Daddy's Girl

Starred review from May 28, 2007
Scottoline’s breathless new thriller doesn’t make it easy for a female reader. The male-heavy cast of characters, including heroine Natalie “Nat” Greco’s overly protective daddy and her sports crazy brother, have Rosenblat gruffing up enough to fray even the most flexible vocal chords. She must also keep readjusting her pacing as Nat stumbles from a quiet life as a law professor into a chaotic nightmare filled with prison riots, murders and life and love on the run. The fun and suspense begins when Nat is smitten with Angus Holt, a fellow prof who seems to be the antithesis of the men in her testosterone-filled family. Rosenblat gives the thoughtful, ponytailed Angus a voice so mellow you can almost smell his patchouli incense. Nat follows him to a teaching class at a local prison where a riot breaks out. A dying prison guard’s whispered secret places Nat in ultimate jeopardy. From there, the mousy brunette law professor transforms herself into a blonde survivor who can dodge bullets, homicidal truckers and dogged lawmen. Scottoline provides the physical and psychological changes, but Rosenblat makes the metamorphosis credible by subtly replacing Nat’s timid voice with one full of strength and determination. Simultaneous release with the HarperCollins hardcover (Reviews, Dec. 18).

December 18, 2006
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.

February 15, 2007
Scottoline introduces readers to another strong heroine as likable as Mary DiNunzio, Bennie Rosato, and Cate Fante. Nat Greco is a mild-mannered law school professor who finds her world spinning out of control after she agrees to an impromptu guest lecture at a local jail with a colleague. Within minutes of arrival, a riot locks down the jail, Nat's life is threatened, and her coworker is injured. She flees the classroom and encounters a grisly crime scene. After dispatching someone to her associate, she attempts CPR on a dying prison guard, who gives her a message for his wife. Nat's attempts to deliver the message ensnare her in a web of corruption, danger, and intrigue that threaten her reputation and her life. Those who can tolerate a slow beginning won't be disappointed. Once the book picks up pace, it's a nonstop joy ride all the way to the finish. Recommended. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 11/15/06.]Mary Todd Chesnut, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Highland Heights

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2006
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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)