Betrayed

Rosato and DiNunzio associate Judy Carrier is embroiled in multiple dramas and feeling anxious in all aspects of her life—she's frustrated with her boyfriend, Frank; her aunt's breast cancer diagnosis brings Judy's estranged mother to town; and she's wrongfully accused of misconduct in her current case. As Judy works to solve the murder of her aunt's best friend Iris Suarez, an undocumented immigrant who may have been involved in a Mexican drug cartel, the plots move quickly, although not always in sync, and at times it feels as though too much is going on at once. Nonetheless, Scottoline writes familiar characters who are well developed, fun, and interesting. The audio performance by Maria Bello is average and not of the same caliber as long-time Scottoline readers Kate Burton and Barbara Rosenblat. Bello's performance is often stilted, and her pronunciation of certain words, especially Spanish words, can detract from the narrative.