Customer Reviews

Mistaken Identity (Charnwood Library)

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This is the 6th Lisa Scottoline book I have read and except for some loose ends and sometimes the language, I think it is the best one I have read. Bennie Rosato is a very good lawyer, she is contacted by Alice Connolly who claims to be her twin. Alice is in jail for a murder she says she did not do. Bennie takes the case and then begins to uncover a conspiracy between the cops involved an attorney and even the judge. A retired cop, named Lou, is very helpful. I hope he is used again. The case goes to trial, you don't know until the last if Connolly is guilty or not or is she is a twin to Rosato or not.And after the trail, what happenes to Connolly. It all has a very good twist to the ending, at least one I did not expect. The action moves better than some of her other books and I enjoyed it very much. Would love to write the ending as it is very shocking but you will have to read the book.

The book is a real page turner. A curve ball when not expected and a slider when you expect a curve. She keeps you guessing right up to the end.....her legal detail is excellent and story telling outstanding. I do think I know a better place for steak sandwiches....in Roxborough but that is my only complaint! Keep writing Lisa!

Don't miss this book if you enjoy a good, fast-paced read with a legal bent to it. The review from Kirkus Associates does a much better job of describing the book than I can, so I'll leave that to them. Had never read any of Lisa Scottoline's novels before, but after finishing MISTAKEN IDENTITY, I immediately ordered her previous novel, ROUGH JUSTICE.

Ms. Scottoline's characters are real, and it doesn't take long to realize that she writes from personal experience and observation. She has been described as the " female John Grisham," but that description doesn't do her justice. Like Grisham, her past legal experience has paid off with her ability to create some very believable characters.

Lisa also has an interesting Web site at http://www.scottoline.com. and it's worth the visit to learn a bit more about the author. You'l' find a message board and online reviews there as well. That's where I found out that MISTAKEN IDENTY has evidently been optioned for development into a television series.

Looking forward to reading all of her previous novels.

When I finished the Tenth Justice by Brad Meltzer I was sure I would never find a book as contrived and with so many gaping plot holes as it had. So you can imagine my surprise, and disappointment, when over one hundred books later I found the worst book in this genre ever, "Mistaken Identity". Everything about this book was wrong from the patronizing, obnoxious main character who treats the associates in her firm, opposing counsel, and her boyfriend like dogs to the glaring plot holes that left me wondering how this writer is so popular. I will say three particular plot devices really left me shaking my head: (1) a big break in the case coming when the main character was able to tell who a witness was looking at across a packed court room; (2) the main character discovering someone's identity when a piece of paper with the persons picture on it falls out of a book unto the floor; and (3) having to rely on the dreaded mysterious informant to fill in details that the author could not find any other way to bring out. Please don't wast your time reading this nonsense -- and instead try the wonderful and very underrated Baine Kerr or Donna Tartt.

I read books of this genre for entertainment and relaxation and Mistaken Identity satisfied me in both ways. I don't have the "lawyerly" knowledge to trip up my enjoyment, but I am usually willing to suspend disbelief a bit for a "good read." That is, after all, a tradition when writing and reading fiction. I look for interesting, well developed characters, a compelling plot, and decent writing; Scottoline delivers all three. There are questions unanswered, sure! I trust (and look forward to) Scottoline answering them somewhere farther down the line. I would offer this book to friends to read.

Book was good, however too long and characters became confusing. This is a book you can lay down where others were page turners. Story is good but could be condensed to make it more readable.

"Mistaken Identity" is Lisa Scottoline's sixth and best book yet. This former Edgar Award winner gets better with every novel. "Mistaken Identity" and "Rough Justice", her previous novel, bring back previous heroines -- Bennie Rosato, Mary DiNunzio, and Judy Carrier. It is most enjoyable to see the character of each of these three lawyers continue to develop.

In "Mistaken Identity", Lisa makes excellent use of her legal background to depict courtroom scenes as only a lawyer could. The plot itself is unique in that Bennie finds herself defending a prisoner, Alice Connolly, who claims to be Bennie's twin. Although the book is almost 500 pages, it is an extremely fast read. As in all of her novels, the suspense is non-stop, from beginning to end.

In her "Acknowledgements", Lisa reveals that she did not discover until she was in her thirties that she had a half-sister. So, the book has a special meaning for her. She has meticulously researched the subject of twins and provides the reader with five references for additional information.

Lisa has a marvelous website . Months ago, readers were given an opportunity to edit the first chapter of "Mistaken Identity". This additional dimension to Lisa's creativity further bonds the reader to an outstanding author.

Scottoline is a talented author with a strong legal background. Her characters are intriguing although the villains are a bit stereotyped. The problem with this book is the plot. It is too complicated and the ending leaves many more questions unanswered than I would have liked. Not every loose end must be tied up, but the author left far too many dangling. The book, at 480 pages, is too long. There is not enough plot to justify the length. It could have been edited better. With a tighter plot and a more focused ending, "Mistaken Identity" would have been a top-flight legal thriller. Instead it is a valiant effort that ultimately falls short of its initial promise.

I've read most of Scottoline's books and liked them. They're not Grisham or Turow, but they're good for a couple of nights' reading.

This particular offering, however, never pulled me into the story, nor did I for one minute believe that Bennie Rosato -- tough girl that she is -- would fall for such a con artist as her "twin" sister...the entire thing just didn't ring true.

And the stereotypes Scottoline used are so tired and overdone.

I've worked for lawyers and am pretty sure that no judge worth his robes would deny a continuance after an attorney's parent died, so that part didn't work for me either.

I think Scottoline ought to go back to what works for her rather than trying to turn out a book every 6 months or so. Her writing, timing, plot development and characterizations are suffering.

This is the first Lisa Scottoline book that I read and I enjoyed it. The plot was interesting and the characters were terrific. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys legal thrillers or even just a good mystery. I was so impressed by this author that I am planning on getting her newest novel - Courting Trouble. It is another Bennie Rosato book and her associates are still with her. Looking forward to reading it.