From Library Journal
During the biggest snowstorm in the history of Philadelphia, the jury is out. The defense is confident of a verdict of not guilty, but then client Elliot Steere admits to his council that he is a murderer. Marta Richter does not take this revelation happily. In fact, she's so outraged that she wants her client's secret revealed no matter what it does to her career. Steere isn't about to let her blow his chances, and with powerful connections, money, and muscle, he works from his jail cell to silence Marta and her colleagues before the sequestered jury makes a decision. If readers like soap opera?type cliffhangers at the end of each chapter, a plot that reads like a TV script, and a little gory violence here and there, they will like this book. The characters are well thought out, but most often sequences of the story unfold implausibly, as when Marta hunts for clues in her client's house and boat. Attorney Bennie Rosato, the feisty character from a previous Scottoline novel (Legal Tender, LJ 7/96), makes an appearance here but is not very involved in the plot except for a "save-the-day" routine in the last few chapters. This is essential for readers already hooked on Scottoline, but don't start with this one when introducing her to readers.-?Shirley Gibson Coleman, Ann Arbor Dist. Lib., Mich.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The New York Times Book Review, Marilyn Stasio
Lisa Scottoline's new legal thriller, Rough Justice, finds the author straining every literary muscle to squeeze what she can from a series formula. Three of her young Philadelphia lawyers are now working together in an all-female firm; but the character growth is nil, and the office jokes are wearing thin.

From AudioFile
Just as the jury begins to deliberate, defense attorney Marta Richter learns from her client that, rather than having killed a homeless drunk in self-defense, the client is actually guilty of murder. In the midst of one of the worst blizzards Philadelphia has ever seen, Marta, aided by two associates, sets out to discover the truth, putting all three in mortal danger. Rosenblat's voiced reading heightens an already exciting and dramatic story; she captures the Italian, Jewish and black dialects. While her pace matches the rapid tempo of events, her pauses between the chapters, each of which ends in a cliffhanger, seem almost too long as the listener anxiously wonders what will happen next. The infrequent flashes of humor are well delivered with a dry wit. It is unfortunate that the reader's breathing and swallowing are audible, detracting from an otherwise superb performance. S.S.R. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Booklist
Scottoline is back with a flair in her newest thriller. Like her previous book, Running from the Law (1995), this is a fascinating, fast-paced story told with wit, sarcasm, and just the right amount of circus. Marta Richter, just beginning to peak in her career as a defense attorney, has brilliantly presented a fool-proof defense for multimillionaire Elliot Steere, the accused murderer of a homeless man. Just as the jury is about to begin deliberations, however, Steere coolly tells his hardworking attorney that he did indeed kill the man in cold blood, that the self-defense claim was just a ruse. Here is where Scottoline shows her mastery, for she does not center her story on the typical trial scene but, rather, focuses on the post-trial upheaval that envelopes Marta. The drama escalates as she realizes how much power Steere wields, even behind bars, and as her firm's managing partner gets involved, both of them risk their careers and lives in the pursuit of justice. Considering the publisher's extensive mass-market promotion touting Scottoline as the next Grisham or Turow (claims that are not significantly off base), libraries will want to stock up. Mary Frances Wilkens

From Kirkus Reviews
Scottoline clinches her title as the distaff Grisham with this gorgeously plotted novel based on a trial lawyer's worst nightmare. Minutes after her brilliantly successful homicide defense of Philadelphia slumlord Elliot Steere goes to the jury, Marta Richter hears from her client's own lips that he's guilty. He didn't shoot knife-wielding Heb Darnton in self-defense during a carjacking; instead, he killed him in cold blood, and everything he's told Marta--and Marta's persuaded the jury--is a lie. How can Marta get evidence against her own client before the jury comes in with the surefire acquittal? For one thing, she has to dig up a motive for wealthy, powerful Steere to kill a homeless nonentity, and to find the damning evidence against Steere before his mysterious girlfriend can destroy it. She has to dodge bullets from Steere's errand boy, Bobby Bogosian, during the worst blizzard in the city's history. She has to neutralize the jury, most of whom want to vote not guilty, and the judge, who's counting on the acquittal to leapfrog him into the state Supreme Court. And since she's a hired gun from outside the city, she has to do all this without awakening the suspicions of her local affiliates, Rosato & Associates (``Girls R' Us''), whose managing partner, Benedetta Rosato (Legal Tender, 1996), is so dedicated to the principle of client loyalty that she'll turn away arguments about Steere's guilt by asking, ``What happens to the legal system if each lawyer makes his own judgments about a client's morality?'' It's a good question, and if Scottoline doesn't exactly address it with the moral seriousness of Scott Turow, she provides nonstop thrills for Richter and Rosato & Associates as they race the clock, their client's goons, and each other to torpedo their own case. A hook as sturdy and a story as fleet as Grisham--except that Scottoline's a lot funnier than Grisham. Expect this to be her breakout book. (First printing of 75,000; $250,000 ad/promo; author tour) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

As Rough Justice opens, criminal lawyer Marta Richter is only hours away from winning an acquittal on a murder charge leveled against her client, millionaire businessman Elliot Steere. But as the jury begins to deliberate, Steere lets it slip that he sold Marta a bogus self-defense claim and that he in fact murdered the homeless man who tried to carjack him. Infuriated, Marta sets out to find the evidence that will convict Steere - before the jury returns with its verdict. Marta has her hands full; she's playing beat-the-clock with both the jury and the worst blizzard Philadelphians have seen in decades. She drafts help in the form of two able young lawyers - Mary DiNunzio and Judy Carrier - from the all-female firm Rosato & Associates. DiNunzio and Carrier wade through snowdrifts and computer records, interview witnesses, and scour the crime scene for evidence. Enter Benedetta "Bennie" Rosato, managing partner of Rosato & Associates. When she realizes that Marta is determined to convict her own client - and ruin the law firm in the process - Bennie acts to thwart Marta's plan and bring Steere to justice in her own way. But Elliot Steere didn't reach the top of the real estate business without bloody knuckles. He won't let anyone - especially a couple of lawyers - stand between him and freedom. Even from his jail cell, the businessman has the cunning and connections to kill again. The lawyers have finally met their match in Elliot Steere. Or have they?

SYNOPSIS

Criminal lawyer Marta Richter is hours away from winning an acquittal for her client, millionaire businessman Elliot Steere, on trial for the murder of a homeless man who had tried to carjack him.

But as the jury begins deliberations, Marta discovers the chilling truth about her client's innocence.

FROM THE CRITICS

People

The female John Grisham.

Detroit Free Press

Fascinating. . . Thrilling. . . Nail-Biting.

Maureen Corrigan

An entertaining, giddily paced legal thriller that readers will enjoy. . . Not since Ben Franklin launched his kite has Philadelphia been the site of such electrifying suspense.

People Magazine

The female John Grisham.

Philadelphia Inquirer