The Vendetta Defense

By: Lisa Scottoline

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Length: 14 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

In The Vendetta Defense, Lisa Scottoline, New York Times best-selling author of Moment of Truth and Mistaken Identity, tells a wonderfully rich story of past sins, love, and justice.

Lawyer Judy Carrier takes the case of an elderly pigeon racer, Tony Lucia, who has been arrested for the murder of his lifelong enemy, Angelo Coluzzi. "Pigeon Tony", as he's known, confesses to Judy that he killed Coluzzi because of a vendetta begun more than 50 years ago.

Her client's guilt, however, is only the beginning of Judy's problems. The Coluzzi family wants revenge, and they are determined to finish off Pigeon Tony and Judy before the case can go to trial.

©2001 Lisa Scottoline (P)2001 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Scottoline is wickedly funny....The outcome is Mary Higgins Clark meets Susan Isaacs meets John Grisham." ( Philadelphia Magazine)

"Scottoline's writing style is sharp, intelligent, funny, and hip." ( USA Today)

Good lightweight entertainment

It's very well read and fun to listen to, with lots of accents and different voices achieved by a single reader. The plot is lightweight and insignificant but it was a good book to listen to when I walk or drive.

My favorite Lisa Scotoline book yet!

This has a perfect balance of "laywer-ese," bad guys, and beautifully flawed characters I've come to expect from her!

I was drawn into another time and place without feeling jerked in and out of what was going on in the "here and now" in the story.

Love three books

Love these story lines and the reader, can’t wait to start the next book. Fabulous

History and Thriller Combined

This was a great book on two levels: First, it had a wonderful grasp of a period of history (something I'm beginning to really count on Scottoline to provide), and second, a really moving story with characters you couldn't help but connect with.

Tony - or Pigeon Tony, after his habit of raising racing pigeons - willingly admits to having killed, but not murdered, a man. Both are in their eighties, and are on either ends of a vendetta spinning back to their youths. Judy Carrier, one of Scottoline's characters from the Rosato and Associates firm, is representing him, and incredibly conflicted: how do you defend someone against murder who admits to the killing? And why does she want to?

I actually got choked up at passages while listening to this, and surprised myself with a few sniffles. The story, which moves back to the days of fascist Italy in Pigeon Tony's recollections, unfolds two plot lines at once, and the result is a clever intersection. I really enjoyed this - I've enjoyed all of Scottoline's books - and definitely suggest it for your listening pleasure.

Chick Drama

I liked this story line a lot. Very creative! The narrator was great, especially with Italian Accents. Problem was a ton of corny humer obviously aimed at female readers. Males may want to consider this but I still gave it 3 stars. Without the corny stuff it would have been a 4+ for me.

Will Justice Prevail?

Narrator was Awesome as well as the story. Bennie,'s law firm gets another complex case and unusual defendant.

One of my ALL TIME FAVORITES!!

It doesn’t get any better than Lisa Scottoline and Barbara Rosenblat!!! Only negative is the sections containing animal abuse (violence towards people too). I know this book by heart and l fast forward so l am not left troubled. I listen to enjoy and to lift my mood, certainly not to be left with disturbing images. Normally, l simply stop listening to an author whose novels contain but in this case the far majority of the book is just great adventure.

Wonderful Story!

One of the best books I’ve ever read! Great balance of heart-warming humanity and suspense. These characters are all wonderful.

Chewing gum while reading!? Really?!

Who is monitoring these narrators? There have been many issues. Frustrating! Will reconsider purchasing books by this narrator.

Engaging story. Very enjoyable listen.

I loved the story and the narrator performs well but it sounds as if she is chewing and swallowing throughout the book. I had a hard time avoiding annoyance because of this.