Criminal Intent (Hardcover)

by Sheldon Siegel (Author) "HE'S DEAD, MIKE" the familiar voice says without the slightest hint of emotion..." (more)
Key Phrases: bloody nightgown, immunity agreement, probate attorney, Little Richard, Big Dick, China Basin (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Mike Daley has a checkered past as a former priest, an ex-public defender, and even a corporate lawyer. Now he's a criminal defense attorney partnered with his ex-wife, Rosie, in a San Francisco firm that's too small to attract high-profile clients unless they happen to be related to the principals--which in this case, they are. The chief suspect in the murder of famed director Richard MacArthur and the star of the film that's supposed to resurrect his fading career is Rosie's niece Angel. While the plot features too many other suspects and not enough surprises, it's the relationship between Mike and Rosie that gives this well-crafted but otherwise humdrum mystery its appeal. --Jane Adams

From Publishers Weekly
The charm and originality that marked Special Circumstances and Incriminating Evidence, Siegel's first two legal thrillers about former priest and ex-public defender Mike Daley, are wearing a bit thin in this third outing. Mike's firm has moved from a shabby office over a martial arts studio in San Francisco's Mission District to a spot around the corner that used to house a tarot reader. He practices criminal law with his ex-wife, Rosie Fernandez, and another former girlfriend is also a partner in the struggling firm. Mike is having a secret affair with a sitting California Superior Court judge; Rosie is undergoing treatment for breast cancer; their 10-year-old daughter, Grace (and everyone else except Rosie and Mike), thinks they should get back together. But the real fireworks are provided by various members of Rosie's extended family, which seems to be even vaster than Sharon McCone's giant clan in Marcia Muller's books. Rosie's niece, Angel, a top model married to a fading film director, is accused of beating her husband to death with his Oscar statuette, while Angel's father, Tony, a respected produce merchant, gets involved in a kickback scheme to build a movie studio in the China Basin area. Siegel is still adept at detailing the workings of criminal law from the inside and his sense of nostalgia for the rapidly vanishing working-class enclaves of San Francisco is palpable. But this installment meanders a bit and relies too heavily on the familiar personality quirks of its protagonists.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; First. edition (August 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399149171
• ISBN-13: 978-0399149177
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #403,343 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid effort -- I intend to go back for more from Seigel, December 21, 2005

By	Timothy J. Kindler (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Criminal Intent (Paperback)

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Suspenseful whodunnit; unforgettable characters, August 27, 2002

By	ANTHIE ZACHARIADOU (NICOSIA, CYPRUS Cyprus) - See all my reviews

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars loss of interest, October 17, 2003

By	J. Rodeck (Guam) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Criminal Intent (Paperback)

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?