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Final Appeal
Grace Rossi is starting over after a divorce, and a part-time job with a federal appeals court sounds perfect. But she doesn't count on being assigned to an explosive death penalty appeal. Nor does she expect ardor in the court in the form of an affair with the chief judge. Then Grace finds herself investigating a murder, unearthing a secret bank account and following a trail of bribery and judicial corruption that's stumped even the FBI. In no time at all, Grace under fire takes on a whole new meaning.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 26, 1994
1613 people are currently reading
3166 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 365 reviews
December 17, 2011
This was Scottoline's second book. I found it to be a boring no depth legal thriller with not much legal or thriller involved. I'm glad she has matured as a writer, and I have enjoyed her later books. That said, this one is about Philadelphia lawyer, Grace Rossi, who finds a part-time job with the federal appeals court after a divorce. She is assigned a high profile death penalty case (which is a background sub-plot that is not developed) by her boss. They become romantically involved one late night while working, and the next morning Grace finds out he committed suicide after they parted. Because of their night spent together, Grace suspects murder instead and proceeds to investigate which leads to lots of suspects and attempts on her life. My favorite characters were Shake and Bake, a homeless man; and Bernice, the dog - Scottoline is always tongue-in-cheek humorous. One highlight of the book for me was that her divorce and single mother-hood do not play a prominent role - no cliches.
February 19, 2018
What a disappointing read. If I had known, I would have spared myself the cost and the time. Unfortunately, with author Lisa Scottoline, it's often hit or miss. Here, I felt no affinity with the characters, who all acted, and interacted very weirdly with each other. The dialogues felt less than real. As for the plot, is was also quite thin. I felt no connection with anything this book was offering.
The author should really take it out of circulation, it is that bad.
The author should really take it out of circulation, it is that bad.
December 20, 2021
Finally! Got to this one.....I know , I know....it's one of her earlier works! I've read a lot of her other works just don't know why it took me so long to get to this one!
Grace Rossi is a divorced single mom working in the office of Chief Justice offices of Armen..of which she not only admired but is crushing on. It's not til they're working together on a capitol case late one night into the wee hours, that they address the mutual attraction -etc etc. (No, no details just use your imagination) and then she finds a "love note" in her coat pocket the next day. The same time she's told he's committed suicide.
This suicide just doesn't sit well with her. But her aversion to the street bum "Shake and Bake" starts to wane. The more they begin a relation of sorts the more she believe that her Judge was murdered (as she first thought)! But finds that working with the homeless man she's become to call Winn is a bit of a task.
Then there's her daughter Maddie to be considered. I appreciated that Lisa didn't arrow focus on the working,single,divorced mom angle .
There's twists and turns,and I couldn't put my finger on "who dunnit" and that I appreciated..
And I need to add, that not only is this one of her earlier works, but the cover of my book looks nothing like the one shown here! (And it's not one of those 2in1 editions either!) But, to let you know-I liked this story!!--P/
Grace Rossi is a divorced single mom working in the office of Chief Justice offices of Armen..of which she not only admired but is crushing on. It's not til they're working together on a capitol case late one night into the wee hours, that they address the mutual attraction -etc etc. (No, no details just use your imagination) and then she finds a "love note" in her coat pocket the next day. The same time she's told he's committed suicide.
This suicide just doesn't sit well with her. But her aversion to the street bum "Shake and Bake" starts to wane. The more they begin a relation of sorts the more she believe that her Judge was murdered (as she first thought)! But finds that working with the homeless man she's become to call Winn is a bit of a task.
Then there's her daughter Maddie to be considered. I appreciated that Lisa didn't arrow focus on the working,single,divorced mom angle .
There's twists and turns,and I couldn't put my finger on "who dunnit" and that I appreciated..
And I need to add, that not only is this one of her earlier works, but the cover of my book looks nothing like the one shown here! (And it's not one of those 2in1 editions either!) But, to let you know-I liked this story!!--P/
December 18, 2013
Interesting tale, well told. No sex, no cussing and, as with the authors' other novels, it sold well. I expect, like most classics, it will continue to do so, unlike those that contain such things.
August 23, 2014
Grace Rossi, single mom to six-year-old Maddie, is starting over again. Divorced, she no longer works as a trial lawyer. Instead, she works part-time in the appellate court in Philadelphia, for a judge she admires. This aspect of the job probably makes it all worthwhile for her. She is attracted to her boss, but doesn't think anything will happen between them.
A death penalty case is up for appeal and time is running out. Grace and her boss, Judge Armen Gregorian, believe his sentence should be reversed. There are plenty of others who do not. The two of them spend long hours one night working on the case; they take their attraction for one another to the next level and have sex; and words of love are uttered by Armen to Grace.
Hours later, she learns that he is dead. Shot, presumably a suicide.
But Grace does not believe it. Not after their time together...and not after the love note she found in her coat pocket afterwards.
"Final Appeal" is a little bit convoluted, as we try to sort through the various suspects and motives for a murder. There is no shortage of people who might have reason to kill the Chief Judge, and motives that are numerous.
In the end, I was stunned by the reveal. None of the pieces came together in a logical fashion for me. I did enjoy aspects of the story, however, and my favorite parts were the interactions between Grace, her daughter, and her co-workers. An undercover FBI agent was also an intriguing character to add to the mix. 3.5 stars.
A death penalty case is up for appeal and time is running out. Grace and her boss, Judge Armen Gregorian, believe his sentence should be reversed. There are plenty of others who do not. The two of them spend long hours one night working on the case; they take their attraction for one another to the next level and have sex; and words of love are uttered by Armen to Grace.
Hours later, she learns that he is dead. Shot, presumably a suicide.
But Grace does not believe it. Not after their time together...and not after the love note she found in her coat pocket afterwards.
"Final Appeal" is a little bit convoluted, as we try to sort through the various suspects and motives for a murder. There is no shortage of people who might have reason to kill the Chief Judge, and motives that are numerous.
In the end, I was stunned by the reveal. None of the pieces came together in a logical fashion for me. I did enjoy aspects of the story, however, and my favorite parts were the interactions between Grace, her daughter, and her co-workers. An undercover FBI agent was also an intriguing character to add to the mix. 3.5 stars.
October 22, 2013
I must admit that I didn't finish the book. After the first three chapters, I gave up and tossed it across the room. All I found in three chapters was a bunch of legal people hanging out acting like children. Then there was a gratuitous sex scene in chapter three and still no discernible plot. That was my scream moment.
I was looking for a new favorite author...this was not the one.
I was looking for a new favorite author...this was not the one.
May 13, 2016
FINAL APPEAL is early Lisa Scottoline, and while enjoyed it very much, there is something in the feel of it that is less intense, less exciting than her more recent books. Shows the author has grown over the years. But this is a good read. The heroine, Philadelphia attorney Grace Rossi, is complex, with no husband, a child, a missing father (who shows up in story and complicates Grace's emotional reality), a hovering but difficult mother, and an illicit night with her boss--on a desk top--that seems to promise something but ends in his death. Grace is told it is suicide, but having spent the night with him, she doesn't believe it, calls it murder, and sets about to solve the crime herself. Well, with a little help from Shake and Bake, an FBI agent undercover as a homeless man. Many twists and turns, threats, dead-end leads, and a delightful if giant dog, Bernice, left behind by the late Chief Judge, Armen Gregorian, and rescued by Grace. Scottoline's story has charm and humanity, as well as the requisite murder to be solved.
August 17, 2016
2.5 stars
I found my mind wandering frequently while listening to this. It wasn't a bad story but definitely not one of her best.
I found my mind wandering frequently while listening to this. It wasn't a bad story but definitely not one of her best.
January 5, 2019
I enjoyed the story. Lots of guesses about what was going on. I had to keep reminding myself that this book was written in the early 90s, when some of the language and behaviors were more prevalent. Also, I had a hard time wrapping my head around Grace and Armen "loving" each other. They barely knew each other!
March 17, 2024
OK I’m all in on Lisa Scottoline!
This was my first Scottoline book and now I get it. Big time. Understand the Edgar Award(s?) and all the other praise and accolades. Masterful storyteller, great characters, and the best kind of unexpected AND believable twists and turns that make a good mystery.
This was my first Scottoline book and now I get it. Big time. Understand the Edgar Award(s?) and all the other praise and accolades. Masterful storyteller, great characters, and the best kind of unexpected AND believable twists and turns that make a good mystery.
May 22, 2011
Really enjoyed this one. It’s definitely a fast-paced read – I blazed through it in a single day. Of course the single day was the day after a transatlantic flight, so I’m sorry to say it didn’t help my jet lag any to lie in bead reading from midnight straight through till 4:30 a.m. But with books like this, who needs TV?
Quick plot summary (some spoilers ahead, so it’s hidden):
I always feel funny rating these kinds of books on Goodreads, especially when I’m about to give a book a 4 or 5. It seems a bit unfair, not to say inaccurate, to give a lightweight murder mystery the same rating I’ve given Amy Tan or Jane Austen or, good God, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. But I have different standards for different types of books, and I try to base my rating solely on Goodreads’ scale of “OK”, “liked it”, “really liked it”, and “It was amazing”. Scottoline writes well put-together mysteries, with strong characters that draw you in and keep you turning pages. The genre has certain conventions, which I expect, so I don’t knock a book for being formulaic when that’s pretty much inherent in the genre. I primarily judge this type of novel based on how much I enjoyed reading it, with plus points for going beyond the formula and especially for challenging expectations.
This book does a bit of both – sticking to the formula and stepping away from it. For example, in Final Appeal, the love story sub-plot you expect in this kind of novel is there, for sure, but it takes a turn out of left field – what Scottoline does with it is not where you expect it to go. I also especially appreciated the fact that the main character Grace is a single mother, but doesn’t have Single Mother Issues. She’s just divorced. Has a career. And a kid she loves, who spends a lot of time with Grandma ‘cause Mommy works. B.F.D. It was so nice not to have to have a sub-plot that spins out of a troubled relationship with the ex-husband. Or Grace having angst over being away from her child. Or any agita about having a new relationship. Instead, Scottoline gives her readers a well-balanced single mother as a simple fact of life. How refreshing.
On the other hand, while I liked the dynamic of the judge’s chambers – all the different characters, their interactions, etc. – some of the characters were a little overdrawn, and felt a bit unrealistic. I also got a little lost in the unraveling of the central mystery. I’m not completely sure I followed all its subpoints and the places it branches off. There are ups and downs to that, because it’s always nice not to have a totally down-pat mystery that’s too easy to solve, but at the same time, too complicated can be a problem, too. In this case, getting lost in the finer points of the mystery was not really a problem. I didn’t really worry about it because the main resolution was clear, and in the end, as I’m always saying, Scottoline’s books are as much about the characters as they are about the mystery.
Two things, before I leave off:
One, I have to write down this great, if slightly crass, line: “[Ben] straightens the knot on his tie, already at tourniquet tension; between the squeeze on his neck and the one on his sphincter, the kid’s twisted shut at both ends like a skinny piece of saltwater taffy.” (p. 3)
And two, below, some of my specific reactions to some of the characters and situations, which I can’t reveal without spoiling the book, so they’re hidden:
Quick plot summary (some spoilers ahead, so it’s hidden):
I always feel funny rating these kinds of books on Goodreads, especially when I’m about to give a book a 4 or 5. It seems a bit unfair, not to say inaccurate, to give a lightweight murder mystery the same rating I’ve given Amy Tan or Jane Austen or, good God, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. But I have different standards for different types of books, and I try to base my rating solely on Goodreads’ scale of “OK”, “liked it”, “really liked it”, and “It was amazing”. Scottoline writes well put-together mysteries, with strong characters that draw you in and keep you turning pages. The genre has certain conventions, which I expect, so I don’t knock a book for being formulaic when that’s pretty much inherent in the genre. I primarily judge this type of novel based on how much I enjoyed reading it, with plus points for going beyond the formula and especially for challenging expectations.
This book does a bit of both – sticking to the formula and stepping away from it. For example, in Final Appeal, the love story sub-plot you expect in this kind of novel is there, for sure, but it takes a turn out of left field – what Scottoline does with it is not where you expect it to go. I also especially appreciated the fact that the main character Grace is a single mother, but doesn’t have Single Mother Issues. She’s just divorced. Has a career. And a kid she loves, who spends a lot of time with Grandma ‘cause Mommy works. B.F.D. It was so nice not to have to have a sub-plot that spins out of a troubled relationship with the ex-husband. Or Grace having angst over being away from her child. Or any agita about having a new relationship. Instead, Scottoline gives her readers a well-balanced single mother as a simple fact of life. How refreshing.
On the other hand, while I liked the dynamic of the judge’s chambers – all the different characters, their interactions, etc. – some of the characters were a little overdrawn, and felt a bit unrealistic. I also got a little lost in the unraveling of the central mystery. I’m not completely sure I followed all its subpoints and the places it branches off. There are ups and downs to that, because it’s always nice not to have a totally down-pat mystery that’s too easy to solve, but at the same time, too complicated can be a problem, too. In this case, getting lost in the finer points of the mystery was not really a problem. I didn’t really worry about it because the main resolution was clear, and in the end, as I’m always saying, Scottoline’s books are as much about the characters as they are about the mystery.
Two things, before I leave off:
One, I have to write down this great, if slightly crass, line: “[Ben] straightens the knot on his tie, already at tourniquet tension; between the squeeze on his neck and the one on his sphincter, the kid’s twisted shut at both ends like a skinny piece of saltwater taffy.” (p. 3)
And two, below, some of my specific reactions to some of the characters and situations, which I can’t reveal without spoiling the book, so they’re hidden:
July 7, 2017
Good read about the dangers of excessive ambition and the pleasures of disfuntional family members.A true legal thriller.
September 20, 2018
This book was so easy to read and I enjoyed the plot.
July 16, 2024
This was really hard for me to follow
January 20, 2021
An early novel by Scottoline. Unfortunately, it was before she hit her stride.
Meh...
I really did not care for any characters except "Shake n Bake" and ... Bernice.
It is palatable drivel to pass the time, but nothing more
Meh...
I really did not care for any characters except "Shake n Bake" and ... Bernice.
It is palatable drivel to pass the time, but nothing more
February 14, 2019
Scottoline writes with an edge of humor that often has me chuckling to myself. Her storyline takes a few twists and turns, which she sums up nicely at the end. The one night stand "affair" was a bit contrived and awkward as a supposed love story and the plot could easily have done without it completely. Shake and Bake was my favorite character.
November 10, 2025
It was great to see Lisa Scottoline in person in October!
https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...
https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...
May 24, 2012
I DON'T HIDE MY REVIEWS, BUT THEY DO HAVE SPOILERS.
Yay! I found another Scottoline "lady lawyer" tale that I hadn't yet read. (The only two I'm still looking for are "Dirty Blonde" and "Moment of Truth.")
A divorced, single-mom attorney named Grace is the lead character in this book. She's been on staff to an elite federal judge, when the judge suddenly dies. Initially everyone thinks it was suicide -- but Grace. She and the judge had just had a mutually-desired intimate encounter; she can't believe that he was depressed.
Turns out she was right. The judge was murdered -- by a law clerk who also tries to do in Grace, after she figures out what happened.
The young male attorney is about to stage Grace's suicide, too. He tries to force her to jump from a highrise window at night, but she puts up a fight. When he realizes his plan has gone awry, he jumps out the window himself. Suicide over disgrace. (He'd just been accepted as an aide to the U.S. Supreme Court, with the recommendation of a different federal judge, who turns out to be doing unethical-criminal wheeling and dealing.
Scottoline wraps up the package with a bow -- the seemingly scuzzy and mental street man who hangs out around federal court, and goes by the name "Shake and Bake," turns out to be a handsome undercover federal agent. He and Grace exhibit the hots. Curtain drops.
(It seems a bit cheap that Grace, who was so taken with the judge, can get over the death quickly enough to demonstrate the attraction to Shake-Bake.)
I way prefer Scottoline's stories about lady lawyers cracking wise to her latest two books about "civilians." One's got a sensitive and sleuthing reporter who's single with an adopted son, the other's about a sensitive and sleuthing married mom of a picked-on grade-schooler.
Yay! I found another Scottoline "lady lawyer" tale that I hadn't yet read. (The only two I'm still looking for are "Dirty Blonde" and "Moment of Truth.")
A divorced, single-mom attorney named Grace is the lead character in this book. She's been on staff to an elite federal judge, when the judge suddenly dies. Initially everyone thinks it was suicide -- but Grace. She and the judge had just had a mutually-desired intimate encounter; she can't believe that he was depressed.
Turns out she was right. The judge was murdered -- by a law clerk who also tries to do in Grace, after she figures out what happened.
The young male attorney is about to stage Grace's suicide, too. He tries to force her to jump from a highrise window at night, but she puts up a fight. When he realizes his plan has gone awry, he jumps out the window himself. Suicide over disgrace. (He'd just been accepted as an aide to the U.S. Supreme Court, with the recommendation of a different federal judge, who turns out to be doing unethical-criminal wheeling and dealing.
Scottoline wraps up the package with a bow -- the seemingly scuzzy and mental street man who hangs out around federal court, and goes by the name "Shake and Bake," turns out to be a handsome undercover federal agent. He and Grace exhibit the hots. Curtain drops.
(It seems a bit cheap that Grace, who was so taken with the judge, can get over the death quickly enough to demonstrate the attraction to Shake-Bake.)
I way prefer Scottoline's stories about lady lawyers cracking wise to her latest two books about "civilians." One's got a sensitive and sleuthing reporter who's single with an adopted son, the other's about a sensitive and sleuthing married mom of a picked-on grade-schooler.
February 11, 2015
3 STARS
"Grace Rossi is starting over after a divorce, and a part-time job with a federal appeals court sounds perfect. But she doesn't count on being assigned to an explosive death penalty appeal. Nor does she expect ardor in the court in the form of an affair with the chief judge. Then Grace finds herself investigating a murder, unearthing a secret bank account and following a trail of bribery and judicial corruption that's stumped even the FBI. In no time at all, Grace under fire takes on a whole new meaning." (From Amazon)
A good legal thriller but not my favourite of Scottoline's...the suspense is a bit scattered and starts to fall apart a bit (It was one of her first few novel).
"Grace Rossi is starting over after a divorce, and a part-time job with a federal appeals court sounds perfect. But she doesn't count on being assigned to an explosive death penalty appeal. Nor does she expect ardor in the court in the form of an affair with the chief judge. Then Grace finds herself investigating a murder, unearthing a secret bank account and following a trail of bribery and judicial corruption that's stumped even the FBI. In no time at all, Grace under fire takes on a whole new meaning." (From Amazon)
A good legal thriller but not my favourite of Scottoline's...the suspense is a bit scattered and starts to fall apart a bit (It was one of her first few novel).
April 8, 2010
I recently found a Lisa Scottoline book at a yard sale - loved it. I then proceeded to purchase all of her books from half.com and am working my way through them. I have found that she starts with a bang. She grabs you in the beginning and holds you throughout the entire book, this is a rarity. If your a fan of crime / lawyer / suspense you can't miss with Scottoline.
August 19, 2014
I enjoyed this thriller, although some of it is a little dated (it was written in the mid-90s). It starts off with a bang and leads the reader through plenty of twists and turns. The characters were fun - I especially liked Eletha and Shake-and-Bake. In fact, the subplot involved Shake-and-Bake was definitely a lot of fun. This was a good legal thriller.
October 30, 2013
A good law mystery. Only 226 pages of good reading. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and love this author. Happy Reading!
March 6, 2014
A fine finish.
June 21, 2022
A friend recommended this author to me. This is the first book of hers I’ve read. It’s one of her oldest, written in the late 90s, so some of the material in it is a bit outdated but I overlooked that and found it fun to remember that time.
Overall a very quick easy read. If you like crime/law fiction, you’d probably like it. Set in Philadelphia, which also added to its likability to me. The first couple of chapters are set in a courtroom and for some reason I started picturing characters from the tv show All Rise playing different roles in the book. Grace Rossi the main character in the book, I pictured as Lola Carmichael, even though Lola is a judge and Grace is not. As well as others characters not exactly fitting the same type of roles. Weird, I know, but I continued to picture those actors and characters in the book as I read it.
Grace works as a lawyer aide something for Judge Armen Gregorian in the Court of Appeals. There is plot line that involves the fact that the judge is Armenian which was of interest to me as well as my husband is Armenian. Grace lusts after the judge and one night while working on a case he lets her know he has feelings for her. The next morning he is found dead at home, ruled a suicide. Grace doesn’t believe it. She thinks he’s been murdered and delves into trying to find out the truth. She initially tries to get all of the others who worked for Armen, 3 clerks and his secretary, to believe it was murder but most don’t buy into it. Armen is married to Senator Susan but there’s more than meets the eye in their marriage as well. Lots of twists and turns, bribes, murders, cases, protests, family relations past and present.
Overall a very quick easy read. If you like crime/law fiction, you’d probably like it. Set in Philadelphia, which also added to its likability to me. The first couple of chapters are set in a courtroom and for some reason I started picturing characters from the tv show All Rise playing different roles in the book. Grace Rossi the main character in the book, I pictured as Lola Carmichael, even though Lola is a judge and Grace is not. As well as others characters not exactly fitting the same type of roles. Weird, I know, but I continued to picture those actors and characters in the book as I read it.
Grace works as a lawyer aide something for Judge Armen Gregorian in the Court of Appeals. There is plot line that involves the fact that the judge is Armenian which was of interest to me as well as my husband is Armenian. Grace lusts after the judge and one night while working on a case he lets her know he has feelings for her. The next morning he is found dead at home, ruled a suicide. Grace doesn’t believe it. She thinks he’s been murdered and delves into trying to find out the truth. She initially tries to get all of the others who worked for Armen, 3 clerks and his secretary, to believe it was murder but most don’t buy into it. Armen is married to Senator Susan but there’s more than meets the eye in their marriage as well. Lots of twists and turns, bribes, murders, cases, protests, family relations past and present.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2020
Okay so this was my first read from Lisa Scottoline. I wouldn't say i loved it but it wasn't unbearable.
Having said that, this book was actually given by a fellow friend, who has herself just "judged the book by its cover" and bought it. And like always hasn't read it😂
Anyway the story is about Grace who is a lawyer by profession. She gets divorced and is left with a six years old daughter. She rejoins Federal Appellate Court in part time capacity as a law clerk but ends up being involved with chief judge and later catches herself investigating a murder.
With a pinch of currption in judiciary, a few hunches and a small trail of evidence leading to some mystery. All things are intermingled initially but separates out finally.
Being a lawyer, i felt i demanded a little more from the book on legal premises. Perhaps some actual glitter from the court life. Some smart lawyer attitude with better sense of apprehension and that finger snapping intellect. You know, things you demand from a fantasy or fiction. But this one lacked energy and felt a little somber-ish.
The writing of the book too wasn't upto the mark and the characters were dull and uprooted. I was constantly looking for good bits but to my disappointment i couldn't find many.
With a heavy heart, I will not recommend this book but i do appreciate the efforts of the writer, who definitely has some better books under her belt.
Having said that, this book was actually given by a fellow friend, who has herself just "judged the book by its cover" and bought it. And like always hasn't read it😂
Anyway the story is about Grace who is a lawyer by profession. She gets divorced and is left with a six years old daughter. She rejoins Federal Appellate Court in part time capacity as a law clerk but ends up being involved with chief judge and later catches herself investigating a murder.
With a pinch of currption in judiciary, a few hunches and a small trail of evidence leading to some mystery. All things are intermingled initially but separates out finally.
Being a lawyer, i felt i demanded a little more from the book on legal premises. Perhaps some actual glitter from the court life. Some smart lawyer attitude with better sense of apprehension and that finger snapping intellect. You know, things you demand from a fantasy or fiction. But this one lacked energy and felt a little somber-ish.
The writing of the book too wasn't upto the mark and the characters were dull and uprooted. I was constantly looking for good bits but to my disappointment i couldn't find many.
With a heavy heart, I will not recommend this book but i do appreciate the efforts of the writer, who definitely has some better books under her belt.
September 23, 2020
I have to disagree with some of the reviews that provided marginal ratings. This story really introduces the character Gracie and the people in her life. The story has just a lonesome affair with the Chief Justice before he is found dead the next morning and ruling it a suicide. Gracie's interactions with him has her convinced that he was murdered and she sets out tp prove it. Along the way the case that was being discussed before the killing causes a great deal of conflict and results in protests.
Gracie's interactions with her co-workers have them trying to impress upon her that it was really suicide. As she looks into it further, she begins having a lot of contact with "Shake and Bake" a homeless friend of Artie. He winds up playing a major role in what happens in the end. Her farther also shows up after being out her life since her early childhood.
As the ending is played out, a lot of the questions that Gracie had soon become answered. In order to find out what really happened with the Chief Justice and what role "Shake and Bake" ultimately plays, then you must read this book.
Gracie's interactions with her co-workers have them trying to impress upon her that it was really suicide. As she looks into it further, she begins having a lot of contact with "Shake and Bake" a homeless friend of Artie. He winds up playing a major role in what happens in the end. Her farther also shows up after being out her life since her early childhood.
As the ending is played out, a lot of the questions that Gracie had soon become answered. In order to find out what really happened with the Chief Justice and what role "Shake and Bake" ultimately plays, then you must read this book.
February 19, 2021
I found this story to be disjointed and fractured. I felt as if I was always missing pieces of the background beginning with the first few pages. Perhaps part of my issue would be my not knowing enough about appellate judges. I wasn’t sure if Grace was just one of the law clerks or if she had a bit of a higher position overseeing them. There is one sentence where Grace says she is too old to be starting over as a law clerk. I assume she was a lawyer that decided to go a different direction? Her relationship or lack there of with Armen also left holes in the story for me. She certainly does not seem crushed by his demise even tho she sets out to find his murderer. There is much more I could cite regarding her familial relationships as well. I felt more could’ve been addressed in a way to engage me more with the characters of the book. I am a huge L.S. Fan and this book certainly won’t discourage me from continuing to read the few of her books I have left to read. I’m chalking it up to this was written early in her career.
June 18, 2022
Someone once told me that Lisa Scottoline is the perfect "mindless Summer read" author and I couldn't agree more. I try and read her at least once a Summer when I don't want anything too heavy. She's a fine writer for what she is - she crafts an entertaining story that you can get through quickly without overthinking anything. I can fully appreciate that - in fact there's a part of me that realizes this is probably what a lot of people want out of books sometimes, so that's fine. And I have no doubt it's part of why she's so popular. For me, she's not going to win any literary awards and I didn't find this book or the big reveal overly compelling but I was mindlessly entertained and that's all I was looking for. Bonus fun for her being from Philly and writing about Philly. I've spent enough time there to know the intricacies of the city and that certainly makes her books more interesting, at least to me. So, three stars for the book b/c compared against the best of the best it's not so great, but 4 stars in my heart for being exactly what I wanted out of a Summertime read.
October 12, 2018
Grace Rossi, a divorced, single mother of six-year-old Maddie, is a part-time as a law clerk for Chief Judge Armen Gregorian. One night, after working late, he confesses that he loves her and they have sex in his office. Next morning, he's found dead, an apparent suicide.
Grace can't reconcile Armen's suicide with the man she knew, especially since he supposedly killed himself just two hours after they parted. So she starts digging into Armen's life and past, as well as others associated with him. She's returning to lunch during a demonstration in support of man about to be executed and is hit on the head and hears a whispered warning to stop her investigation.
There are several twists and turns in the book which add to the storyline but are spoilers. The book moves at a rapid pace and I was surprised at who the killer was, who the undercover FBI agent was and who the mysterious man in the back car with Virginia tags was.
A good read if you like murder mysteries.
Grace can't reconcile Armen's suicide with the man she knew, especially since he supposedly killed himself just two hours after they parted. So she starts digging into Armen's life and past, as well as others associated with him. She's returning to lunch during a demonstration in support of man about to be executed and is hit on the head and hears a whispered warning to stop her investigation.
There are several twists and turns in the book which add to the storyline but are spoilers. The book moves at a rapid pace and I was surprised at who the killer was, who the undercover FBI agent was and who the mysterious man in the back car with Virginia tags was.
A good read if you like murder mysteries.
August 27, 2020
3.5 stars. Scottoline's second novel was much better than her first. Better character development and storyline without too much stuff that didn't make sense in the context of the story. It flowed really well, and I enjoyed it.
One thing I like about Scottoline's books so far is her including relevant social issues that also impact the law and court proceedings. The main case in this book, while this was more about a murder mystery than the law, was about a Black teenager committed of murder, and on death row. While he admitted to the crime, the Chief Justice and Grace were hoping to overturn the death penalty. She constantly included the phrase "no justice, no peace." While it was written in the 90s and is in no way a book that focuses on racial injustice, I did appreciate the inclusion of that. With the BLM movement and my anti-racist work and reading, my views of these small moments are impacted.
One thing I like about Scottoline's books so far is her including relevant social issues that also impact the law and court proceedings. The main case in this book, while this was more about a murder mystery than the law, was about a Black teenager committed of murder, and on death row. While he admitted to the crime, the Chief Justice and Grace were hoping to overturn the death penalty. She constantly included the phrase "no justice, no peace." While it was written in the 90s and is in no way a book that focuses on racial injustice, I did appreciate the inclusion of that. With the BLM movement and my anti-racist work and reading, my views of these small moments are impacted.
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