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)

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What listeners say about The Vendetta Defense

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

By far my favorite

I’m only 6 books into the series, but so far this one is my favorite. The characters are so alive. The narrator does a beautiful job.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Masterful

Rosenblat's naration is first-rate. Giving each character a voice of their own, and lending an appropriate tone to the dialogue. This was truly a joy to listen to.

A book that will make you think about murder and killing in a whole new light. One that will make you ask yourself the questions, does killing someone always equal murder? Does killing by one's own hand mean justice is done?

Scottoline's flipping back from the past to the present will have you on the edge of your seat and eager for the next plot twist... Before long, you'll be hanging on her every word.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Always wonderful!

Lisa Scottline writes wonderfully, and Barbara Rosenblatt performs beautifully. I love the characters in Rosato Associates. they keep me greatly entertained.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Best Audiobook

This is the best audiobook I have listened to!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

A Glimpse into a Tightly Knit Italian Community

The protagonist, an Italian immigrant who loves pigeons, is one of the most sympathetic characters ever defended. Judy Carrier takes the case pro bono) and has a VERY difficult time trying to defend this small and seemingly simple man for murder who keeps blurting out his crime! What is the law compared to justice? (Never a clear line.) This is a great look into above noted community where the MANY "Tonys" (known by their nicknames) and how they stick together to help a neighbor. Judy Carrier has the same many comic thoughts of any Scottoline character that keep you smiling until you breathlessly await the verdict of the obviously guilty "Pigeon Tony."

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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scottoline masterpiece

this is the best scottoline I have read in every way. I loved the historical references. The racing pigeons and Italian culture that are the backdrop here are rich. the narration was superb.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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loved it

A great story. A lot of background from Italy to present day. Great story. loved it

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • jo
  • 08-10-10

the audio is excelent

Barbara Roosenblat was supurb...her ability to transform her voice to the many differant characters was amazeing...th e story line was very slow

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Love Lisa Scottoline

I find her books easy to listen to and interesting to read or hear.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • J
  • 08-17-17

Still my favorite Lisa Scottoline fiction story

Where does The Vendetta Defense rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Still in my top 10, & I devour a lot of books.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes. See full review below, please.

Have you listened to any of Barbara Rosenblat’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Excellent as always.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely & repeatedly.

Any additional comments?

This is the first Lisa Scottoline book I ever read, & it still holds up against all of her other outstanding works. After hearing her share the real life memory from her youth that triggered it last night in Cleveland, it somehow resonates even more.

The plot and characters are compelling. The three Tony's often steal the show in endearing & fantastic ways. Her insights into how we think and why we react to circumstances both of our own design & those outside our control are spot on. Lisa has a way of bringing humor to tense situations that is entirely natural & can evoke laughter and tears, sometimes simultaneously. Her craftsmanship of the back stories, particularly Pigeon Tony's, are at once simple & complex & completely relatable. Her command of language is, frankly, quite beautiful.

If you are unfamiliar with any of the characters in this series, or for that matter with Ms. Scottoline's work in general, this is a very nice place to start. I dare you not to fall in love with her characters, of which South Philly is one. If you have previously read her work, & have not yet read The Vendetta Defense, you, my friend, are missing a true gem, & owe it to yourself to rectify this oversight.

As an aside: Thank you Francesca for evoking such love in your mother that she left her former life as an attorney, stayed home with her beloved daughter & perused the craft of writing in order to stay home with you 30+ years ago. Without you we would not have such wonderful friends as these.

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