Sly Fox: A Dani Fox Novel

Dani Fox #1

by Jeanine Pirro

Westchester, New York, 1976--Cocaine abuse is rampant, the county courthouse is a boys' club, and men are still legally permitted to beat their wives. Enter Dani Fox, the feisty, ambitious twenty-five-year-old assistant district attorney tired of feeling like an outsider and hungry to bring abusers to justice. Dani confronts emotionally challenging crime scenes and uncooperative colleagues, facing threats to her safety--and even the safety of her pet pig, Wilbur--in order to protect society's silent victims. Spearheading the country's first domestic violence unit in a shifting legal landscape, Dani must find allies where she can, especially when she discovers a seemingly simple case has some shocking twists. But who can she trust, and which of her colleagues will she end up battling both in and out of the courtroom? Drawing from her own past as a dynamic, hard-charging former district attorney, Emmy-winning Judge Jeanine Pirro's debut page-turner is ripped from the headlines, full of gripping details, authentic thrills, and suspenseful realism that can only come from a courtroom litigator who's been in the trenches.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Legal Thriller, Thriller, Law, Suspense

196 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Jeanine Ferris Pirro is a former prosecutor, judge, and elected official from the state of New York, who is currently a legal analyst and television personality. A Republican from Westchester County, Pirro served as a county court judge before serving as the elected District Attorney of Westchester County for 12 years. As a district attorney she gained considerable visibility, especially in cases regarding domestic abuse and crimes against the elderly. She was the first female judge on the Westchester County Court bench.

Pirro was the Republican nominee for New York State Attorney General in 2006, losing to Democrat Andrew Cuomo (a fellow Albany Law alumnus). She also held the nominations of the New York Conservative and Independence Parties. She previously sought the nominations of her party for the offices of New York State Lieutenant Governor and United States Senator and withdrew her name in each case. She was a regular contributor to The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet. She is currently contributing to Today, Fox NY and Good Day, New York,, and is a Fox News legal analyst appearing on various shows. She has guest hosted shows such as Larry King Live, The Joy Behar Show and Geraldo at Large. She is a frequent guest on Fox's late-night satire show Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld, and also currently hosts a television program entitled Judge Jeanine Pirro. In May 2010, the show received its first Emmy nomination. Pirro is also the host of Fox News Channel's Justice with Judge Jeanine which premiered in January 2011.

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story takes place in 1976. Dani Fox is assistant District Attorney of Westchester County. She has problems with her boss the District Attorney, Carlton Whitaker III. She is fighting gender discrimination while attempting to do her job against drug dealers, domestic violence and rapists.

The book is average for the genre. I chose the book out of curiosity about Judge Jeanine Pirro. I understand this book is a semi-autobiographical novel. The story kept me engaged throughout. The story was interesting particularly about the creation of a Domestic Violence Unit. The book surprised me as it was better than I anticipated it would be. If there are more books in the series, I will read them as I like a good courtroom drama.

I read this as an e-book via my Kindle App for my iPad. This book has 304 pages and was published in 2012.

[Kristopher Mcclanahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviews Of Unusual Size!

Re: Being a female Assistant District Attorney in New York in 1976 is not easy. Especially if you're like Dani Fox - a young, pretty A.D.A. that just so happens to think that abusing and/or killing your wife is wrong and aims to do something about it!

Outstanding: Sly Fox, a semi-autobiographical novel from Judge Jeanine Pirro has a very appealing lead in Dani Fox. Ambitious, feisty and a little naive. O'Brien, the semi-reluctant old-dog homicide detective that helps Dani is also a great character, with shades of Harry Bosch.


Unacceptable: Occasionally Sly Fox feels a little too autobiographical and the bad guys are sort of one-note. And I wish the setting had been described more vibrantly. I never really felt immersed in the seventies.

Summary: Apparently, Pirro is a judge and TV personality of some celebrity, but I had been unaware of her until asked to review the novel. Pirro, aided by author Pete Earley, has written a compelling and surprisingly enjoyable legal thriller. I wish the era had been utilized for more than its attitudes towards domestic violence, but there were enough twists and well-written courtroom showdowns that I look forward to Pirra's next Dani Fox novel.

4/5

[John of Canada · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first saw Jeanine Pirro jousting with the snowflakes on the View.She is now on my heroes list.The book was really good.I love good courtroom drama which this was.I would appreciate recommendations in this genre.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read through the night. Literally. I felt exhausted at times, but I just had to keep going. For Law and Order SVU fans, this book is a rock solid out of the ballpark book. Dani Fox reads in a way you can hear Judge Jeanine Pirro speaking (her voice in my head) through Dani. This has to be a genuine episode in her life altered a tad to make an excellent novel. Growing up in the 70's I became a strong woman working in places that normally were reserved for men, but never gave up. So reading this gave me such pride and gratitude for her success through stronger challenges pushing beyond the road less trodden.

[Warren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeanine Pirro is mostly known for being an irritating right-wing TV talking head - delivering drunken, ranting monologues on her nightly Fox News show. Her persona has often been hilariously parodied on SNL. At one point, she made an attempt to be a novelist, and this book was the result. This was clearly intended to be a series, but it fizzled out after just two books, so it must not have been a smashing success the publisher had hoped for. That being said, this book is actually quite a decent read. It's your standard legal thriller, nothing mindblowing, but Pirro does bring a different perspective to her writing, being a former attorney and all. I did feel the character of Dani Fox was based on Jeanine herself, although she surprisingly keeps most of her politics out of this book. I have to admit, I picked it up from the little library intending to ridicule it, but it kept me entertained all the way through. It's a shame Pirro didn't stick to being a novelist, as I see a lot of potential here. It would have been an improvement over what she is peddling on our TV screens these days.

[LAMONT D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LIKED THE PLOT AND STORYLINE. IF YOU BELIEVE THERE IS CORRUPTION IN THE FBI, IN HOW POLICE CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS, IN HOW JUDGES UNFARILY RULE AND IN THE REALM OF ATTORNEYS AND THEIR QUEST FOR POWER, POSITION AND HOW THEY WANT TO WIN THE CASE AT ALL COST, THEN THIS FICTIONAL STORY IS FOR YOU. SET BACK IN THE 70'S WHEN YOU STILL USED PAY PHONES AND THE NEWSPAPERS STILL HAD SOME INFLUENCE, ALONG WITH THE FACT OF COURSE THAT WOMEN WERE A COMPLETE MINORITY IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM; THIS STORY BRINGS THAT ALL TO LIGHT AND TELLS IT IN AN ENTERTAINING WAY.

[Neva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough to rate this one.... I absolutely love Judge Jeanine, so I will pretty much read anything she writes and just recently found out about her novels. I did enjoy it, for the most part, and I could hear her reading this to me in my head. I think it's interesting that this was set in the 70s, although she wrote it in 2012. That may have kept me from loving it as much as I COULD have, although, I can't really say it seemed "dated". I would love to know which of these stories was based on real-life incidents.

[TheQueensBooksII · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just fun & fast! It isn't going to be the best book you'll ever read, but it kept me engaged and interested throughout. Pirro also deals with a sensitive, difficult subject (domestic violence) in a way that makes you learn more about this issue without turning you off. Although written in 2012, no other 'Dani Fox' books seem to have been written, although this book was marketed like it was the first of more to come. I'd read more, if Pirro writes more!

[Corban Ford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehhhh...I wasn't super impressed, it's OK I guess, but at no point did I feel this was a page turner in any way other than as a obligation to finish what I started. The premise was interesting, even though for being set in 1976 I never actually felt like I was in that time period...which was a big reason I picked this up in the first place. It wasn't the worse thing I've read, but I don't know if that's saying a whole lot.

[NonieA1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sly Fox

This book was mesmerizing. Jeanine writes like she talks and I truly could not put this book down. I am willing to put her in the same class as Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb, who is my favorite author. Jeanine has tied the honor. This book describes the challenges of a female lawyer in he 1970’s and I suppose even today trying to break through the good old boys network. I love the logic and the thoroughness of what a prosecutor goes through. Thank you for sharing!😊👏👏❤️

[Ernest Tornabell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good solid court solution to various crimes only leaving one more criminal outside waiting for justice. Rated a 4. Rare books are 5's. Yes I would recommend this book.

A good solid court solution to various crimes only leaving one more criminal outside waiting for justice. Rated a 4. Rare books are 5's. Yes I would recommend this book.

[Mark Giordano · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book by this author and of this character Dani Fox. She's a tough assistant DA in Westchester, NY back in a time where women were mostly secretaries. This was a good story based upon the author's history in law. I enjoyed the story and the characters and will add Book # 2 to my list of books to read.

[Lucretia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fairly interesting court drama about a female DA and her struggle to break into the place formerly controlled mostly by males. It's emotionally charged with characters who seem real and in very hard lives. I will try another book by this writer.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great read!

A page turner for sure, kept me intrigued till the end. Thank you Judge for all the hard work you have done. For shredding light on the way things were done then. in the name of domestic Justice thank you.

[Donna Brazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the book and the other two books by Judge Jeanine, could hardly put them down.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book! But everything happens so fast with very little detail :/

[Carol Nease]

Great

[Alana Kirkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rough stories, but I couldn't put it down.

[Paulette Hannenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book for a first novel. Held my interest from the first word. Read it in two days.

[Donald J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only one thing!

I wish nothing was written about the heroian having sex with Bob, should have left that out. Other than that, it was a great story!

[Maureen McNally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good legal thriller

[Deb Cornell · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not the fast-paced, heart-pounding psychological mysteries of late, Pirro's foray into fiction writing is a credible crime/courtroom drama that is both informative and believable.

[Rod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightfull

[Negin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and I especially like the protagonist. From what I understand, the story is semi-autobiographical. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Tinika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sly Fox recounts the establishment and early days of the Domestic Violence Unit in Westchester County, New York. That was back in the mid-1970s, a time when victims were afraid to come forward and police, judges and the DA’s office looked upon such violence as a domestic issue. There were few women working in the legal system and men could still legally beat their wives (though that was about to change.) Even though it is a work of fiction, a degree of realism is achieved as Judge Pirro bases some of ADA Dani Fox’s experiences on her own.

There are some rather gruesome crime scenes but, if you can handle that, Sly Fox is a fairly easy read. It details a couple of horrific episodes which influenced the setting up of Fox’s new specialized unit and I thought, for a while, that this was going to be a murder mystery. Instead, relying on what the author knows best, it devolved into a pretty solid courtroom drama. (Two, actually.)

I am rating this a 4 out of 5 as it was an absorbing read. I am not taking it any higher because of a slightly shaky timeline and the completely unnecessary inclusion of Bob.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was just so so. I had most of it figured out about half way through. it took me longer to read this than it usually does. it was just and ok book.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

For centuries, the legal system and its workers have been dominated by males , but every now and again a female who is great at her job and can withstand the brutality of men , rise up and join them in the ranks of legal work. This book was well-written in the aspect that the author itself knows very well what it is like for a female in this profession and how hard it is to break through the perspex of the glass ceiling. In Sly Fox, we meet Assistant DA Dani Fox, the only female in this court and she is having to go lengths to prove she is the best and maybe even better than most the males in the office. What happens though when she takes on a case of domestic abuse to court and it ends up in deadly results on not just one occasion with one victim but multiple occassions with multiple victims and all females. Has Dani bitten off more than she can chew and will she end up showing the DA's and legal system that women are only good as secretaries or will she prove them wrong by standing up for what is right and winning the cases ? For me as I do love my mysteries in novels was that the murder cases were a bit too glossed over for my liking and would have preferred it maybe if Judge Jeanine Pirro had wandered into a bit more detail , other than that this was a great first book and I look forward to reading more by this author. Sly Fox is a great read for those fans of Marcia Clark's and Lisa Scottoline's Bernie Rosato Books.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's 1976, and Dani Fox is an Assistant DA. As the only female Assistant in the DA's office, she is a token for now, and is relegated to cases that are appealed. She hungers to prove herself in the courtroom. Will this desire get her into the spotlight, or will it endanger her life?

Dani knows she has to prove herself. When a spousal abuse case is brought to her, Dani decides to pitch it to her boss. But this is 1976, and it is still legal for men to beat their wives in NY. The angle that gets her a chance, however, is one involving a reporter and a story that will showcase the DA's office as progressive in its hiring of women. Dani's life and the lives of her witnesses are put on the line. As women die, Dani must use all of her wits to stay safe and present her case. Will she prove abuse? murder? Will Detective O'Brien be able to keep Dani safe? This story will place you in the courtroom encouraging the jury to reach the right verdict.

I really enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down. I love to watch Judge Pirro on television as she delves into the legality of cases. This story is well written and addictive. I can't wait for more!

[Oswego Public Library District]

An absorbing, fast-paced suspense novel that is supported strongly by the author's real life experience as a judge and attorney. An older, seasoned cop teams up with a bright, young and beautiful female assistant district attorney to bring attention to the issue of abuse within families. Internal politics, determination, and a lot of spirit all play a role in seeking attention for this social ill. Brief scenes of graphic violence included. -GD

Click here to place a hold on Sly Fox .

Remember Marcia Clark, attorney in the O.J. Simpson trial? She, too, brings her real life experience in her novel Guilt by Association .

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and quick read, Pirro explores some of the challenges facing new ADA Dani Fox as she tries to break into the at-that-time old boy's network of the Westchester County DA's office. Dani has been tucked away in the appeals division, denied any trial work, during the '70s when a man beating his girlfriend was a crime, but beating his wife was perfectly okay. Based loosely on Pirro's experiences in her early career, this book is a shocking reminder of just how recently it's been that women were routinely treated as second-class citizens and demeaned regularly, both professionally and personally. Pretty similar to Linda Fairstein's Alexandra Cooper series, although not as polished, but Alex is far more established in her position in the first entry of that series, while Dani is at the very beginning of her career.