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Rosato & DiNunzio #5
Exposed
In this New York Times bestselling novel, a battle for justice pits partner against partner...
Mary DiNunzio wants to represent her old friend Simon Pensiera, a sales rep who was wrongly fired by his company, but her partner Bennie Rosato represents the parent company. When she confronts Mary, explaining this is a conflict of interest, an epic battle of wills and legal strategy between the two ensues—ripping the law firm apart, forcing everyone to take sides and turning friend against friend.
SOMETIMES LOYALTY CAN BE LETHAL.
Mary DiNunzio wants to represent her old friend Simon Pensiera, a sales rep who was wrongly fired by his company, but her partner Bennie Rosato represents the parent company. When she confronts Mary, explaining this is a conflict of interest, an epic battle of wills and legal strategy between the two ensues—ripping the law firm apart, forcing everyone to take sides and turning friend against friend.
SOMETIMES LOYALTY CAN BE LETHAL.
368 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2017
2064 people are currently reading
5871 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Scottoline
137 books15.6k 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,156 reviews
November 17, 2017
3.5*
I’ve been a huge fan of this series for years. What makes this series so special are all the quirky characters involved. Unfortunately this one fell a little short for me, in that the spotlight was on the lawsuit at hand, rather than the characters. I found myself skimming through most of the legal jargon looking for any hint of when the characters might take center stage.
Simon, Mary’s longtime family friend is in dire trouble. His wife passed on, his daughter has cancer and is fighting for her life, and now he’s just lost his long-time job. Desperate, he turns to Mary to sue the company for wrongful termination. Not to mention recouping some much needed money for his daughter’s medical bills and hopefully get his job back.
Soon the lawsuits quickly pile up. (On both sides.) Followed by serious criminal charges and Mary’s head is spinning. What happened here? How did a simple termination law suit turn into a murder case? Is the partnership between Bennie and Mary falling apart? Or will Bennie join Mary to find the truth? Bennie may even come away showing a little heart. Huh... who would have thought that’s even possible?
This was not my favorite in the series, but I remain a dedicated fan of Lisa Scottoline and am already looking forward to her next release!
A Traveling Sister read with Brenda!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Lisa Scottoline for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for n honest review.
For this review and our full Traveling Sister review please visit Brenda and Norma's Fantastic Traveling Sister Book Blog http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
I’ve been a huge fan of this series for years. What makes this series so special are all the quirky characters involved. Unfortunately this one fell a little short for me, in that the spotlight was on the lawsuit at hand, rather than the characters. I found myself skimming through most of the legal jargon looking for any hint of when the characters might take center stage.
Simon, Mary’s longtime family friend is in dire trouble. His wife passed on, his daughter has cancer and is fighting for her life, and now he’s just lost his long-time job. Desperate, he turns to Mary to sue the company for wrongful termination. Not to mention recouping some much needed money for his daughter’s medical bills and hopefully get his job back.
Soon the lawsuits quickly pile up. (On both sides.) Followed by serious criminal charges and Mary’s head is spinning. What happened here? How did a simple termination law suit turn into a murder case? Is the partnership between Bennie and Mary falling apart? Or will Bennie join Mary to find the truth? Bennie may even come away showing a little heart. Huh... who would have thought that’s even possible?
This was not my favorite in the series, but I remain a dedicated fan of Lisa Scottoline and am already looking forward to her next release!
A Traveling Sister read with Brenda!
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Lisa Scottoline for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for n honest review.
For this review and our full Traveling Sister review please visit Brenda and Norma's Fantastic Traveling Sister Book Blog http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
August 20, 2018
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
Over the years I’ve enjoyed many of Lisa Scottoline’s novels. Although I haven’t read all of the books in the Rosato & DiNunzio series it hasn’t affected my enjoyment of the ones I have read.
In this novel, we have Rosato vs. DiNunzio when Mary DiNunzio takes on a case that pits her against her partner and friend, Bennie Rosato.
Mary DiNunzio doesn’t know what to expect when her father announces that he and his friends need a lawyer. But when the whole crew turns up at her office, right away she knows she has to help. These people and the entire community are all like family. The case is in regards to her childhood friend, Simon. Simon lost his wife a few years ago and now his daughter is very ill.
It seems like life can’t get much worse for Simon Pensiera, but after he’s wrongfully dismissed it really does. Without a job and insurance, he can’t pay for his daughter’s medical bills and the consequences could be dire. Mary wants to take on Simon’s case, but Bennie tells her she can’t as there is a conflict of interest. Mary is determined to help Simon. If Bennie and Mary can’t see eye to eye on this matter it may destroy their friendship as well as their partnership.
But when things turn deadly, will Mary and Bennie be able to put their differences aside?
This was a great read that I flew through in just a couple of days. As always, Lisa Scottoline’s novels are fast and easy reads that keep me engrossed from start to finish.
The characters are all well-developed and it's not long before you feel as if you know some of them personally. I love how the author writes about the connections and relationships between friends and family. I did find that things slowed down a little halfway through, but it definitely picked up again and the ending was intense and satisfying.
As usual, it's clear that Scottoline has done her research. This was a very well-written and interesting legal suspense novel. I look forward to reading "Feared", the next installment in the Rosato & DiNunzio series.
I'd like to thank by St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Over the years I’ve enjoyed many of Lisa Scottoline’s novels. Although I haven’t read all of the books in the Rosato & DiNunzio series it hasn’t affected my enjoyment of the ones I have read.
In this novel, we have Rosato vs. DiNunzio when Mary DiNunzio takes on a case that pits her against her partner and friend, Bennie Rosato.
Mary DiNunzio doesn’t know what to expect when her father announces that he and his friends need a lawyer. But when the whole crew turns up at her office, right away she knows she has to help. These people and the entire community are all like family. The case is in regards to her childhood friend, Simon. Simon lost his wife a few years ago and now his daughter is very ill.
It seems like life can’t get much worse for Simon Pensiera, but after he’s wrongfully dismissed it really does. Without a job and insurance, he can’t pay for his daughter’s medical bills and the consequences could be dire. Mary wants to take on Simon’s case, but Bennie tells her she can’t as there is a conflict of interest. Mary is determined to help Simon. If Bennie and Mary can’t see eye to eye on this matter it may destroy their friendship as well as their partnership.
But when things turn deadly, will Mary and Bennie be able to put their differences aside?
This was a great read that I flew through in just a couple of days. As always, Lisa Scottoline’s novels are fast and easy reads that keep me engrossed from start to finish.
The characters are all well-developed and it's not long before you feel as if you know some of them personally. I love how the author writes about the connections and relationships between friends and family. I did find that things slowed down a little halfway through, but it definitely picked up again and the ending was intense and satisfying.
As usual, it's clear that Scottoline has done her research. This was a very well-written and interesting legal suspense novel. I look forward to reading "Feared", the next installment in the Rosato & DiNunzio series.
I'd like to thank by St. Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 19, 2017
Philadelphia lawyers Bennie Rosato and Mary DiNunzio look to end up on opposite of a case, possibly ending their new partnership. Bennie represents a parent company, while Mary wants to sue one of its many subsidiaries, and the law is not clear on the issue. Big surprise there, but it's a timely issue as in reality there is more and more consolidation, vertical integration, and plain old Pac man-like eating of companies. This is the first of at least four legal issues confronted by the partners in the fifth book of Rosato &DiNunzio series.
This comes to the partners' attention because Mary's close childhood friend Simon has just been fired from his job. His company says his sales are down. Simon says it's because his darling daughter who is four, is undergoing very expensive cancer treatments, and the company is partially on the hook for medical expenses. This is another legal issue, one that could easily be settled before any paperwork is filed.
But the company wants to fight it out in court with terrorism by litigation, the third legal issue. A term that should be familiar since someone we all know uses that tactic to drive his enemies, small companies and anyone who crosses him out of business.
The fourth legal issue is murder, keeping an innocent man out of jail.
Scottoline does an outstanding job in clearly explaining the legal issues. However, her clarity carries over to the rest of the book where it does seem to dumb down the writing in quite a few places.
In contrast, Scottoline does not dumb down the scenes of peril and danger. This is no legal cozy and her writing is sharp and exciting.
The characters are charming and grow quite a bit in this book, especially Bennie who begins to realize what friendship and love really mean. The south Philly one for all and all for one stuff gets just a tiny bit mushy-gushy and dare I say it, annoying?
This is one series that has held its own and has not gotten stale over the years. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This comes to the partners' attention because Mary's close childhood friend Simon has just been fired from his job. His company says his sales are down. Simon says it's because his darling daughter who is four, is undergoing very expensive cancer treatments, and the company is partially on the hook for medical expenses. This is another legal issue, one that could easily be settled before any paperwork is filed.
But the company wants to fight it out in court with terrorism by litigation, the third legal issue. A term that should be familiar since someone we all know uses that tactic to drive his enemies, small companies and anyone who crosses him out of business.
The fourth legal issue is murder, keeping an innocent man out of jail.
Scottoline does an outstanding job in clearly explaining the legal issues. However, her clarity carries over to the rest of the book where it does seem to dumb down the writing in quite a few places.
In contrast, Scottoline does not dumb down the scenes of peril and danger. This is no legal cozy and her writing is sharp and exciting.
The characters are charming and grow quite a bit in this book, especially Bennie who begins to realize what friendship and love really mean. The south Philly one for all and all for one stuff gets just a tiny bit mushy-gushy and dare I say it, annoying?
This is one series that has held its own and has not gotten stale over the years. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 17, 2017
3.5 stars
Traveling Sisters Review with Kaceey.
Exposed is the fifth book in the Rosato & DiNunzio series and the first one that I read. I read it along with Kaceey who is a fan of the series and has read them all. While I enjoyed this one it probably wasn’t the best one for me to have jumped into. I think it can be read as a stand-alone but Kaceey felt it wasn’t one of her favorites.
Exposed is a witty, suspenseful legal thriller with a little drama that digs deep and focuses a lot on the law here with this story. We could tell Lisa Scottoline did her homework with all the information used in the story. We found it became a little repetitive and not all that interesting. We could have done with less.
Lisa Scottoline brings a lot of warmth to her characters and I really liked all the main characters right from the start and Kaceey has already developed a connection with some from the previous books. We really enjoyed the dynamics between the characters and the strong sense of family within the story.
The story revolves around a child’s illness and a father without insurance that pulled on our heart-strings and it was a little hard to take at times but we felt Scottoline handle all of the scenes well.
Well this might not have been the best one for us, Kaceey still remains a fan of this series and I look forward to another one in the series. Think I will try the first one in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Lisa Scottoline for an advanced copy of this book to read and review
Traveling Sisters Reviews can be found on our sister blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
Traveling Sisters Review with Kaceey.
Exposed is the fifth book in the Rosato & DiNunzio series and the first one that I read. I read it along with Kaceey who is a fan of the series and has read them all. While I enjoyed this one it probably wasn’t the best one for me to have jumped into. I think it can be read as a stand-alone but Kaceey felt it wasn’t one of her favorites.
Exposed is a witty, suspenseful legal thriller with a little drama that digs deep and focuses a lot on the law here with this story. We could tell Lisa Scottoline did her homework with all the information used in the story. We found it became a little repetitive and not all that interesting. We could have done with less.
Lisa Scottoline brings a lot of warmth to her characters and I really liked all the main characters right from the start and Kaceey has already developed a connection with some from the previous books. We really enjoyed the dynamics between the characters and the strong sense of family within the story.
The story revolves around a child’s illness and a father without insurance that pulled on our heart-strings and it was a little hard to take at times but we felt Scottoline handle all of the scenes well.
Well this might not have been the best one for us, Kaceey still remains a fan of this series and I look forward to another one in the series. Think I will try the first one in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Lisa Scottoline for an advanced copy of this book to read and review
Traveling Sisters Reviews can be found on our sister blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
October 7, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you St. Martin's Press.
Mary DiNunzio and Bennie Rosato are equal partners in the law firm of Rosato&DiNunzio. Mary gets a call from her dad to come to the hospital, where Rachel, granddaughter to Tony"Two Feet", one of her dad's oldest friends is being treated for leukemia. She is on a bone marrow transplant waiting list. Simon, Rachel's dad, has just been fired from his job at OpenSpace. He believes that he was fired because of the astronomical costs of his daughter's upcoming bone marrow transplant. The company has a $250,000 deductible. Mary takes the case because they are family.
But when she tells Bennie, her partner, Bennie tells her she can't take the case because Bennie represents Dumbarton, parent company of OpenSpace. Mary tells Bennie she would rather leave the firm than abandon family.
But there is more to this case. There is a criminal conspiracy coverup and the bad guys are willing to kill to prevent exposure.
Two quotes:
Mary and Bennie arguing over taking the case:
"But OpenSpace is wholly-owned, in the same corporate family."
"A very large corporate family. Like those Duggars. There's way too many of them."
Nate, owner of Dumbarton, talking to Bennie:
"This is so wrong...My own lawyer is suing me and I'm consenting."
Both my wife and I enjoyed reading this book and rate it a solid 4 stars. She read it first, because she is a Lisa Scottoline fan, thus delaying my review.
Mary DiNunzio and Bennie Rosato are equal partners in the law firm of Rosato&DiNunzio. Mary gets a call from her dad to come to the hospital, where Rachel, granddaughter to Tony"Two Feet", one of her dad's oldest friends is being treated for leukemia. She is on a bone marrow transplant waiting list. Simon, Rachel's dad, has just been fired from his job at OpenSpace. He believes that he was fired because of the astronomical costs of his daughter's upcoming bone marrow transplant. The company has a $250,000 deductible. Mary takes the case because they are family.
But when she tells Bennie, her partner, Bennie tells her she can't take the case because Bennie represents Dumbarton, parent company of OpenSpace. Mary tells Bennie she would rather leave the firm than abandon family.
But there is more to this case. There is a criminal conspiracy coverup and the bad guys are willing to kill to prevent exposure.
Two quotes:
Mary and Bennie arguing over taking the case:
"But OpenSpace is wholly-owned, in the same corporate family."
"A very large corporate family. Like those Duggars. There's way too many of them."
Nate, owner of Dumbarton, talking to Bennie:
"This is so wrong...My own lawyer is suing me and I'm consenting."
Both my wife and I enjoyed reading this book and rate it a solid 4 stars. She read it first, because she is a Lisa Scottoline fan, thus delaying my review.
December 8, 2017
A great series is continued with Exposed. This one brings a little tension as partners Mary and Bennie are going head to head over a case. Mary wants to defend a friend, Simon, who has been wrongfully fired, but Bennie sees a conflict of interest as she represents the company Simon works for. Threaded throughout is the drama of Simon's daughter, Rachel who is hospitalized waiting for a transplant. Emotions run high as the injustice of Simon being fired and potentially because of high insurance costs.
Exposed was a great addition to the series. I love the characters and a little cliffhanger at the end has me anticipating #6!
Exposed was a great addition to the series. I love the characters and a little cliffhanger at the end has me anticipating #6!
November 17, 2017
First, I'm clear from the opening pages that Scottoline is a talented writer. This novel, however, doesn't quite live up to those first pages. Two partners and best friends in the same law firm represent both the man suing his previous employer for wrongful termination (his daughter has enormous medical bills that are raising the company's insurance premiums) and the company being sued. That plot line morphs into something completely different at p. 150. There's a murder of a corporate official and the man suing the company is accused of the murder. The women lawyers have to put on their investigator's hats to solve the murder mystery.
Pros: Scottoline writes strong women characters that her fans will know from previous novels in which they've appeared. She does her homework in terms of getting the legalities right, which is no small task because the legalities in this novel are interpretive rather than set in stone. The murder investigation leads us through some interesting twists and turns and a satisfying resolution.
Cons: In the first 150 pages, we have hand wringing about whether it's legally okay for two partners in the same law firm to represent both the accused and the accuser, as well as the emotional impact of two friends landing on opposite sides in this court case. OMG. Nothing happens in these pages plot wise. We hear the facts of the case repeatedly. I do think Scottoline had to handle the legalities of the legal representation. But not in 150 pages! I suspect Scottoline got fascinated with the dramatic tension of the situation and chose to write about it. Had she done it in 25 pages, that would have been fine. I nearly put the novel down at p. 100. I suspect Scottoline realized there was nothing going on and nowhere to go in the novel so she put a murder on p. 150. Then, the novel moves along.
Another couple cons are the very simplistic dialog and the ALL CAPS DIALOG of the old man who can't hear well. Strange but it's FRUSTRATING TO READ ALL CAPS. Then you get the lawyer being thunderstruck that her client is accused of murdering the corporate employee that had just counter-sued him. Really? Of course, that's who the police would first suspect. So, there's something missing in the maturity of the characters and a kind of slackness in the dialog.
Finally, do you know any lawyer who would actually become a gum shoe and pursue a murder investigation? This doesn't really happen but I can't blame Scottoline; the genre of lawyer turned detective started (at least) all the way back with Perry Mason who always exonerated his client while, at the same time, deduced and arrested the real criminal.
I go back to Scottoline being a talented writer. This novel is my first exposure (sic) to her. I'll give another one of her novels a try.
I was sent a free copy of this novel for an honest review. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the book and the opportunity!
Pros: Scottoline writes strong women characters that her fans will know from previous novels in which they've appeared. She does her homework in terms of getting the legalities right, which is no small task because the legalities in this novel are interpretive rather than set in stone. The murder investigation leads us through some interesting twists and turns and a satisfying resolution.
Cons: In the first 150 pages, we have hand wringing about whether it's legally okay for two partners in the same law firm to represent both the accused and the accuser, as well as the emotional impact of two friends landing on opposite sides in this court case. OMG. Nothing happens in these pages plot wise. We hear the facts of the case repeatedly. I do think Scottoline had to handle the legalities of the legal representation. But not in 150 pages! I suspect Scottoline got fascinated with the dramatic tension of the situation and chose to write about it. Had she done it in 25 pages, that would have been fine. I nearly put the novel down at p. 100. I suspect Scottoline realized there was nothing going on and nowhere to go in the novel so she put a murder on p. 150. Then, the novel moves along.
Another couple cons are the very simplistic dialog and the ALL CAPS DIALOG of the old man who can't hear well. Strange but it's FRUSTRATING TO READ ALL CAPS. Then you get the lawyer being thunderstruck that her client is accused of murdering the corporate employee that had just counter-sued him. Really? Of course, that's who the police would first suspect. So, there's something missing in the maturity of the characters and a kind of slackness in the dialog.
Finally, do you know any lawyer who would actually become a gum shoe and pursue a murder investigation? This doesn't really happen but I can't blame Scottoline; the genre of lawyer turned detective started (at least) all the way back with Perry Mason who always exonerated his client while, at the same time, deduced and arrested the real criminal.
I go back to Scottoline being a talented writer. This novel is my first exposure (sic) to her. I'll give another one of her novels a try.
I was sent a free copy of this novel for an honest review. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the book and the opportunity!
February 11, 2021
This is a Legal Thriller. I really love this series, but this one has to be one of my favorite from the series. There is a lot of law talk in the book, but it is well written. Either with the law talk there was enough twist and turns that it holds my attention. I could not put this book down.
Spoiler
I do have to say there is one part of the book I do not understand. I did not understand why the company would not accept that settlement because if they did that the other stuff would have never came out. I think that the owner should have because he was trying to hide so much things. (*)
Spoiler
I do have to say there is one part of the book I do not understand. I did not understand why the company would not accept that settlement because if they did that the other stuff would have never came out. I think that the owner should have because he was trying to hide so much things. (*)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2017
I have followed this series and the Rosato and Associate series from the beginning. The first series was about Bennie Rosato. Mary DiNunzio, Judy Carrier and Anne Murphy were hired later on; then Mary and Bennie became partners. Lately the books featured Mary, but in this book Scottoline features almost equally DiNunzio and Rosato.
Mary’s clients come primarily from South Philly amongst the Italian population and are small businesses and individuals. Bennie primarily has corporations as her clients and is mostly a constitutional lawyer. Simon Pensiara, who Mary has known all her life, comes in to hire Mary with his father, the other Tony and Mary’s father. Simon was fired from his job because his daughter needed a bone marrow transplant for leukemia. The company is self-insured and the child’s illness is costing too much. Bennie informs Mary she cannot take the case because Bennie represents the parent corporation of Simon’s company. It is a conflict of interest. Mary says she has to take the case or lose her local clients. Then Simon is accused of murdering his prior boss. Bennie and Mary join together to solve the murder. But will this be the end of the Rosato and DiNunzio law firm?
The book is well written and provides insights into the workings of a law firm. The plot twists and turns as the suspense continuously builds. The ending of the book is a surprise. The interaction between Bennie and Mary brings up issues of the nature of partnerships, loyalty and individual responsibilities. The book provides entertainment but also some interpersonal relationship issues to think about.
I read this as audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is almost nine hours long. Kate Burton does an excellent job narrating the book. Burton has narrated many of the books in both series. I enjoy listening to Burton’s great alto voice. Burton is an actress and award-winning audiobook narrator. Burton is the daughter of Richard Burton.
Mary’s clients come primarily from South Philly amongst the Italian population and are small businesses and individuals. Bennie primarily has corporations as her clients and is mostly a constitutional lawyer. Simon Pensiara, who Mary has known all her life, comes in to hire Mary with his father, the other Tony and Mary’s father. Simon was fired from his job because his daughter needed a bone marrow transplant for leukemia. The company is self-insured and the child’s illness is costing too much. Bennie informs Mary she cannot take the case because Bennie represents the parent corporation of Simon’s company. It is a conflict of interest. Mary says she has to take the case or lose her local clients. Then Simon is accused of murdering his prior boss. Bennie and Mary join together to solve the murder. But will this be the end of the Rosato and DiNunzio law firm?
The book is well written and provides insights into the workings of a law firm. The plot twists and turns as the suspense continuously builds. The ending of the book is a surprise. The interaction between Bennie and Mary brings up issues of the nature of partnerships, loyalty and individual responsibilities. The book provides entertainment but also some interpersonal relationship issues to think about.
I read this as audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is almost nine hours long. Kate Burton does an excellent job narrating the book. Burton has narrated many of the books in both series. I enjoy listening to Burton’s great alto voice. Burton is an actress and award-winning audiobook narrator. Burton is the daughter of Richard Burton.
June 16, 2020
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I thought that this book was really good. This is the fifth book in the Rosato & DiNunzio series but it can be easily read as a stand-alone. I have enjoyed all of the books that I have read in this series so far and this book was no exception. I was hooked by this story pretty early on and was really eager to see how things would work out. I am so glad that I finally decided to pick up this book.
Mary DiNunzio agrees to represent a close family friend in a wrongful termination lawsuit. Her friend, Simon, was let go from his job and it seems that it might have a lot to do with the fact that his daughter's illness is costing the company a lot of money due to the way they are insured. She soon learns that her firm often represents the parent company and that there is a conflict of interest in representing Simon but she is determined to do whatever is necessary to make it happen.
I have read several books in this series and expected this book to be told from either Mary or Benny's point of view so I was thrilled to get to see them both take a leading role in the story. It was really interesting to get the chance to get in both of their heads in a case where they don't always agree with each other. I liked that the book had a nice mix of legal maneuvering and action to keep things exciting. There were a lot of twists and turns in this story and it was exciting to see everything develop. The mystery was able to keep me guessing until the very end.
Kate Burton did an excellent job with the narration. I thought that she did a great job with all of the character voices and that she was able to add a lot of excitement to the story. I thought that she had a very pleasant voice and that she read the story at a good pace. I believe that he narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to fans of legal thrillers. I thought that this was a well-crafted story that kept things exciting and had some feel-good moments. I will definitely be reading more of Lisa Scottoline's work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.
Initial Thoughts
I thought that this was a really good legal thriller. I have enjoyed all of the books that I have read in this series so far and this was no exception. Usually, the books in this series feature either Bennie or Mary as they work to solve a case so I was thrilled to see both of them take the lead in this book, although they were not always working towards the same goal. The case that they are working on was incredibly interesting and just when I thought I had everything figured out things changed and I had no idea where things were going. I listened to the audiobook and thought that Kate Burton did an amazing job with the narration.
I thought that this book was really good. This is the fifth book in the Rosato & DiNunzio series but it can be easily read as a stand-alone. I have enjoyed all of the books that I have read in this series so far and this book was no exception. I was hooked by this story pretty early on and was really eager to see how things would work out. I am so glad that I finally decided to pick up this book.
Mary DiNunzio agrees to represent a close family friend in a wrongful termination lawsuit. Her friend, Simon, was let go from his job and it seems that it might have a lot to do with the fact that his daughter's illness is costing the company a lot of money due to the way they are insured. She soon learns that her firm often represents the parent company and that there is a conflict of interest in representing Simon but she is determined to do whatever is necessary to make it happen.
I have read several books in this series and expected this book to be told from either Mary or Benny's point of view so I was thrilled to get to see them both take a leading role in the story. It was really interesting to get the chance to get in both of their heads in a case where they don't always agree with each other. I liked that the book had a nice mix of legal maneuvering and action to keep things exciting. There were a lot of twists and turns in this story and it was exciting to see everything develop. The mystery was able to keep me guessing until the very end.
Kate Burton did an excellent job with the narration. I thought that she did a great job with all of the character voices and that she was able to add a lot of excitement to the story. I thought that she had a very pleasant voice and that she read the story at a good pace. I believe that he narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to fans of legal thrillers. I thought that this was a well-crafted story that kept things exciting and had some feel-good moments. I will definitely be reading more of Lisa Scottoline's work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.
Initial Thoughts
I thought that this was a really good legal thriller. I have enjoyed all of the books that I have read in this series so far and this was no exception. Usually, the books in this series feature either Bennie or Mary as they work to solve a case so I was thrilled to see both of them take the lead in this book, although they were not always working towards the same goal. The case that they are working on was incredibly interesting and just when I thought I had everything figured out things changed and I had no idea where things were going. I listened to the audiobook and thought that Kate Burton did an amazing job with the narration.
October 1, 2017
Enjoyable read. The audio is nice which was the format I chose. The story was fast paced, good legal mystery with some action and twist. Overall, very entertaining.
April 26, 2019
5 stars. What else can I say about another terrific Scottoline legal thriller. I loved the usual wonderful female lawyers: their characters, their interactions, the plot (to save Simon's reputation), the well paced writings and the plot twists and turns. Unputdownable.
March 20, 2018
One of the better books in this series, with both Bennie Rosato and Mary DeNunzio playing major roles. Mary is asked to help an old neighborhood friend and son of one of the three Tonys to sue an employer who fired him because of his daughter's medical bills. However, the employer is a subsidiary of one of Bennie's corporate clients, pitting the two partners against each other. Things escalate legally, professionally, and personally. And when things look bleakest, Scottoline returns to her themes of family, friendship, and love.
June 8, 2023
Lisa Scottoline dazzles once more with her Rosato and DiNunzio series. These legal thrillers explore intense topics that force the reader to play an active role as Scottoline juggles keeping her characters developing. When Mary DiNunzio agrees to help a friend who has been fired just as his daughter begins medical treatment, she is like a dog without a bone. However, her partner, Bennie Rosato, represents the parent company, creating a possible conflict. When they lock horns, the firm is threatened with dissolution, as neither will cede their point. As the case takes an odd turn, both Mary and Bennie must decide if they want to put their issues aside and help someone who is in dire need. Scottoline is ready to impress the reader once more.
Newly married Mary DiNunzio has learned that her longtime friend, Simon Pensiera, has been struggling with his daughter’s recent cancer diagnosis. When Simon approaches her after he was fired from his company, Mary is on the warpath, sure that it has to do with medical benefits. She sets up her game plan, only to discover that her law partner, Bennie Rosato, represents the parent company. Squabbling ensues and the two legal masterminds cannot agree on how to proceed, both convinced that they are in the right. Things get so heated that Mary decides she will leave Rosato and DiNunzio to form her own firm. This leaves the remaining associates including Judy Carrier, in a precarious position.
When Simon is sued for slander, Mary knows that they stakes are even higher, sure that this means a dirty fight. Simon assures his lawyer that it is all a smear campaign and he had nothing to do with it. After Simon’s former boss is found dead, the police swoop in and Simon is a person of interest in the crime. This leaves a little girl in hospital with only her aging grandfather to watch over her. Bennie knows that something is not right and decides to stand alongside Mary in their battle for the truth, wanting Simon off on all charges. It is then that some hidden truths come to light and the investigation takes a dark turn. Mary and Bennie are thrust together, working the case of their lives, while someone is trying to silence them before they can reveal what they discover in a buried file. The future of Rosato and DiNunzio is in the balance, but their lives come first in this instance.
There is no doubt that Lisa Scottoline enjoys writing about unique legal matters, as both her interconnected series reflect this repeatedly. There is a lot that series fans will have garnered as they read through these books, both with story arcs and character development. A strong narrative foundation helps keep things on track, though it is perhaps the cast of great characters who steal the show for anyone who has the time to notice the details offered. Plot lines emerge with ease and develop throughout each book, making them adventures for all who take the plunge, I cannot wait to see what Scottoline has in store for the final (to date) novel in this series.
Kudos, Madam Scottoline, for keeping the action in high gear throughout this one.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Newly married Mary DiNunzio has learned that her longtime friend, Simon Pensiera, has been struggling with his daughter’s recent cancer diagnosis. When Simon approaches her after he was fired from his company, Mary is on the warpath, sure that it has to do with medical benefits. She sets up her game plan, only to discover that her law partner, Bennie Rosato, represents the parent company. Squabbling ensues and the two legal masterminds cannot agree on how to proceed, both convinced that they are in the right. Things get so heated that Mary decides she will leave Rosato and DiNunzio to form her own firm. This leaves the remaining associates including Judy Carrier, in a precarious position.
When Simon is sued for slander, Mary knows that they stakes are even higher, sure that this means a dirty fight. Simon assures his lawyer that it is all a smear campaign and he had nothing to do with it. After Simon’s former boss is found dead, the police swoop in and Simon is a person of interest in the crime. This leaves a little girl in hospital with only her aging grandfather to watch over her. Bennie knows that something is not right and decides to stand alongside Mary in their battle for the truth, wanting Simon off on all charges. It is then that some hidden truths come to light and the investigation takes a dark turn. Mary and Bennie are thrust together, working the case of their lives, while someone is trying to silence them before they can reveal what they discover in a buried file. The future of Rosato and DiNunzio is in the balance, but their lives come first in this instance.
There is no doubt that Lisa Scottoline enjoys writing about unique legal matters, as both her interconnected series reflect this repeatedly. There is a lot that series fans will have garnered as they read through these books, both with story arcs and character development. A strong narrative foundation helps keep things on track, though it is perhaps the cast of great characters who steal the show for anyone who has the time to notice the details offered. Plot lines emerge with ease and develop throughout each book, making them adventures for all who take the plunge, I cannot wait to see what Scottoline has in store for the final (to date) novel in this series.
Kudos, Madam Scottoline, for keeping the action in high gear throughout this one.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
August 25, 2017
Lisa Scottoline has fast become a favourite author of mind. She writes various genres, but her legal thrillers are my favourites. Her latest entry into her Rosato & DiNunzio series has Mary and Bennie at odds about conflict of interest. Mary wants to defend Simon, a lifetime friend and someone from the neighbourhood, against the company that fired him due to the cost of his daughter's medical fees, and Bennie tells her she can't because the firm represents the parent company. When Mary finally decides that she must sever her partnership in order to go forward with the suit, the ante goes up. Simon is served with a counter suit in excess of two million dollars for defamation of persons and company. Before Mary can figure out her next step, Simon's boss is murdered and he is arrested. As usual they get themselves in a bit too deep with their investigation and end up in some danger.
This was another well written thriller with a plot that takes twists and turns until the culprit is revealed. Of course, there are a lot of surprises along the way, right up to the end. That is not all there is to this story. There are the ethical issues that Mary and Bennie need to face both legally and morally. There are also situations dealing with issues of friendship and loyalty and how this fits into business. Bennie makes some surprising discoveries about herself along the way as well. Mary's family (parents) and some of the others from the neighbourhood also make several appearances to lighten up the story just a bit and remind us that Mary is only human. It was nice to see both Bennie and Mary in this story equally, I enjoy both these characters quite a bit and look forward to see where they go in the next book. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story including mysteries and thrillers. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
This was another well written thriller with a plot that takes twists and turns until the culprit is revealed. Of course, there are a lot of surprises along the way, right up to the end. That is not all there is to this story. There are the ethical issues that Mary and Bennie need to face both legally and morally. There are also situations dealing with issues of friendship and loyalty and how this fits into business. Bennie makes some surprising discoveries about herself along the way as well. Mary's family (parents) and some of the others from the neighbourhood also make several appearances to lighten up the story just a bit and remind us that Mary is only human. It was nice to see both Bennie and Mary in this story equally, I enjoy both these characters quite a bit and look forward to see where they go in the next book. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story including mysteries and thrillers. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
October 25, 2017
I got this book from my friend, Thomas, so thank you.
Rachel is 4 and suffering from leukemia. She's in the Children's Hospital awaiting a bone marrow transplant match and her medical bills are spinning out of control. The costs for the bone marrow match alone are huge. Her father, Simon, has medical insurance through work when suddenly his sales route is cut back and he can't make his quota. The next month he is fired and he no longer has insurance. He thinks he is fired because Rachel's medical bills are costing the employer big bucks for the deductible.
He contacts his old friend, Mary DiNunzio, who agrees to take his case. Then all hell breaks out. Simon is slapped with a defamation case by his old employer, Mary's partner turns out to represent the parent company of the employer so there's a conflict of interest, and Mary has an ethics violation filed against her with The Bar.
As facts unroll at a rapid rate, a murder happens and the investigation goes in a different direction. Mary and her partner, Bennie, are in grave danger. Meanwhile a 4 year old needs medical care.
I really liked the beginning of this book but it takes an odd twist and becomes a pedestrian plot. It becomes stale. I wish the author had stuck with her original idea. It would have been so much better.
Rachel is 4 and suffering from leukemia. She's in the Children's Hospital awaiting a bone marrow transplant match and her medical bills are spinning out of control. The costs for the bone marrow match alone are huge. Her father, Simon, has medical insurance through work when suddenly his sales route is cut back and he can't make his quota. The next month he is fired and he no longer has insurance. He thinks he is fired because Rachel's medical bills are costing the employer big bucks for the deductible.
He contacts his old friend, Mary DiNunzio, who agrees to take his case. Then all hell breaks out. Simon is slapped with a defamation case by his old employer, Mary's partner turns out to represent the parent company of the employer so there's a conflict of interest, and Mary has an ethics violation filed against her with The Bar.
As facts unroll at a rapid rate, a murder happens and the investigation goes in a different direction. Mary and her partner, Bennie, are in grave danger. Meanwhile a 4 year old needs medical care.
I really liked the beginning of this book but it takes an odd twist and becomes a pedestrian plot. It becomes stale. I wish the author had stuck with her original idea. It would have been so much better.
July 20, 2017
3 stars out of 5
I want to give this book 4 stars but I just can't. I speed read the first half of the book because there was just too much Lawyer talk and going on and on about the legal side of taking a case that could be a conflict of interest for the Law Firm. The author could have written this conflict in the less chapters and sill give the reader the same amount of conflict and character development.
75% in to the book the story really picks up and I couldn't put it down if my house was on fire. The lawyers find themselves in over their heads and fighting for their life. Bernie came to be a character I admired and not just a "tough as nails lawyer" but human which I could have used towards the middle of the book.
Since the story revolves around a child and her medical condition life or death. Many times this wasn't needed.
This is book 5 and the author does a great job of filling in past stories keeping readers update.
The romance of each character felt a little forced and very weak. The mystery will keep readers pushing though the slower parts of the story.
This is a stand alone novel but for this reader I won't be investing in the first four books.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book.
I want to give this book 4 stars but I just can't. I speed read the first half of the book because there was just too much Lawyer talk and going on and on about the legal side of taking a case that could be a conflict of interest for the Law Firm. The author could have written this conflict in the less chapters and sill give the reader the same amount of conflict and character development.
75% in to the book the story really picks up and I couldn't put it down if my house was on fire. The lawyers find themselves in over their heads and fighting for their life. Bernie came to be a character I admired and not just a "tough as nails lawyer" but human which I could have used towards the middle of the book.
Since the story revolves around a child and her medical condition life or death. Many times this wasn't needed.
This is book 5 and the author does a great job of filling in past stories keeping readers update.
The romance of each character felt a little forced and very weak. The mystery will keep readers pushing though the slower parts of the story.
This is a stand alone novel but for this reader I won't be investing in the first four books.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book.
July 29, 2017
I love these Rosato & DiNunzio books! This one was really exciting & had a whopper of an ending that left me smiling & wondering what the future will hold for these law partners!
Thanks so much to Lisa for this early signed copy!
Thanks so much to Lisa for this early signed copy!
February 23, 2018
Mary DiNunzio and Bennie Rosario are female partners in their law firm.
( I personally think DiNunzio & Rosario are similar in style and character to the Rizzoli and Isles series from author Tess Gerritsen which I like to read as well. They bring to the reader the personal and professional sides of all these women; the soft and the hard.)
Mary and Bennie are very smart, dynamic women and make a great team...until a potential conflict of interest occurs.
This conflict concerns something so very important and familial to Mary that she would break from their law partnership to pursue her friend/clients lawsuit. Mary’s client, Simon, is charging discrimination and loss of his job due to his young daughter Rachel’s cancer and needing treatment and a bone marrow transplant. Simon’s wife had passed away earlier, making this whole family situation a tug on the readers’ heart strings.
Simon’s boss, Todd, is charged with making disparaging remarks about Rachel’s health and costs of treatment which in turn, effect the company ‘s paying out most of the money. The company where they work has some other questionable personnel and dealings and interestingly, more is revealed as the story unfolds.
The CEO of this conglomeration of companies and subcompanies, Nate, is a brilliant, successful, narcisstic, financially driven individual but he does not (or does he?) really know what’s going on at all levels of businesses that he manages. Because there’s a few rotten apples in the barrel.
Leave it to Mary and Bennie to agree to disagree and temporarily partner to research this case and they both go at it full speed which was interesting reading. The book was a heady roller coaster ride as they conducted their own official and unofficial investigations and were hot on the trail of the suspect(s). Because of that, they are now a threat; both Mary and Bennie are violently abducted and must fight to escape their abductors and fight for their life.
There’s murder, kidnapping, a frail child battling cancer waiting for a donor for a bone marrow transplant. There are three old Italian guys including Mary’s father, who are childhood friends (and very comical) and continue to band together and hang out at the hospital keeping an eye on the very ill Rachel. There’s a heavy presence of family and friends esp on Mary’s side, which is heartwarming. There are some bad guys and liars and an attempt to silence a whistleblower. There’s forgiveness, a new understanding and bonding between friends (and partners), and a bone marrow donor for Rachel from a most unexpected source. And then - a final surprise on the very last page - it’s a nice one. 🤗
( I personally think DiNunzio & Rosario are similar in style and character to the Rizzoli and Isles series from author Tess Gerritsen which I like to read as well. They bring to the reader the personal and professional sides of all these women; the soft and the hard.)
Mary and Bennie are very smart, dynamic women and make a great team...until a potential conflict of interest occurs.
This conflict concerns something so very important and familial to Mary that she would break from their law partnership to pursue her friend/clients lawsuit. Mary’s client, Simon, is charging discrimination and loss of his job due to his young daughter Rachel’s cancer and needing treatment and a bone marrow transplant. Simon’s wife had passed away earlier, making this whole family situation a tug on the readers’ heart strings.
Simon’s boss, Todd, is charged with making disparaging remarks about Rachel’s health and costs of treatment which in turn, effect the company ‘s paying out most of the money. The company where they work has some other questionable personnel and dealings and interestingly, more is revealed as the story unfolds.
The CEO of this conglomeration of companies and subcompanies, Nate, is a brilliant, successful, narcisstic, financially driven individual but he does not (or does he?) really know what’s going on at all levels of businesses that he manages. Because there’s a few rotten apples in the barrel.
Leave it to Mary and Bennie to agree to disagree and temporarily partner to research this case and they both go at it full speed which was interesting reading. The book was a heady roller coaster ride as they conducted their own official and unofficial investigations and were hot on the trail of the suspect(s). Because of that, they are now a threat; both Mary and Bennie are violently abducted and must fight to escape their abductors and fight for their life.
There’s murder, kidnapping, a frail child battling cancer waiting for a donor for a bone marrow transplant. There are three old Italian guys including Mary’s father, who are childhood friends (and very comical) and continue to band together and hang out at the hospital keeping an eye on the very ill Rachel. There’s a heavy presence of family and friends esp on Mary’s side, which is heartwarming. There are some bad guys and liars and an attempt to silence a whistleblower. There’s forgiveness, a new understanding and bonding between friends (and partners), and a bone marrow donor for Rachel from a most unexpected source. And then - a final surprise on the very last page - it’s a nice one. 🤗
September 5, 2017
I received this book in a give away and can only hope that endless errors in grammar, including not knowing the difference between their and there or contractions vs possessives, repeatedly misnaming main characters, cringe worthy dialogue, sentences with missing words or incorrect verb tense, conflicting information, etc. were corrected before final publication. Obviously Scottoline needs to find a competent editor but does she honestly ever proof her own writing? How can something with so many glaring errors and of such poor quality be the product of a best selling author? This is far and away the absolute worst example of editing I have ever encountered. Average high school students could have done a better job.
Several of Scottoline's other books are far better than this series. Other than book #3 Corrupted, which focused on Bennie Rosato and Declan Mitchell in a story based on an actual case, and to a lesser degree book #4 Damaged, that dealt with special education issues, the books in this series are characterized by poor writing and weak or implausible story lines. Bennie is an infinitely more interesting character than Mary or Judy primarily because she is portrayed as an adult. I was happy to see that the character of Declan Mitchell was included in Exposed. His ongoing relationship with Bennie was a bright spot in this book.
One of the most irritating aspects of this series is Scottoline's worn out, ridiculous, personally offensive Italian-American stereotypes she loves to interject into the books that feature Mary DiNunzio. Seriously, can we stop with the ALL CAPS business when Mary's hard of hearing father is speaking? My Italian father is 95, hard of hearing and HAS NEVER SCREAMED WHEN HE TALKS! ENOUGH ALREADY!!
Scottoline's basic story line in Exposed barely justifies a 2 star rating. Throughout most of the book, she does a good job of presenting a multi-layered story that examines topics that cover a range of ethical issues related to employment, catastrophic medical conditions, legal representation and unlawful business practices. The ending however, involves a wild dramatization that stretches reality beyond a reasonable limit so much so that it diminishes what had previously been a decent storyline. But it is Scottoline's absolutely inane, juvenile dialogue that really ruins this book. The conversations between Mary and Judy and Mary and her family read like interactions between pre-teens. There is no way highly educated professional women act, talk and think like Mary and Judy. Cutesy female characters are annoying rather than interesting and minimize female intellect, resourcefulness and value. Unless subsequent books in the Rosato & DiNunzio series allow Bennie to play the featured role and Mary and Judy grow up and act like normal women, I'm done.
Several of Scottoline's other books are far better than this series. Other than book #3 Corrupted, which focused on Bennie Rosato and Declan Mitchell in a story based on an actual case, and to a lesser degree book #4 Damaged, that dealt with special education issues, the books in this series are characterized by poor writing and weak or implausible story lines. Bennie is an infinitely more interesting character than Mary or Judy primarily because she is portrayed as an adult. I was happy to see that the character of Declan Mitchell was included in Exposed. His ongoing relationship with Bennie was a bright spot in this book.
One of the most irritating aspects of this series is Scottoline's worn out, ridiculous, personally offensive Italian-American stereotypes she loves to interject into the books that feature Mary DiNunzio. Seriously, can we stop with the ALL CAPS business when Mary's hard of hearing father is speaking? My Italian father is 95, hard of hearing and HAS NEVER SCREAMED WHEN HE TALKS! ENOUGH ALREADY!!
Scottoline's basic story line in Exposed barely justifies a 2 star rating. Throughout most of the book, she does a good job of presenting a multi-layered story that examines topics that cover a range of ethical issues related to employment, catastrophic medical conditions, legal representation and unlawful business practices. The ending however, involves a wild dramatization that stretches reality beyond a reasonable limit so much so that it diminishes what had previously been a decent storyline. But it is Scottoline's absolutely inane, juvenile dialogue that really ruins this book. The conversations between Mary and Judy and Mary and her family read like interactions between pre-teens. There is no way highly educated professional women act, talk and think like Mary and Judy. Cutesy female characters are annoying rather than interesting and minimize female intellect, resourcefulness and value. Unless subsequent books in the Rosato & DiNunzio series allow Bennie to play the featured role and Mary and Judy grow up and act like normal women, I'm done.
September 4, 2017
I never, ever count Lisa Scottoline out. Her books always have a way of delivering high quality drama and relationships. "Exposed" is no exception. I love legal thrillers (Law & Order is my favorite TV show). I find the legal system fascinating. This book is Mary DiNunzio at her best. She's juggling work, family, and all of her relationships yet she flounders only occasionally. Her voice is honest and real. The book, to me, was a little slow to start (hence the 4 star). But I kept reading and never looked back!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a great ride in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a great ride in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2020
Another good novel in the Rosato & DiNunzio series. A story of friendship, murder and, ultimately, family. Scottoline is always at the top of her game writing a Rosato or DiNunzio story and this continues that tradition. Recommended.
July 10, 2017
4.5 stars. Lawyer Mary DiNunzio comes from an old and large Italian neighborhood. When one of her friends from here is fired, Mary immediately agrees to file a lawsuit for medical discrimination. The same day, her law partner Bennie Rosato tells her the firm represents the parent company so her agreement is a conflict of interest for the firm. Neither of them is willing to give up their client so it appears that Mary will have to split from the law firm. Then the supervisor who fired Mary's client is stabbed to death and the civil suit will have to take back seat to the charge of murder.
While reading this book, I got to visit with old friends Mary, Bennie, Judy and all of Mary's extended family. I love this series. Lisa Scottoline threw in a twist near the end, plus her last page contained a cannon shot.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It makes a nice addition to my collection of Scottoline books.
While reading this book, I got to visit with old friends Mary, Bennie, Judy and all of Mary's extended family. I love this series. Lisa Scottoline threw in a twist near the end, plus her last page contained a cannon shot.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It makes a nice addition to my collection of Scottoline books.
October 15, 2020
When I started this read, I did not realize it was book five in a series. I did not feel lost because background information was provided throughout the read. I am a fan of the author and I was not disappointed. Very entertaining and full of interesting information related to the law. I enjoy when I am not only entertained but I learn something new. Bennie Rosato is tough and focused with a drive that can blow you away. Mary DiNunzio so personable with a family that had me laughing out loud. Judy is such a colorful character, I look forward to reading more about her. An all female law firm, so very cool.
August 28, 2019
FIRST READ: Been a while since I've read a Rosato & DiNunzio. Very entertaining but suspenseful too. I think this episode was absolutely fabulous. It was very very enjoyable.
The latest book by Scottoline is nothing less than a marvel because not only does she include a thrilling mystery with the lawyers DeNunzio and Benato but she also includes medical insurance issues and children who have life-threatening illnesses. The book starts with Mary getting a new case and Bennie telling her that she can't take it because of a client that they already have that owns the company involved. Mary decides to leave the partnership in order to represent Simon, her family friend who has been fired because his little girl needs a bone marrow transplant that is so costly and he thinks the company fired him because of the insurance cost. Bennie is upset about Mary's decision but tries to understand; then she decides to back Mary by getting rid of all of the business from the other company since her good friend Nate who is their CEO has decided to take Mary before the lawyer ethics board. Everything becomes more complicated when Simon's boss Todd, the one he accused to firing him, is found murdered in the parking lot of a golf club and Simon is arrested for murder. Now, Mary is on her own to help Simon in a murder trial, but Bennie decides to help her. They stumble onto evidence that the company has been doing more than holding back money for insurance for Simon and are about to call the police about it when they are kidnapped by the real murderers and taken away to be killed themselves. Separated in an isolated cabin and badly beaten, Mary and Bennie have to figure out a way to save themselves and Simon before it is too late. This is a great book that has a lot of action and will keep you reading late into the night. It has a lot of empathy for sick children and can be a real tear-jerker at times, too. And it has a surprise ending!
SECOND READ: Sales rep Simon Pensiera’s wrongful-termination case against OpenSpace, from which his boss, Todd Eddington, fired him when his daughter Rachel’s medical expenses rose into the stratosphere, ought to be open and shut—especially since Simon, the son of one of Matty DiNunzio’s oldest South Philly friends, is practically a cousin to Matty’s daughter, Mary, who offers to take the case for free. It turns out, though, that Mary’s partner, Bennie Rosato, has long represented Dumbarton Industries, OpenSpace’s owner, so there’s an obvious conflict of interest. Or maybe not so obvious, Mary and Bennie decide separately after doing a little independent research. Even so, it’s clear that Mary really wants to take the case, and Dumbarton CEO Nate Lence, who’s always had a thing for Bennie, really wants her to leave it alone—so much that when Bennie tries to resolve the conflict by pulling all Dumbarton’s business, Nate files a retaliatory defamation suit seeking $2 million from the newly unemployed Simon, who already can’t afford the bone-marrow transplant Rachel desperately needs. Can things get any worse? Of course they can, as Mary shows when she launches the nuclear option and leaves the firm, a move that not only rocks Bennie’s world, but makes the two former partners adversaries in nearly every sense imaginable. Then Todd Eddington is murdered with all the evidence pointing directly to Simon, and this wild, intricate, yet perfectly clear, greased-lightning legal nightmare still has half its length to run.
Despite some overheated damsel-in-distress complications toward the end, a stellar demonstration of the proposition that although it can’t bring back the dead, “justice was still the best consolation prize going.” The final curtain will find you cheering, and Scottoline will have earned every hurrah. Highly Recommend. Great Book!!!
The latest book by Scottoline is nothing less than a marvel because not only does she include a thrilling mystery with the lawyers DeNunzio and Benato but she also includes medical insurance issues and children who have life-threatening illnesses. The book starts with Mary getting a new case and Bennie telling her that she can't take it because of a client that they already have that owns the company involved. Mary decides to leave the partnership in order to represent Simon, her family friend who has been fired because his little girl needs a bone marrow transplant that is so costly and he thinks the company fired him because of the insurance cost. Bennie is upset about Mary's decision but tries to understand; then she decides to back Mary by getting rid of all of the business from the other company since her good friend Nate who is their CEO has decided to take Mary before the lawyer ethics board. Everything becomes more complicated when Simon's boss Todd, the one he accused to firing him, is found murdered in the parking lot of a golf club and Simon is arrested for murder. Now, Mary is on her own to help Simon in a murder trial, but Bennie decides to help her. They stumble onto evidence that the company has been doing more than holding back money for insurance for Simon and are about to call the police about it when they are kidnapped by the real murderers and taken away to be killed themselves. Separated in an isolated cabin and badly beaten, Mary and Bennie have to figure out a way to save themselves and Simon before it is too late. This is a great book that has a lot of action and will keep you reading late into the night. It has a lot of empathy for sick children and can be a real tear-jerker at times, too. And it has a surprise ending!
SECOND READ: Sales rep Simon Pensiera’s wrongful-termination case against OpenSpace, from which his boss, Todd Eddington, fired him when his daughter Rachel’s medical expenses rose into the stratosphere, ought to be open and shut—especially since Simon, the son of one of Matty DiNunzio’s oldest South Philly friends, is practically a cousin to Matty’s daughter, Mary, who offers to take the case for free. It turns out, though, that Mary’s partner, Bennie Rosato, has long represented Dumbarton Industries, OpenSpace’s owner, so there’s an obvious conflict of interest. Or maybe not so obvious, Mary and Bennie decide separately after doing a little independent research. Even so, it’s clear that Mary really wants to take the case, and Dumbarton CEO Nate Lence, who’s always had a thing for Bennie, really wants her to leave it alone—so much that when Bennie tries to resolve the conflict by pulling all Dumbarton’s business, Nate files a retaliatory defamation suit seeking $2 million from the newly unemployed Simon, who already can’t afford the bone-marrow transplant Rachel desperately needs. Can things get any worse? Of course they can, as Mary shows when she launches the nuclear option and leaves the firm, a move that not only rocks Bennie’s world, but makes the two former partners adversaries in nearly every sense imaginable. Then Todd Eddington is murdered with all the evidence pointing directly to Simon, and this wild, intricate, yet perfectly clear, greased-lightning legal nightmare still has half its length to run.
Despite some overheated damsel-in-distress complications toward the end, a stellar demonstration of the proposition that although it can’t bring back the dead, “justice was still the best consolation prize going.” The final curtain will find you cheering, and Scottoline will have earned every hurrah. Highly Recommend. Great Book!!!
July 10, 2017
Exposed is the 5th novel in the outstanding Rosato & DiNunzio series by Lisa Scottoline, and I think it may be her best yet!
Mary DiNunzio is well-known to stand up for clients who are being wrongfully persecuted, and that is exactly what is happening to her childhood friend from the old neighborhood, Simon Pensiera who believes he has been wrongfully terminated by his employer, OpenSpace. Simon, along with Mary’s father and the “Tonys” from the neighborhood have arrived at her law office because they know that Mary is the only one who can help him since her loyalty is to her family...her friends and old neighborhood.
So of course, Mary takes the case, especially after Simon explains he believes the real reason for his termination was not decreased sales quotas like he was told but because OpenSpace does not want to pay for increased insurance premiums due to the substantial medical costs for his young daughter Rachel who needs a very expensive bone marrow transplant to treat her leukemia. However, after delving into the case, Mary discovers that Simon has been terminated for a much more disturbing and malevolent reason, and he is now the target of a dangerous cover up.
Yet, there is a major snag when Mary’s partner Bennie Rosato finds out Mary is representing Simon and planning to sue OpenSpace since OpenSpace is a subsidiary company of Dumbarton, a parent company Bennie not only represents, but that is owned by one of her oldest friends. Bennie tells Mary representing Simon is an ethical conflict, but the ethical and legal question of whether Mary can represent Simon is not as clear cut as Bennie thinks. What ensues is a battle of wills between the two partners that may force them to terminate their partnership and wreck havoc on their friendship.
The twists and turns in this book are Scottoline at her finest, and Mary is caught right in the middle of the turmoil as she tries, as she always does, to do the good and noble thing with her closest and dearest friends at her side helping her dig for the truth and risking their lives! Exposed is the perfect name for this novel and the secrets might be buried deep, but the truth is finally revealed after the twistiest thrill ride of suspense that Scottoline has written in a while! Trust me, you do not want to miss the ending….
If you love Scottoline’s legal thrillers, then you will love Exposed! She is, in my opinion, the master of the legal thriller genre, and I highly recommend this book!
Mary DiNunzio is well-known to stand up for clients who are being wrongfully persecuted, and that is exactly what is happening to her childhood friend from the old neighborhood, Simon Pensiera who believes he has been wrongfully terminated by his employer, OpenSpace. Simon, along with Mary’s father and the “Tonys” from the neighborhood have arrived at her law office because they know that Mary is the only one who can help him since her loyalty is to her family...her friends and old neighborhood.
So of course, Mary takes the case, especially after Simon explains he believes the real reason for his termination was not decreased sales quotas like he was told but because OpenSpace does not want to pay for increased insurance premiums due to the substantial medical costs for his young daughter Rachel who needs a very expensive bone marrow transplant to treat her leukemia. However, after delving into the case, Mary discovers that Simon has been terminated for a much more disturbing and malevolent reason, and he is now the target of a dangerous cover up.
Yet, there is a major snag when Mary’s partner Bennie Rosato finds out Mary is representing Simon and planning to sue OpenSpace since OpenSpace is a subsidiary company of Dumbarton, a parent company Bennie not only represents, but that is owned by one of her oldest friends. Bennie tells Mary representing Simon is an ethical conflict, but the ethical and legal question of whether Mary can represent Simon is not as clear cut as Bennie thinks. What ensues is a battle of wills between the two partners that may force them to terminate their partnership and wreck havoc on their friendship.
The twists and turns in this book are Scottoline at her finest, and Mary is caught right in the middle of the turmoil as she tries, as she always does, to do the good and noble thing with her closest and dearest friends at her side helping her dig for the truth and risking their lives! Exposed is the perfect name for this novel and the secrets might be buried deep, but the truth is finally revealed after the twistiest thrill ride of suspense that Scottoline has written in a while! Trust me, you do not want to miss the ending….
If you love Scottoline’s legal thrillers, then you will love Exposed! She is, in my opinion, the master of the legal thriller genre, and I highly recommend this book!
August 26, 2017
This is the fifth book from Scottoline built around the Philadelphia law partnership of Bennie Rosato and Mary DiNunzio, which in turn grew out of her popular Rosato & Associates series.
Mary DiNunzio was made partner in the firm a few books ago. She comes from the Italian section of Philadelphia and has built a large client base from her connections with old neighbors and friends. In this novel a long-time friend Simon has been fired from his job. He was recently widowed and now has a five-year-old daughter receiving expensive cancer treatments. He believes he was fired because of the increasing insurance costs. Mary agrees to take the case at no charge.
Bennie Rosato, meanwhile, sees an immediate conflict of interest because Simon was fired from a subsidiary of one of her oldest and biggest clients. This puts Bennie and Mary at loggerheads. Mary because she promised she'd take the case in front of her father and other old friends. Bennie because she's been friends with the owner of the corporation since law school.
It's an issue that may split them apart, even after they agree to work together when a key witness ends up dead and Simon is accused of the murder.
Scottoline has honed the relationship between Bennie and Mary to a fine point, and Mary's best friend Judy has to act as referee. Even when the conversations focus on legal details the dialogue is fast, funny, and often touching. There are plenty of legal details, including suing for discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the arcane language that legal ethics rules are written in. After all this time, however, Scottoline knows to focus on characters and drama, and there are plenty of both.
Mary DiNunzio was made partner in the firm a few books ago. She comes from the Italian section of Philadelphia and has built a large client base from her connections with old neighbors and friends. In this novel a long-time friend Simon has been fired from his job. He was recently widowed and now has a five-year-old daughter receiving expensive cancer treatments. He believes he was fired because of the increasing insurance costs. Mary agrees to take the case at no charge.
Bennie Rosato, meanwhile, sees an immediate conflict of interest because Simon was fired from a subsidiary of one of her oldest and biggest clients. This puts Bennie and Mary at loggerheads. Mary because she promised she'd take the case in front of her father and other old friends. Bennie because she's been friends with the owner of the corporation since law school.
It's an issue that may split them apart, even after they agree to work together when a key witness ends up dead and Simon is accused of the murder.
Scottoline has honed the relationship between Bennie and Mary to a fine point, and Mary's best friend Judy has to act as referee. Even when the conversations focus on legal details the dialogue is fast, funny, and often touching. There are plenty of legal details, including suing for discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the arcane language that legal ethics rules are written in. After all this time, however, Scottoline knows to focus on characters and drama, and there are plenty of both.
September 17, 2017
EXPOSED is an gripping, fast moving legal thriller about partnerships and loyalty.
SUMMARY
Attorney Mary DiNunzio’s family friend is in trouble and desperately needs her help. Simon Pensiera, a sales rep has been unjustly fired from his job, and his four year daughter desperately needs a bone marrow transplant. Without the insurance from his job Simon is sunk. It's when discussing the case with Mary’s law partner Bennie Rosato, that Mary first learns of a potential conflict of interest. Bennie represents the parent company of Simon’s employer. It becomes a huge battle of wills between the two. Mary refuses turn her back on her family and friends when they need her the most and Bennie cannot give up the revenue that the parent company brings in. Bennie refuses to allow Mary to take the case, it pits partner against partner, and threatens the future of the law firm.
REVIEW
It’s always a pleasure to read Lisa Scottoline’s seemingly effortless writing. EXPOSED is an intense and enjoyable legal thriller about partnerships, loyalty and helping those in need. DiNunzio goes to the mat showing just how far she’s willing to go to fight the good fight. Even Bennie’s heart grew a few sizes larger in this snappy story. The plot builds suspense with many twists and turns, and the end is deeply satisfying. Don't mess with these impressive partners! They're the best!
SUMMARY
Attorney Mary DiNunzio’s family friend is in trouble and desperately needs her help. Simon Pensiera, a sales rep has been unjustly fired from his job, and his four year daughter desperately needs a bone marrow transplant. Without the insurance from his job Simon is sunk. It's when discussing the case with Mary’s law partner Bennie Rosato, that Mary first learns of a potential conflict of interest. Bennie represents the parent company of Simon’s employer. It becomes a huge battle of wills between the two. Mary refuses turn her back on her family and friends when they need her the most and Bennie cannot give up the revenue that the parent company brings in. Bennie refuses to allow Mary to take the case, it pits partner against partner, and threatens the future of the law firm.
REVIEW
It’s always a pleasure to read Lisa Scottoline’s seemingly effortless writing. EXPOSED is an intense and enjoyable legal thriller about partnerships, loyalty and helping those in need. DiNunzio goes to the mat showing just how far she’s willing to go to fight the good fight. Even Bennie’s heart grew a few sizes larger in this snappy story. The plot builds suspense with many twists and turns, and the end is deeply satisfying. Don't mess with these impressive partners! They're the best!
August 7, 2017
Being from South Philly, I drop everything for a Lisa Scottoline book, especially her Rosato & DiNunzio series. In this installment, Mary DiNunzio takes on a case that is close to her heart. It involves a family friend from her South Philly neighborhood who has been wrongfully terminated. However, this friend was an employee of a company that is represented by Rosato &Di Nunzio, and creates conflict of interest. This case means a lot to Mary and her family, and may well break up her partnership with Bennie Rosato. After finally deciding to represent her longtime friend, truths about his former company come to light, making for a fast paced legal thriller full of action that I found impossible to put down. The premise is very relevant to current events, and Lisa’s research is top notch. Of course the characters that we’ve come to know and love make their appearance as well. Oh, and the ending will make you so impatient for the next in the series! I was left breathless! Five stars for Exposed! Highly recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced copy.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced copy.
August 8, 2017
Just as good as the entire rest of the Rosato series! Love these legal thrillers featuring a team of female lawyers in Philadelphia.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the Goodreads giveaway!
I have read every single title by Scottoline in the two different Bennie Rosato series - 11 in the Rosato & Associates series and now 5 in the Rosato & Dinunzio series. They are dependably fast-paced and heavy on the legalese, with lots of friendship, family and romance thrown in. This latest title pits the two partners against one another and is a sprint to the finish in solving both litigation and murder cases - loved it!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the Goodreads giveaway!
I have read every single title by Scottoline in the two different Bennie Rosato series - 11 in the Rosato & Associates series and now 5 in the Rosato & Dinunzio series. They are dependably fast-paced and heavy on the legalese, with lots of friendship, family and romance thrown in. This latest title pits the two partners against one another and is a sprint to the finish in solving both litigation and murder cases - loved it!
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