What do you think?
Rate this book
Running from the Law
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.
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1995
519 people are currently reading
2432 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Scottoline
133 books15.5k followersLisa 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
April 30, 2018
I freaking love Rita. She's awesome! What a great female lead. This book seemed long when I picked it up but I flew through it. I enjoyed the mystery and I did not figure out who the killer was.
January 18, 2010
Eh. I loved Final Appeal so I expected to love this one as well. Yes, it had a different main character, but this one stars in a series! She must be great, right? Well, no.
In all honesty, Rita Morrone is okay as a main character but I don't love her. Same with the book -- it was okay, I finished it, but I didn't love it. While I'm not necessarily going to turn away another book in the series, it's unlikely that I'll be reaching for one any time soon
In all honesty, Rita Morrone is okay as a main character but I don't love her. Same with the book -- it was okay, I finished it, but I didn't love it. While I'm not necessarily going to turn away another book in the series, it's unlikely that I'll be reaching for one any time soon
June 6, 2011
Once again, a solid mystery page-turner with tight suspense and well-defined characters. As the story progresses and the mystery deepens, the ground keeps shifting under protagonist Rita Morrone’s feet. Every new turn seems to bring to light a new clue or a new suspect, and the reader is alongside Rita as she tries to sort out the truth from a maze of dead ends.
Quick plot summary (with some [hidden] spoilers ahead): Rita Morrone is a partner in a Philadelphia law firm, a trial attorney with a well-honed sense for the intangibles that come in alongside the law in any court case. For example, the opening scene has her playing on the sympathies of a jury that knows only that they are resuming the trial after a break occasioned by death of “counsel’s mother”. They don’t know which counsel, though – an ambiguity that Rita adroitly exploits to win points for her side. But it’s not this case that forms the backbone of the novel. All of a sudden she is in the middle of a murder case where several people close to her turn into very plausible suspects.
As always with a Scottoline mystery, it’s the character development that is the high point with me. Rita’s stomping grounds is that center of South Philly Italian Catholic daily life, the Italian Market on 9th Street – specifically, the butcher shop where she was raised, mostly by her father alone, and where he still tries to eke out a living. Her upbringing there has made her an expert on some unusual things: knives and poker. She joins her father and a small crew of his old, old friends in a weekly poker game, and it’s the wisdom she picks up at her father’s side, through life and through poker, which provides the insight to navigate the twist and turns of her legal cases. “Don’t watch the player, watch the cards,” her father admonishes her when he suspects a client is manipulating her. The other poker players become her allies when she needs to bluff her way to information as she investigates the murder. And they are the first people to come to her rescue in times of trouble.
Rita is a well-drawn character, flawed, real, and easy to like, though not without her abrasive moments. She’s quick-witted and snarky, but she generally keeps her barbed comments to herself, prefacing many replies with unspoken zingers that we readers get to enjoy. (She hands a document to an opposing witness. “You want I should read it?” he asks. No, I want you should make a paper airplane, she retorts, mentally, before speaking the words, “Yes, please, read it.”.) She’s also smart and has good instincts, making her a character that readers want to follow.
Quick plot summary (with some [hidden] spoilers ahead): Rita Morrone is a partner in a Philadelphia law firm, a trial attorney with a well-honed sense for the intangibles that come in alongside the law in any court case. For example, the opening scene has her playing on the sympathies of a jury that knows only that they are resuming the trial after a break occasioned by death of “counsel’s mother”. They don’t know which counsel, though – an ambiguity that Rita adroitly exploits to win points for her side. But it’s not this case that forms the backbone of the novel. All of a sudden she is in the middle of a murder case where several people close to her turn into very plausible suspects.
As always with a Scottoline mystery, it’s the character development that is the high point with me. Rita’s stomping grounds is that center of South Philly Italian Catholic daily life, the Italian Market on 9th Street – specifically, the butcher shop where she was raised, mostly by her father alone, and where he still tries to eke out a living. Her upbringing there has made her an expert on some unusual things: knives and poker. She joins her father and a small crew of his old, old friends in a weekly poker game, and it’s the wisdom she picks up at her father’s side, through life and through poker, which provides the insight to navigate the twist and turns of her legal cases. “Don’t watch the player, watch the cards,” her father admonishes her when he suspects a client is manipulating her. The other poker players become her allies when she needs to bluff her way to information as she investigates the murder. And they are the first people to come to her rescue in times of trouble.
Rita is a well-drawn character, flawed, real, and easy to like, though not without her abrasive moments. She’s quick-witted and snarky, but she generally keeps her barbed comments to herself, prefacing many replies with unspoken zingers that we readers get to enjoy. (She hands a document to an opposing witness. “You want I should read it?” he asks. No, I want you should make a paper airplane, she retorts, mentally, before speaking the words, “Yes, please, read it.”.) She’s also smart and has good instincts, making her a character that readers want to follow.
June 27, 2020
Protagonist Rita Morone was a fun lawyer to get to know: wisecracking and singular in her approach. She had been putting off marriage with Paul Hamilton, forensic architect and her live-in partner of 5 years, for reasons she had not quite formulated. Raised by her father, an Italian butcher in a part of Philadelphia once thriving but currently becoming crime-ridden, she was a part of his close, argumentative, yet supportive circle of friends and family and as good as any of them in their Tuesday night poker game. She loved to win and was not one to shy away from the grand play to win a trial, so when she was offered a high profile case, defending distinguished Federal Judge Fiske Hamilton on a sexual harrassment charge, she readily agreed. He assured her he was not guilty. Then the plaintiff was found dead.
August 6, 2019
This was a fast paced legal thriller with a cast of characters that includes a one armed senior citizen who was on a ladder wielding a hedge trimmer. I blazed through this between innings of a Cubs game and very much appreciated that the ending wasn't given away or hinted at early on in the story.
February 24, 2016
Legal thriller - Rita Morrone, wisecracking, poker playing, defense attorney defends a federal judge against sexual harassment charges. The judge is the father of her lover, who has also had an affair with the plaintiff. Then the plaintiff is murdered..
July 31, 2019
Good short story
June 3, 2022
Really good book
February 11, 2015
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.
"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.
April 17, 2017
Attorney Rita Morrone defends Judge Fishe Hamilton when he is accused of murdering of his lover. Running From The Law has unexpected surprises that has nothing to do with the case but was a great addition to the story that made it a fun read. Barbara Rosenblatt did a good job in telling the story keeping it light.
February 13, 2014
I believe this was Scottoline's first publication, and it doesn't show the maturity and skill of her later work and the Rosato & Associates books, but it's still pretty good. I couldn't figure out how the title was related to the plot. A pretty good read.
July 10, 2015
Entertaining but I got a little weary of the wise cracking bantering dialogue .
February 26, 2025
2.5 stars. This book has Scottoline's signature writing style- engaging, decently paced, pretty well developed characters, etc. HOWEVER, I was just bored during this book and didn't care. The book follows a gal named Rita. She is a defense attorney for a judge (who is also her boyfriend's dad) who has been accused of sexual assault on his young secretary. The case turns into a murder case when said secretary winds up dead. Rita's weary about taking on the case in the first place and her dad (a butcher) is very influential and opinionated about her choices. Turns out the judge and the boyfriend (father/son) were both boinking the secretary, but it was actually her lawyer that killed her because she wanted to back out of the case. Honestly, my favorite part of the story was her dad and the young black boy that works for him. He's very quiet and sweet and ends up dying to protect the dad from an attack meant to scare Rita. I also liked how Rita joined her dad's old man poker club to snuff out information. But something about this book just didnt have the empathy factor that I needed to really enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2023
Rita Morrone enjoyed being the wisecracking attorney - but she also loved playing poker as well. Often she compared the two - they had a lot in common.
Then she became contracted to fight a care of sexual abuse brought against the Honorable Fiske Hamilton. Doesn't seem to be too difficult to work through, except there is a bit of an issue. He happens to be her live-in lover's father so there is a lot at stake here - not just to get the Judge off! Her fiancée is expecting her to do what is the best for the entire family - or else! He lays this very firmly on the bottom line.
Then the whole situation takes a turn for the worse - a murder. Now Rita finds herself - not in the throes of a sexual abuse case, but instead, in the throes of a murder investigation. This, in turn uncovers a secret life that perhaps was better left hidden. To end this lethal game, Rita has to lay it all on the lines, because now, its her life that is being threatened. Where will this end?
Then she became contracted to fight a care of sexual abuse brought against the Honorable Fiske Hamilton. Doesn't seem to be too difficult to work through, except there is a bit of an issue. He happens to be her live-in lover's father so there is a lot at stake here - not just to get the Judge off! Her fiancée is expecting her to do what is the best for the entire family - or else! He lays this very firmly on the bottom line.
Then the whole situation takes a turn for the worse - a murder. Now Rita finds herself - not in the throes of a sexual abuse case, but instead, in the throes of a murder investigation. This, in turn uncovers a secret life that perhaps was better left hidden. To end this lethal game, Rita has to lay it all on the lines, because now, its her life that is being threatened. Where will this end?
January 22, 2023
Another fabulous book by her! I read this one in 4 days, it was great!
Rita is a tough Philadelphia lawyer in a long term relationship with the handsome architect Paul. When Paul’s father, a federal judge, is sued for sexual harassment by his secretary, Rita takes the case.
Within a week of the suit coming out to the press, the woman is found dead and the judge is arrested for her murder. Meanwhile, Rita’s fathers butcher shop was just robbed and a staff member has been killed.
Rita’s life goes into a tailspin trying to deal with family drama, work drama and then the last thing she needed: a phone call from her doctor with her test results…
Such a fast paced, twisty novel and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! Loved it! Great read!
Rita is a tough Philadelphia lawyer in a long term relationship with the handsome architect Paul. When Paul’s father, a federal judge, is sued for sexual harassment by his secretary, Rita takes the case.
Within a week of the suit coming out to the press, the woman is found dead and the judge is arrested for her murder. Meanwhile, Rita’s fathers butcher shop was just robbed and a staff member has been killed.
Rita’s life goes into a tailspin trying to deal with family drama, work drama and then the last thing she needed: a phone call from her doctor with her test results…
Such a fast paced, twisty novel and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! Loved it! Great read!
July 24, 2023
Said it before and I'll say it again - can't beat a Scottoline for Summer reading. Quick, easy, don't have to think too hard, entertaining. That's all I'm looking for this time of year. My favorite part about this one was definitely the snarky thoughts in Rita's head that were projected against what she actually said out loud. This was a constant presence throughout the whole book and it was pretty clever and funny and definitely something I find myself doing a lot - very easy to relate to. A fun little mystery. The type of book I would very much enjoy on a beach. Not to be taken too seriously, but at the same time plausible enough. My favorite Philly reference in this one (b/c there's always several) - a Phillies ball cap and Manayunk.
October 11, 2020
Good courtroom drama
Rita Morrone is a Philadelphia born and bred lawyer in a white shoe firm who is defending her boyfriend’s father, Judge Fiske Hamilton in a sexual harassment case that quickly becomes a murder case. With help from her father and his coterie of friends she tries to defend the case by solving it.
Rita is a likable heroine (although there was one borderline racist remark, one sexist one), and her father and friends were beyond adorable. The pacing of the book was a bit odd but once the story got going it was a quick read. Enjoyable. Currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
Rita Morrone is a Philadelphia born and bred lawyer in a white shoe firm who is defending her boyfriend’s father, Judge Fiske Hamilton in a sexual harassment case that quickly becomes a murder case. With help from her father and his coterie of friends she tries to defend the case by solving it.
Rita is a likable heroine (although there was one borderline racist remark, one sexist one), and her father and friends were beyond adorable. The pacing of the book was a bit odd but once the story got going it was a quick read. Enjoyable. Currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
April 19, 2021
Love Scottoline books but this was not a top fave by far. L.S. Has a great sense of humor and usually weaves it into her stories...but this one was a bit over the top. At least for me. The main character Rita had a smart comeback, in thought only, to just about everything said to her. Then followed up by what she did reply. For me that got a bit tedious. Overall, I just enjoy this authors books and will continue to read them. I can see where Running from the Law written earlier in her career might have been a lead in to the character of Mary in Scottolines future books in the series of Rosato Associates.
October 22, 2024
I need to start by saying that I find it unbelievable that the main character’s firm would essentially force a civil attorney to take a criminal case, let alone a murder case! She did not even review the notice for her client’s first hearing because she didn’t understand its procedure and would have not even shown up had someone else not told her about it. Even after reading the book, I still don’t know whether I like or hate the main character. Otherwise, I did enjoy reading this story, but the ending left me disappointed. It became a bit too obvious who the killer was and for me it was not a satisfying resolution to the story.
May 8, 2022
My first Lisa Scottoline mystery-- and probably not my last. I enjoyed ther attitude of defense lawyer Rita Morrone who ends up defending her boyfriend's father in a murder case. Other suspects include the boyfriend himself (Both he and the dad were sleeping with the victim.), his mother, the victim's live in boyfriend and others. I have to say although I considered the perp at one time, I never really thought it was him until he showes up at City Hall rready to kill Lisa. Thank heavens she has her own gang of senior citizens there to protect her!
February 28, 2023
No quiero darle 3 estrellas, me encariñé demasiado con los personajes y como libro de cualquier género, tipo romance (aunque no hay mucho) o algo más lite tipo el día a día de la protagonista, le daría 5 estrellas porque me agradaron mucho los personajes importantes, pero las 3 estrellas se deben a que como libro de misterio me dió bastante poco, una trama sencilla, fácil y rápida de leer y una resolución sencilla también, pero como digo, me encariñé con los personajes así que creo que le subiré a 3.5
March 25, 2025
I’ve always enjoyed books I’ve read by Lisa Scottoline, and I really hate to say it…except this time one. The protagonist was not funny at all, as she was meant to be. She’s obnoxious, annoying, rude, and ignorant. The storyline is all over the place, and not interesting at all. There’s not one character I cared about in the least. I forced myself to finish the book because I kept thinking something would happen that WAS interesting. Nope. Nada. Nothing. This one was a waste of time. Sorry Lisa.
December 29, 2017
This was a quick read. The killer was a surprise, didn't see that one coming. So I guess that was a plus. His reason for murder was kind of way out there. I enjoyed the author's off the wall humor. A little sarcastic at times, just like me! I enjoyed the interaction with the senior citizens that was a nice touch. It was hard to figure out who she exactly married in the end, had to read those pages twice!
May 21, 2019
A judge's secretary is taking him t0 c0urt, charging him with sexual harassment;
He insists that Rita Morrone represent him even though she is n0t a criminal
lawyer. She is also living with the judge's son.
The secretary suddenly turns up dead.
Rita finds herself with several possible suspects but no idea who the murderer is.
She enlists the help 0f her senior citizen poker players to set up the murderer in
a trap t0 reveal himself.
a
He insists that Rita Morrone represent him even though she is n0t a criminal
lawyer. She is also living with the judge's son.
The secretary suddenly turns up dead.
Rita finds herself with several possible suspects but no idea who the murderer is.
She enlists the help 0f her senior citizen poker players to set up the murderer in
a trap t0 reveal himself.
a
September 13, 2020
1997: An amusing one-shot mystery where the detective is a trial attorney—not adverse to a few tricks—who investigates a case she has taken to defend her future father-in-law [bad move] and winds up investigating murder. Along the way there are some esp. funny parts involving her father’s cronies. Set in Philadelphia—L.S. Is a U. Penn Law grad.
2020: I doubt I would enjoy the book as much now because I have become averse to mysteries where the detective is a lawyer.
2020: I doubt I would enjoy the book as much now because I have become averse to mysteries where the detective is a lawyer.
October 10, 2020
I’ve always enjoyed Lisa Scottoline books but it was some time in the 2000s before I found her. This book is from 1996 and really good. A couple of things are dated, like flip phones, but other than those, she could have written it this year. I love how Rita, the main character, usually has a sarcastic comment in her head, like most of us, before answering. Parts are funny, parts are serious, and parts are filled with mystery and a little danger. Definitely worth reading.
April 27, 2021
Always a favorite author
Another homerun from a hometown chick of mine!! I discovered Lisa Scottoline over 20 years ago, and she introduced me to Bennie Rosatto. In this book, the lead female lawyer is Rita, a snarky-ish, tough Italian that loves her family and insists on justice, and gets it with heart pounding excitement, and a twist(ted!) ending you won't see coming. A true page turned to the end, Running From the Law is a must read !!!!
Another homerun from a hometown chick of mine!! I discovered Lisa Scottoline over 20 years ago, and she introduced me to Bennie Rosatto. In this book, the lead female lawyer is Rita, a snarky-ish, tough Italian that loves her family and insists on justice, and gets it with heart pounding excitement, and a twist(ted!) ending you won't see coming. A true page turned to the end, Running From the Law is a must read !!!!
April 20, 2022
I was engaged in this right away. I like the character, Rita Morrone. At least I like her in the courtroom, in her law practice, with her father. Her actions in playing detective are either silly or just not believable.
This is a 3 instead of 4 because of the ending - the motive(s) mainly don’t make sense.
Then there is a overlong epilogue.
But I plan to read the first in the series because there are a lot of good points to the book.
This is a 3 instead of 4 because of the ending - the motive(s) mainly don’t make sense.
Then there is a overlong epilogue.
But I plan to read the first in the series because there are a lot of good points to the book.
June 14, 2022
I loved this SO MUCH. Rita is a perfect character == poker-playing, father-loving, non criminal focusing attorney. Story involves many characters, all of which play a part. This book is funny, sad, and everything in between. Cam, Sal, and especially Herman are wonderful. The others== Fiske, Kate, Paul, LaVonne, Tobin, Mack == all have parts and are all good at them. Next to favorite Scottoline yet.
February 8, 2025
Lisa Scottoline is one of the few author names that I ever remember. I like her style. She writes mystery novels that have a bit of humor. The pages seemed to turn by themselves as I read this novel. This is a complicated "who dunnit" that involves a sexual harrassment lawsuit that turns into a murder mystery when the woman that fits the lawsuit is found murdered. There's lots of complications and a surprise at the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews