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Discretion: A Novel
Discretion: A Novel
Discretion: A Novel
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Discretion: A Novel

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For fans of Lisa Scottoline and Law and Order: SVU, former federal sex-crimes prosecutor Allison Leotta’s novel explores the intersection of sex and power as Anna Curtis investigates the murder of one of DC’s highest-paid escorts.

When a beautiful young woman plummets to her death from the balcony of the U.S. Capitol, Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Curtis is summoned to the scene. The evidence points to a sexual assault and murder. The victim is one of the city’s highest-paid escorts. And the balcony belongs to Washington, D.C.’s sole representative to Congress, the most powerful figure in city politics.

The Congressman proclaims his innocence, but he’s in the middle of a tough primary fight, and the scandal could cost him the election. For Anna, the high-profile case is an opportunity. But as the political stakes rise, she realizes that a single mistake could end her career.

At the same time, her budding romance with Jack Bailey, the chief homicide prosecutor, is at a crossroads. Determined to gain respect in the office, Anna wants to keep their relationship under wraps. But the mounting pressure and media attention that come with the office’s most important case will inevitably expose their relationship—if it doesn’t destroy it first.

The investigation leads Anna to Discretion, a high-end escort service that caters to D.C.’s elite. But with each break in the case, the mystery deepens. And the further Anna ventures into D.C.’s red-light underworld, the larger the target on her own back.

From the secret social clubs where Washington’s most powerful men escape from public view to the asphalt “track” where the city’s most vulnerable women work the streets, Discretion is a gripping exploration of sex, power, and the secrets we all keep.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherGallery Books
Release dateJul 3, 2012
ISBN9781451644869
Discretion: A Novel
Author

Allison Leotta

Allison Leotta was a federal sex-crimes prosecutor in Washington, DC, for twelve years. In 2011, she left the Justice Department to pursue writing full time. She is the acclaimed author of Law of Attraction, Discretion, Speak of the Devil, A Good Killing, and The Last Good Girl and founder of the award-winning blog, The Prime-Time Crime Review. Leotta lives with her husband, Michael, and their two sons outside of Washington, DC. Visit her online at AllisonLeotta.com.

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Rating: 4.166666666666667 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I didn't know the enjoyment I was going to have when I first got this book.I was optimistic when I saw a blerb about hailing the author as the "Female John Grisham." My anticipation was justly rewarded as I began this compulsively engaging story with many layers.Consider the excitement of a young woman entering the U.S. Capitol for an appointment meeting. Then try to imagine what must have gone on for her to fall to her death moments later, from the balcony of a Congressman's office.Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Curtis arrives at the scene and contemplates the difficulties she will have investigating a U.S. Congressman and the information in his office.Not only must a judge permit investigators to have access to the legislative office but Anna must also put on hold a relationship she has with a leading homicide investigator. The Congressman is undergoing a re-election campaign and his opponent has said he's in favor of making an appointment after he's elected. This appointment will benefit the homicide investigator so Anna recommends that her lover step away to avoid the appearance of impropriety.There is also a strong message about the escort business and the effect on women's lives. While the woman who fell to her death was one of the highest paid escorts in Washington, it looked like she had it all. However, on the other hand, another woman who began the escort buisness with her, became addicted to a substance and it almost destroys her.The pacing and dialogue are to perfection. Everything that is good, goes for this book - don't miss it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I've read several Anna Curtis books now. The characters are engaging, the plots, interesting. I will probably read more !
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great author can't wait for another in this series, a stand-alone, or new series
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I absolutely love this author and am devouring her books at an altogether too fast a pace. I wish in many ways I had discovered her in ten years time when she had a huge back catalogue to read and keep me entertained but either way this book is highly recommended , well written and researched .....Brilliant
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Great flow and pace until the ending. ending felt rushed and "fairy tale"

Book preview

Discretion - Allison Leotta

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