A Woman of Mystery

The author of fourteen novels, Lisa Scottoline draws upon her personal experiences as an attorney and as a Philadelphian to craft solid legal thrillers in the vein of John Grisham (or at least his early books – I’ve not read him in a while). Most of her books are interrelated, drawing characters from a common, all-women law firm; her three latest books have branched out as stand-alones, but the foundation of law and Philly is the same.

Because Scottoline uses a locale she knows well, the books are nicely evocative of the town, highlighting its many facets. The characters reside in different neighborhoods, from older immigrant blocks to yuppified renewal areas. The different buildings important in law enforcement are featured, of course, and natural scenery like parks and the Schuykill River round things out. As a non-Philadelphian, I expected more mention of cheesesteak!

It is her intimate knowledge of the legal system that drives the plots, though. In her Edgar-winning second book, Final Appeal, and one of her more recent ones, Dirty Blonde, the reader is taken inside the courts, with judges, clerks, and of course courthouse security taking the lead. Other books focus on the intricacies of private law firms and the complex relationships between partners, associates and staff anchoring the tale. All of the books tread the boundaries of legal ethics and the difficult decisions that need to be made when an attorney finds herself embroiled more personally in a case.

With the exception of an uncalled-for abortion recollection in the first book (because it was irrelevant to the story, and pretty much to the character as well), the stories all had a nice flow and timing to them, segueing well between scenes, the patter of dialogue well-managed and the characters believable and consistent. Scottoline is a good writer, undoubtedly with a good editor supporting her; I rarely came across a part of the story that felt extraneous or distracting. The characters are appealingly human, with realistic flaws and challenges. Almost all of them are Italian-American; this too is the author’s familiar ground.

I happily recommend these books if you are looking for a series of well-crafted legal mysteries. For a list of her titles, see Lisa Scottoline at FantasticFiction.com.