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Death by Rodrigo: A Novel
A HILARIOUS NEW SERIES -- THINK JANET EVANOVICH MEETS MY COUSIN VINNY.
When El Salvadoran crime boss Rodrigo González is finally nabbed in Camden, New Jersey, for high-volume drug trafficking, he hires criminal defense attorneys Mickie Mezzonatti and Salvatore "Junne" Salerno, Jr. He's been told they're the best and that, as former Camden police officers, they know all the blind spots and loopholes ( the ins and outs) of the local courts. All Rodrigo asks of Junne and Mickie is that they get him out on bond so he can jump bail and escape back to the comforts of El Salvador. Problem is, the judge denies bail. Soon Mezzonatti and Salerno are receiving a few unwelcome guests -- friends of Rodrigo -- asking questions. And the boys need to find answers, fast.
Mickie and Junne have an enviable professional success rate. With their street smarts and learned-on-the-job courtroom skills, the blue-collar boys enjoy trouncing self-righteous, Ivy-educated district attorneys. But they also know when they need help. Like with Rodrigo.
So they approach Professor Mumbles, a brilliant though eccentric former white-shoe lawyer who suffered a spectacular corporate burnout. As Junne and Mickie duck and dive to make Rodrigo's case (or at least fake it with Mumbles's help), they're also juggling their regular caseload -- like local drug lord Slippery Williams, whose badass nephew may have turned informant; and the gorgeous hooker Little Chip, whose prostitution bust leaves her pimp hopping mad. And through it all, the boys attempt to keep a happy home life. That's no sweat for Mickie, a natural Casanova, but it may prove to be trickier than Junne ever imagined. 'Cause he's got a secret. And if Rodrigo does not kill him, his family just might....
The first installment of a hilarious new series, Death by Rodrigo is a romp through the seamy side of criminal law by one of the foremost attorneys in America (who also has a wicked sense of humor).
When El Salvadoran crime boss Rodrigo González is finally nabbed in Camden, New Jersey, for high-volume drug trafficking, he hires criminal defense attorneys Mickie Mezzonatti and Salvatore "Junne" Salerno, Jr. He's been told they're the best and that, as former Camden police officers, they know all the blind spots and loopholes ( the ins and outs) of the local courts. All Rodrigo asks of Junne and Mickie is that they get him out on bond so he can jump bail and escape back to the comforts of El Salvador. Problem is, the judge denies bail. Soon Mezzonatti and Salerno are receiving a few unwelcome guests -- friends of Rodrigo -- asking questions. And the boys need to find answers, fast.
Mickie and Junne have an enviable professional success rate. With their street smarts and learned-on-the-job courtroom skills, the blue-collar boys enjoy trouncing self-righteous, Ivy-educated district attorneys. But they also know when they need help. Like with Rodrigo.
So they approach Professor Mumbles, a brilliant though eccentric former white-shoe lawyer who suffered a spectacular corporate burnout. As Junne and Mickie duck and dive to make Rodrigo's case (or at least fake it with Mumbles's help), they're also juggling their regular caseload -- like local drug lord Slippery Williams, whose badass nephew may have turned informant; and the gorgeous hooker Little Chip, whose prostitution bust leaves her pimp hopping mad. And through it all, the boys attempt to keep a happy home life. That's no sweat for Mickie, a natural Casanova, but it may prove to be trickier than Junne ever imagined. 'Cause he's got a secret. And if Rodrigo does not kill him, his family just might....
The first installment of a hilarious new series, Death by Rodrigo is a romp through the seamy side of criminal law by one of the foremost attorneys in America (who also has a wicked sense of humor).
- GenresMystery
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 10, 2019
Marking this as DNF at 12%. I never even got to the part of the book that's covered in the book blurb because there's a long section on the fact that the main character is a f** who hates his "condition" but can't do anything about it and it's better if no one knows and at least he's not one of those "limp-wrist hairdresser f**" and I just can't continue, this monologue threw me off so badly.
September 25, 2020
Just didn't like this, wasn't an enjoyable follow the characters, didn't think it was that funny
February 25, 2023
A mystery with a ton of characters - laugh out loud funny in places. A delightful read.
July 11, 2016
I thought this was an interesting series opener. I picked it up at random from the library after seeing it compared to Janet Evanovich. I didn’t really see the comparison, but I thought it stood well on its own. It has humor, but not the absurdities you find in a Stephanie Plum book. Junne isn’t your typical lawyer, and the situation he and Mickie find themselves in isn’t your typical situation. I’m curious to see what direction the series takes, and whether Junne will ever find happiness — or even contentment.
July 26, 2012
Smug and arrogant. Writing style is functional at best. Author is way too in love with his style and essentially using the book as a way to brag about how to outsmart cops and DAs in various ways. Stick to lawyering, Ron.
February 5, 2008
Short, enjoyable and entirely forgettable. I think the inside flap was the most engaging portion of the book. Lots of interesting ideas and characters and didn't ever mesh.
November 24, 2016
Short read, funny and quirky characters. Some errors in editing, but whatever. I really liked this book, and I concluded it with a smile on my face.
October 10, 2013
Fun read!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews