novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 STARS
"Philadelphia lawyer Judy Carrier couldn't be less like Ally McBeal -- Post-it size skirts and makeup are alien territory where she's concerned. But she's smart, feisty, and packs a mean punch. In short, just the woman to turn to if you're charged with murdering the head of a particularly vicious family of crooks. With the aid of a posse of octagenarian pigeon fanciers, Judy takes on the mob and proves that there is justice after all." (From Amazon)
My first Lisa Scottoline novel and I loved it! I read it again when I read the series in order and it still gripped me. Loved the suspense thriller aspect but also the romance. A great book.
"Philadelphia lawyer Judy Carrier couldn't be less like Ally McBeal -- Post-it size skirts and makeup are alien territory where she's concerned. But she's smart, feisty, and packs a mean punch. In short, just the woman to turn to if you're charged with murdering the head of a particularly vicious family of crooks. With the aid of a posse of octagenarian pigeon fanciers, Judy takes on the mob and proves that there is justice after all." (From Amazon)
My first Lisa Scottoline novel and I loved it! I read it again when I read the series in order and it still gripped me. Loved the suspense thriller aspect but also the romance. A great book.
wombat_88's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
canada_matt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
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
After discovering a short story by Lisa Scottoline one week ago, I have started a series binge that has me completely addicted. This is a series like no other and I am so very pleased to have found it, as well as the countless storylines and characters that fill the pages of these books. In this novel, the reader learns more about Judy Carrier, one of the lawyers at Rosato and Associates. She is tasked with defending an elderly man, Pigeon Tony, who has been accused of killing one of his longtime rivals. Pigeon Tony does not deny the killing, but explains that there is a vendetta that he had to settle. Working alongside Pigeon Tony’s grandson, Judy tries to cobble together a case, much to the chagrin of her boss, and dodges many threats from their victim’s family, said to be deeply connected with criminal element. A story that flows well and tells a poignant tale. Scottoline’s superior style shines through yet again.
Rosato and Associates is a well-run Philadelphia firm, handling many sorts of cases, most of which are cleared by the name partner, Bennie Rosato. When associate lawyer, Judy Carrier, agrees to defend Anthony Lucia for murdering his longtime enemy, things get quite intense. This is surely the case of her career and Judy does not want to mess it up. She works with the elderly pigeon racer, known to his friends as ‘Pigeon Tony’, trying to better understand why he would kill Angelo Coluzzi. Pigeon Tony refuses to deny that he committed the crime, though he tries to explain that there was a vendetta that had to be completed when Coluzzi killed his wife years before. Judy may have taken on more than she can chew with this one.
While Judy discovers that this decades long feud has kept Pigeon Tony eager to settle scores, there is a larger problem. The Coluzzis are also keen on revenge and begin to take action, which includes finishing off Pigoen Tony and anyone who defends him. Working with Tony’s grandson, Frank, Judy will have to cobble together a defence and protect the elderly man—and themselves— before something tragic can occur.
With the law stacked against her, Judy is forced to pull out all the stops in order to find a means of defending Pigeon Tony and ensuring that he does not end up in jail, or dead. However, the Coluzzis are always lurking and could strike again at any moment. This is one case that could make Judy Carrier’s career, but it could also end her life! Scottoline at her best with this piece.
When I read Pigeon Tony’s Last Standa week ago, I knew that I wanted to read more Lisa Scottoline. Now, six novels later, I am still hooked and want more so that I can learn about the characters and their unique means of finding justice in the law. Scottoline offers up great narrative guidance in her piece, filling them with detail and the law, as well as some great moments of humour. There is so much I can learn from them and I never tire of getting a little more backstory about some of the female protagonists. There is a richness to the pieces that only gets better the deeper I delve in the series. The plots are well-crafted and appear to grow effectively, though never too dramatically. I am eager to see how things will keep progressing, as the characters shape things in their own way. This was a great story and complemented the aforementioned short story well. I can only wonder what is to come with Judy, Mary DiNunzio, and Bennie Rosato. I guess I better grab the next book to see.
Kudos, Madam Scottoline, for keeping me enthralled throughout this legal gem!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
ana_az_books's review against another edition
3.0
What really is the definition of murder?
Summary:
Judy, from the all-women law firm Rosato & Associates, takes on a case to defend 80-year old Pigeon Tony from a murder sentence. The only problem is Pigeon Tony really killed the guy and wants to tell the judge about it. The victim's family also isn't taking this lightly. There's also a "hunky grandson" involved.
My thoughts:
I like Pigeon Tony. He's a sweet old man! The best part of this book for me are the flashbacks in Pigeon Tony's life that caused the pain that made him kill to fulfill a vendetta.
I also like the thought of an all-women law firm, which at first made me think about reading the whole series, but after reading this one... I probably won't read the others.
There's something about the writing style that just doesn't agree with me. What I can pinpoint is the last sentence of every chapter. They're mostly fragments and they're trying to emit a "dun-dun-dun!!!!" cliffhanger type feel. They're also usually on their own paragraph. I'm not sure if anyone will get what I mean if I just put some examples here or if it needs context. But anyway, here are some examples:
And the first punch was thrown.
And so he kissed her.
But would Pigeon Tony?
Because she was already hatching another plan.
Favorite character:
Pigeon Tony! He's small but feisty.
Summary:
Judy, from the all-women law firm Rosato & Associates, takes on a case to defend 80-year old Pigeon Tony from a murder sentence. The only problem is Pigeon Tony really killed the guy and wants to tell the judge about it. The victim's family also isn't taking this lightly. There's also a "hunky grandson" involved.
My thoughts:
I like Pigeon Tony. He's a sweet old man! The best part of this book for me are the flashbacks in Pigeon Tony's life that caused the pain that made him kill to fulfill a vendetta.
I also like the thought of an all-women law firm, which at first made me think about reading the whole series, but after reading this one... I probably won't read the others.
There's something about the writing style that just doesn't agree with me. What I can pinpoint is the last sentence of every chapter. They're mostly fragments and they're trying to emit a "dun-dun-dun!!!!" cliffhanger type feel. They're also usually on their own paragraph. I'm not sure if anyone will get what I mean if I just put some examples here or if it needs context. But anyway, here are some examples:
And the first punch was thrown.
And so he kissed her.
But would Pigeon Tony?
Because she was already hatching another plan.
Favorite character:
Pigeon Tony! He's small but feisty.
bheadley's review against another edition
3.0
Pigeon Tony is accused and guilty of murder! He confessed, but the clever lawyers find a way to defend the guilty!
jessca's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book a few years ago, so it's not fresh in my mind, but I still remember the characters and the basic plot after all this time and many other books in between. That's saying something for how intriguing it was, because there have been many other books that I don't remember at all! Pigeon Tony is so loveable, he's who comes to mind the most out of anything else about this book. The writing was a bit confusing to me at times, I remember that I had to read and re-read many parts because the description wasn't clear to me about what was going on. I actually disliked the writing enough at first, that I almost put the book down before even finishing the first chapter. I'm glad that I stuck with it, though, as I grew to love the main characters and the story.
ziyuelan's review against another edition
3.0
Kinda disappointed with this. I think I was just expecting more out of a crime/justice/law story.
Some of it read really easily and quickly but some other parts were just so long to get through. I don’t remember what I was expecting out of this book but it just wasn’t it for me.
This was more of a let’s try to figure out if the past crime which led the main character to commit murder in the present really was an act of revenge on the deceased’s part. And although it could’ve been super interesting, I just found myself not feeling for anybody.
I didn’t connect with Pigeon Tony’s character. The book starts with a chapter from his perspective and it’s super lengthy in describing the pigeons he has and it seemed to me that he was introduced as a very smart and almost like controlling mob boss like character. Maybe I’m the one who misread but the character is then painted as a love struck elderly who is still trying to exact revenge.
Then the love story between Frank the grandson and Judy just didn’t do it for me. It was like so not there that I just didn’t care that much. It almost felt like a last minute addition. We were missing like too many scenes in between the ones we got to actually make me root for the couple.
Overall, the multi POV definitely made the book read like a crime/law show or movie. Which in itself I love and was really done so gotta give due where it’s due.
Some of it read really easily and quickly but some other parts were just so long to get through. I don’t remember what I was expecting out of this book but it just wasn’t it for me.
This was more of a let’s try to figure out if the past crime which led the main character to commit murder in the present really was an act of revenge on the deceased’s part. And although it could’ve been super interesting, I just found myself not feeling for anybody.
I didn’t connect with Pigeon Tony’s character. The book starts with a chapter from his perspective and it’s super lengthy in describing the pigeons he has and it seemed to me that he was introduced as a very smart and almost like controlling mob boss like character. Maybe I’m the one who misread but the character is then painted as a love struck elderly who is still trying to exact revenge.
Then the love story between Frank the grandson and Judy just didn’t do it for me. It was like so not there that I just didn’t care that much. It almost felt like a last minute addition. We were missing like too many scenes in between the ones we got to actually make me root for the couple.
Overall, the multi POV definitely made the book read like a crime/law show or movie. Which in itself I love and was really done so gotta give due where it’s due.
bookstuff's review against another edition
3.0
Like reading "Junie B. Jones, Lawyer". Funny, light-hearted.
lauren_endnotes's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book when it first came out and I enjoyed it. I do not remember all of the details of the story, but I remember that I liked the legal thriller/mystery, and I generally enjoy Scottline's other works as well. I also remember I read it in one day--I could not put it down!