LISA SCOTTOLINE

As if lawyer Bennie Rosato doesn't have enough problems trying to keep her struggling firm afloat, she finds that someone has been impersonating her around town and causing mayhem. Then the cops arrive and Bennie is accused of robbing a jewellery store. Just another rip-roaring day in the all-female Philadelphia law firm of Rosato and Associates, whose wacky staff deal with adversity by kicking it in painful places. Scottoline has built a big reputation with her Rosato sequence of legal thrillers, their ingenious blend of farce and suspense earning her the Edgar Award for crime fiction as well as a host of other honours. This time Scottoline excels herself with a novel that combines crime and an emotional family saga. Bennie, the heroine, is a feisty individual who can't help wise-cracking even when death stares her in the face. She doesn't find it especially funny, however, when her ex-convict identical-twin sister Alice turns up and sets out to cause ruin. A would-be murderer then begins to stalk Bennie just as it seems she has found a way to save both her reputation and cash-strapped law firm. The plot has many labyrinthine twists and a wonderfully conceived ending, while the cast of hardboiled characters and their sizzling dialogue are unforgettable. Americans seem to write this type of novel particularly well - in particular Scottoline's writing can be compared to that of Scott Turow and Janet Evanovich. Previous books in the Rosato series have been criticized for their excessive use of profanity. It seems Scottoline has got the message - the swearing here is pared to a minimum. This is by far the best Rosato book yet. (Kirkus UK) --AmazonIn great condition --Seller--This text refers to the Hardcoveredition.