How to Read Allison Leotta's Books
Allison Leotta is best known for her high-stakes, authentic legal thrillers starring Anna Curtis, a determined federal prosecutor based in Washington, D.C. Because the series features continuous character development, a shifting cast of supporting characters, and significant personal and professional arcs for Anna, the recommended reading path is to follow the series in its publication order, which closely mirrors its internal chronology.
The only minor exception is the prequel e-short story, Ten Rules for a Call Girl, which introduces the world and themes of Leotta's second novel, Discretion, but does not feature Anna Curtis directly. You can read this prequel first, or skip it entirely without missing any of Anna's core story.
The Recommended Reading Order
To experience the full weight of Anna Curtis's personal and professional journey, follow this order:
- Law of Attraction (2010) – The first full-length novel. Anna Curtis starts as a rookie prosecutor in Washington, D.C., tackling a complex domestic violence case that turns into a high-stakes murder investigation.
- Ten Rules for a Call Girl (2012) – A prequel e-short story. It follows a college student pulled into a high-end D.C. escort ring. It does not feature Anna Curtis, but it establishes the setting and themes for the next novel.
- Discretion (2012) – The second full-length novel. Anna investigates the suspicious death of a prominent D.C. lobbyist who fell from the Capitol dome, leading her into the underworld of high-end escort services and political corruption.
- Speak of the Devil (2013) – The third full-length novel. Anna faces a terrifying case involving a D.C. street gang and a victim who vanishes, drawing her into a web of dark rituals and hidden motives.
- A Good Killing (2015) – The fourth full-length novel. Anna returns to her home state of Michigan to defend her own sister, who has been accused of murdering a high school football coach, forcing Anna to work outside her usual role as a prosecutor.
- The Last Good Girl (2016) – The fifth full-length novel. Anna returns to D.C. to tackle a sensitive and harrowing investigation involving campus sexual assault at a prestigious university.
Deep Dive into the Anna Curtis Universe
Allison Leotta's novels stand out in the crowded legal thriller genre because of their exceptional accuracy. As a former federal prosecutor who spent twelve years specializing in sex crimes, domestic violence, and crimes against children, Leotta writes with a level of authority and realistic detail that few others can match. Here is what you need to know about the key books and milestones in the series:
Law of Attraction (2010)
In her debut novel, Leotta introduces Anna Curtis as a rookie Assistant U.S. Attorney. Anna is thrown into the deep end when she handles a domestic violence case involving a prominent congresswoman's chief of staff. The case takes a lethal turn when the victim is found dead, and Anna must prosecute the man she was trying to protect the victim from. The book was widely praised for its realistic depiction of the challenges prosecutors face in domestic violence cases, particularly the psychological cycle of abuse and why victims sometimes recant their stories.
Ten Rules for a Call Girl (2012) and Discretion (2012)
Before publishing her second novel, Leotta released Ten Rules for a Call Girl, a digital short story. It tells the story of Caroline McBride, a Georgetown University student who turns to escorting to pay for her father's medical bills. While the short story can be read as a standalone, it serves as the thematic bridge to Discretion, which follows Anna Curtis as she investigates the death of a lobbyist connected to the same high-end escort ring. Discretion was highly acclaimed, earning a spot on Strand Magazine’s list of the Ten Best Books of 2012.
Speak of the Devil (2013)
In this outing, Leotta takes readers into the territory of D.C. street gangs. Anna Curtis is prosecuting a member of the notorious MS-13 gang when the key witness vanishes. The investigation leads Anna into the city's hidden subcultures, exposing the terrifying grip that gangs hold over local communities and the extreme lengths to which witnesses must go to survive.
A Good Killing (2015)
This novel shifts the setting away from Washington, D.C., and takes Anna Curtis back to her hometown in Michigan. When her sister is accused of murdering a beloved local coach, Anna must cross the aisle to act as a defense lawyer. This change of scenery and role provides deep insight into Anna's family background, her relationship with her home state, and the contrast between D.C. federal prosecution and local criminal defense.
The Last Good Girl (2016)
Tackling one of the most pressing issues in modern criminal justice, this book focuses on campus sexual assault. Anna Curtis investigates the disappearance of a college student at a D.C. university after she accused a popular student-athlete of rape. Leotta uses her professional background to untangle the legal, bureaucratic, and social obstacles that complicate campus assault cases, making it one of the most realistic and emotionally resonant entries in the series.
What to Know Before You Start
Leotta’s books are praised for their page-turning suspense, but they do not shy away from the dark realities of the legal system. Because Leotta draws directly from her twelve years of experience, the books tackle heavy topics like domestic abuse, human trafficking, and sexual violence. However, they are written with empathy for the victims and an insider's respect for the detectives, prosecutors, and advocates who fight for justice.
Additionally, Allison Leotta gained recognition in the legal and entertainment communities for her blog, The Prime-Time Crime Review. In the blog, she applied her prosecutor's eye to popular TV dramas like Law & Order: SVU, fact-checking their legal procedures and courtroom tactics. Reading her novels offers a similar experience: a legal thriller that respects the intelligence of the reader and sticks to how the American legal system actually functions in real life.