Devil's Corner [Paperback]

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vicki Allegretti comes from white glove roots which she's rejected in favor of putting away criminals. She has been an assistant DA so she's the new kid on the block with the Feds. Stuck with a case no one else wants, she goes for an interview with the confidential informant on a gun law case . . . and her life will never be the same.

The background for the mystery is quite intriguing. Vicki's father is from the very drug-ridden neighborhood that Vicki is now trying to clean up. But he doesn't want her to have anything to do with prosecuting criminals. He wants Vicki to join up with the family firm and defend white collar criminals.

At the same time, Vicki's head over heels in love with another lawyer in her office who wants to be best buddies. The main problem is that the other lawyer is married . . . and Vicki's not about to be a home wrecker . . . even though she fantasizes about doing so.

Everyone wants Vicki to play nice . . . and she wants to get the bad guys. In that role, she's more like a vigilante than an attorney . . . doing detective work, trailing suspects and fighting off violent criminals. When writers take that role with heroes and heroines these days, they usually make their characters too perfect. You never believe that they can be hurt. Vicki has a vulnerability that makes her courage (or stubbornness) seem real. It has a vastly positive effect on how the story goes. I liked it very much!

In a note, Ms. Scottoline shares that she thought of the plot while listening to a series of related Federal cases about drug dealing. I think she was well served to use this experience for her story. It gives the tale a grittiness and reality that make it both more intense and compelling.

Nice work, Ms. Scottoline. Give us more like this one!

The now deceased informant was going to testify against Reheema Bristow, a beautiful African American woman, with no prior arrests, who allegedly purchased two Colt 45.s at a local gun shop and illegally resold them to someone else - a straw purchase. When Bristow's mother, a crack addict, is brutally murdered right after the shootings, Vicki suspects a connection between the opening of a new "drug store" in the slum neighborhood known as Devil's Corner and the homicides. Heartbroken about her partner's death, and frustrated with the jurisdictional red tape holding up the investigation, (turf problems between local police, ATF and FBI), she decides to do some sleuthing herself, teaming up with Reheema in the process - a very unlikely duo, but it works. The two meet some extremely unsavory characters who wouldn't mind eliminating them both, as they attempt to solve the crimes.

This is the first book I have read by Lisa Scottoline, as odd as that may seem - odd in that I am an avid reader and the author's novels are very popular. I am pleasantly surprised at the fascinating storyline about the business of drug dealing in our inner cities, apparently inspired by a real-life jury trial for crack-cocaine trafficking of members of one Philly's most violent gangs. I enjoyed Vicki as a character, although her self destructive romance/friendship with a married man was distracting. And I really liked the Philadelphia setting - my old stomping ground...and still a favorite place to visit.

This is a good light read. I recommend it and will be looking into Ms. Scottoline's previous novels.
JANA

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vicki Allegretti comes from white glove roots which she's rejected in favor of putting away criminals. She has been an assistant DA so she's the new kid on the block with the Feds. Stuck with a case no one else wants, she goes for an interview with the confidential informant on a gun law case . . . and her life will never be the same.

The background for the mystery is quite intriguing. Vicki's father is from the very drug-ridden neighborhood that Vicki is now trying to clean up. But he doesn't want her to have anything to do with prosecuting criminals. He wants Vicki to join up with the family firm and defend white collar criminals.

At the same time, Vicki's head over heels in love with another lawyer in her office who wants to be best buddies. The main problem is that the other lawyer is married . . . and Vicki's not about to be a home wrecker . . . even though she fantasizes about doing so.

Everyone wants Vicki to play nice . . . and she wants to get the bad guys. In that role, she's more like a vigilante than an attorney . . . doing detective work, trailing suspects and fighting off violent criminals. When writers take that role with heroes and heroines these days, they usually make their characters too perfect. You never believe that they can be hurt. Vicki has a vulnerability that makes her courage (or stubbornness) seem real. It has a vastly positive effect on how the story goes. I liked it very much!

In a note, Ms. Scottoline shares that she thought of the plot while listening to a series of related Federal cases about drug dealing. I think she was well served to use this experience for her story. It gives the tale a grittiness and reality that make it both more intense and compelling.

Nice work, Ms. Scottoline. Give us more like this one!