In Lisa Scottoline's "The Vendetta Defense", Judy Carrier went and did it: she took on a case that she had no business (as in it was not part of Rosato & Associates' legal business) taking. Judy agreed to defend a man accused of murder who admits to killing--not murdering--his lifelong nemesis, in fulfillment of a vendetta. Pigeon Tony freely confesses to the crime but sees no crime in it. There are mitigating circumstances which go back to Mussolini-era Italy and reach out to a crime committed just a year before the action of the novel takes place. (Ms. Scottoline is to be applauded for vividly bringing to life this tense period.) However, none of this will matter in court if Pigeon Tony testifies, which is what he wants to do. He fails to see why he should be punished for administering a justice he so clearly sees. This is not a murder mystery so much as a "How do you defend the murderer?" legal thriller.