Lisa Scottoline

Lisa Scottoline (born July 1, 1955) is an American author and former attorney from Philadelphia. She is a bestselling writer of legal thrillers, many of which are set in Philadelphia and feature the city's legal community as a backdrop.

Early Life and Education

Scottoline grew up in Philadelphia and attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated with honors in English. She earned her law degree from Penn Law School, where she was associate editor of the Law Review.

After law school, she clerked for the Pennsylvania Court of Appeals and practiced law at a prestigious Philadelphia firm before turning to writing full-time.

Writing Career

Breakthrough

Scottoline's debut novel, Everywhere That Mary Went (1993), was nominated for an Edgar Award. Her subsequent novels established her as a major voice in legal thriller fiction.

Major Works

Rosato & Associates Series:

• Everywhere That Mary Went (1993)
• Final Appeal (1994)
• Running from the Law (1995)
• And numerous sequels featuring Philadelphia attorney Bennie Rosato

Standalone Thrillers:

• Look Again (2009) - New York Times #1 Bestseller
• Save Me (2011)
• Don't Go (2013)
• Every Fifteen Minutes (2015)
• After Anna (2018)

Many of her novels have reached the New York Times bestseller list.

Writing Style

Scottoline's work is known for:

• Strong female protagonists, often attorneys
• Philadelphia settings and local color
• Legal procedural elements
• Exploration of moral dilemmas
• Family drama combined with suspense

Philadelphia in Her Work

Philadelphia figures prominently in Scottoline's fiction:

• Courtrooms at Philadelphia City Hall
• Rittenhouse Square
• Society Hill and Center City neighborhoods
• The Philadelphia legal community
• Local landmarks and institutions

She has credited the city with providing rich material for her stories, from its history to its diverse neighborhoods.

Nonfiction

Scottoline has also written nonfiction, including humorous essay collections co-authored with her daughter Francesca Serritella:

• Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog (2009)
• My Nest Isn't Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space (2010)
• Best Friends, Occasional Enemies (2011)

Recognition

• Edgar Award nomination for Best First Novel
• Multiple New York Times bestseller status
• Honorary doctorate from Cabrini College
• Teaches at Penn Law School's fiction writing program

See Also

• Philadelphia Literary Scene
• University of Pennsylvania
• Philadelphia Courts