Accused

Rosato & DiNunzio #1

by Lisa Scottoline

New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author Lisa Scottoline revolutionized crime fiction when she introduced her all-female law firm of Rosato & Associates, thrilling readers with her twisty, fast-paced plots and capturing their hearts with her cast of strong and relatable female characters. Now Bennie Rosato, Mary DiNunzio, Judy Carrier, and Anne Murphy are back with all cylinders firing in Accused.

Mary DiNunzio has just been promoted to partner and is about to take on her most unusual case yet, brought to the firm by a thirteen-year-old genius with a penchant for beekeeping. Allegra Gardner's sister Fiona was murdered six years ago, and it seemed like an open-and-shut the accused, Lonnie Stall, was seen fleeing the scene; his blood was on Fiona and her blood was on him; most damningly, Lonnie Stall pleaded guilty. But Allegra believes Lonnie is innocent and has been wrongly imprisoned. The Gardner family is one of the most powerful in the country and Allegra's parents don't believe in reopening the case, so taking it on is risky. But the Rosato & Associates firm can never resist an underdog. Was justice really served all those years ago? It will take a team of unstoppable female lawyers, plus one thirteen-year-old genius, to find out.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Legal Thriller, Suspense

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2013

About the author

Lisa Scottoline is a #1 bestselling and Edgar award-winning author of 33 novels. Her books are book-club favorites, and Lisa and her daughter Francesca Serritella have hosted an annual Big Book Club Party for over a thousand readers at her Pennsylvania farm, for the past twelve years. Lisa has served as President of Mystery Writers of America, and her reviews of fiction and non-fiction have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She also writes a weekly column with her daughter for the Philadelphia Inquirer entitled Chick Wit, a witty take on life from a woman’s perspective, which have been collected in a bestselling series of humorous memoirs. Lisa graduated magna cum laude in three years from the University of Pennsylvania, with a B.A. in English, and cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she taught Justice and Fiction. Lisa has over 30 million copies of her books in print and is published in over 35 countries. She lives in the Philadelphia area with an array of disobedient pets and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has to be my least favorite Scottoline book. It is billed as a Rosato and Associates book, but beware...it is all about Mary and her family, and Mary and her family do NOTHING to endear themselves to me. Scottoline attempts to incorporate humor with the family dynamics of Mary and Anthony's families, as well as the Tonys. It falls flat, and quite frankly ruins the storyline. Mary, who now must be in her 30's, has survived the death of her first husband and is now a partner in the firm. One would expect maturity from this character. Instead it read like she was an immature young woman, fresh out of law school, who treats her boyfriend quite horribly! I find her to be very selfish. I am weary of reading about her "guilt" and other issues. Judy, who has always been a vibrant character, was a fly on the wall - a flat fly on the wall. I found the capital letters of Mary's dad YELLING at us to be annoying. Quite frankly Mary's whole family should stay out of the story and let it be a story about the Rosato and Associates characters. If I want to read about the endearing characteristics of family dynamics, I'll read Lisa's biographical/humor books, which I do enjoy! Note: Have Mary get married in Vegas or at City Hall before the next book so I don't have to read any more about this situation.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Legal Suspense Thriller, and this is the 1st book in the Rosato and DiNunio series. I found this book very well written, and it pulled me into wanting to reading the other books in this series. This had a good amount of suspense and action. I really love the characters. This is a great start to a good series. I normally do not enjoy Legal Thrillers, but this one was very enjoyable. I did listen to the audiobook of this book, and the narrator was good.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

So you want to read a one star review? I love Lisa Scottoline's novels. I would consider her books a must read unless it is the drivel, dreary, negatively, stereotypical bore that is Accused. WE GOT HER ITALIAN FATHER WHOSE DIALOGUE IS ALWAYS IN CAPS COS HE'S FROM ITALY AND ITALIANS IN AMERICA TALK LOUD. Her mother worries for her. Novena this and novena that over and over. We have so many Tony's that you can't keep track and they are a huge distraction. We have a lawyer - Mary - who really doesn't understand the law regardless of what kind of law it is. And she spends little time as a lawyer. Her boyfriend puts up with way too much of her crap. No wonder her best friend and fellow lawyer at the firm is having issues with her on this case. We have an african american in jail after being convicted of a crime. We have his mother and her church and another lengthy chapter filled with religion. I don't have anything against religion, but it was a hinder and not necessary. And a BLACKBERRY??? That is DEAD???? We got bees, we got fractured families, we got ziti. I couldn't wait to finish this book. It was awful. It was all over the place. It is contrived. It is painful. SHE SPELLED EVERYTHING OUT FOR US. We couldn't infer anything at anytime. And the person she considers the REAL suspect. Oh please. If you buy that, I have some land in Florida you might like to see.

[Paul Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

An obsessive-compulsive minor hires an all female law firm to re-open a stone cold wrongful conviction case! Say what??

I’m not sure where authors of legal procedurals and thrillers or screenwriters got the idea that lawyers could always come up with the solutions to mysteries and crimes that evaded entire police forces but … it is what it is and this is one more!

Six years ago, a young black man serving at a ritzy catered party, was apprehended fleeing the scene of the murder of a wealthy family’s daughter. A mountain of circumstantial evidence, such as the victim’s blood on his clothes, not to mention a guilty plea in court, ensured an easy conviction. Lonnie Stall was imprisoned for murder and the cell key was thrown away. But Allegra Gardner, the victim’s young sister - still a minor and to all appearances suffering from what appears to be a complex mixture of mental issues - has used her trust funds to hire the newly formed all-female law firm of Rosato & DeNunzio to reopen the case and address what Gardner insists is a wrongful conviction.

Kudos to author Scottoline for penning a compelling tale and adding plenty of delicious side dishes to accompany the basic meat and potatoes of this procedural investigation – OCD and other mental issues; minor emancipation; involuntary commitment; beekeeping; wealth and privilege; female lawyers and misogyny; racism; prayer and religious beliefs; and more. ACCUSED isn’t going to be nominated for a Pulitzer Prize or a Nobel Prize in literature. Nor will it ever be characterized with the moniker “classic” but for lovers of the legal thriller and legal procedural genres who are looking for several hours of easygoing page-turning entertainment, ACCUSED is a sure-fire winner.

Definitely recommended.

Paul Weiss

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This first book in the 'Rosato and DiNunzio' series is a spin-off of the author's popular 'Rosato and Associates' books.

*****

Mary DiNunzio, a brand new partner at Rosato & Associates and a softie at heart.....



.....takes on the case of 13-year-old Allegra Gardner.



Allegra's older sister Fiona was murdered six years before and Ronnie Stall, a college student who moonlighted as a waiter for Gardner family parties, was imprisoned for the crime.



Allegra is convinced that Ronnie is innocent and - having come into a trust fund - decides to hire a lawyer to help him.

Allegra's parents are adamantly opposed to re-opening the case, insisting that Allegra has a destructive and misplaced obsession about justice. Nevertheless Mary forges ahead. There's a big problem however: Ronnie actually pleaded guilty to the crime.



Mary talks to Allegra's parents and relatives, Fiona's old boyfriend, Ronnie, Ronnie's mother and members of his church, etc. - in an attempt to find the truth.



Meanwhile, Mary has become engaged to her boyfriend Anthony, though she's not quite sure she wants to get married.



Family and friends of the couple, however, are thrilled. This includes Mary's parents, their three friends named Tony ('the three Tonys') and Anthony's mother and brother - all very traditionally Italian. Mary's dad and the three Tonys even get peripherally involved with Allegra's case. Interactions among these folks adds a touch of humor to the plot.



The story visits favorite characters from Scottoline's previous books in a plot that's engaging and has an okay (though not totally believable) resolution. I enjoyed the book and recommend it to mystery fans.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Taury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accused by Lisa Scottoline was a very slow start. Otherwise this book was fantastic. A family murder mystery. After an innocent man goes to prison. 13 yo Allegra hires attorneys to free him. This is a story of the perfect murder, except Allegra is too smart for them.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 3 out of 5]

EXCERPT: 'I'm here about my sister. Her name was Fiona and she was murdered six years ago at a party at my father's new offices. . . The thing is, I believe they sent the wrong man to jail.'

ABOUT THIS BOOK: Mary DiNunzio has just been promoted to partner and is about to take on her most unusual case yet, brought to the firm by a thirteen-year-old genius with a penchant for beekeeping. Allegra Gardner's sister Fiona was murdered six years ago, and it seemed like an open-and-shut case: the accused, Lonnie Stall, was seen fleeing the scene; his blood was on Fiona and her blood was on him; most damningly, Lonnie Stall pleaded guilty. But Allegra believes Lonnie is innocent and has been wrongly imprisoned. The Gardner family is one of the most powerful in the country and Allegra's parents don't believe in reopening the case, so taking it on is risky. But the Rosato & Associates firm can never resist an underdog. Was justice really served all those years ago? It will take a team of unstoppable female lawyers, plus one thirteen-year-old genius, to find out.

MY THOUGHTS: 2.5 stars

I am in a bit of a quandary about this book. It was easy to listen to, didn't strain my brain, and was reasonably enjoyable. It is not something that I am going to remember. I am not going to rush out to read the next in the series, but if I came across it when I had a gap in my reading schedule, I possibly would read it. If nothing else was available.

There were a few things that irked me. A lot of the behavior of the characters was stereotyped. The behavior of Mary, who has just been made partner in a legal firm, and Judy is often childish and I often found myself wondering just how old Mary is... Her behavior and comments are often unacceptable. They were, perhaps, meant to be humorous, but they certainly didn't strike me that way. I did like Mary's name for her mother-in-law to be, Elvirus, but she too was very much stereotyped.

Overall, a very average read/ listen.

I listened to the audiobook of Accused by Lisa Scottoline, narrated by Katherine Fenton and published by Headline. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.

This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Donna Taormina · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author really tries too hard with the Italian parents schtick which was almost immediately pretty annoying. And the timeline just doesn't fit - Mary acts like such a naif so it seems like she should be in her early 30's and yet her parents are in their 80's. Just little things that either didn't add up for me or were distracting which did not bother me in the earlier books in the series. Not Scottoline's best effort.

[Karl Jorgenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scottoline has a fun style, making lawyering and murder investigation humorous in many ways. Humor, in measured doses, makes any story more readable. Here, a firm of women lawyers accept a 13-year-old genius as their client and set out to exonerate the young man convicted of killing the client's sister five years ago. Much of the humor comes from Mary's personal life, which is infused with Italian food, mothering, food, opinionated elderly Italian neighbors, food, her boyfriend, and food. The book is written in 3rd person, which I prefer, but we stay exclusively with Mary, so pronouns are the only practical difference. As a mystery, the story is moderately interesting with an adequate surprise at the end. Scottoline takes some liberties for writer-convenience, sometimes making Mary, the experienced lawyer, into a nine-year-old who's more naïve than her child client. Well, real murderers don't get away so easily, or plan their crimes so well, so we have to accept some unrealistic actions.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's been a while since I've read anything by Ms. Scottoline. I remember thoroughly enjoying those books I had read. So, what has changed in the intervening years? Maybe it's me. But, then again, maybe not.

I've read a few of the reviews here on Goodreads concerning this very book. Many of them are glowing. Many of the one or two stars are only stars (nothing written) so I can only guess at the reasons for the low rating.

For me it all boiled down to the characters. I seem to remember Judy being much more vivid in personality. This time around she felt mostly peripheral. And Mary, the central character of this book, was so completely immature it was hard for me to keep reading about her. Seriously. She's been widowed (albeit shortly after her marriage at a young age) for "many years". That puts her pretty solidly to my mind in her thirties. Her maturity level felt more like late teens early twenties. So to me, it was a conflict between her behavior and her accomplishments. One doesn't get to be partner in a law firm by acting so flighty all the time. And the way she treated her fiance, Tony, was totally selfish! People treat their dogs better than that!

I don't know, it's really hard to put my finger on the root cause. Maybe the writing is just too simplistic, character development fairly absent (except for the fact that we keep hearing about Mary's impetuous nature which really translates to adolescent actions) and the plot too by-the-numbers.

I struggled with this one. It held my interest well enough. That said - I've read books written for young adults that held my interest much more.

I wish I could rate this one higher.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great to be back with Mary, Bennie and crew with another story of injustice to be solved. The family and the Tony's are once again the heart.

Minor spoiler***** it was nice and healing of Mary to give away her late husband's car, but it should have gone to Rita.

[Laur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable legal thriller! An all female law firm agrees to take on a case that is brought by a 13 yr old girl (who happens to be a genius). The girl knows that a man serving time in prison for the murder of her sister, is NOT the man who killed her sister. She hires the attorneys to find the real killer so that the man falsely accused and convicted can be set free. Problem is - he pleaded guilty.

The “just made partner” of the law firm, Mary, takes the lead. She’s a pit bull that just won’t let go even as she meets problem after problem, and doesn’t have a lot of support - none from her client’s family, and sparsely from the firm itself.

On the sidelines, she is dealing with a marriage proposal that she’s having a hard time committing to. Then there’s her and her fiancé’s very loud but extremely loving slightly controlling Italian family - however their timing is not always the best.

There are plenty of laughs, some very tense moments, some great one-liners, and of course the mystery, but The BEST PART of this story is the audio narration by January LaVoy. My goodness!! This is bar-none, the best in the biz of narrators. She could read a grocery list with talent! Her voice characterizations are varied, impeccable with a huge range of depth and feeling. She puts the icing the cake. January is so good, I’m starting to seek out all the books she narrates. (She’s that good!)

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself debating whether this was a mystery or a soap opera. Like Kinsey Milhone and Stephanie Plum, the mystery is often obscured by the personalities of the on-going characters which is meant to make the next in the series a must read. I am not sure that I will be there for the next one, but to say I did not enjoy this would be an error.

The concept of a 13 year old genius girl who knows that the wrong man is in prison for killing her sister is a compelling place for a mystery to take route. It is not blood and guts, but rather persistence that wins out and the story is as much about Allegra (13 year old) and her dysfunctional family as it is about Mary DiNuncio (lawyer) and her strange brew of family and friends.

The thread that binds all the characters is the mystery - who did the killing, is the right person in jail, how can Mary find a way past the barriers of family and wealth that stand in her way. How can she justify this potentially free case when she has just been named partner in the firm and how can she handle her engagement and the excitement that everyone feels, except her.

In the end, it was a fun book, easy and quick to read.

[Linda Tucker · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a total disappointment. I hadn't read a Rosato & Associates novel in a few years, but this book reads like it was written by a junior-high school student, not a best-selling mystery writer. Her attempts at "aside" humor failed miserably to me. I would not recommend this book, unless you like struggling with whether or not to just take it back to the library without finishing it or plodding along with this obnoxious book, hanging in there 'til the bitter end.

[Una Tiers · Rating 2 out of 5]

A dud that seemed closer to YA than a mystery or thriller. Part of it was the annoying tone of the narrator, but she didn't have much to work with. I also resented the senior stereotypes.
The narrator screeches throughout the book.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowza. My favourite by Scottoline. Mary de Nunzio is now a partner at Rosatto and Associates. She goes out on a limb for a client - and proves her mettle.
Sensational.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I know that Lisa can write. So I was surprised that I did not like this book one bit. There was nothing interesting about any of the characters...good or bad. Plus, I did not think that the storyline was strong either. I went along reading the book for a while but then found myself about a third of the way in skimming it, just to see if it got any better and what was happening in the plot. There was no change about midway so I then found myself again skipping ahead chapters to make the book read faster. Typical ending, which if you read this book all the way through there will be no surprises as to the killer or motive. Not this author's best work.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to have Lisa Scottoline writing about the Rosato and Associates the Philadelphia all women law firm again. I have missed reading about them; I have read all of the books in the series. These are easy to read legal procedure books with humor and a bit of a “who done it.” Mary DiNunzio has made partner in the firm. Mary and Judy Carrier take on a 13 year old girl Allegra who is a rich, genius who wants them to find out who killed her older 16 year old sister 6 years ago. This is complicated because a man is in prison who confessed to the killing. Allegra loves bee’s and when she is in the hospital Mary, pigeon Tony along with all the Tony’s and her father pick up the bee’s from the post office and take them to Allegra’s house to put the bee’s in the new hive. Thought the scene of pigeon Tony handling the bees was great. Mary gets engaged to Anthony Rotunno in the story with all the Italian family goings on around it also adds humor. There is no court room drama in this book but lots of suspense because they took on a 13 year old against her family’s wishes. I thought the real killer was established then Scottoline tosses in a twist for the ending. I read this book in the audio book format. January LaVoy does a good job with the narration. This is a nice easy to read book to relax with.

[Elvan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Legal Lite

I'm not sure what to say about this book. Accused is the most recent in a long line of Rosato and Associates books by Lisa Scottoline and one which should not be read before any of the others in the series.
There have been much grittier and complex books in the series. Think Twice starring Benny Rosato was an excellent thriller as were many others in the series.

In Accused, a 15 year old girl comes to the firm asking that they hunt down the real killer of her sister and help to release a man who she believes was wrongfully charged with her sister's murder.

There are a few suspects but the story revolves most around Mary DiNunzio and her whacky Italian family. Yes, there are lots of laugh out loud moments. The wise cracks come fast and furious but the humour, the intrusive family members, the caps lock every time Mary's dad Frank speaks because all old Italian men shout when they speak, it all gets to be a bit much.

The actual case/plot for the story takes a back seat to the DiNunzio family hijinx and the three Tony's. Yeah, don't ask.

From ponderous Grisham and Sycamore Row to legal lite Accused by Scottoline, I think I am done with the legal profession for a little while.

[Jenn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't finish this book. I used to love Lisa Scottoline. What is going on!!!! Is she against using pronouns? Is she going for a record to see how many times she can use the same phrase over and over again.
As I was reading I kept getting more and more irked by the flow of the story. Then I realized why. It reminded me too much of the Hallmark Story Buddy books I have for my daughter. The book repeats the phrases and the character's names so that the stuffed animal will respond. Ms. Scottoline, your target audience is able to follow a plot without you writing "Mary" as often as you do, and you need to stop writing phrases like "Mary wrote a note" way too many times.
Sorry, I just couldn't deal with the shotty writing. I'm done.

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last 30 or 40 pages were good but after reading the first 300 pages perhaps anything would have been good. I used to really like her books with the female law firm of Rosato & Associates. However, once her stories concentrated on Mary as the main character they became tedious. Of all the gals, she is my least favorite. It's almost as if Scottoline has tried to make Mary and her family similar to Stephanie Plum and her family. If she is all I can say, "It ain't working!!!"

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 4 STARS
​​(Review Not on Blog)

Rosato and Associates are back with Mary DiNunzio now as a partner! Seeing Bennie share her "power" and watching Mary assert herself more is intriguing to see. One thing that I enjoy about this series is seeing the characters grow. I will say here that this is technically NOT the first book in the Rosato series. The first book is Everywhere That Mary Went where we are introduced to Mary, Bennie and the gang. The series "spins-off" here as Mary is now a partner so it is called Rosato & DiNunzio.

In the "Accused" we have a 13 year old client, Allegra, hiring the gang to look into her sister's murder. Allegra's sister was murdered 6 years ago, and the accused Lonnie Stall was arrested and charged for the crime. Stall had even pleaded guilty. Allegra thinks there is more to the case and so she talks the law firm into helping her.

I really enjoy this series because of the characters. I have been reading this series since Judy's story and then went back to book 1 and binge read them. They are light fast read perfect for when you want more than fluff but nothing heavy.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Allegra's sister was murdered and Lonnie went to prison for the crime. But Allegra knows that Lonnie didn't commit the crime. When Allegra turns 13, she hires Mary to find out who really killed her sister Fiona.

I listened to this book and it was very well done. I thought the story line plausible and Mary's fight to ensure Allegra has the proper rights when her parents are not agreeable to her right to pursue her sister's murderer was very interesting. I thought that the book showed there is a slim line between a controlling parent and a caring parent and it delved into these areas very well.

I think the book might have assumed that you knew Mary and Judy from the previous series so I am going back and reading those first. Then I will go on and read these.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. My goodness what was that?

I love how the book started and was very excited. Not only that, but one of my favorite narrators, January LaVoy read it. I love her voice!

This book has very little legal story, heavy on family drama, and Mary's parents are super annoying to say the least.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. I really needed a good mystery and Accused delivered for me. I thought it was just a tiny bit drawn out, though, and did not find the conclusion surprising. I was really frustrated with a lot of Mary's behavior for most of the book, but she was much better by the end. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, loved the characters. Lot's of twists and turns.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having just made partner at Rosato & Associates the newly engaged Mary DiNunzio should be on the top of the world. Yet there is something that does not feel right and for once it is not the chaos of being in neither a large family nor, her law practice per se just the case she just took on from a thirteen year-old girl who wants to free the murderer of her sister, who coincidentally pleaded guilty.

Allegra Gardner never believed the man sentenced for the murder of her sister was the person who committed the crime and she wants Mary to find out who did. Allegra is a serious child that has been patiently waiting for her trust fund to be released to her so that she can hire a lawyer and with money and way too much intelligence Allegra knows exactly what direction to send them in, away from the convicted man. The box of insanity this client has produced starts with influential parents that do not want this reopened, a legal system that wishes to not be shamed into a wrong conviction, and Mary's partner who does not believe Allegra is credible. There are so many voices screaming that Allegra is as unbalanced as others make her out to be, but Mary does not believe them she believes in her client. With blind faith she moves forward with and without support, taking on the system that sent a man to prison for life when Mary believes there is another person responsible. All the arrows are pointing toward another direction and with while there is more wrong than right answers to questions on this case, Mary is getting closer.

Problem is the person that Mary believes may be responsible produces an alibi that appears to not be breakable, but everything has a crack in it somewhere. Mary is dogging the suspected, trying to stay connected to a personal life, and hoping to draw back in the friend she fears she may have lost.

Lisa Scottoline is the master of creating a scenario of suspense, drawing a reader in, and taking them on a journey of mystery. The characters are always ones you can relate to and wish they were your friends and family, most of the time.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so happy when the author brought back these characters. The book is about Allegra, a 13 year old who hires the law firm to exonerate Lonnie who she believes is innocent of murdering her sister Fiona 6 years ago. Mary has just been made a partner when she meets her new client who is very bright. On the same night she gets engaged to Anthony whose mother Mary refers to as el virus. Between the running around all over the City and the burbs to help clear Lonnie's name Mary has opened a can or worms. Allegra's family is ready to have an restraining order placed on Mary and anyone that works for the firm. Allegra is committed to a psychiatric hospital because of her OCD, and Anthony's mother would be honored is Mary would wear her wedding dress when she marries her son. The book is full of action and things that will make you laugh out loud. I am definitely looking forward to re-reading Betrayed. Just to find out how this female law firm has progressed since their inception.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read (listen on audio book) for this author and I have mixed feelings. The beginning and end were very good but it got a little long and drawn out in the middle. A 13-year-old girl hires an attorney with her trust fund money to find the "real" killer who murdered her older sister 6 years ago. She is convinced that the young man behind bars is innocent. Mary DiNunzio takes the case and fights hard to solve the case for her client, Allegra. Even though this story had mixed reviews, I listened anyway and found it enjoyable overall. Mary's parents and the Tony's (Feet, Pigeon Tony, and Tony Down the Block) provide some comic relief along the way! Give it a read -- you may "bee" surprised! 7 out of 10.

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did, I thought it would be boring and predictable but I was quite wrong! It was anything but predictable and all the twists and turns made it that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. And I was completely thrown for a loop, I really wasn’t expecting things to turn out how they did and it was the perfect ending to this story! I also really enjoyed both Mary and Allegra’s characters although Judy drove me absolutely crazy!