Exposed

Edgar-winner Scottoline highlights the perils of our health care system in her fast-paced, heart-tugging fifth Rosato & DiNunzio novel (after 2016’s Damaged). Simon Pensiera, an old family friend of Philadelphia lawyer Mary DiNunzio, needs her help. Simon’s four-year-old daughter is ill with leukemia, and Simon believes that his former employer, OpenSpace, fired him because of mounting insurance costs. Mary agrees to represent Simon, not knowing that her partner Bennie Rosato represents OpenSpace’s parent company. OpenSpace refuses to settle out of court, and it looks as if the case will come down to a credibility battle. The conflict of interest threatens to tear the new partnership apart when Mary refuses to refer Simon’s case to another lawyer. But when Simon’s former boss is found murdered, he’s considered the prime suspect, and Mary has a much bigger problem on her hands. Readers will enjoy seeing how it all plays out in this appealing but somewhat predictable installment. 400,000-copy announced first printing; author tour. Agent: Robert Gottlieb, Trident Media Group. (Aug.)