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laura_m_j's review
4.0
I may have found a new favorite fun author, thanks to a sale at Amazon. Legal drama!
jalba18's review
2.0
This book drove me absolutely crazy, possibly because I work in children's social services and mental health. I was frequently finding myself wanting to yell at the characters out loud because their judgment and professionalism was so poor. I found it difficult to believe that in a story filled with educated adults, no one would have questioned the main characters decisions and actions more strongly. I like the Rosato & DiNunzio series but have decided that Mary is my least favorite character. She seems to ruin the stories for me. n
sci_mom's review
3.0
I'm torn on this one. On the one hand, it was an entertaining read, but on the other, it seemed too...simple...for want of a better word. I had a hard time swallowing Mary's overwhelming urge to become the guardian of a boy she met two days before and, no matter how hard LS tried to sell it (the bit with Anthony at the end was a last ditch effort), it never did quite ring true for me. Add in the HUGE decisions Mary and Anthony were making, without even a 'by your leave' from each other, and it combines in the reader being required to make some major leaps of faith (and logic) to make the story work (the author did use the characters to try and make it all seem plausible, but it felt too 'explainy' and not natural, to me). Overall, I was entertained and the legal issues and facts about children with special needs were interesting, so I kept it at 3 stars.
novelesque_life's review
4.0
Rating: 4 STARS
2016; St. Martin's Press
(Review Not on Blog)
First of all...what about ANNE??? I get that Mary and Bennie are the partners in the firm, but what about the others getting a chance. We get a bit of a glimpse of Anne but have not really seen her since [b:Courting Trouble|84826|Courting Trouble (Rosato & Associates, #7)|Lisa Scottoline|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347543788i/84826._SY75_.jpg|81863].
Now back to the regular review...this book stars Mary and this time she is up against a lawyer who has no problem winning at all costs. As usual, Mary lets things get personal with her young client, by first becoming his guardian ad litem and then investing all her time and energy in the case. Will this case put her new engagement in jeopardy.
Corrupted, the previous book, was great and this one too had me reading as fast as I could. But again, it is the characters that keep me engaged. As story on it's own I am not sure if I would rate it less.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
2016; St. Martin's Press
(Review Not on Blog)
First of all...what about ANNE??? I get that Mary and Bennie are the partners in the firm, but what about the others getting a chance. We get a bit of a glimpse of Anne but have not really seen her since [b:Courting Trouble|84826|Courting Trouble (Rosato & Associates, #7)|Lisa Scottoline|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347543788i/84826._SY75_.jpg|81863].
Now back to the regular review...this book stars Mary and this time she is up against a lawyer who has no problem winning at all costs. As usual, Mary lets things get personal with her young client, by first becoming his guardian ad litem and then investing all her time and energy in the case. Will this case put her new engagement in jeopardy.
Corrupted, the previous book, was great and this one too had me reading as fast as I could. But again, it is the characters that keep me engaged. As story on it's own I am not sure if I would rate it less.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
afox98's review
2.0
2 1/2 stars. Disappointing, to be honest. I haven’t read a Lisa Scottoline book in quite a while but I remember them being more cleverly written and interesting than this book was. Mary DiNunzio is a busy lawyer with a wedding coming up in two weeks. She takes on a special-education case involving 10-year-old Patrick O’Brien, who is accused of attacking an aide with a pair of scissors. Turns out there is much more to the story. The writing was awkward, Mary came across as overly emotional, and I found a large part of the story to be unbelievable. It will probably be a while before I read another Scottoline book.
kenautica's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
emmasch's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
Damaged, the latest addition to Lisa Scottoline's Rosato and DiNunzio series, is a perplexing legal mystery that delves into the intricacies of special education law and family law.
Mary DiNunzio is the final two weeks of wedding preparations when she finds herself knee deep in a heartbreaking case involving a ten year old boy and his grandfather. Retired accountant Edward O'Brien hires Mary to defend his grandson Patrick after the child is accused of attacking his teacher's aide, Steven Robertson, with a pair of scissors. Robertson's attorney is notorious and diabolical legal shark, Nick Machiavelli, whose immature taunts and dastardly manipulations immediately infuriate Mary. After the case takes a deadly turn, she jeopardizes her relationship with her fiancé Anthony Rotunno when she impetuously makes a decision without consulting him. Desperate to rescue Patrick before he is irreparably damaged by the system that is designed to protect him, Mary works feverishly to solve a shocking murder but will she become the killer's next victim?
Helping special needs children get the best education possible is what Mary does best and she is willing to do whatever is necessary to help Edward navigate the complicated system for his grandson. She is incensed at Nick's legal shenanigans and she sometimes acts before she thinks. She is immediately on the offensive trying to anticipate his next move, but Mary is stunned at how far he will go to outmaneuver her. As the situation with Patrick worsens, she genuinely wants what is best for the young boy, but some of her decisions are a little naive and ill-planned. Mary's heart is in the right place, but she is definitely out of her depth and making choices that could do more harm than good in the long run.
The allegations against Patrick are not easy to prove but they are equally difficult to disprove as well. While Mary knows the special education laws inside out, backwards and upside down, she is on unfamiliar ground once Patrick reveals shocking information about Steven Robertson. After the case takes a heartrending turn, she is even more determined than ever to save the young boy, but things begin moving so fast that she can barely keep up. Mary is puzzled by some of the details she stumbles across but she is so overwhelmed by everything that is happening, the truth remains tantalizingly out of reach. Will Mary be able to solve the mystery before it is too late?
With plenty of intriguing twists and turns, Damaged is a fast-paced and compelling mystery. Lisa Scottoline's research into special education laws and family law is absolutely impeccable and provides depth to the various story arcs. The storyline is interesting with unexpected plot twists that will keep the reader guessing whodunit and why right up until the dramatic showdown between Mary and the murderer(s). Although Damaged is the fourth book in the Rosato and DiNunzio series, it can easily be read as a standalone.
Mary DiNunzio is the final two weeks of wedding preparations when she finds herself knee deep in a heartbreaking case involving a ten year old boy and his grandfather. Retired accountant Edward O'Brien hires Mary to defend his grandson Patrick after the child is accused of attacking his teacher's aide, Steven Robertson, with a pair of scissors. Robertson's attorney is notorious and diabolical legal shark, Nick Machiavelli, whose immature taunts and dastardly manipulations immediately infuriate Mary. After the case takes a deadly turn, she jeopardizes her relationship with her fiancé Anthony Rotunno when she impetuously makes a decision without consulting him. Desperate to rescue Patrick before he is irreparably damaged by the system that is designed to protect him, Mary works feverishly to solve a shocking murder but will she become the killer's next victim?
Helping special needs children get the best education possible is what Mary does best and she is willing to do whatever is necessary to help Edward navigate the complicated system for his grandson. She is incensed at Nick's legal shenanigans and she sometimes acts before she thinks. She is immediately on the offensive trying to anticipate his next move, but Mary is stunned at how far he will go to outmaneuver her. As the situation with Patrick worsens, she genuinely wants what is best for the young boy, but some of her decisions are a little naive and ill-planned. Mary's heart is in the right place, but she is definitely out of her depth and making choices that could do more harm than good in the long run.
The allegations against Patrick are not easy to prove but they are equally difficult to disprove as well. While Mary knows the special education laws inside out, backwards and upside down, she is on unfamiliar ground once Patrick reveals shocking information about Steven Robertson. After the case takes a heartrending turn, she is even more determined than ever to save the young boy, but things begin moving so fast that she can barely keep up. Mary is puzzled by some of the details she stumbles across but she is so overwhelmed by everything that is happening, the truth remains tantalizingly out of reach. Will Mary be able to solve the mystery before it is too late?
With plenty of intriguing twists and turns, Damaged is a fast-paced and compelling mystery. Lisa Scottoline's research into special education laws and family law is absolutely impeccable and provides depth to the various story arcs. The storyline is interesting with unexpected plot twists that will keep the reader guessing whodunit and why right up until the dramatic showdown between Mary and the murderer(s). Although Damaged is the fourth book in the Rosato and DiNunzio series, it can easily be read as a standalone.