A MYSTERY & A FAMILY STORY, WITH FUNNY DIALOGUE — A REVIEW

Shortly after Mary DiNunzio earns partnership at the law firm of Rosato & Associates, a thirteen-year-old girl named Allegra Gardner retains her as counsel to investigate her sister Fiona’s murder five years before—Even though a young man named Lonnie Stall had been found guilty and was serving time for the crime. But Allegra is persistent, and soon shows Mary a few good reasons to question it all.

However, Allegra’s wealthy and powerful parents are so opposed to the reopening of the case, and even do everything possible to halt the investigation, that Mary is even more determined than ever to find out the truth.

Why are the Gardners so opposed to the investigation? Is there a possibility that a former boyfriend of Fiona’s could be a suspect? And why did Lonnie Stall agree to a guilty plea, especially since he waited until the end of the trial to do so?

I thoroughly enjoy this series, and when I revisit the characters in Mary’s big Italian family, I feel embraced by them as well. And in this particular story, Mary is newly engaged and trying to incorporate her big family into her fiance’s, without hurting anyone’s feelings.

Accused: A Rosato & Associates Novel (Rosato and Associates) is a mystery, a family story, with enough funny repartee to keep me smiling, while holding my breath at the dangerous parts. I especially liked the unexpected twists and turns that brought a satisfactory resolution to this delightful read. Definitely five stars.