Rosato & DiNunzio Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path

If you want to experience the full character development, evolving workplace dynamics, and ongoing personal drama of Lisa Scottoline's legal thriller universe, the best way to read this series is in publication order. The series is divided into two distinct eras: the original Rosato & Associates series, and the sequel/rebranded Rosato & DiNunzio series.

Because the books are written with overarching character growth—such as Mary DiNunzio's journey from a young, anxious associate to a full partner alongside Bennie Rosato—reading them out of order can spoil key plot points, relationship changes, and shifts in the firm's structure.

Era 1: Rosato & Associates (1993–2010)

This is where the story begins, introducing Bennie Rosato's all-female law firm in Philadelphia. The narrative focus rotates between different lawyers at the firm, primarily centering on the tough managing partner Bennie Rosato, the relatable Mary DiNunzio, and Judy Carrier.

1. Everywhere That Mary Went (1993) – Stars Mary DiNunzio. Mary is fighting to make partner while being targeted by a mysterious stalker.
2. Legal Tender (1996) – Stars Bennie Rosato. Bennie becomes the prime suspect when her former partner is murdered.
3. Rough Justice (1997) – Stars Bennie Rosato. Bennie represents a young client in a trial that quickly gets out of hand.
4. Mistaken Identity (1999) – Stars Bennie Rosato. Bennie defends a woman accused of murdering a police officer—a woman who claims to be her identical twin sister.
5. Moment of Truth (2000) – Stars Mary DiNunzio. Mary defends an attorney who confesses to murdering his wife, though she suspects he is covering for someone else.
6. The Vendetta Defense (2001) – Stars Judy Carrier. Judy travels to a rural area to defend an elderly Italian immigrant involved in a blood feud.
7. Courting Trouble (2002) – Stars Judy Carrier. Judy takes on a case that hits close to home and must solve a murder before she becomes the next victim.
8. Dead Ringer (2003) – Stars Bennie Rosato. Bennie's twin sister Alice returns, launching a hostile scheme to take over Bennie's identity and firm.
9. Killer Smile (2004) – Stars Mary DiNunzio. Mary investigates an estate case tracing back to the internment of Italian-Americans during World War II.
10. Lady Killer (2008) – Stars Mary DiNunzio. Mary is approached by a high school bully who fears for her life, drawing Mary into a dangerous case.
11. Think Twice (2010) – Stars Bennie Rosato. Alice Connelly returns with a devious plan to replace Bennie entirely.

Era 2: Rosato & DiNunzio (2013–2018)

Following a brief hiatus, the series returned with a rebranded name to mark Mary DiNunzio becoming a partner in the firm. This era features tighter continuity and a stronger focus on the partnership between Bennie and Mary.

1. Accused (2013) – Stars Mary DiNunzio. Mary's first case as a partner involves defending a historic murder case on behalf of a grieving teenager.
2. Betrayed (2014) – Stars Judy Carrier. Judy investigates the suspicious death of her aunt's friend in the close-knit community of Italian-American gardeners.
3. Corrupted (2015) – Stars Bennie Rosato. Bennie revisits a case from her past, defending a young man she failed to protect years earlier in the juvenile justice system.
4. Damaged (2016) – Stars Mary DiNunzio. Mary represents a vulnerable, dyslexic boy who is under the care of a grandfather fighting for custody.
5. Exposed (2017) – Stars Mary DiNunzio and Bennie Rosato. A conflict of interest pits Mary against Bennie in a high-stakes wrongful termination lawsuit.
6. Feared (2018) – Stars Bennie Rosato. A rival lawyer sues the firm for reverse sex discrimination, threatening to tear down everything the women have built.

Novellas & Tie-ins

• The Backstory to Think Twice (2010) – A short promotional companion piece providing background context for the events of Think Twice.
• Pigeon Tony's Last Stand (2023) – A standalone short story released in the We Could Be Heroes Amazon Original collection. While it features characters from the Rosato & DiNunzio universe (such as Mary's father, "Pigeon Tony"), it is a standalone story rather than a numbered novel.

What to Know Before You Start

Are the books standalones? Yes, the legal cases in each novel are self-contained and resolved by the final page. You can pick up any individual book and enjoy the legal mystery. However, the overarching personal lives, marriages, career changes, and family relationships progress continuously. To get the best experience, we strongly recommend starting with Everywhere That Mary Went (for the complete run) or Accused (if you want to jump straight to the modern era).

Philadelphia as a Character: Lisa Scottoline, a former trial lawyer in Philadelphia, infuses the series with local color. From South Philly Italian-American culture (complete with Mary's traditional parents) to the halls of the federal courts, the setting is a key part of the series' charm. Expect plenty of local food references and realistic legal details.

Co-Authored Books Clarification: While Lisa Scottoline has co-authored several popular humor and essay collections with her daughter, Francesca Serritella (such as the Chick Wit series), all novels in the Rosato universe are written solely by Scottoline.