Accused

Another (12th I think) in the series about the all-woman law firm of Rosato and Associates by Lisa Scottoline. Mary DiNunzio has just been made a partner in the firm, although it still doesn't feel real. In the midst of celebrations, a 13-year-old girl walks into the office asking to interview Mary and Judy to see if she wants to hire them. She has just come into money from a trust and can now use the money to find out who really killed her older sister, Fiona, six years ago. Allegra Gardner is genius level IQ which means she is a bit of a social outcast--she loves beekeeping, not the most usual or social of hobbies. Her parents, especially her father, are dead set against re-opening the investigation since a man was already convicted and sent to prison. Allegra claims he was falsely imprisoned, that in fact her sister was secretly dating Lonnie, the convicted man. Things spiral out of control when the parents stonewall Mary and Judy and put Allegra in a psychiatric facility. Mary is determined to continue, but Judy backs off, so Mary is left to her own devices to figure out who really murdered Fiona. She is convinced it is the ex-boyfriend but finds out differently when the killer comes after her. There is the usual cast of supporting characters--Mary's family and the Tony's, as well as her live-in boyfriend who has just proposed--all colorfully depicted with their south Philly quirks. Nothing terribly compelling here, but a satisfying read and a good book if one likes strong, imperfect, and engaging women characters.