In the sixth entry of Lisa Scottoline’s Rosato and DiNunzio mystery series, legal eagles Bennie Rosato and Mary DiNunzio find themselves up against their toughest case yet. They are facing their archenemy Nick Machiavelli, and this time it’s personal.

The book opens joyously, with our favorite attorneys in the midst of a baby shower for Mary, but quickly turns to havoc and dismay when the successful law firm and its partners get served. Three plaintiffs --- Stephen McManus, Michael Battle and Graham Madden --- are suing the legal ladies for reverse sexual discrimination, claiming that, during a recent search for a new member of the team, they were not considered by the firm for employment because they are male. Add to that the fact that the one sole male member of the team, John Foxman, made the fatal (in more ways than one) mistake of confessing that he often feels like he doesn’t fit in --- office baby shower being case in point --- and that there’s no room for him to grow professionally, and Machiavelli wastes no time pouncing at the opportunity to seek revenge on the lawyers for a previous major loss to Mary in court.

"With her telltale grit and heart, Scottoline once again delivers a riveting mystery set in Philadelphia, the city she loves and employs as a lead character almost as much as her strong but vulnerable lawyers."

What follows is a disastrously damning (for Bennie and Mary) press conference held by the plaintiff’s attorney, and then an even more disastrously damning (again for Bennie and Mary) press conference held by the legal duo themselves. Everything begins to unravel at a rapid rate when John resigns and then is found murdered in his apartment, only moments after spending time with Judy, one of the other partners in the law firm. Now, not only do Bennie and Mary have to fight to save the firm they have built and love, they also must discover who killed their friend and colleague, all with Machiavelli at their heels, driven to bring them down. He will stop at nothing to smear their good names in the eyes of the law and the people.

With her telltale grit and heart, Scottoline once again delivers a riveting mystery set in Philadelphia, the city she loves and employs as a lead character almost as much as her strong but vulnerable lawyers. Bennie Rosato and Mary DiNunzio are as uniquely charming as ever when pitted against the machinations of Machiavelli. Mary’s loveable, if stereotypical, pasta-eating, God-fearing, big Italian family are all too recognizable and familiar. Throw in a nosy freelance reporter, a crusty detective and the other quirky members of the law firm, and Scottoline’s cast is complete.

FEARED shows off Scottoline’s skills at their best --- further development of already-rich characters who readers can’t help but like; a mystery plot that keeps one guessing until the surprise, but trademark Scottoline, twist at the end; and Philadelphia sights and sounds as a backdrop. Fans of the author and the series will not be disappointed, and will be grateful for more.