15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You sure wouldn't want........., May 19, 2008
...THIS job. Nate Fineman is in a mess; he is a 77 year-old legend in the San Francisco legal community who has made himself a "reputation", and a ton of money, defending rich low-lifes when they deal drugs, murder cops and other drug dealers, etc. Nate The Great had it all, but 10 years ago the sudden demise of two dope king pins and a crooked lawyer landed him on Death Row, where he has a date with the needle in nine and a half days. The San Fran Cops wanted his neck for years, and finally got it....
Enter Mike and Rosie, old friends of ours by now, who make a great legal team, have two kids, and the craziest divorce on record. Nate needs all the help he can get, and wants to hire them, along with Pete, Mike's PI brother, for the final appeals. The Law has no tougher job, and it is sure evidence of Sheldon's great skill that he can make us feel the stress. [Sheldon is a corporate attorney, and hasn't actually handled a death penalty appeal]. Naturally, Nate claims innocence [there are no "guilty" men on death row], but he has some rather specific charges about the alleged frame-up, and the part Mike and Pete's Dad [now deceased] played in it. Ouch. Now, I have to be careful, lest I spoil it for you.....
Sheldon takes us on a heck of a ride...tense, fast-paced, draining...that is sure to draw up conflicting emotions about both legal obligations and family loyalties. Several of our old friends are here...Roosevelt Johnson is retired now, but sharp as ever; he was well involved in the original case, hates Nate, but remains honorable. Mort The Sport Goldberg was Nate's original Counsel. He's had a stroke, has good days and bad, but can still turn on the fire. Nick Hanson is involved in everything, always has been, and remains ageless. Rabbi Friedman from "Special Circumstances" is back...he is one of Sheldon's best creations, a model for all clergymen, of whatever faith.
OK, I've said enough. This MAY be Sheldon's best, and I will not ruin it for you.. Start with time left to finish it in one sitting; you will be pulled straight along, and won't be able to stop. It is NOT a polemic on either side of the Capital Punishment debate. I have no idea how Sheldon feels about the matter [bravo Sheldon]; heck, I'm not even 100% sure how I feel. The loudest defender of capital punishment would stop short of executing the innocent, and the most vocal opponent wouldn't want his daughter dating Ted Bundy; this controversy has points on both sides that will not be settled here. But, you will definitely have quite an adventure, and be forced to think at the same time.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Countdown to an execution, July 7, 2010
First Sentence: The oldest man on death row is eyeing me from his wheelchair.
Attorney Mike Daley and Rosie, in spite of a promise to his ex-wife and law partner, takes on a death-row appeals case. Former powerhouse-attorney Nate Fineman, is due to die in 8 days. He was convicted of killing three men in a Chinatown restaurant shooting, but claims he is innocent and the gun was planted by the police. Now Mike has not only to prove Nate's innocence, but find identify the killer in order to prevent Nate's execution. There is one slight conflict; Mike's late father was one of the officers at the scene of the shooting.
Living in the Bay Area, I do love books set here where it is delightful to read of places I know or have been and people whose names are iconic with the area. But it is also nice, that Siegel gets the geographic and atmosphere right as well. Siegal has a great voice writes realistic dialoque and uses humor well.
It's his characters I particularly like. His people are...people; not over-the-top or infallible. Mike and his ex-wife Rosie work together, are occasionally intimate but can't life together yet they make it work so they are both involved in their children's lives. The contrast between Mike and his ex-cop brother, Pete, is a study in contrasts and adds dimension to both characters.
The story is very well plotted. The element of time counting down is always effective and, although I don't know how realistic they may be, I do particularly like the courtroom scenes. [An attorney friend tells me the courtroom scenes are very well done.]
Siegel is a writer whose books I very much enjoy and was pleased to learn there is a new book on its way.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
silly, May 3, 2009
siegel writes well. plot had potential, but story marred by too many easy coincidences. further, kindle edition badly formatted. and, by the way, no one can tell a sequestered witness what other witnesses have testified.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
