Excellent and informative story line with Bennie the focus of the true story of Kids For Cash. Two different time lines covering the same two characters, once as young children and again years later with the charge of murder. The crookedness of the judge for personal gain had a massive reach. Bennie reveals so much of her character as she continues to seek justice even when personally torn and gossiped about publicly. Great read from Scottoline's series. ( )

Fav of Scottolines’ so far. Good story and character development ( )

Before reading this, I was unaware of "Kids-for-Cash". It provided an excellent storyline. I, however, was not crazy about the final chapter--seemed a little out of character for Bennie to respond the way she did after her earlier encounter with Declan. ( )

4.5 stars. So glad that Lisa Scottoline has returned to Bennie Rosato as I was getting sick of Mary DiNunzio's personal life and family taking precedence over plot. This book was excellent: Bennie is called to defend a man accused of murder, found in an alley, with a knife in his hand, and his lifelong tormentor with his throat slit. The book then goes back twelve years to tell the backstory of Bennie defending the same guy when he was a middle schooler, sent to juvie for 90 days for defending his mother's reputation by shoving a kid in school, ruining his life. Note: this is based on a true story in Eastern Pennsylvania where a crooked judge, masquerading as a "no tolerance" hardliner, filled a privately-owned prison, in which he had a financial interest, with juvenile defendants. The defendant's story is weak, and Bennie does her best to create a self-defense justification, but in the eleventh hour figures out what really happened in the alley. I liked that Bennie's personal life was part of the story, but not the main plot -- a welcome change from the recent books in this long-lived series. ( )

Please see all of my reviews on my blog at www.robinlovesreading.blogspot.com.

4.5 Stars

Founder of the Rosato & DiNunzio law firm, Bennie Rosato, takes on the case of Jason Leflavick, accused of murdering Richie Grusini. Thirteen years previously, Jason, at the age of twelve, was sent to a juvenile detention center after fighting a class bully, the very same Richie. Bennie pulled out all of the stops, but was was unable to free Jason and has never forgiven herself. When she hears of Jason's indictment for killing Richie, she is determined not to let him down a second time. Bennie is going to work really hard for Jason because she cannot let him down again.

Bennie has always displayed a tough-as-nails exterior, especially around her co-workers, but for several chapters in this book, Jason's childhood case is recalled. These recollections are hard on Bennie as she has many dark memories of that time while trying to help young Jason. We get to see Bennie's softer, more maternal, side. Bennie fell in love with a cop, Declan, Richard Grusini's uncle, and subsequently suffered a broken heart. Now that Declan's nephew is dead, Bennie cannot help but to cross paths with him again. No doubt he stands against her defending Jason, but what is more, wants something else from Bennie.

Corrupted was a fast-paced read, marrying the past and present cases that tell us a lot about Bennie's nature and why she has always been so gruff. She suffered undeniable hurt in her life at the hands of the man who said he loved her. But her focus is now, and she seeks to redeem herself with Jason's case, and this shows just how strong a character she is. This is a thrilling, yet sensitive story, not necessarily a hard-hitting legal drama. Yet, it is chock full of secrets, a broken heart, corruption and sensitivity.

I purchased this entire series and have read Accused and Betrayed, Mary's and Judy's stories, respectively. I have Feared for review for NetGalley and as a die-hard lover of series, will also be reading Damaged and Exposed. I have also purchased several other titles by this author. ( )