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Rosato and Associates #6
The Vendetta Defence
In The Vendetta Defence, New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline delivers a wonderfully rich, vivid story of past sins, love and justice. Philadelphia lawyer Judy Carrier couldn't be less like Ally McBeal -- Post-it size skirts and makeup are alien territory where she's concerned. But she's smart, feisty, and packs a mean punch. In short, just the woman to turn to if you're charged with murdering the head of a particularly vicious family of crooks. With the aid of a posse of octagenarian pigeon fanciers, Judy takes on the mob and proves that there is justice after all.
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First published January 1, 2001
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About the author
Lisa Scottoline
137 books15.5k followersLisa Scottoline is a #1 bestselling and Edgar award-winning author of 33 novels. Her books are book-club favorites, and Lisa and her daughter Francesca Serritella have hosted an annual Big Book Club Party for over a thousand readers at her Pennsylvania farm, for the past twelve years. Lisa has served as President of Mystery Writers of America, and her reviews of fiction and non-fiction have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She also writes a weekly column with her daughter for the Philadelphia Inquirer entitled Chick Wit, a witty take on life from a woman’s perspective, which have been collected in a bestselling series of humorous memoirs. Lisa graduated magna cum laude in three years from the University of Pennsylvania, with a B.A. in English, and cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she taught Justice and Fiction. Lisa has over 30 million copies of her books in print and is published in over 35 countries. She lives in the Philadelphia area with an array of disobedient pets and wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 434 reviews
May 29, 2023
After discovering a short story by Lisa Scottoline one week ago, I have started a series binge that has me completely addicted. This is a series like no other and I am so very pleased to have found it, as well as the countless storylines and characters that fill the pages of these books. In this novel, the reader learns more about Judy Carrier, one of the lawyers at Rosato and Associates. She is tasked with defending an elderly man, Pigeon Tony, who has been accused of killing one of his longtime rivals. Pigeon Tony does not deny the killing, but explains that there is a vendetta that he had to settle. Working alongside Pigeon Tony’s grandson, Judy tries to cobble together a case, much to the chagrin of her boss, and dodges many threats from their victim’s family, said to be deeply connected with criminal element. A story that flows well and tells a poignant tale. Scottoline’s superior style shines through yet again.
Rosato and Associates is a well-run Philadelphia firm, handling many sorts of cases, most of which are cleared by the name partner, Bennie Rosato. When associate lawyer, Judy Carrier, agrees to defend Anthony Lucia for murdering his longtime enemy, things get quite intense. This is surely the case of her career and Judy does not want to mess it up. She works with the elderly pigeon racer, known to his friends as ‘Pigeon Tony’, trying to better understand why he would kill Angelo Coluzzi. Pigeon Tony refuses to deny that he committed the crime, though he tries to explain that there was a vendetta that had to be completed when Coluzzi killed his wife years before. Judy may have taken on more than she can chew with this one.
While Judy discovers that this decades long feud has kept Pigeon Tony eager to settle scores, there is a larger problem. The Coluzzis are also keen on revenge and begin to take action, which includes finishing off Pigoen Tony and anyone who defends him. Working with Tony’s grandson, Frank, Judy will have to cobble together a defence and protect the elderly man—and themselves— before something tragic can occur.
With the law stacked against her, Judy is forced to pull out all the stops in order to find a means of defending Pigeon Tony and ensuring that he does not end up in jail, or dead. However, the Coluzzis are always lurking and could strike again at any moment. This is one case that could make Judy Carrier’s career, but it could also end her life! Scottoline at her best with this piece.
When I read Pigeon Tony’s Last Stand a week ago, I knew that I wanted to read more Lisa Scottoline. Now, six novels later, I am still hooked and want more so that I can learn about the characters and their unique means of finding justice in the law. Scottoline offers up great narrative guidance in her piece, filling them with detail and the law, as well as some great moments of humour. There is so much I can learn from them and I never tire of getting a little more backstory about some of the female protagonists. There is a richness to the pieces that only gets better the deeper I delve in the series. The plots are well-crafted and appear to grow effectively, though never too dramatically. I am eager to see how things will keep progressing, as the characters shape things in their own way. This was a great story and complemented the aforementioned short story well. I can only wonder what is to come with Judy, Mary DiNunzio, and Bennie Rosato. I guess I better grab the next book to see.
Kudos, Madam Scottoline, for keeping me enthralled throughout this legal gem!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Rosato and Associates is a well-run Philadelphia firm, handling many sorts of cases, most of which are cleared by the name partner, Bennie Rosato. When associate lawyer, Judy Carrier, agrees to defend Anthony Lucia for murdering his longtime enemy, things get quite intense. This is surely the case of her career and Judy does not want to mess it up. She works with the elderly pigeon racer, known to his friends as ‘Pigeon Tony’, trying to better understand why he would kill Angelo Coluzzi. Pigeon Tony refuses to deny that he committed the crime, though he tries to explain that there was a vendetta that had to be completed when Coluzzi killed his wife years before. Judy may have taken on more than she can chew with this one.
While Judy discovers that this decades long feud has kept Pigeon Tony eager to settle scores, there is a larger problem. The Coluzzis are also keen on revenge and begin to take action, which includes finishing off Pigoen Tony and anyone who defends him. Working with Tony’s grandson, Frank, Judy will have to cobble together a defence and protect the elderly man—and themselves— before something tragic can occur.
With the law stacked against her, Judy is forced to pull out all the stops in order to find a means of defending Pigeon Tony and ensuring that he does not end up in jail, or dead. However, the Coluzzis are always lurking and could strike again at any moment. This is one case that could make Judy Carrier’s career, but it could also end her life! Scottoline at her best with this piece.
When I read Pigeon Tony’s Last Stand a week ago, I knew that I wanted to read more Lisa Scottoline. Now, six novels later, I am still hooked and want more so that I can learn about the characters and their unique means of finding justice in the law. Scottoline offers up great narrative guidance in her piece, filling them with detail and the law, as well as some great moments of humour. There is so much I can learn from them and I never tire of getting a little more backstory about some of the female protagonists. There is a richness to the pieces that only gets better the deeper I delve in the series. The plots are well-crafted and appear to grow effectively, though never too dramatically. I am eager to see how things will keep progressing, as the characters shape things in their own way. This was a great story and complemented the aforementioned short story well. I can only wonder what is to come with Judy, Mary DiNunzio, and Bennie Rosato. I guess I better grab the next book to see.
Kudos, Madam Scottoline, for keeping me enthralled throughout this legal gem!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
September 25, 2010
My first Scottline and I'm hooked! I was glued to the book all week and hated to put it down. The story had some great mystery, action, and love aspects which really made it a lot better then a lot of books I have read that are similar in style. I'm looking forward to reading others in the series and hoping that I get to see more of the great Frank and Pigeon Tony :)
August 19, 2007
A very interesting premise. What makes a person guilty of murder? Does the act of killing someone automatically make one a murder? Does the motive and reasoning behind the act make a difference? And should it? Ms Scottoline poses these questions in a very entertaining story.
June 17, 2011
BEWARE. I DON'T FLAG SPOILERS. BUT I DON'T PUT MY REVIEWS OUT ON ANY FEED, EITHER.
Disclaimer - my "reviews" are not truly that. Rather than a critical analysis, each "review" is mostly my quick summary of the plot -- so I can refresh my unreliable memory. Also, I find that once I journal a book, it's easier for me to give it away. That's important, as our house is getting "overgrown" with books.
---
One of my favorite Scottoline titles. It delves into atty. Judy at the Rosato all-female law firm. She's one of the tall heroines (With Scottoline, they're all either tall or small).
Tony Lucia, Judy's elderly client -- up for murder -- is the true hero. The book traces his personal losses from Fascist '40s Italy (a rival suitor kills Tony's young wife) to America, where he located w. his motherless toddler son after the war. In America decades later, he loses his now-grown son to an apparent traffic accident - driver error on a winter-slippery road.
Novel begins on the day that Tony killed his rival.
Tony and that old rival -- who also emigrated and settles in the same Italian neighborhood in Philly -- come to blows in a back room at the pigeon-racing club they both belong to. Both men are senior citizens; the rival ends up falling in the brawl, hitting his head, dying.
The case looks open-closed -- with Pigeon Tony guilty -- until Judy (who btw falls in love w. Tony Lucia's brawny contractor grandson) and the grandson find evidence to prove Tony attacked the rival only after said rival bragged he'd killed Tony's son some months before (which everyone including police had thought was a simple accident.)
Solving the heretofor-unrecognized crime turns on learning that the son's VW pickup was a diesel, so that the abundant gasoline traces found on the totaled vehicle point to a gasoline-based explosive. (Along w. extremely tall or short heroines, Scottoline also likes VW's - Judy drives a Bug, the female character who's a fed prosecutor has a Cabriolet convertible, there's another novel where there's talk of Jettas. i.e. a lawyer's Jetta is demoted to "railroad station car" for commuting after he/shoe moves fr. public service to better-paying private sector, and buys some hot, expensive car model).
In the end, Pigeon Tony's jurors go for jury nullification (finding defendant innocent despite the law and evidence, because of belief in a higher principle - namely that Tony's rage was natural when his son's murderer taunted him for getting away w. the crime. Also, that he couldn't have foreseen that the physical fight - no weapons but fists -- could drop a man dead). Verdict seemed right to me, too.
Disclaimer - my "reviews" are not truly that. Rather than a critical analysis, each "review" is mostly my quick summary of the plot -- so I can refresh my unreliable memory. Also, I find that once I journal a book, it's easier for me to give it away. That's important, as our house is getting "overgrown" with books.
---
One of my favorite Scottoline titles. It delves into atty. Judy at the Rosato all-female law firm. She's one of the tall heroines (With Scottoline, they're all either tall or small).
Tony Lucia, Judy's elderly client -- up for murder -- is the true hero. The book traces his personal losses from Fascist '40s Italy (a rival suitor kills Tony's young wife) to America, where he located w. his motherless toddler son after the war. In America decades later, he loses his now-grown son to an apparent traffic accident - driver error on a winter-slippery road.
Novel begins on the day that Tony killed his rival.
Tony and that old rival -- who also emigrated and settles in the same Italian neighborhood in Philly -- come to blows in a back room at the pigeon-racing club they both belong to. Both men are senior citizens; the rival ends up falling in the brawl, hitting his head, dying.
The case looks open-closed -- with Pigeon Tony guilty -- until Judy (who btw falls in love w. Tony Lucia's brawny contractor grandson) and the grandson find evidence to prove Tony attacked the rival only after said rival bragged he'd killed Tony's son some months before (which everyone including police had thought was a simple accident.)
Solving the heretofor-unrecognized crime turns on learning that the son's VW pickup was a diesel, so that the abundant gasoline traces found on the totaled vehicle point to a gasoline-based explosive. (Along w. extremely tall or short heroines, Scottoline also likes VW's - Judy drives a Bug, the female character who's a fed prosecutor has a Cabriolet convertible, there's another novel where there's talk of Jettas. i.e. a lawyer's Jetta is demoted to "railroad station car" for commuting after he/shoe moves fr. public service to better-paying private sector, and buys some hot, expensive car model).
In the end, Pigeon Tony's jurors go for jury nullification (finding defendant innocent despite the law and evidence, because of belief in a higher principle - namely that Tony's rage was natural when his son's murderer taunted him for getting away w. the crime. Also, that he couldn't have foreseen that the physical fight - no weapons but fists -- could drop a man dead). Verdict seemed right to me, too.
January 30, 2010
This was my first Scottoline novel and it will certainly be my last. I don’t entirely understand why someone with such modest writing skills has become so popular, and I definitely don’t understand why the Italian-American Anti-Defamation League isn’t picketing her publisher. In this novel, Scottoline takes evident pride in depicting the Italian-American community she grew up near (if not exactly in), employing a sort of “you can’t be mad at me, I’m Italian” approach to trotting out stereotypes so broad that not evenThe Sopranos would have thought of using them. And let’s be clear: I’m not arguing that they’re “offensive”; I’m saying that they’re overdone, repetitive, unoriginal, graceless, tedious, and ham-handed. In this book, one of Scottoline’s two main characters is an elderly Italian immigrant who (despite being in America for some fifty years) still speaks the kind of broken English that you'd expect from a Chef Boyardee commercial. In print, Scottoline has chosen to represent that dialogue so absurdly and so unnaturally that at times you wonder whether she has a chronic tin ear or whether she thought she was writing ethnic satire. Clearly, her lawyer-protagonist (blonde and WASP) suffers from a kind of internal-dialogue Tourette's syndrome that causes her to think in ceaseless puns and seventh-grade double entendres, all of which are about as amusing as leprosy. Scottoline also likes to throw in Italian words and phrases—it adds so much color, dontcha know. Unfortunately, she gets about half of them wrong, writing “come se dice” instead of “come si dice,” for example, or “io lo fatto” instead of “io l’ho fatto.” They’re stupid, embarrassing errors—for her, but also for her editor, who ought to have checked the Italian before letting Scottoline make a fool of herself. For someone who was a lawyer before she turned to potboiling, Scottoline also doesn’t shy away from playing fast and loose with the law—in one scene, she has witnesses sitting in the courtroom audience, watching the trial before they are called to testify. Sorry, but it doesn’t work that way--witnesses don't get to listen to the other witnesses. For all of that, the storyline is respectable enough – as “legal thrillers” go – but Scottoline seems to do everything she can think of to stand in its way. I find her voice so intrusive and so (for want of a better word) silly that I won’t be coming back for more.
November 15, 2011
How could I not enjoy a book with many of the characters named ‘...Tony’ and featuring a delightful and heartwarming old man named Pigeon Tony (Tony Lucia), whose life is shaped by a lifelong vendetta? When Pigeon Tony is charged with first degree murder, the lawyer Judy Carrier is pulled into defending him, with great reluctance. When he admits his guilt in killing his lifelong enemy Anthony Coluzzi in Italy, the story become challenging for the attorney and for the reader.
I had never understood the stories behind pigeon racing and now I have a greater appreciation of the sport. Scottoline develops her characters well and I became vested in their lives and the story's outcome. There is hatred, sorrow, loyalty, love, romance and suspense. The courtroom scenes felt fairly realistic and the dialogue was entertaining. The involvement of the Tony’s (Pigeon Tony’s friends) was similar to the feeling an Badacci’s Camel Club characters. The connection to the title “The Vendetta Defense” was clear from the beginning and that was a refreshing change.
I have not read many Lisa Scottoline books but I will definitely read another as this book was enjoyable and easy to follow with enough action to keep me reading. A fun read for a cold winter night by the fire or on the beach on a warm summer day. I give this a 4 not because it was a great book, but because it was a very enjoyable read.
I had never understood the stories behind pigeon racing and now I have a greater appreciation of the sport. Scottoline develops her characters well and I became vested in their lives and the story's outcome. There is hatred, sorrow, loyalty, love, romance and suspense. The courtroom scenes felt fairly realistic and the dialogue was entertaining. The involvement of the Tony’s (Pigeon Tony’s friends) was similar to the feeling an Badacci’s Camel Club characters. The connection to the title “The Vendetta Defense” was clear from the beginning and that was a refreshing change.
I have not read many Lisa Scottoline books but I will definitely read another as this book was enjoyable and easy to follow with enough action to keep me reading. A fun read for a cold winter night by the fire or on the beach on a warm summer day. I give this a 4 not because it was a great book, but because it was a very enjoyable read.
October 14, 2008
I have read and loved Scottoline's work in the past, but this story was just too unbelievable for me. I couldn't imagine a judge allowing some of the tesimony put forth by the defense, so I did a lot of wincing and eye-rolling during this one.
Pigeon Tony admits to killing Angelo Coluzzi, but he says it's payback for Coluzzi murdering Pigeon Tony's wife nearly 60 years ago, and his son & daughter-in-law in a more recent "staged" car crash. Since the prosecution makes brief mention of these events during opening statements, that has apparently opened the door for expert testimony on a car crash that occured YEARS ago, while the court's in progess on a murder trial involving different people...that just didn't fly with me. But Pigeon Tony, the defendant, was one of the most lovable characters I've come across, and he really saved the book for me. I also loved the little things, like Pigeon Tony's buddies showing up for client meetings at the law firm with coffee & pastries :) Fun characters to keep the story moving. I'll give Scottoline another try in the future.
Pigeon Tony admits to killing Angelo Coluzzi, but he says it's payback for Coluzzi murdering Pigeon Tony's wife nearly 60 years ago, and his son & daughter-in-law in a more recent "staged" car crash. Since the prosecution makes brief mention of these events during opening statements, that has apparently opened the door for expert testimony on a car crash that occured YEARS ago, while the court's in progess on a murder trial involving different people...that just didn't fly with me. But Pigeon Tony, the defendant, was one of the most lovable characters I've come across, and he really saved the book for me. I also loved the little things, like Pigeon Tony's buddies showing up for client meetings at the law firm with coffee & pastries :) Fun characters to keep the story moving. I'll give Scottoline another try in the future.
November 25, 2023
This is my favorite book so far in this series. I enjoyed the narrator and the storyline was sad but very good. I wanted to meet and give Pigeon Tony a hug.
October 11, 2018
Judy Carrier, lawyer at Rosato and Company catches a new case when she’s called to the murder scene where octogenarian Tony Lucia has already to the murder of Angelo Coluzzi. He continues to insist that he killed Angelo and that he had it coming as Angelo killed Tony’s much loved wife and his son and daughter-in-law. He’s insistent that killing Angelo was righteous. The story takes us back to the second world war and the time of Blackshirts, a terrible time in Italy. Angelo was part of the Blackshirt army with carte blanche in terms of actually killing citizens, should he decide they are dissidents. Angelo was seeing the woman that Tony loved beyond all. It happened that Tony’s romance worked out, she left Angelo and married him. Very much in love, these two. Tony believed that his wife’s murder was engineered by the Coluzzi family and swore to get revenge. Later, Tony’s son was also murdered, at least Tony believed he had been. Tony was called Pigeon Tony as he raised racing pigeons and there needs to be a way to differentiate the many Tony’s in the very Italian neighbourhood.
This is a new world for Judy, she knew nothing about the Blackshirts and works tirelessly to save one of Mary’s Tonys. Fortuitously, Judy meets Pigeon Tony’s grandson, Frank. Frank is a great source of information and protection as the feud between the two factions heats up. Not only is Judy defending Tony, she’s protecting her own life and the violence escalates with a bomb being planted in her car.
Judy is so out of her depth in this one. In the middle of a feud and dealing first-hand with the mob and their influence over the construction industry. Nothing prepared her for the battle as well as the warmth she is feeling towards Frank.
Exciting, action packed and interesting story.
This is a new world for Judy, she knew nothing about the Blackshirts and works tirelessly to save one of Mary’s Tonys. Fortuitously, Judy meets Pigeon Tony’s grandson, Frank. Frank is a great source of information and protection as the feud between the two factions heats up. Not only is Judy defending Tony, she’s protecting her own life and the violence escalates with a bomb being planted in her car.
Judy is so out of her depth in this one. In the middle of a feud and dealing first-hand with the mob and their influence over the construction industry. Nothing prepared her for the battle as well as the warmth she is feeling towards Frank.
Exciting, action packed and interesting story.
March 4, 2020
I have to give it credit for being a very interesting story but parts of it were just boring and unrealistic and I sometimes found myself getting lost in the sheer number of characters. The thing that I disliked the most was that it went quickly from being a mystery to being mainly a romance. I had to give it a 3 star rating because it was well written and I generally like this author...and...you guessed it... it fit a challenge very well.
February 9, 2020
This is the first book I read by Lisa Scottoline and it won't be the last! The voice actor did a fantastic job with the Italian accents. It's quite amazing. Having grown up with Abruzzese grandparents, it was like stepping back in time. The plot was fantastic, the main character (Judy Carrier) is a smart and sassy attorney with big heart. No complaints at all about this book.
March 22, 2025
Another excellent Scottoline book!! I really love the way she writes, with the right amount of mystery, the right amount of obviously in-depth research (i.e. pigeon racing, Italy under fascist rule & the South Philly neighborhood of Italians.) Plus, I appreciate her character's thoughtful sarcasm when appropriate and her obvious knowledge of lawyerly protocol and courtroom proceedings, all written for a less than knowledgeable reader.
This book had it all and takes the reader through some harrowing situations as well as humorous. If defense attorney Judy Carrier can defend an admittedly guilty man, Pigeon Tony, she can defend anyone.
I'm making this short so I have more time for actual reading, but I highly recommend "The Vendetta Defense" and plan to read more Scottoline soon!
This book had it all and takes the reader through some harrowing situations as well as humorous. If defense attorney Judy Carrier can defend an admittedly guilty man, Pigeon Tony, she can defend anyone.
I'm making this short so I have more time for actual reading, but I highly recommend "The Vendetta Defense" and plan to read more Scottoline soon!
June 5, 2019
I ‘d say 3.5 stars, actually. Interesting characters, story line and defense. I enjoyed it.
March 17, 2021
Vendetta...a kill or a murder hummm...? Entertaining read. Good background information about Anthony "Pigeon Tony" Lucia. Helpful as I read the series.
August 13, 2008
I gather, without having been told, that Lisa Scottoline is going to write a different novel about each of the lawyers in the all-women Philadelphia firm of lawyers headed by the ever-feisty Bennie Rosato. This one is about Judy Carrier, who was a minor character in Courting Trouble (whose protagonist, Ann Murphy, is a minor character in this novel), and who is asked to take on a case by Mary DiNunzio, her good friend and another of the firm's lawyers, who currently is staying at home because she got shot (which suggests to me that there is a novel I have not read yet). The interest here is that we get told in the opening sentence that the client did in fact do the dirty deed ... and we get told in successive flashbacks why he did it ... which leaves the reader wondering how Judy is going to get her client off (which, of course, we will not learn until the last chapter). Along the way, Judy fights with her boss, with her client, with the Philadelphia version of the Mafia, with the Philadelphia police, etc., and especially with the client's handsome son, and we all know where that is going to end up. It all adds up to a pretty good tale, but I hope my lawyer daughter does not live this way!
March 17, 2011
Lisa Scottoline’s novels present interesting legal dilemmas.
In Scottoline’s THE VENDETTA DEFENSE, an old Italian man, “Pigeon Tony,” who lived in prewar Italy under Mussolini and the Black Shirts and fled to America with his young son, is now accused of murdering another Italian-American, Angelo Coluzzi. Coluzzi is a rich man who is corrupt and has ties to the Mafia.
During flashbacks in the book, we see why their ages-old feud, back to their lives in Italy, where Coluzzi was one of the Black Shirts, led to the killing. And, according to Pigeon Tony, that’s what it was—killing, not murder.
THE VENDETTA DEFENSE is one book in Scottoline’s series about a Philadelphia law firm. One of the associate lawyers in the firm takes on this case, made more difficult by Pigeon Tony’s ongoing insistence that he tell the judge that he did, in fact, kill Coluzzi. Pigeon Tony was sure the killing was justified because it wasn’t murder; Coluzzi killed Pigeon Tony’s wife in Italy many years ago and his son and daughter-in-law more recently in Philadelphia.
While this book wasn’t a not-put-downable thriller, it was interesting and did make me want to keep reading. Scottoline seems to like to set herself up to solve unsolvable legal dilemmas.
In Scottoline’s THE VENDETTA DEFENSE, an old Italian man, “Pigeon Tony,” who lived in prewar Italy under Mussolini and the Black Shirts and fled to America with his young son, is now accused of murdering another Italian-American, Angelo Coluzzi. Coluzzi is a rich man who is corrupt and has ties to the Mafia.
During flashbacks in the book, we see why their ages-old feud, back to their lives in Italy, where Coluzzi was one of the Black Shirts, led to the killing. And, according to Pigeon Tony, that’s what it was—killing, not murder.
THE VENDETTA DEFENSE is one book in Scottoline’s series about a Philadelphia law firm. One of the associate lawyers in the firm takes on this case, made more difficult by Pigeon Tony’s ongoing insistence that he tell the judge that he did, in fact, kill Coluzzi. Pigeon Tony was sure the killing was justified because it wasn’t murder; Coluzzi killed Pigeon Tony’s wife in Italy many years ago and his son and daughter-in-law more recently in Philadelphia.
While this book wasn’t a not-put-downable thriller, it was interesting and did make me want to keep reading. Scottoline seems to like to set herself up to solve unsolvable legal dilemmas.
February 7, 2016
#6 in the Rosato & Associates series.
Rosato & Associates series - The star here is the somewhat manic Judy Carrier, who has played supporting roles in the past. The story, however, revolves around Anthony "Pigeon Tony" Lucia, a lovable septuagenarian who killed his longtime rival, Angelo Coluzzi, who murdered Lucia's wife in their native Italy 60 years ago. Coluzzi, the wealthy, mob-connected owner of a big construction firm, always seems to get the upper hand until Pigeon Tony breaks his neck during a showdown at the pigeon-racing club where they're both members. Pigeon Tony freely admits he killed Coluzzi, but maintains he was justified because of the long-standing Italian tradition of vendetta; Carrier knows it will be a big stretch to make that argument fly before a 21st-century American jury. Aided, however, by Tony's many friends in South Philly's Italian neighborhoods, Carrier mounts a sparkling defense while dodging innumerable attempts on her life from Coluzzi's gang and trying to keep in check her amorous feelings for Pigeon Tony's ruggedly handsome grandson, Frank.
Rosato & Associates series - The star here is the somewhat manic Judy Carrier, who has played supporting roles in the past. The story, however, revolves around Anthony "Pigeon Tony" Lucia, a lovable septuagenarian who killed his longtime rival, Angelo Coluzzi, who murdered Lucia's wife in their native Italy 60 years ago. Coluzzi, the wealthy, mob-connected owner of a big construction firm, always seems to get the upper hand until Pigeon Tony breaks his neck during a showdown at the pigeon-racing club where they're both members. Pigeon Tony freely admits he killed Coluzzi, but maintains he was justified because of the long-standing Italian tradition of vendetta; Carrier knows it will be a big stretch to make that argument fly before a 21st-century American jury. Aided, however, by Tony's many friends in South Philly's Italian neighborhoods, Carrier mounts a sparkling defense while dodging innumerable attempts on her life from Coluzzi's gang and trying to keep in check her amorous feelings for Pigeon Tony's ruggedly handsome grandson, Frank.
September 8, 2007
THE VENDETTA DEFENSE – VG
Lisa Scottoline – Stand alone(?)
Attorney Judy Carrier, member of the Rosato law firm, is asked by her best friend's father to defend his friend, Anthony Lucia, known throughout their South Philadelphia neighborhood as 'Pigeon Tony,' who is on trial for the murder of Angelo Coluzzi. However, Judy isn't prepared for a confession that Tony did, in fact, commit the crime—the result of a generations-old family feud that has spanned two continents. Judy need to find a way that this feud can help to defend Pigeon Tony, while beginning a relationship with his grandson.
This has a bit of everything; humor, suspense, delightful characters, romance, history, pathos, and good courtroom scenes. Scottoline has had a couple misses for me, but this was not one of them. This was a definite 4-hour read.
Lisa Scottoline – Stand alone(?)
Attorney Judy Carrier, member of the Rosato law firm, is asked by her best friend's father to defend his friend, Anthony Lucia, known throughout their South Philadelphia neighborhood as 'Pigeon Tony,' who is on trial for the murder of Angelo Coluzzi. However, Judy isn't prepared for a confession that Tony did, in fact, commit the crime—the result of a generations-old family feud that has spanned two continents. Judy need to find a way that this feud can help to defend Pigeon Tony, while beginning a relationship with his grandson.
This has a bit of everything; humor, suspense, delightful characters, romance, history, pathos, and good courtroom scenes. Scottoline has had a couple misses for me, but this was not one of them. This was a definite 4-hour read.
December 28, 2011
The more of Scottoline's stuff I read, the less I like. I bought several at the same time and now that I'm reading them they seem flat and sillier the more into the Bennie law firm series I get. The plots are framed in a manner to be very plot device manipulative, and the lawyers are not lovable. I'm skimming them now since they appear to be using the same outline with the names changed. Everyone's guilty usually with different levels of culpability, family is always Disney-cute, and the young female lawyer becomes a cooler person because of the case. Frankly, I'm starting to feel ick about this series.
October 14, 2018
Not a bad read, but many things dragged this book down. The fact the main character is an absolute idiot, for one. It's quite ironic actually, given the author has written her as looking down her nose at 'airhead' women in her office.
Secondly, considering the author has an Italian surname, you'd think she'd have put the time in to make sure the Italian phrases scattered throughout the book were correct, but alas.
Thirdly, the Italian characters in this- all of them- are pretty gross stereotypes, right down to one having onion breath.
Can say I've read this book, but would never recommend it or this author.
Secondly, considering the author has an Italian surname, you'd think she'd have put the time in to make sure the Italian phrases scattered throughout the book were correct, but alas.
Thirdly, the Italian characters in this- all of them- are pretty gross stereotypes, right down to one having onion breath.
Can say I've read this book, but would never recommend it or this author.
May 6, 2019
I do love a legal drama. Is Pigeon Tony guilty or not? Judy does her best to defend him as his lawyer. However, they are nearly killed and bombed. Destruction happens at Judy's place. The vendetta goes back to Italy, years ago and there is murder and more murder. The action intriques and absorbs the reader. There's a very subtle romance between Judy and Pigeon Tony's grandson. Scottoline rates as one of my favorite authors. Keep at it Lisa.
January 30, 2009
The sixth book featuring Bennie Rosato's law firm, this time with Judy Carrier, one of Bennie's attorneys, defending Pigeon Tony, who admits that he killed Angelo Coluzzi, but insists it wasn't murder but justice. The basis of this was very intriguing. I mean what really does make a person guilty of murder? I really liked this one as well. Another hit for Scottoline!
August 12, 2016
Just like the other novel I read in this series, it starts with a defendant who admits to the crime...and the lawyer falls madly in love with an involved relative of the murderer....and a lawyer who usually handles other cases is now head counsel in a murder trial....not that believable. At least writing was okay.
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September 3, 2011thank you grandma!
this kind of had it all: 1930s facist italy subplot, lots of south phila local color, girl lawyers with inappropriate outfits and professional demeanors, and a love interest who's a hot italian traditional stonemason. a lot can be forgiven for that, i guess.
this kind of had it all: 1930s facist italy subplot, lots of south phila local color, girl lawyers with inappropriate outfits and professional demeanors, and a love interest who's a hot italian traditional stonemason. a lot can be forgiven for that, i guess.
August 3, 2023
It's a good cultural reference. I found the main character difficult to empathize with (taking a murder case because she's bored, wearing crocs to office). I'm an attorney and this is not how we conduct our work. Very slow moving. I found it hard to maintain interest.
December 17, 2023
I didn't like anything about this one. Nothing about it felt real except a handful of conversations between the various Tonys and the ending frustrated me.
Pigeon Tony felt like a caricature and a nitwit.
Judy just felt like a nitwit.
Pigeon Tony felt like a caricature and a nitwit.
Judy just felt like a nitwit.
January 28, 2025
I’m usually a big fan of Lisa Scottoline, but this was not my favorite of hers. I struggled to get through it and unlike most of her books, did not find it suspenseful or compelling. Weak premise, un-compelling characters, and unbelievable story line. Sorry, but, not my favorite.
March 18, 2008
I liked the writing. I HATED the actual legal defense - The Vendetta Defense. I understood it intellectually, but kept thinking this would be horrible if a jury bought it.
December 28, 2008
For some reason, Lisa Scottoline did not appeal to me. I believe this is the only book I've read of hers.
August 5, 2015
Even though the narrator leaved a lot to be desired, this was an awesome book!! If you haven't read this series, you should!!
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