Customer Reviews

Criminal Intent

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Criminal Intent is one of the most intricately plotted legal thrillers I've ever seen. This story has enough characters and suspense in it to fill four books.

The book brings a whole new meaning to the term "family law." Legal partners Mike Daley (an ex-priest, ex-public defender and ex-corporate lawyer) and his ex-wife, Rosie Fernandez, run a small criminal defense firm. Rosie's niece, Angelina (Angel), is accused of murdering her husband after she is found passed out on the Golden Gate bridge in his car with lots of incriminating evidence. Mike and Rosie run the defense. Mike's brother, Pete, does the detective work. Rosie's other niece, Rolanda, practices law them them, as well. Rosie's brother is having some problems that they help with. This list doesn't exhaust the family connections in the center of the case.

Against the main plot line of defending Angel, Mike and Rosie also deal with their own troubled relationship, their daughter, other family members, Mike's girl friend, and various defendants. It's enough to keep your head spinning. To make the book even more dense, the time frame is very brief. Mike is working night and day to keep the balls in the air. It made me tired to think about it.

I found the book to be compelling reading, however. I stayed up past midnight to finish it.

I would happily have graded the book as five stars, but many aspects are exaggerated . . . unrealistically so in my view. Would the DA really be so beautiful and competent? Would one person really be followed by four detectives at the same time? Would so many witnesses tell so many lies, when their stories could easily be checked? Would the attorneys be so willing to bend ethical bars (for which they could easily be caught) here and there to help their clients? Cumulatively, it was all just a little bit too much. I also thought that the ending was totally telegraphed much too early in the book.

I admired the legal accuracy of the presentation. That was well grounded, and made the book more interesting and compelling.

After you finish this book, think about what your responsibilities are to family members in trouble. How can you help them avoid trouble in the first place?

One thing I like, and which makes Siegel's books stand out for the normal legal thriller, is now little time is spent in the courtroom. Siegel, a practicing attorney himself, focuses on the characters involved and the investigation prior to the case going to court. And, living across the Bay from San Francisco, I always appreciate his very accurate descriptions of the City. While not terribly suspenseful, this is a very well done, enjoyable series and one I continue to follow and recommend.

This is the third instalment of mystery novels featuring criminal defence attorney Mike Daley and his ex-wife Rosie. This time, the case at hand concerns Rosie's niece, who is accused of murdering her husband, a famous movie director. Mike and Rosie undertake a seemingly impossible case with most evidence pointing towards Angelina as the perpetrator, and where family values and sentiments are tested to the limit. Early on in the novel a multitude of potential suspects to the murder are introduced, each with their own personality, hidden agenda and version of events, and Mike and Rosie have to investigate and eliminate each as a suspect and as a lead to discover what really happened the night of the murder. Soon enough, another dead body is discovered, and Mike and Rosie have to untangle a web of lies, deceit and personal interest aims, trying to fit bits and pieces together, while juggling the emotional sanity of themselves and their family. The story unravels, like a jigsaw puzzle, each piece of evidence gradually fitting to another, until the unexpected conclusion. Those who have read Siegel's previous two books are familiar with the particular "situation" of Mike and Rosie who are ex husband and wife and current law partners. This book begins with a couple of surprises concerning their personal and sentimental status, and the reader cannot help but root for the two of them to get together again - it is one of Siegel's achievements that the reader gets so emotionally involved in the personal life of the heroes, a rare feature in murder mystery novels.

The story itself is gripping and moves in a fast, unrelenting pace. The dialogue is crisp and clear and is accompanied by Daley's familiar sarcastic humour, one of the author's trademarks, also unusual in the genre. Once again, the novel unfolds in a characteristic San Francisco ambience, demonstrating the author's knowledge and love for his city. The sub-plots are not irrelevant to the main story and are equally interesting. The most impressive part of the novel, however, is the continuing character development, and consistency especially for the main character, Mike. I did not just admire Mike's intelligence, courage, committment to family and sensitivity - I genuinely like the guy, with all his flaws and shortcomings, and wish he was my friend. This attachment to a book character, even a reccurring one, is extremely hard to find, especially in a mystery series, and it is what stays with me having finished the book and what makes me look forward to the fourth book in the series.

Siegel takes the Michael Daley in a new direction. In this one his partner & ex-wife Rosie is sick with cancer while her neice Angela is arrested for a murder. Lacking the usual courtroom drama, this book focuses more on Michael and Rosie trying to learn the truth to get Angela out of jail before she becomes a suicide victim. Noticeably absent in this one is Nick Hanson, PI who is usually very entertaining. Instead we have Jaella PI and ex-cheerleader. Maybe Michael's brother Pete will finally have his day!

While all this goes on Michael is having an extremely secretive affair with a judge which causes all kinds of conflict of interest situations. Though not up to the same level of some of the other Siegel Daley books, it is still a superior read mainly because of Daley's wisecracking thoughts around everything he says.

Unbelieveable drop after two great novels: *Special Circumstances* and *Incriminating Evidence.* No courtroom battle. and how romantic can the romance with the ex really be?

Sheldon Siegel, in his third book, "Criminal Intent," brings back Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez. Daley and Fernandez are law partners and former spouses who get along better as colleagues than they do as husband and wife. They both share a deep love for their daughter, Grace, and they consistently support one another through family crises and illnesses.

A big crisis arises when the police find Rosie's niece, Angelina, near the Golden Gate Bridge late one night after her husband, Richard MacArthur, has been bludgeoned to death with his own Academy Award. Angel claims that she does not know how she got to the bridge, since she blacked out earlier in the evening after a party at her husband's mansion. The police do not believe Angel's flimsy story and they arrest her for murder. Angel had motive, means and opportunity to kill Richard, and the media-savvy San Francisco District Attorney, Nicole Ward, intends to nail her. Angel turns to her Aunt Rosie and Rosie's law partner, Mike, to represent her.

Siegel's easygoing writing style, astute characterizations and gentle humor make him one of the better writers of legal thrillers at work today. Rosie and Mike are intelligent, resourceful and compassionate characters, and it is interesting to see how their relationship works both on a professional and a personal level. Several subplots about Rosie's battle with breast cancer, Mike's relationship with a beautiful judge and an expensive construction project involving bribes and extortion are seamlessly interwoven into the main plot about MacArthur's murder.

By the time all of the elements have been sorted out, Siegel brings the book to a satisfying and realistic conclusion. I highly recommend the entertaining "Criminal Intent" as well as Siegel's two other legal thrillers featuring Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez.

This was the first book from Seigel that I have read. It was an airport purchase that, with a long flight from Europe and a connecting flight to my final destination, I had essentially finished before arriving home. While perhaps lacking the benefit of the background from Seigel's previous works with the same characters, I nonetheless was able to really enjoy the story. There were numerous characters to keep track of, creating both a positive (multiple story lines and strong interplay between the characters) and a negative (at times, the story seemed to get bogged down in unnecessary complexity). I did not find this to be a fabulous story, but it certainly was entertaining enough be keep me from switching over to the in-flight movies and was more than sufficient to prompt me to go back for more of Seigel's work in the future.

My third Daley book from Sheldon Siegel and for me they keep getting better and better or maybe in this one, my heart just went out to Mike and Rosie. CRIMINAL INTENT is a deliciously detailed mystery with loads of suspects. The murder of a famed Hollywood icon fuels this book. The characters from Siegel are rich and detailed whether it be Pete, Mike's PI brother, Leslie, the judge having a secret affair, or any in the storyline characters like Rosie's neice Angel. Mike Daley mysteries are very good novels. Start from the beginning and enjoy. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This was the most intriguing book I have ever read. Rosie& Michael investigated a murder That his niece might be involved in. The plot was riveting with so many suspects you can shake a stick at. Just when you think you may have figured it out you get the rug snatch from under. If you have been bored in the past with any court-drama books. This is the one to get.

What can I say? This guy gives hours of pleasure. Mike and Rosie are two of the best on-going characters around. The only problem is we have to wait a year to meet them again. As ususal, Sheldon Siegel has given us another winner. I must add, it's refreshing to be able to grin and smile with a main character even when he's chasing such dastardly perps. As Sheldon Siegel has shown, a sense of humor can go a long way. Kudos to you Sheldon...get back to the keyboard...we're all out here waiting for the next adventures of Mike & Rosie.