criminal judicial travesty and ugly scandal by creating the story of Jason Lefkavick, a 12 year old boy tossed into the juvie slammer under the pretense of a zero tolerance policy for the outrageous offense of protecting himself from a bully and fighting at school.
CORRUPTED is the heartbreaking and completely gripping legal procedural tale, of Benny Rosato’s failure to obtain the release of a twelve year old Lefkavick from an unjust 60 day sentence for fighting, despite her reputation as one of Philadelphia’s top lawyers. The story morphs into an enthralling romance and courtroom drama in which Rosato is determined to defend an adult Lefkavick on the charge of first degree murder of the thug with whom he had fought in school so many years ago. It was clear that the simmering feud between the two men had never cooled and had survived into adulthood. The police were convinced that the hatred between these two men had boiled over into an argument, a barroom shove, an alley fight, and, ultimately, a murder. Rosato thought otherwise and was determined to redeem her earlier failure.
The story is brilliantly told. The pacing, while much slower than a typical thriller, is steady, convincing and compelling. Readers will find themselves invested in the characters, rooting or booing for the good guys or the bad guys. Scottoline’s story does not leave the reader the option of sitting passively on the sideline simply watching the story unfold. The romance is an integral, critical part of the overall plot and is as convincing as the reality of the legal issues. Scottoline never allows the romance to cross the line into saccharine melodrama.
Easy to recommend. Well done, Ms Scottline. I’ll definitely be looking for more novels in the Rosato and DiNunzio series.
Paul Weiss
In 2008, the breaking US story of the Kids-for-Cash scandal shocked the world. Two corrupt Pennsylvania judges had unjustly stolen the childhoods and destroyed the futures of thousands of minors by unjustly incarcerating them in a harsh juvenile prison system for their own enrichment. Lisa Scottoline has brilliantly riffed off this real-life criminal judicial travesty and ugly scandal by creating the story of Jason Lefkavick, a 12 year old boy tossed into the juvie slammer under the pretense of a zero tolerance policy for the outrageous offense of protecting himself from a bully and fighting at school.
CORRUPTED is the heartbreaking and completely gripping legal procedural tale, of Benny Rosato’s failure to obtain the release of a twelve year old Lefkavick from an unjust 60 day sentence for fighting, despite her reputation as one of Philadelphia’s top lawyers. The story morphs into an enthralling romance and courtroom drama in which Rosato is determined to defend an adult Lefkavick on the charge of first degree murder of the thug with whom he had fought in school so many years ago. It was clear that the simmering feud between the two men had never cooled and had survived into adulthood. The police were convinced that the hatred between these two men had boiled over into an argument, a barroom shove, an alley fight, and, ultimately, a murder. Rosato thought otherwise and was determined to redeem her earlier failure.
The story is brilliantly told. The pacing, while much slower than a typical thriller, is steady, convincing and compelling. Readers will find themselves invested in the characters, rooting or booing for the good guys or the bad guys. Scottoline’s story does not leave the reader the option of sitting passively on the sideline simply watching the story unfold. The romance is an integral, critical part of the overall plot and is as convincing as the reality of the legal issues. Scottoline never allows the romance to cross the line into saccharine melodrama.
Easy to recommend. Well done, Ms Scottline. I’ll definitely be looking for more novels in the Rosato and DiNunzio series.
Paul Weiss
katsmiao's review against another edition
4.0
I have read a few books by this author, and each one was fast paced and riveting.
This one was slower paced, but the story very unique with some crazy twists and turns. I found the writing to be as great as usual: very readable, developed characters, unique storyline, engaging and riveting to the end.
This one was slower paced, but the story very unique with some crazy twists and turns. I found the writing to be as great as usual: very readable, developed characters, unique storyline, engaging and riveting to the end.
bettyjowerthmann's review against another edition
A good read but I don’t find this author to be the strongest writer. But interesting stories.
cj_mo_2222's review against another edition
5.0
I have read every book in Lisa Scottoline‘s Rosato and DiNunzio series and am seldom disappointed. “Corrupted” is another winner in this long-running series. The books remain fresh and relevant with interesting plots full of twists and turns and “Corrupted” is no exception. The series rotates the lead characters and this book features the founder of the Rosato & DiNunzio law firm, Bennie Rosato. Bennie is a tough as ever as she fights for her client, Jason Leftavick, who has been accused of a murder he says he didn’t commit. However, Bennie also shows a vulnerable side as she becomes more and more frightened of losing the case and letting her client down, as she feels she did years earlier when she represented Jason in a juvenile case that went wrong. The flashbacks to that prior case are compelling and heartbreaking. Then, you can feel the tension as the current case progresses. After everything the characters have gone through, you want things to turn out, both for Jason and Bennie’s sake. This book also shows some of Bennie’s personal life, which shows even more of Bennie’s softer side. Bennie is so used to handling everything on her own, it’s great to see how moved she is when her partner, Mary DiNunzio, and the associates of the firm show they have her back when things get rough.
“Corrupted” begins in the present, flashes back to Bennie’s first time representing Jason in 2002, and then picks up the story in the present. The book is full of legal insights, dramatic courtroom scenes, investigation into the murder by Bennie and firm investigator Lou Jacobs, and even a potential romance for Bennie. Once I began the book, I didn’t want to put it down. The sweet, touching ending, after so much sadness and tragedy experienced by both Bennie and her client, is perfect. I highly recommend the book to fans of Scottoline or readers who enjoy well-written legal thrillers or novels of suspense.
I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program, and I have chosen to write an honest review.
“Corrupted” begins in the present, flashes back to Bennie’s first time representing Jason in 2002, and then picks up the story in the present. The book is full of legal insights, dramatic courtroom scenes, investigation into the murder by Bennie and firm investigator Lou Jacobs, and even a potential romance for Bennie. Once I began the book, I didn’t want to put it down. The sweet, touching ending, after so much sadness and tragedy experienced by both Bennie and her client, is perfect. I highly recommend the book to fans of Scottoline or readers who enjoy well-written legal thrillers or novels of suspense.
I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program, and I have chosen to write an honest review.
lisahelene's review against another edition
3.0
I did enjoy this book, but I couldn't go for 4 stars because of two minor things that bothered me. Others may not care one way or another.
First was when Lou was describing the alley, he said it was about five hundred feet to the back wall (a dead end). Five hundred feet is way too long for the alley, the dead end not being the only reason. It was described as having 2 businesses having access through their back doors, the other side had no access at all. Think about how long five hundred feet is in real life. The best I can do is think of the length of a football field then add 2/3 of another football field to that. Way longer than that alley.
Next was in the courtroom, Linda was on the stand crying and apologizing to Richie's family. "I'm sorry, Doreen, Declan, the boys. I don't know what will happen to me now... etc". The boys? Seriously, who would say that?
First was when Lou was describing the alley, he said it was about five hundred feet to the back wall (a dead end). Five hundred feet is way too long for the alley, the dead end not being the only reason. It was described as having 2 businesses having access through their back doors, the other side had no access at all. Think about how long five hundred feet is in real life. The best I can do is think of the length of a football field then add 2/3 of another football field to that. Way longer than that alley.
Next was in the courtroom, Linda was on the stand crying and apologizing to Richie's family. "I'm sorry, Doreen, Declan, the boys. I don't know what will happen to me now... etc". The boys? Seriously, who would say that?