Customer Reviews

The Vendetta Defence

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Once again Lisa Scottoline grips the reader with a fast paced novel set in South Philly. The protagonist, Pigeon Tony, is a delightful, funny, and determined man who readily admits he killed his longstanding enemy. His hatred for Angeo Coluzzi goes back to his days in Fascist Italy. Pigeon Tony feels he is justified for the killing of Coluzzi because of the deaths of his wife, son, and daughter-in-law. He, however, does not understand the American law systems classification of this act murder. Secondary to the main plot, is a love story between Pigeon Tony's grandson, Frank, and his lawyer Judy Carrier. Judy Carrier is a member of the all female law firm Scottoline has previously used run by the hard-as-nails boss Bennie Rosato. Any Scottoline fan will recognize her love for the South Philly neighborhood where her novels are set. This story will not disappoint those who enjoy the "lawyer genre".

Lawyer Judy Carrier takes on a case that can make, or break her career.

Elderly pigeon racer, Anthony Lucia (pigeon Tony to his friends), is arrested for the murder of lifelong enemy, Angelo Coluzzi. Tony, and Coluzzi have had a 50 year-old vendetta against one another, bringing pain, and murder to both men for many years.

Against the wishes of her boss, Bennie Rosato, Judy takes on the case, even though her client has confessed his guilt.

As the case heats up, Judy will find herself attracted to Tony's grandson Frank, and attempts will be made to finish off Tony before the case can go to trial.

Before long, Judy, will be fighting for her life, if she is to see justice served.

"The Vendetta Defense" is another MASTERFUL thriller by bestselling author, Lisa Scottoline. The plot races along at break-neck speed; combining a colorful cast of characters, with snappy dialogue, and plot twist, after plot twist.

I have said it before, and I will say it again...Scottoline has been compared to Grisham, but that is an unfair statement because she is better, MUCH better!

Lisa Scottoline has made a career of writing interesting legal thrillers, and her new one is no exception, it ranks as one of her best, and will surely fly up the bestseller list's.

A MUST read!!!

Nick Gonnella

Wow, Lisa Scottoline has really topped herself with the Vendetta Defense. Pigeon Tony is exasperating as he insists on telling the judge that yes, he killed Angelo, and yes, he wanted to, but no, "I no murder!" His justification fits Italian culture, but not United States law. He drives defense attorney Judy Carrier crazy as he keeps insisting "I tell judge", while she does just about everything to prevent him incriminating himself. Lisa Scottoline's characters are so real, I would know Tony (and his parade of friends, "the Tonys") in an instant if saw them or heard them talking. Judy is real too, as we get to know her through her mental dialogue, her own self-doubts contrasted with righteous indignation about the offenses Tony and his family suffered at the hands of Antonio. She knows what's right, but she also knows the law. The characters are what makes this book stand apart, but the plot is solid, the issues strong, and the writing superb. If you haven't discovered Scottoline, this is the time, and if she's already on your list of favorites, she just might move up to the top!

Since reading "Every Where That Mary Went", I have read each Lisa Scottoline novel as quickly as they have been published. "The Vendetta Defense" certainly deserves five stars!

One of the best things about this series is that each book has featured a different character or combination of characters from the law firm of Rosato & Associates. This time it's Judy Carrier's turn to shine. For those who follow the series, Bennie Rosato and Mary DiNunzio both make brief appearances here. But it's Judy who picks up the murder case and consequently falls in love. Her client is an elderly Italian man whose main interest is taking care of and racing his beloved pigeons. Pigeon Tony is a terrific character and Ms. Scottoline does a wonderful job making him feel very "real" to the readers. There really isn't a "mystery" because Pigeon Tony tells Judy immediately that he is responsible for Angelo Coluzzi's death. The interest is how Judy will build a defense and how she will escape the vengeful Coluzzi family.

This is Lisa Scottoline at her best!

Broadway actress Barbara Rosenblat offers a taut, nuanced reading of Lisa Scottoline's latest compelling legal thriller, "The Vendetta Defense."

Mystery fans have come to respect Ms. Scottoline not only for her suspense driven narratives but for the integrity of her work as she largely bases stories on her experience as a Philadelphia trial lawyer. Legal ethics are often the core of her drama, and she has lectured on this subject at law schools throughout the country.

Now, we meet "Pigeon Tony"Lucia, an elderly Italian pigeon racer who admits killing his number one enemy, Angelo Coluzzi, to avenge a fifty year old blood feud. His attorney, Judy Carrier, has more than a guilty client on her hands as Coluzzi's family want vengeance for their father's death and Judy long gone before the case goes to trial.

Can she outrun and outsmart these lethal, amoral foes? You're simply going to have to listen to Barbara Rosenblat's accomplished reading to find out.

Judy Carrier, lawyer, is set to defend Pigeon Tony a man who has not only been accused of committing a murder but actually admits he did it. For a lawyer an admission of guilt makes for a tough defense; for a story it makes a great plot. I enjoy legal thrillers, as long as the bulk of the story is told outside of the courtroom.

To me there is nothing more boring than courtroom action, or inaction as it were, and courtroom dialog. I was not disappointed when I read The Vendetta Defense. The courtroom scenes turned out to be very well written and entertaining.

Lisa Scottoline is great at characterization. Pigeon Tony, this guy is a character, reminded me so much of my father that part way through the story I had total empathized with him. The story is great, the writing is exceptional, the characters are wonderful, the dialog is crisp, and should Judy Carrier lose her case at least Lisa Scottoline comes away a big winner with her masterpiece The Vendetta Defense. (Pigeon fanciers take note: was it intentional or ironic that Judy "Carrier" ended up defending "Pigeon" Tony?)

From Scottolines first book through to Mistaken Identity, I really enjoyed her work, it was fast, fresh, suspenseful, and at times laugh out loud funny. Her last book was a dissapointment however, and I am sorry to say that this is an even bigger one. Maybe I am crazy, seeing as how it has been geting glowing reviews here, but I just didn't like it. I thought it was very slow paced, and not very suspenseful at all. I found myself constantly skimming ahead for the "good" parts. The characters were flat and pigeon Tony was annoying with his constant "I no murder him, I kill him!" There were snippets of humor, but nothing compared to some of her previous books. I hate writing such a negative review of an author I like, but that is how I feel. I will still read her next book, and hopefully it will go better.

In her best novel yet, Lisa Scottoline has once again mined her knowledge of all things Italian and the result is pure gold. "The Vendetta Defense" is the story of "Pigeon Tony" Lucia (he breeds and races pigeons), an elderly Italian gentleman who admits that he has killed his enemy, eighty-year-old Angela Coluzzi, in order to settle an ancient vendetta. In a series of flashbacks, we learn the story of Tony Lucia and Angelo Coluzzi. These two men were neighbors in a small town in Italy sixty years ago, and they were rivals for the hand of the beautiful Silvana. Silvana chose Tony Lucia over Angelo Coluzzi, and Angelo, a rabid Fascist and a vicious thug, never forgave this betrayal. Coluzzi spent his life doing everything that he could to destroy the Lucia family. For over half a century, Tony has restrained his anguish, until the fateful day when he and Coluzzi finally have it out. Judy Carrier, a hotshot lawyer in Bennie Rosato's all-female law firm, decides to take on Tony Lucia's seemingly hopeless case. While trying this case, Judy risks her life, weathers exciting and nerve-wracking courtroom battles and finds love with Frank, Tony's gorgeous grandson. Scottoline's novel is at times achingly poignant, especially during the flashbacks, and at other times, it is laugh-out-loud funny. Scottoline is politically incorrect in her depiction of the old Italian men and young Italian mobsters who live in South Philly. "The Vendetta Defense" works as a light and entertaining mystery, and I recommend it unreservedly. Fans of Scottoline will fall in love with Judy and Pigeon Tony, and they will enjoy this wonderful novel immensely.

I read this through in a few hours and found it entertaining enough but it isn't the type of book that will live with you much afterwards. I'd compare this one to watching an average movie. Well-written enough, with characters that you do care about, an intriguing murder (and murderer, for that matter). And yet it still fell short of what I expected, especially since I like Scottoline's books and always look forward to reading them. Maybe it was just me but somehow I didn't find the plot, action and characterization as compelling as other books she has written. Pigeon Tony, the elderly man who has murdered a long-hated enemy, is a sweet, lovable guy and you want him to get out of the murder rap (even though he DID murder the guy, which is no secret, that's clear from the start of this book) and his friends are also likeable. But this book dragged for me until the actual trial got going. There's a love angle, there's the murder, there is danger lurking around every corner - but all of these plot angles were not written in an unpredictable or intriquing enough manner for my taste. Having said that, please be aware that this book is far above the average for this genre and you might find you like it well enough. Like I said, my opinion is just that - a very personal one.

Judy Carrier, a blonde law review member of Bennie Rosato's all woman law firm, takes the case of Pigeon Tony Lucia, a 79-year-old South Philly guy who killed his life long enemy Angelo Coluzzi. Unfortunately, everything is overdone, especially Judy's independent investigations in the face of Coluzzi family reprisals.

A cast of ethnic characters, Tony Two Feet, Tony from down the block, friend Mary DiNunzio's parents and Coluzzi's gofer Fat Jimmy Belloo and his ex-wife Maureen, add some spice to the story. The trial is ridiculous with some obvious miscues by either author or reader (I'm reviewing the unabridged audio version) on what objecton was waged by whom. Judy out maneuvers an obnoxious prosecutor, but Pigeon Tony insists on speaking his piece and things get complicated.

In the end Judy and Tony's hunk of a grandson Frank resume the romance that started on the case, but Lisa Scottoline will have to find someone else to buy the sequel.