Dirty Blonde    by Lisa Scottoline Order:  USA  Can HarperCollins, 2006 (2006) Hardcover, Audio, CD, e-Book Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth Cate Fante, a Philadelphia lawyer, has given up her private practice to become a federal judge. A daunting task for someone in her thirties and a woman to boot. But she knows her law and is determined to make her mark in the legal world as a fair and just judge. Unfortunately she makes the wrong kind of mark when her secret life is discovered and plastered all over the media. When a defendant in her courtroom is murdered, Cate feels responsible. Events go from bad to worse when her own life is threatened. In this her thirteenth novel, Lisa Scottoline has once again given her fans a rip-roaring read that is hard to put down. Scottoline's protagonists must be a lot like herself. Women of today who have their own agendas, are on track, but have enough self-doubts to make them work harder and push themselves to accomplish the task at hand. I like the fact that Cate has a sense of humor that seems to really kick in when the going gets tough. Humor plays such an important part in our lives and can get us through the bad times. Scottoline seems to realize that and uses a laugh now and then when least expected. Being able to follow Cate around the streets of Philadelphia is also a real treat. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews