Dirty Blonde

Written by Lisa Scottoline

Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline delivers a riveting page-turner about sex and murder, which starts in the elite chambers of a sexy female judge and ends on the cold, gritty streets of Philadelphia.

Cate Fante is strong and smart, but when she gets appointed a federal judge, even she wonders if she can do the job justice. She's in her thirties, and she feels like she's joining the world's most exclusive retirement village. But Cate keeps her doubts a secret. And, as it happens, much else. For she leads a dark, double life that she hides from everyone.

Then a high-profile case in her courtroom explodes into a shocking murder-suicide, and it blasts her cover wide open. Overnight, her new career hangs in tatters. But Cate's troubles are only beginning. An enemy no one anticipated sends her running for her life -- embarking on a journey that begins in the mystery of her own childhood. She'll have to fight her way back to the truth, or die trying.

Dirty Blonde is Lisa Scottoline's most suspenseful and gripping thriller to date. Mixing poignancy with her trademark wit and wonderfully compelling characters, it questions whether law and justice are always the same thing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Mar 28, 2006
• ISBN: 9780061134937

Lisa Scottoline

Lisa Scottoline is a #1 bestselling and award-winning author of more than thirty-two novels. She also co-authors a bestselling non-fiction humor series with her daughter, Francesca Serritella. There are more than thirty million copies of Lisa's books in print in more than thirty-five countries. She lives in Pennsylvania with an array of disobedient but adorable pets.

Reviews for Dirty Blonde

[Diane M Magiera · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the story line but found some of it pretty unbelievable. Also I did not like the narration.

[sonorandreamer-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

All relationship involves a given level of anxiety. Often we manage the anxiety either through over-functioning and pursuing or through under-functioning and distancing. Both actions are reactive to the anxiety in the relationship, rather than self-defining, and undermine our attempts to understand who we and the other person actually are. We can't change other people, but we can set boundaries and limits as to how much negative behavior we will tolerate as well as minimums concerning intimacy. Often we create emotional triangles (family systems theory) with third parties in order to avoid facing the anxiety. It is better to have separate relationships with individuals rather than to get caught up in triangles.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

A friend whose opinion I value recommended this author to me. Huh?I thought is was nothing but a typical male fantasy - female judge bedding working class pick-ups. A waste of time - really stupid, poor plotting, one-dimensional characters.

[rayski_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Discusses relationship, the roles people take within them, triangles and the importance of maintaining one’s self. Talks about ‘over-functioning and under-functioning people and how their roles effect 1-2-1 relationships and impacts on triangles. You can get lots out of this book to help you deal with relationships whether it be with family, friends or partners.

[Kathryn Mathias · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

If this is the first Lisa Scottoline book you've read, please don't judge her writing based upon it. Her other work is far superior. There were parts of the storyline that were good, and the guilty person in the story was not obvious - a surprise ending. But this book could've benefited from more editing for length. Also, the main characters were a little hard to believe. Also, it's clearly an older book, and while some survive the test of time, this one had many cultural references to older TV shows, and so on - that took away from the story.

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cate Fante has just been named a judge in the Eastern District Court of PA, and she is excited about the job. However, Judge Fante has a dark secret, and once it is exposed, threatens her life and the lives of those close to her. While Cate is hearing a case about the idea for the TV series Attorneys@Law, she also leads a secret life having sex with strangers. When she rules on the case, the parties in the suit erupt in a fight, and later one is found dead. The cops suspect Cate. Who is the killer, will Cate retain her reputation? Will Cate resolve whatever it is that leads her to a destructive lifestyle?
Not your typical judge story!

[nx74defiant · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good mystery. Cat caused her own problems. Only when things fell apart does she realize what she is doing and takes action.

[bookmarque · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Yikes! Why do I keep reading these things? Everyone in this book was a simpleton, especially Cate and her idiot law clerks. No wonder no one else wanted them when she fell from grace. I can’t imagine any “legal team” acting like such a bunch of middle-schoolers. And Cate was a pretty lousy judge. She lacked authority and any shred of sense, mouthing off in open court, being woefully unprepared and unable to manage any but the simplest political ploy not to mention her chambers employees. When they wanted to kick her off the bench, I agreed. But of course she’s supposed to be the heroine and I wished that Scottoline was a more talented writer because the idea of getting dismissed as a Federal Judge because of the Judge’s own private life is appalling. I get why the integrity of the position has to extend outside of the courtroom, but because Cate was basically incompetent, she wasn’t terribly sympathetic. A male judge wouldn’t have been subject to ½ of what she was, but the way the story was told was just too outlandish and juvenile to be satisfying.

[dukefan86 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Eh, I was glad I listened to this one in the car. I probably wouldn't have finished it if I'd picked up the book. One a bright note, the ending was my favorite part of the audiobook (and not just because it was over!). I didn't expect whodunnit, and I was surprised by Kate's best friend's bombshell near the end of the story.

[conkie_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An entertaining story that does not suffer from inactivity, rather from believability. Too much, too fast, too tidy in the end.

[bobaloo624u · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cate Fante is a compassionate judge with a dark side that gets her into hot water and affects her judicial ability. Well written and an easy read, but the ending, while coming up roses for all concerned, was to me, unrealistic. Otherwise an enjoyable trip into the world of law, lawyers and judges.

[bookczuk · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Listened to in the car, which is a great place to listen to stories you don't have to give too much thought to the beauty of the writing, or ones that are so suspenseful you end up flooring the engine because you are so caught up in it. This type of book is perfect -- a decent story, some suspense, a good interplay between the characters, a really good voice actor, and a nice touch of humor and information. I think I like listening to Scottoline better than reading the books, because my TBR pile is so huge that this gives everything a fair chance. The gals of the Rosato & Associates law firm are good, but I like the stand-alones much better.

[jepeters333 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Attorney Cate Fante gets a position as a federal judge but she encounters interference and she almost loses the position.

[kathy89_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Federal court judge leads a promiscuous secret life that becomes revealed after a ruling made by her turns into a murder and a suicide. She works to clear her name and keep her position while figuring out who the murderer is and who her friends are.

[caro488 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Scottoline, Lisa, Dirty Blonde, Cal Fante becomes a federal judge, but has a secret life. A high-profile defendant threatens to reveal her secrets, and then there's a murder-suicide, and she has to tell her friends, and find someone who will stand beside her.

[andsoitgoes_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good beach read. Interesting main character choice - young, female, attractive federal court judge.

[onemorechapter · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

They don't get much worse than this ...

[daleq_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Pretty interesting mystery with intriguing characters. However, there were some minor Orthodox Jewish characters and the author's lack of knowledge about Judaism showed, which annoyed me.

[smithsj01_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After a bumpy start this novel was very easy to read. I found I relaxed into her style and soon became accustomed to Cate Fante (the main character). I could see the place of Cate's 'secrets' but this was the bit I found unrealistic. I can't say more than secrets as I don't wish to spoil the plot for anyone as it isn't identified on the dust jacket.
The characters are easy to get along with and I found the character of Warren really interesting but Gina and Warren seemed like an 'add-on' rather than part of the actual plot. This was a downside as they didn't seem to fit with the story. All the endings were tied up, sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't; in this case it does.

I did want to keep turning the pages to find out what was going to happen but this was more because every time I was losing interest along came another excellent revelation. I've not read a novel involving judges before, I often prefer medical thrillers. I would look out for more by her (and other similar novels). I am unable therefore to say how this novel compares to others but as a first one for me I was very pleased.

[ajburton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was a good read over a couple of cold, snowy evenings. The plot was somewhat predictable, but believable and I found myself sympathizing with the main character, Judge Cate Fante, as her world crumbled around her. The blue sky, birds singing conclusion to the story left a little to be desired though. A recommended read and a worthy addition to any mystery collection.

[serendipitina · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

What I liked...the main character, Judge Cate Fante, is a strong, powerful, smart, witty, feisty, and sexy woman. What I didn't like is that the story is too predictable and not as compelling as most of Scottoline's works. An entertaining, but not gripping, read.

[donnajwolfe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Judge is asked to resign because of poor moral conduct. Great beach read.

[jenspeaks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Listening to the audiobook on my commute. Typical Scottline legal thriller with interesting characters and plot. I can recommend it.

[peggyar · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Judge Cate Fathe gets herself in major trouble when she begins picking up strange men in bars and is exposed in public. A ruling in her court leads to a murder and suicide (presumably). Good quick read.

[jwarner6_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cate Fante has recently appointed as one of the youngest judges to the Fed Court. She has a secret, a penchant for one-night stands with men picked up at bars. She finds herself being tailed as source material for a new TV dramady on the secret lives of judges. The producer is found killed alledgedly by a plantiff of a case tried in Cate's courtroom. The plantiff is shortly found dead by apparent suicide. Cate is also embroiled in defending her bench appointment when her secret is exposed.