BEWARE. I DON'T FLAG SPOILERS. BUT I DON'T PUT MY REVIEWS OUT ON ANY FEED, EITHER.Disclaimer - my "reviews" are not truly that. Rather than a critical analysis, each "review" is mostly my quick summary of the plot -- so I can refresh my unreliable memory. Also, I find that once I journal a book, it's easier for me to give it away. That's important, as our house is getting "overgrown" with books.---Rita Morroni (spell?) is the heroine. Scottoline has created a vivid woman lawyer in Rita. She's smart,intuitive, blunt. She plays poker and knows how to bluff, in the courtroom, and in life, too. Rita's a loving daughter to her working-class father, a butcher who raised Rita on his own.Rita has to defend her boyfriend's dad -- a fed judge, no less -- for sexual harrassment of his young, atractive female secretary. Then the judge becomes a murder suspect, after the secretary turns up murdered. By investigating, Rita learns the young secretary was bedding not just the married judge, but also Rita's boyfriend, as well as a series of other possibly dangerous men.To gather clues and piece together a defense theory, Rita resorts to a variety of identities and costumes, and recruits her dad's senior-citizen poker friends as well. (They visit expensive car dealerships pretending to be customers, and pose as a lawn service to gather evidence ;eft outdors.Turns out neither the judge nor the son (both unfaithful to their partners)is the murderer -- in a thrilling final moment of danger, which Rita sets up as a final bluff, the murderer reveals himself to be the sleazy, publicity-hound attorney who was representing the secretary in her sexual harrassment suit. We learn in the end that the attorney was provoked to violence when the secretary told him she wanted to back out of the high-profile lawsuit against the judge.Very touching relationship btw. the butcher dad and the young black teen fr. the neighborhood who works for the dad, and ultimately dies trying to protect the dad fr. a supposed robbery (which Rita figures out i]was relaly an attempt to scare Rita by targeting her dad.)Also, interesting dynamic btw. Rita and her lovers - first the judge's son, whom she dumps after learning of his fling; and second, an aggressive lawyer in her firm (whom she ends up w.)Aside fr. developing memorable heroines, Scottoline has a way w. words. Lots of great metaphors, phrasings.
Overall, this story has been action-packed and a big gamble of poker chips and cards. I really liked this book and the crime-solver Rita Morrone, and how the author would always provide an insight on her true thoughts when someone says something full of s-you get me? I think that this book's actually better than Lisa Scottoline's other book that I previously read-Dirty Blond. Well-actually they both have great build-ups and the endings that I like for both heroines-romantically, too XD. Gotta say that Dirty Blond's story was a bit more serious beyond the case mysteries, and had much more dramatic characterization for the Judge (main character of Dirty Blond). Running From the Law was more action filled, and bounced from here to there more often which kept me awake. I don't know-but I have to say that this book was a bit more comical, and more appealing towards a younger audience. Welp, I'll be returning this book when I come back from break-so if you wanna dive into court and murder, read this. If not-just don't be "Ms.Fresh" with me, 'kay? OFTO
What do You think about Running From The Law (2000)?
3 STARS"Whether it's poker or trial law, wisecracking Rita Morrone plays to win, especially when she takes on the defense of the Honorable Fiske Hamilton, a prominent federal judge accused of sexual harassment. And it's no coincidence that the judge is her live-in lover's father. Then the action turns deadly, and Rita finds herself at the center of a murder case. She probes deep into the murder, uncovering a secret life and suspects in shocking places. When the killer viciously ups the ante, Rita decides to end this lethal game. She lays it all on the line for the highest stakes ever—her life." (From Amazon)A fair legal thriller with suspense.
—Kris - My Novelesque Life
Finally a Lisa Scottoline book that had me guessing throughout the entire book. I honestly had no idea who the killer was and had no idea who Rita would end up marrying if anyone. I'm glad that she didn't settle for a man who thinks its OK to be unfaithful but at the same time it seems like she rushed into things with the other guy but this part of the book was very small compared to the rest. I really enjoyed her relationship with her father and his friends and their poker Tuesday nights. all in all a good book.
—Patty
This was the abridged edition, which I really don't care for.And I didn't care for the readerTHIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLYScottoline has created a vivid woman lawyer in Rita. She's smart,intuitive, blunt. She plays poker and knows how to bluff, in the courtroom, and in life, too. Rita's a loving daughter to her working-class father, a butcher who raised Rita on his own.Rita has to defend her boyfriend's dad -- a fed judge, no less -- for sexual harrassment of his young, atractive female secretary. Then the judge becomes a murder suspect, after the secretary turns up murdered. By investigating, Rita learns the young secretary was bedding not just the married judge, but also Rita's boyfriend, as well as a series of other possibly dangerous men.To gather clues and piece together a defense theory, Rita resorts to a variety of identities and costumes, and recruits her dad's senior-citizen poker friends as well. (They visit expensive car dealerships pretending to be customers, and pose as a lawn service to gather evidence ;eft outdors.Turns out neither the judge nor the son (both unfaithful to their partners)is the murderer -- in a thrilling final moment of danger, which Rita sets up as a final bluff, the murderer reveals himself to be the sleazy, publicity-hound attorney who was representing the secretary in her sexual harrassment suit. We learn in the end that the attorney was provoked to violence when the secretary told him she wanted to back out of the high-profile lawsuit against the judge.Very touching relationship btw. the butcher dad and the young black teen fr. the neighborhood who works for the dad, and ultimately dies trying to protect the dad fr. a supposed robbery (which Rita figures out i]was relaly an attempt to scare Rita by targeting her dad.)Also, interesting dynamic btw. Rita and her lovers - first the judge's son, whom she dumps after learning of his fling; and second, an aggressive lawyer in her firm (whom she ends up w.)Aside fr. developing memorable heroines, Scottoline has a way w. words. Lots of great metaphors, phrasings. (less)
—Chris
