Daddy's Girl (Mass Market Paperback)

by Lisa Scottoline (Author)
Key Phrases: vice dean, externship programs, pickup driver, Chester County, Professor Greco, Ron Saunders (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The undistinguished academic career of Natalie "Nat" Greco, a mousy and naïve law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, takes an unexpected turn at the start of this less than compelling legal thriller from bestseller Scottoline (Dirty Blonde). When an attractive male colleague, Angus Holt, convinces Nat to accompany him on a teaching assignment at a nearby prison, a sudden riot puts them both in peril. Nat finds herself desperately attempting to save the life of a guard, apparently stabbed by an inmate during the fracas. The dying man asks her to pass on his last words to his wife, but possessing knowledge of this cryptic message proves dangerous. Nat finds herself accused of murder and must evade the law while also tracking down the bad guys. Her methods more often resemble that of Nancy Drew than an Ivy League professor, and the plot suffers by comparison with Peter Abrahams's gritty End of Story (2006), which makes better use of a similar theme. 11-city author tour. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
Natalie "Nat" Greco's law students just aren't that interested in the history of justice, and she can't seem to find a way to reach them. Then a new teaching opportunity develops that would take her out of the University of Pennsylvania and into a local prison classroom. She opts for the dramatic change of scenery and soon finds herself in the middle of a prison melee, attempting to save the life of an injured prisoner, who makes a dying declaration intended for his wife. In attempting to deliver the bewildering message, Nat nearly gets herself killed and winds up being framed for murder. Ever concerned with justice, Nat goes on the lam as she tries to uncover the mystery of the prisoner's final words. Scottoline mixes stand-alones and her Rosato and Associates series in fairly even proportions, so series fans have learned to expect the occasional interruption. This one finds the author in good form, combining suspense- and character-building effectively. Like her heroine, Scottoline has recently begun to teach at Penn and is also embarking on another new project, a show for Court TV called Murder by the Book, featuring best-selling mystery writers presenting and discussing dramatizations of real-life crimes. She's already immensely popular, but expect the bump in exposure to bump up demand for her latest. Mary Frances Wilkens
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Harper (January 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060833157
• ISBN-13: 978-0060833152
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #121,309 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scottoline's Scores, March 15, 2007

By	David C. Hackney (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Daddy's Girl (Hardcover)

Lisa Scottoline's 14th novel is much more than a murder mystery. It is the story of a woman, Natalie Greco, transforming herself from a timid young woman dominated by her boyfriend and family, into someone strong, self-assured, and confident whose father proudly proclaims her to be "Daddy's Girl." Within the first few pages Nat "Gnat" will be someone you'll want to spend time with; first out a sense of protectiveness (she's short and is easyly overlooked,) but eventually by telling her "you go girl!" Not only is this an exciting, completely credible work of fiction, Scottoline also gives the reader some of the fascinating history of the Underground Railroad. If you've read her other books you are in for a treat. If you are new to Scottoline this is a great place to start.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I expected more from Scottoline, April 12, 2007

By	D. West "Bones" (Boise, Idaho United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Daddy's Girl (Hardcover)

After reading other books by this author, I must say I was greatly disappointed in this effort. For one, the dialogue was prosaic, the characters weren't all that likeable and the plot was way thin! The use of all caps was an irritating attempt to convey a characteristic that is unlikely (especially in this family) and only served to irritate this reader as it does when one sends emails in all caps to show emphasis.

Past novels by this author have shown a bright wit and great repartee between the characters. This time, these attributes were sorely missing. The heroine, Nat, was not believable in her endeavors and wasn't all that likeable either. It appeared to me that Ms. Scottoline was more interested in getting the book to print, than in creating a credible storyline with interesting characters.

I have read better books by Scottoline. In fact, I just finished Dirty Blonde and because I enjoyed the wit and plot, I bought this one as soon as it was available. I would rather wait longer between "good" novels and get the best Lisa Scottoline has to offer than have her pump out "poorly conceived" novels like an assembly line.

The title was a dud as well and had little to do with the plot. I look forward to better novels in the future as I know the talent is there.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vintage Scottoline - thank goodness!, April 9, 2007

By	Dr Cathy Goodwin (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Daddy's Girl (Hardcover)

As a dedicated Scottoline fan, I enjoyed Daddys Girl immensely. Definitely one of the best in a great series.

Don't blame the author for the title. Ultimately the publisher gets the final word. And when deciding whether to buy this novel, with a highly visible author, do we really look at the title?

Mostly, I found this novel draws on many of Scottoline's recurring themes. For example:

Ordinary woman, extraordinary achievements: As usual, we're introduced to a very down-to-earth, very human heroine who also happens to be an achiever. If anything, Scottoline downplays the sheer magnitude of getting a tenure-track position in an Ivy League law school. She has the all too common worries about keeping up appearance and coping in a male-dominated world. Inside, she's conflicted. Outwardly, she's so accomplished she's scary.

Family: Scottoline's families tend to be large, Italian, loving and possessive. She departs from the profile here, introducing a macho family where the heroine feels like an outsider. Dysfunctional? In Scottoline's novels, whatever happens, blood will trump water anytime.

Outrageous risks: I love watching Scottoline's heroines cross over the edge as they go running from the law. In an earlier novel, a heroine takes over a conference room of a law firm, claiming to be from a branch office. Talk about "Hide in plain sight." Heroine Natalie goes out on a limb here. Alas, I can't say more without being accused of spoilers.

Intricate plot and satisfying ending: Scottoline keeps throwing one curve after another, right up to the end. Experienced mystery readers will get early hunches about the outcome, but it feels right.

Law vs. justice: An ongoing quest among Scottoline's novels. Here the case seems less ambiguous than most. But it comes up.

Juicy characters: I loved Natalie's family! And I hope to see Natalie herself in future novels. True, some of the prisoners and guards seemed to blend together. The law school dean and assistant dean seem less than 3-dimensional but they remind me of some business school administrators I've known.

Edgy dialogue: I like the way Scottoline juxtaposes the heroine's inner comebacks (italicized) with her outward, polite comments.

Diversity of the legal profession: So far, we've seen litigators, defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, law firm associates, independent counsels...everyone! It's nice to meet a law professor this time around.

Finally, as a former business school professor, I found the law school scenes compelling and realistic. I remember being assigned to teach a small class in a large room. You really do face unique challenges in creating a productive classroom dynamic.

Scottoline used some artistic license in exaggerating the attitudes of Natalie's students. She did take action to motivate them to prepare more for class.

But as a female professor, Natalie always walks a finer line than her male counterparts. Female professors are constantly being tested. We're expected to understand problems ranging from child care to computer meltdowns. Even when I've taught online, I find students are more likely to ask for deadline extensions and special consideration.

And they're far more critical. Studies show that women and ethnic minorities tend to get lower course evaluations. Male professors get far more leeway when it comes to dress and classroom topics.

The experience of being a female lawyer -- from the inside out -- is yet another Scottoline theme. And here, in a lighthearted way, I believe she also captures the female professor experience.

And now we have to wait at least a year for the next Scottoline novel. That's the only bad news.

Scottoline