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Anna Curtis #2
Discretion
For fans of Lisa Scottoline and Law and Order: SVU, former federal sex-crimes prosecutor Allison Leotta's novel explores the intersection of sex and power as Anna Curtis investigates the murder of one of DC's highest-paid escorts.
When a beautiful young woman plummets to her death from the balcony of the U.S. Capitol, Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Curtis is summoned to the scene. The evidence points to a sexual assault and murder. The victim is one of the city's highest-paid escorts. And the balcony belongs to Washington, D.C.'s sole representative to Congress, the most powerful figure in city politics.
The Congressman proclaims his innocence, but he's in the middle of a tough primary fight, and the scandal could cost him the election. For Anna, the high-profile case is an opportunity. But as the political stakes rise, she realizes that a single mistake could end her career.
At the same time, her budding romance with Jack Bailey, the chief homicide prosecutor, is at a crossroads. Determined to gain respect in the office, Anna wants to keep their relationship under wraps. But the mounting pressure and media attention that come with the office's most important case will inevitably expose their relationship if it doesn't destroy it first.
The investigation leads Anna to Discretion, a high-end escort service that caters to D.C.'s elite. But with each break in the case, the mystery deepens. And the further Anna ventures into D.C.'s red-light underworld, the larger the target on her own back.
From the secret social clubs where Washington's most powerful men escape from public view to the asphalt track where the city's most vulnerable women work the streets, Discretion is a gripping exploration of sex, power, and the secrets we all keep.
When a beautiful young woman plummets to her death from the balcony of the U.S. Capitol, Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Curtis is summoned to the scene. The evidence points to a sexual assault and murder. The victim is one of the city's highest-paid escorts. And the balcony belongs to Washington, D.C.'s sole representative to Congress, the most powerful figure in city politics.
The Congressman proclaims his innocence, but he's in the middle of a tough primary fight, and the scandal could cost him the election. For Anna, the high-profile case is an opportunity. But as the political stakes rise, she realizes that a single mistake could end her career.
At the same time, her budding romance with Jack Bailey, the chief homicide prosecutor, is at a crossroads. Determined to gain respect in the office, Anna wants to keep their relationship under wraps. But the mounting pressure and media attention that come with the office's most important case will inevitably expose their relationship if it doesn't destroy it first.
The investigation leads Anna to Discretion, a high-end escort service that caters to D.C.'s elite. But with each break in the case, the mystery deepens. And the further Anna ventures into D.C.'s red-light underworld, the larger the target on her own back.
From the secret social clubs where Washington's most powerful men escape from public view to the asphalt track where the city's most vulnerable women work the streets, Discretion is a gripping exploration of sex, power, and the secrets we all keep.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 3, 2012
48 people are currently reading
1259 people want to read
About the author
Allison Leotta
11 books421 followersFor twelve years, I was a federal prosecutor in Washington, DC, where I specialized in prosecuting sex crimes, domestic violence, and crimes against children.
I started writing because I saw heartbreaking tragedies, acts of shocking evil, and vulnerable victims every day - but also moments of real heroism, true love, and healing. Given the stories I witnessed, the rich cast of characters I worked with, and my lifelong love of fiction, I had to write a book.
I wanted to create a story that would both entertain and teach about the way the criminal justice system works—and doesn’t work. I focused on a nightmare shared by domestic-violence prosecutors: losing a case and setting free an abuser who eventually kills his victim. I wanted to explore why so many women stay with boyfriends who hurt them. And I wanted to create a strong, smart female prosecutor who would empathize with her witnesses because she shared some of their experiences – but whose romantic life would suffer from those same experiences.
Law of Attraction was written in the spaces of my life between prosecuting and mommying. I started writing while I was pregnant with my first son. I would wake up at 5:00 a.m. and write for a couple of hours before heading to work. I wrote at night and on weekends. After my son was born, I wrote during his naps and after bedtime. Now, the sound of a softly snoring baby triggers a Pavlovian response in me to start typing.
In 2010, Simon & Schuster published LAW OF ATTRACTION. The Washington Post called it “a racy legal thriller, taking on a still-taboo subject.” Suspense Magazine named it one of the best books of the year, and Library Journal gave it a starred review, calling it "riveting."
The sequel, DISCRETION, will be published this July, and is available for pre-order.
I also blog about what TV crime shows get right and wrong, from my perspective as a real sex-crimes prosecutor. The ABA named my blog, the Prime-Time Crime Review, one of the best legal blogs in America.
I went to Michigan State University and Harvard Law School. Now I live in Maryland with my two sons and my husband, Michael.
I started writing because I saw heartbreaking tragedies, acts of shocking evil, and vulnerable victims every day - but also moments of real heroism, true love, and healing. Given the stories I witnessed, the rich cast of characters I worked with, and my lifelong love of fiction, I had to write a book.
I wanted to create a story that would both entertain and teach about the way the criminal justice system works—and doesn’t work. I focused on a nightmare shared by domestic-violence prosecutors: losing a case and setting free an abuser who eventually kills his victim. I wanted to explore why so many women stay with boyfriends who hurt them. And I wanted to create a strong, smart female prosecutor who would empathize with her witnesses because she shared some of their experiences – but whose romantic life would suffer from those same experiences.
Law of Attraction was written in the spaces of my life between prosecuting and mommying. I started writing while I was pregnant with my first son. I would wake up at 5:00 a.m. and write for a couple of hours before heading to work. I wrote at night and on weekends. After my son was born, I wrote during his naps and after bedtime. Now, the sound of a softly snoring baby triggers a Pavlovian response in me to start typing.
In 2010, Simon & Schuster published LAW OF ATTRACTION. The Washington Post called it “a racy legal thriller, taking on a still-taboo subject.” Suspense Magazine named it one of the best books of the year, and Library Journal gave it a starred review, calling it "riveting."
The sequel, DISCRETION, will be published this July, and is available for pre-order.
I also blog about what TV crime shows get right and wrong, from my perspective as a real sex-crimes prosecutor. The ABA named my blog, the Prime-Time Crime Review, one of the best legal blogs in America.
I went to Michigan State University and Harvard Law School. Now I live in Maryland with my two sons and my husband, Michael.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
October 1, 2013
Some of the same problems the first book had.
Sometimes it is hard for me to give up on an author. Especially when I see traits in their writing that I really like and are marred by other aspects in their stories. This is exactly what happened when I read the first two books in this series. Leotta is pretty good when she is focusing on the thriller part of the story, but for my taste she incorporates a little too much romance. Actually, maybe it's not even the amount, but just the fact that I don't think this is her strong suit.
With both books I have had a similar experience, I start reading and the story that is presented to us catches my attention. Then, when things are getting more and more interesting, we are thrown into pages and pages of the main character talking about her love life, and uncertainty as to what she wants to do, how she wants to mesh private and personal life together, blah, blah, blah. I am a big fun of the In Death series by J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts), so it is not that I don't like romance. The problem is that Leotta's writing is pretty cheesy in this regard. Some of these inner dialogues are so bad that border on the comedic.
Also, in the case of this specific book I felt that towards the end, instead of building momentum, the story lost speed and crawled towards its conclusion, which was not that great.
I think I am going to give this author one last chance to see if she can find the things that make her a good writer and uses those wisely. I hope I am not going to become an example of Einstein's definition of insanity (doing the same thing over and over expecting different results).
Sometimes it is hard for me to give up on an author. Especially when I see traits in their writing that I really like and are marred by other aspects in their stories. This is exactly what happened when I read the first two books in this series. Leotta is pretty good when she is focusing on the thriller part of the story, but for my taste she incorporates a little too much romance. Actually, maybe it's not even the amount, but just the fact that I don't think this is her strong suit.
With both books I have had a similar experience, I start reading and the story that is presented to us catches my attention. Then, when things are getting more and more interesting, we are thrown into pages and pages of the main character talking about her love life, and uncertainty as to what she wants to do, how she wants to mesh private and personal life together, blah, blah, blah. I am a big fun of the In Death series by J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts), so it is not that I don't like romance. The problem is that Leotta's writing is pretty cheesy in this regard. Some of these inner dialogues are so bad that border on the comedic.
Also, in the case of this specific book I felt that towards the end, instead of building momentum, the story lost speed and crawled towards its conclusion, which was not that great.
I think I am going to give this author one last chance to see if she can find the things that make her a good writer and uses those wisely. I hope I am not going to become an example of Einstein's definition of insanity (doing the same thing over and over expecting different results).
January 4, 2014
I enjoyed this quick fast-paced thriller. Perfect for the busy holidays as it grabbed my attention right away. I learned a lot about sex crimes prosecuting in Washington DC and it made for an interesting and exciting read. I like the strong female lead character. This might have even been a 5 star read, but for me, the romantic relationship felt a little contrived. I also felt that racial descriptions were overused, usually the reader can figure this out in the context of the story without it being constantly spelled out. Overall though a very solid read. An interesting side note. After starting this book, I noticed this author graduated from Michigan State University of which I am a big fan. I then realized she graduated from my same high school and my younger sister knew her. Fun! My sister also said that this success couldn't have happened to a nicer person! I will definitely be reading more of her books.
July 3, 2023
This book was dumb. There was so much legalese that it felt like homework. I really didn’t need to read two chapters surrounding case law that may or may not be real, especially just for funsies.
There were too many POVs and it was super annoying having to switch between all of them. Lots of cringe dialogue made me completely skip chapters. Also, don’t like Jack.
For those reasons, I’m done with this series.
There were too many POVs and it was super annoying having to switch between all of them. Lots of cringe dialogue made me completely skip chapters. Also, don’t like Jack.
For those reasons, I’m done with this series.
July 3, 2012
A high end escort tumbles to her death. So this is news how? You better believe it is news when it is discovered that the woman fell from Congressman Emmett Lionel's balcony. Sounds like a case for U.S. Attorney. Anna Curtis. She works for the sex crime division. Anna will have her hands full as she makes her way around the world of sex, secrets, and scandals. Luckily for Anna, she will be joined by her love interest, chief homicide prosecutor, Jack Bailey.
I did enjoy this book. new author, Allison Leotta has a bright future in the thriller/suspense genre world. I could tell that Mrs. Leotta's experience as a federal prosecutor showed. She was able to help bring her knowledge to her main character, Anna. Anna called the shots in this book and she was a powerhouse. I liked her instantly. She had a sharp mind and knew how to maneuver her way around the internet and crime scenes. There was no slacking in either the drama, suspense or the ending. This is one of the most important aspects of a thriller/suspense novel. The ending. You can start on a high note in the beginning but if the ending is flat then I am turned off. I thought the ending was a good one. The romance between Anna and Jack was on the quiet side for me. Which to start out is fine with me. I would rather get to know the characters first and then build up to the romance.
This book had a feel of some of my favorite authors in this genre that include Michael Connelly, Allison Brennan and Lis Wiehl. If reading these names is not enough to make you want to check out this novel from author, Allison Leotta, then you must be dead. Discretion is a contender!
I did enjoy this book. new author, Allison Leotta has a bright future in the thriller/suspense genre world. I could tell that Mrs. Leotta's experience as a federal prosecutor showed. She was able to help bring her knowledge to her main character, Anna. Anna called the shots in this book and she was a powerhouse. I liked her instantly. She had a sharp mind and knew how to maneuver her way around the internet and crime scenes. There was no slacking in either the drama, suspense or the ending. This is one of the most important aspects of a thriller/suspense novel. The ending. You can start on a high note in the beginning but if the ending is flat then I am turned off. I thought the ending was a good one. The romance between Anna and Jack was on the quiet side for me. Which to start out is fine with me. I would rather get to know the characters first and then build up to the romance.
This book had a feel of some of my favorite authors in this genre that include Michael Connelly, Allison Brennan and Lis Wiehl. If reading these names is not enough to make you want to check out this novel from author, Allison Leotta, then you must be dead. Discretion is a contender!
June 2, 2017
This is book 2 in the Anna Curtis series in which Curtis is a sex crimes federal prosecutor who is dating a higher up, but in a different department (homicide) Jack Bailey. Leotta's books are based in Washington D.C. and the author is a former federal prosecutor herself so she knows her stuff. I love that her books have strong female characters and this book in particular has at least 3 females including the main character. "Discretion" is about a high end escort who falls to her death from a balcony from the Capital Building. Homicide takes the case and Jack asks Anna to help because the victim is a sex worker and can use Anna's expertise in prosecuting sex crimes. The FBI also joins the task force and we meet Special Agent Sam Randazzo, who adds a different look on the case.
Leotta takes readers on a tour of Washington D.C. as the team investigates the murder. From the halls and "hideaways" of the Capital Building to the "track", a section of K street that is all business during the day but is the red light district at night. Leotta is very specific when talking about the different federal departments that prosecute and investigate crimes since she was a federal prosecutor herself. I found it much easier to understand the jargon, acronyms, and different agencies this time around because of what is happening in today's political world. With the Trump Administration under investigation and the non-stop news and daily bombshells of new directions of inquiry, readers who watch cable news of any kind will definitely find themselves understanding how the investigation in the novel works and why the characters have to follow different procedures. I understood the investigation into banking using the Treasury Department's FinCEN and they even mentioned Rod Rosenstein who is a prominent figure in the current Russia/Trump investigation.
Leotta is a solid writer and has a command of her subject matter when it comes to the crimes and investigations. However, I dropped my rating one star because the romance in the novel seems forced and doesn't flow very well when compared to the rest of the book. There is too much focus and talk about Anna's and Jack's inter-racial relationship. I just don't see the need to constantly talk about that aspect of their relationship. Romance just isn't the author's strong suit.
All in all, I enjoyed this read and will continue with the series. Her characters are well developed and her plots are interesting. She seems to have the background to potentially pull some very unique storylines and I hope that's what I find as I continue to read this series. I recommend this series to readers who enjoy legal thrillers, suspense, and books with a strong female lead. 4 stars!
Leotta takes readers on a tour of Washington D.C. as the team investigates the murder. From the halls and "hideaways" of the Capital Building to the "track", a section of K street that is all business during the day but is the red light district at night. Leotta is very specific when talking about the different federal departments that prosecute and investigate crimes since she was a federal prosecutor herself. I found it much easier to understand the jargon, acronyms, and different agencies this time around because of what is happening in today's political world. With the Trump Administration under investigation and the non-stop news and daily bombshells of new directions of inquiry, readers who watch cable news of any kind will definitely find themselves understanding how the investigation in the novel works and why the characters have to follow different procedures. I understood the investigation into banking using the Treasury Department's FinCEN and they even mentioned Rod Rosenstein who is a prominent figure in the current Russia/Trump investigation.
Leotta is a solid writer and has a command of her subject matter when it comes to the crimes and investigations. However, I dropped my rating one star because the romance in the novel seems forced and doesn't flow very well when compared to the rest of the book. There is too much focus and talk about Anna's and Jack's inter-racial relationship. I just don't see the need to constantly talk about that aspect of their relationship. Romance just isn't the author's strong suit.
All in all, I enjoyed this read and will continue with the series. Her characters are well developed and her plots are interesting. She seems to have the background to potentially pull some very unique storylines and I hope that's what I find as I continue to read this series. I recommend this series to readers who enjoy legal thrillers, suspense, and books with a strong female lead. 4 stars!
September 2, 2017
finished this one this rainy saturday morning, 2 sep 17. good story. 3 stars. i liked it. first i've read from leotta. washington, d.c. escort services, murder, politicians, lawyers, bing bang boom. makes use of the jefferson case, something to do with the constitution, searching, seizing, that sort of thing. some recent case...2007. good read.
February 1, 2018
Leotta's story lines are reminiscent to me of the show Law & Order SVU-which I love.
As a former prosecutor Leotta has a solid grasp of her content and convey's it quite convincingly. I enjoyed this book and will be continuing with the series.
As a former prosecutor Leotta has a solid grasp of her content and convey's it quite convincingly. I enjoyed this book and will be continuing with the series.
March 5, 2017
Much better than the first! I like the cases a lot more than the romantic drama, but that's usual for me.
July 12, 2012
When a high end call girl plummets to her death from the balcony of one of Congress' powerful representatives, Anna Curtis is called in. She's a U.S. Assistant Attorney who specializes in sex crimes. She's in a relationship with Jack Bailey, chief homocide prosecutor and next in line for the US Attorney General position. Although they decide to work the case together, that decision is soon lifted from them. Jack is taken off of the case and Samantha Randazzo, a FBI agent, is given the case to work on with Anna.
Through the intricacies of politics, the dirty little secrets of not only the politicians but the escorts and determination do Anna and Samantha begin to unravel the mystery surrounding the girl's deathly plummet. But along the way in their investigation, more secrets begin to come to light, putting Anna and Sam's lives in danger.
From page one, Discretion pulls you into the web of secrets, murder, romance and sensational, driven characters. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, wanting to know what plot twist or development would happen next in this fast-paced summer thriller! Leotta has definitely given her readers some of the inside scoop of the capital - or that is how it presents itself. Nail-biting and satisfying - thriller readers won't want to miss this one!
Through the intricacies of politics, the dirty little secrets of not only the politicians but the escorts and determination do Anna and Samantha begin to unravel the mystery surrounding the girl's deathly plummet. But along the way in their investigation, more secrets begin to come to light, putting Anna and Sam's lives in danger.
From page one, Discretion pulls you into the web of secrets, murder, romance and sensational, driven characters. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, wanting to know what plot twist or development would happen next in this fast-paced summer thriller! Leotta has definitely given her readers some of the inside scoop of the capital - or that is how it presents itself. Nail-biting and satisfying - thriller readers won't want to miss this one!
August 19, 2012
Allison Leotta will get some loyal fans after they read her second novel, "Discretion." It's a combination of mystery story, thriller, politics and love, and it all takes place in Washington, D.C.
Not only will the reader vicariously visit DC hotspots like Poste (in the Monaco Hotel -- very posh and pricey) and Rosa Mexicano, but the reader will enter the Capitol building and learn about secret hideaways. Murder in the Capitol on the very first page (well, the fourth to be exact).
The two main female characters are Anna Curtis, a prosecuting attorney who works in Sex Crimes, and Samantha Randazzo, an FBI agent. The relationship starts off prickly but each soon grows to respect the intelligence and fortitude of the other.
On the other hand, the relationship between Anna and Jack, the director of the Homicide division at the US Attorney's office, goes downhill throughout the story. Jack, widowed, is looking for a wife and mother to his daughter. Anna is not sure if she's ready for either of those roles.
Read the whole review at: http://www.examiner.com/review/discre...
Not only will the reader vicariously visit DC hotspots like Poste (in the Monaco Hotel -- very posh and pricey) and Rosa Mexicano, but the reader will enter the Capitol building and learn about secret hideaways. Murder in the Capitol on the very first page (well, the fourth to be exact).
The two main female characters are Anna Curtis, a prosecuting attorney who works in Sex Crimes, and Samantha Randazzo, an FBI agent. The relationship starts off prickly but each soon grows to respect the intelligence and fortitude of the other.
On the other hand, the relationship between Anna and Jack, the director of the Homicide division at the US Attorney's office, goes downhill throughout the story. Jack, widowed, is looking for a wife and mother to his daughter. Anna is not sure if she's ready for either of those roles.
Read the whole review at: http://www.examiner.com/review/discre...
July 10, 2016
This mash-up of chick-lit, romance and mystery features a plot that is probably torn from one of the "Law and Order" television shows. It tries to be politically correct, yet the relationships and office romances involving the principal characters would be considered conflicts of interest and bar people from working with one another on any legal matter or projects in most organizations. The inclusion of story elements designed to titillate the reader adds to the air of unreality in this story and leaves one incredulous after slogging through the book until its very end. The only redeeming feature of the story is that it is written in proper English and there are no typographical errors.
June 1, 2015
"Discretion" is book #2 in the adventures of federal sex crimes prosecutor Anna Curtis. The murder of a high-priced call girl, pushed from a Capitol balcony, is at the centerpiece of this story. Since a congressman is the chief suspect, you get a trip through the back hallways and hideouts of the Capitol and an interesting primer on the difficulty of investigating a congressman. There also is an ebook ("Ten Rules for a Call Girl") that's a prequel to this story and that you can download for free (at least as of this writing.)
April 11, 2019
3.5 stars. A good, solid read just like the first book. I really liked the premise of the book and I was never bored reading it. I do think the ending was a teeny bit rushed but the reveal was still relatively shocking and enjoyable. Looking forward to more Anna Curtis!
May 19, 2014
I'm really enjoying listening to this series. The characters are interesting and the story moves smoothly along.
November 6, 2019
Reads like a SVU Law & Order episode. It was an enjoyable airport read. Looking forward to the third book.
February 1, 2016
THIS 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 ONLY
Discretion is a murder mystery. One that revolves around sex and romance. Allison Leotta is a former federal sex-crimes prosecutor. Her thriller explores the escapades of our elected government officials with sex and powerful secretive worlds in Washington D.C.
A young woman plummets to her death from the balcony of a hideaway office of Washington, D.C.’s sole representative to Congress, the most powerful figure in city politics. The victim is one of the city’s highest-paid escorts.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Curtis is summoned to the scene. Her federal office, prosecutes sex crimes. There she tackles jurisdiction with Jack Bailey, the chief homicide prosecutor. Since the evidence points to a sexual assault and murder, they agree to work together. Also on the scene is agent Samantha Randazzo from the FBI, Violent Crime Squad. Sam’s style is much more aggressive than Anna’s. Anna is concerned that vital parts of her case may be suppressed on mistakes or overreaching on Sam's part.The women have to learn to work together when Jack is asked to leave the case. The plot starts to move when these distinctly different personalities find their way into the investigation.
The investigation leads to Discretion, a high-end escort service that caters to D.C.’s elite
and to the red-light underworld. A dangerous encounter with the latter group, earns both women respect from their actions.
There are suspects galore, but un fortunately before the reader has a chance to digest the grizzly events, the murderer is revealed. However there is another murder! One that is not so tidily resolved until the end of the book.
************
Allison Leotta will get some loyal fans after they read her second novel, "Discretion." It's a combination of mystery story, thriller, politics and love, and it all takes place in Washington, D.C.
Not only will the reader vicariously visit DC hotspots like Poste (in the Monaco Hotel -- very posh and pricey) and Rosa Mexicano, but the reader will enter the Capitol building and learn about secret hideaways. Murder in the Capitol on the very first page (well, the fourth to be exact).
The two main female characters are Anna Curtis, a prosecuting attorney who works in Sex Crimes, and Samantha Randazzo, an FBI agent. The relationship starts off prickly but each soon grows to respect the intelligence and fortitude of the other.
On the other hand, the relationship between Anna and Jack, the director of the Homicide division at the US Attorney's office, goes downhill throughout the story. Jack, widowed, is looking for a wife and mother to his daughter. Anna is not sure if she's ready for either of those roles.
When a pricey call girl is murdered on a Capitol balcony, Anna, Jack, and Samantha become involved in finding out who did it. When someone else is murdered, that adds more spice to the mix.
The writing is fast-paced, and the characters well-created and likable. The story is hard to put down. There will be another story with Anna and Jack, and probably Samantha, too. And that's just fine because we'll want to catch up with them again. We've gotten to know them and like them. All of them.
****************
When a high end call girl plummets to her death from the balcony of one of Congress' powerful representatives, Anna Curtis is called in. She's a U.S. Assistant Attorney who specializes in sex crimes. She's in a relationship with Jack Bailey, chief homocide prosecutor and next in line for the US Attorney General position. Although they decide to work the case together, that decision is soon lifted from them. Jack is taken off of the case and Samantha Randazzo, a FBI agent, is given the case to work on with Anna.
Through the intricacies of politics, the dirty little secrets of not only the politicians but the escorts and determination do Anna and Samantha begin to unravel the mystery surrounding the girl's deathly plummet. But along the way in their investigation, more secrets begin to come to light, putting Anna and Sam's lives in danger.
From page one, Discretion pulls you into the web of secrets, murder, romance and sensational, driven characters. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, wanting to know what plot twist or development would happen next in this fast-paced summer thriller! Leotta has definitely given her readers some of the inside scoop of the capital - or that is how it presents itself. Nail-biting and satisfying - thriller readers won't want to miss this one!
****************
It grabs you in the first few pages and keeps you hanging on through the end! I found myself at odds with devouring it in one sitting or doling out a few of the fast-paced chapters at a time to make this good thriller last. The characters are immediately knowable and likeable in part due to the witty dialogue. The story unfolds as a high-end escort falls from the D.C. Congressman's private balcony. As the investigation begins, we get a peek at the politics of the law enforcement agencies of D.C. in terms of how and who handles the case, and amidst the back stories of escorts like Nicole, the famous madam Madeleine and the seedy side of D.C. politicians. The relationship between the main character, Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Curtis and her boyfriend-kept-secret Jack Baily the chief prosecutor for the homicide division is genuinely sweet at times and heartbreaking at other times. Their workplace romance, Anna's acceptance by Jack's daughter, and Anna's earned respect of the D.C. law enforcement agencies all play a part in how the characters evolve and the murder investigation proceeds. The mystery has lots of twists and turns right up until the end. Enjoy the ride!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Characters:
Discretion is a murder mystery. One that revolves around sex and romance. Allison Leotta is a former federal sex-crimes prosecutor. Her thriller explores the escapades of our elected government officials with sex and powerful secretive worlds in Washington D.C.
A young woman plummets to her death from the balcony of a hideaway office of Washington, D.C.’s sole representative to Congress, the most powerful figure in city politics. The victim is one of the city’s highest-paid escorts.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Curtis is summoned to the scene. Her federal office, prosecutes sex crimes. There she tackles jurisdiction with Jack Bailey, the chief homicide prosecutor. Since the evidence points to a sexual assault and murder, they agree to work together. Also on the scene is agent Samantha Randazzo from the FBI, Violent Crime Squad. Sam’s style is much more aggressive than Anna’s. Anna is concerned that vital parts of her case may be suppressed on mistakes or overreaching on Sam's part.The women have to learn to work together when Jack is asked to leave the case. The plot starts to move when these distinctly different personalities find their way into the investigation.
The investigation leads to Discretion, a high-end escort service that caters to D.C.’s elite
and to the red-light underworld. A dangerous encounter with the latter group, earns both women respect from their actions.
There are suspects galore, but un fortunately before the reader has a chance to digest the grizzly events, the murderer is revealed. However there is another murder! One that is not so tidily resolved until the end of the book.
************
Allison Leotta will get some loyal fans after they read her second novel, "Discretion." It's a combination of mystery story, thriller, politics and love, and it all takes place in Washington, D.C.
Not only will the reader vicariously visit DC hotspots like Poste (in the Monaco Hotel -- very posh and pricey) and Rosa Mexicano, but the reader will enter the Capitol building and learn about secret hideaways. Murder in the Capitol on the very first page (well, the fourth to be exact).
The two main female characters are Anna Curtis, a prosecuting attorney who works in Sex Crimes, and Samantha Randazzo, an FBI agent. The relationship starts off prickly but each soon grows to respect the intelligence and fortitude of the other.
On the other hand, the relationship between Anna and Jack, the director of the Homicide division at the US Attorney's office, goes downhill throughout the story. Jack, widowed, is looking for a wife and mother to his daughter. Anna is not sure if she's ready for either of those roles.
When a pricey call girl is murdered on a Capitol balcony, Anna, Jack, and Samantha become involved in finding out who did it. When someone else is murdered, that adds more spice to the mix.
The writing is fast-paced, and the characters well-created and likable. The story is hard to put down. There will be another story with Anna and Jack, and probably Samantha, too. And that's just fine because we'll want to catch up with them again. We've gotten to know them and like them. All of them.
****************
When a high end call girl plummets to her death from the balcony of one of Congress' powerful representatives, Anna Curtis is called in. She's a U.S. Assistant Attorney who specializes in sex crimes. She's in a relationship with Jack Bailey, chief homocide prosecutor and next in line for the US Attorney General position. Although they decide to work the case together, that decision is soon lifted from them. Jack is taken off of the case and Samantha Randazzo, a FBI agent, is given the case to work on with Anna.
Through the intricacies of politics, the dirty little secrets of not only the politicians but the escorts and determination do Anna and Samantha begin to unravel the mystery surrounding the girl's deathly plummet. But along the way in their investigation, more secrets begin to come to light, putting Anna and Sam's lives in danger.
From page one, Discretion pulls you into the web of secrets, murder, romance and sensational, driven characters. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, wanting to know what plot twist or development would happen next in this fast-paced summer thriller! Leotta has definitely given her readers some of the inside scoop of the capital - or that is how it presents itself. Nail-biting and satisfying - thriller readers won't want to miss this one!
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It grabs you in the first few pages and keeps you hanging on through the end! I found myself at odds with devouring it in one sitting or doling out a few of the fast-paced chapters at a time to make this good thriller last. The characters are immediately knowable and likeable in part due to the witty dialogue. The story unfolds as a high-end escort falls from the D.C. Congressman's private balcony. As the investigation begins, we get a peek at the politics of the law enforcement agencies of D.C. in terms of how and who handles the case, and amidst the back stories of escorts like Nicole, the famous madam Madeleine and the seedy side of D.C. politicians. The relationship between the main character, Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Curtis and her boyfriend-kept-secret Jack Baily the chief prosecutor for the homicide division is genuinely sweet at times and heartbreaking at other times. Their workplace romance, Anna's acceptance by Jack's daughter, and Anna's earned respect of the D.C. law enforcement agencies all play a part in how the characters evolve and the murder investigation proceeds. The mystery has lots of twists and turns right up until the end. Enjoy the ride!
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Characters:
August 2, 2022
The first Allison Leotta book I read was "Speak of the Devil", I really liked that book, after that I have tried 2 more of her books, this one being the 3rd one, and honestly I can't seem to really like those books.
This Anna girl sounds like such a professional woman and that she is very good at what she does, yet she keeps choosing to sleep with men from her workplace making her seem like she is sleeping her way to the top, and SHE KNOWS that's how it seems to people, so why would she choose to continue to do that? Because of course ANYONE would think that in the real world, a beautiful young single woman who is just starting out all of sudden gets put into cases? and by the way she is also sleeping with someone super important in the company, yup! that raises a lot of eyebrows and puts her abilities into question. Anyway I had to get that off my chest because Anna moaned about this situation and how it would look to other people THOUGHOUT THE WHOLE DAMN BOOK!
The book was a bit boring, I kept putting it down not managing to really get into the story, nevertheless I finished it.
The ending was unexpected, but it focused more on Madeleine's death and not on the first girl's death (I can't remember her name).
Anyway I think I'm done reading anymore Leotta books. Unless anyone can recommend one that is just as brilliant as "Speak of the Devil".
This Anna girl sounds like such a professional woman and that she is very good at what she does, yet she keeps choosing to sleep with men from her workplace making her seem like she is sleeping her way to the top, and SHE KNOWS that's how it seems to people, so why would she choose to continue to do that? Because of course ANYONE would think that in the real world, a beautiful young single woman who is just starting out all of sudden gets put into cases? and by the way she is also sleeping with someone super important in the company, yup! that raises a lot of eyebrows and puts her abilities into question. Anyway I had to get that off my chest because Anna moaned about this situation and how it would look to other people THOUGHOUT THE WHOLE DAMN BOOK!
The book was a bit boring, I kept putting it down not managing to really get into the story, nevertheless I finished it.
The ending was unexpected, but it focused more on Madeleine's death and not on the first girl's death (I can't remember her name).
Anyway I think I'm done reading anymore Leotta books. Unless anyone can recommend one that is just as brilliant as "Speak of the Devil".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2019
I enjoyed this book over all, though I thought that something was lacking from the reveals with regard to the mystery, and I'm also not a big fan of Jack as a love interest. I can definitely get past both of those gripes because the story was so fresh and I felt like I learned a lot about a world I had never really even thought about before (secret men's clubs, high priced escorts, millionaire madams). Without getting into specifics/spoilers, I felt like each development in the case just sort of happened and there wasn't a lot of build up in tension before the solution was revealed. Maybe the clues were too heavy handed so the information already felt stale when the main characters finally figure it out. I'm not a writer so I don't necessarily know the tricks of the trade, but I do read a lot of mysteries and I know that I was missing out on the feelings of suspense and surprise that usually come at the end of a good mystery. If you're looking for a twisty whodunnit, Leotta might not be the author for you. However, if you enjoy a solid legal procedural with an interesting story, fun cast of characters and plenty of insider knowledge about DC, then I recommend this series. I will definitely be reading the next one.
August 1, 2017
This is the second Allison Leotta I've read. Started with Law of Attraction after hearing Leotta speak at a conference. Clearly falls into the the romantic suspense column so if you want heavier crime detail, this might not satisfy. The strengths of the book are Leotta's deft weaving of legal background into the story and creative premise. I didn't figure out who the killer was until revealed. I did have moments of wishing her protagonist were a little stronger and feeling that elements of the romantic relationship seemed forced for the storyline vs realistic. Leotta's writing is becoming more polished. I'll read her again.
June 6, 2017
Entertaining escapist legal mystery series set in D.C. (for those of us who usually enjoy paying attention to national US politics but not so much anymore, but who also don't want to give up the D.C. fix).
Anyone else bothered by the mention of the man (the killer) who looks over the balcony during the act and is spotted by the Capitol guard, but this is then never mentioned again? Wouldn't that guard be, oh say, a WITNESS? Kept waiting for this observation in passing to be mentioned again in the book; was disappointed.
Anyone else bothered by the mention of the man (the killer) who looks over the balcony during the act and is spotted by the Capitol guard, but this is then never mentioned again? Wouldn't that guard be, oh say, a WITNESS? Kept waiting for this observation in passing to be mentioned again in the book; was disappointed.
September 26, 2018
Another captivating read in the series. I could see where the plot was going but it was still an enjoyable journey.
I liked that it wasn't all smooth sailing in the main romantic relationship. Although the decision Anna comes to at the end of the book is rather corny. I was on board with her rediscovering some independence so it was actually a bit disappointing and silly to read her intentions.
Also, this has got to be one of the most expensive ebooks i've ever bought. Not sure if it's just Kobo Australia but jeez I'm not sure I can justify spending the same on the next in the series.
I liked that it wasn't all smooth sailing in the main romantic relationship. Although the decision Anna comes to at the end of the book is rather corny. I was on board with her rediscovering some independence so it was actually a bit disappointing and silly to read her intentions.
Also, this has got to be one of the most expensive ebooks i've ever bought. Not sure if it's just Kobo Australia but jeez I'm not sure I can justify spending the same on the next in the series.
April 2, 2024
A high-price call girl watches one night as someone flings a woman’s body from the capitol building in DC to the ground. Anna Curtis and her lover are in competition for the case, and both agree to work it together without disclosing to others their love.
Things get nasty as Anna delves into the seamy underworld of high-priced escort women and their interaction with members of Congress. It seems the girl who took a flying lesson off the edge of the capitol was one of those.
This was a solid contribution to the series, and it held my interest throughout a relatively sleepless night.
Things get nasty as Anna delves into the seamy underworld of high-priced escort women and their interaction with members of Congress. It seems the girl who took a flying lesson off the edge of the capitol was one of those.
This was a solid contribution to the series, and it held my interest throughout a relatively sleepless night.
April 20, 2020
(2 1/2). The best way I can describe this book to you is to create a new genre for it-chicklit legal thriller. Anna Curtis is a pretty good protagonist, but the touchy feely relationship thing gets way too pervasive on occasion.
A fun, fast moving plot helps this one along, and a couple of solid side characters enhance things as well. Another find from the wife’s bookshelf during sequestration. Reasonable stuff.
A fun, fast moving plot helps this one along, and a couple of solid side characters enhance things as well. Another find from the wife’s bookshelf during sequestration. Reasonable stuff.
July 20, 2017
3.5 stars. This was better than "Law of Attraction." Leotta nails the courtroom, legal, law enforcement stuff. The dialogue always leaves something to be desired though, and I actually think the romantic elements detract from the strong story. I'm not a big fan of Jack & Anna...curious to see what happens in #3.
April 16, 2018
4/5. "Discretion" is the second book in Allison Leotta's legal thriller series centred around Anna Curtis, a D.C. prosecutor specializing in sex crimes.
In this case, picking up six months from the previous book, Anna is called to a murder scene where a young woman is found murdered outside of a respected congressman's office. Anna soon realizes that their victim isn't just any young woman; she is actually the city's highest paid escort, and the congressman is a frequent customer- making him the prime suspect.
Once again, Leotta does a great job of incorporating her real life legal knowledge and experience prosecuting sex crimes in to the story. Everything is well researched and she even manages to clearly outline some fairly complex legal concepts.
As well, I found myself continuing to like Anna as a character. Her determination to prove herself and her concerns over her relationship and the unfair leg up it might be giving her are well done and feel authentic.
Overall, this was a great second book in this series and I'm looking forward to picking up the third instalment.
In this case, picking up six months from the previous book, Anna is called to a murder scene where a young woman is found murdered outside of a respected congressman's office. Anna soon realizes that their victim isn't just any young woman; she is actually the city's highest paid escort, and the congressman is a frequent customer- making him the prime suspect.
Once again, Leotta does a great job of incorporating her real life legal knowledge and experience prosecuting sex crimes in to the story. Everything is well researched and she even manages to clearly outline some fairly complex legal concepts.
As well, I found myself continuing to like Anna as a character. Her determination to prove herself and her concerns over her relationship and the unfair leg up it might be giving her are well done and feel authentic.
Overall, this was a great second book in this series and I'm looking forward to picking up the third instalment.
April 12, 2020
Another great story by Allison Leotta. I liked Discretion better than Law of Attraction and I cannot wait to start Speak of the Devil. It has been a while since I enjoyed a series so I am glad I discovered this author. Her writing style sucks you into the story right off the bat and remains a fast pace throughout the entire book. While I cannot say the stories have any twists or surprising endings (I can usually figure it out), they are an enjoyable read.
July 23, 2025
Liked this one less than the first only because Jack seems to have transformed into the stereotypical asshole male love interest character between books.
BUT I did end up liking Sam and now I wish she and Anna would get together even though that will never happen because these books are from before lesbians were invented.
BUT I did end up liking Sam and now I wish she and Anna would get together even though that will never happen because these books are from before lesbians were invented.
May 9, 2017
I read it out of order and it didn't matter. Too lovey-dovey and not enough crime. But she does improve as her later books were slanted the opposite way - more crime and less love. I read them prior to this....
March 27, 2018
Interesting mystery. Leotta spared no opportunity to remind the reader that this was a sex crime and to elaborate on the related grit and graphicness. Part of the reason may be due to Leotta's past profession and the need to get the word out that this is not a victimless crime.
April 16, 2018
Solid writing and great story line. I loved Leotta’s first book, Law of Attraction. This one didn’t compare, but I enjoyed it and it kept you guessing right till he end. This was not a page turner until the last 75 pages, pretty slow to start.
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