Rating: 
Summary: Accurate Legal Thriller, a page-turner
Review: As a preamble, I have been a criminal defense lawyer for 15 years, 9 of which were for a public defender's office. I shy away from legal thrillers in movies, TV shows, and books because they always get it wrong in big way even allowing for the entertainment aspect of these media. There are same matters in Special Circumstances that are not accurate, but they are far fewer than in any other Legal Thriller I have read or seen. Further, Sheldon Siegel in fact does capture many aspects of a criminal court best of all -- the mood and personality of the attorneys, judges, courtrooms, media -- especially the media! -- the jury, the witnesses, the defendant, and their families' -- remarkably so. The examinations and cross-examinations are particularly exacting despite those few errors. The issue about the prosecutor being a potential witness in a case DOES happen and HAS happened, some in my own cases -- and it makes for a more interesting situation that defense attorneys can take advantage of, and it does show the arrogance of the prosecutor. But on to the important matters. This novel is like a roller coaster -- at first you slowly climb this huge hill, this loading up of conflict as Mike Daley suffers the last two days of being "fired" from S & G (Sodom & Gommorah, Mr. Siegel?). Then, at the apex -- murder, double murder -- and the coaster zooms along, unstoppable as the reader, this reader anyway, could NOT put this novel down. Who did it? Why? Who could have done it? Why is Joel being prosecuted given all the other choices? What about the mysterious Russo, the snotty Chuckles, the snooty radio therapist -- such a cast of suspects. What a job, Mr. Siegel. What a novel. The 5 stars for your book are my thanks for the entertainment, professionally done. Those who have heard the opening to his next book cannot wait -- COME OUT WITH IT ALREADY!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I just can't put this down. Bad attorneys doing bad things. I love it.
Rating:
Summary: Calling All Grisham Fans!
Review: Overall, this was a fantastic book to read! It is almost impossible not to compare this to a Grisham, book, but I'll only write about what stood out to me. What really stood out in this book is the comedy. The biting and sarcastic humor of the author really makes the entire atmosphere different from Grisham, who tends to be humorous in certain doses. Siegel has plenty of one liners throughout the entire book. The characters in this book were also much more relate-able than the typical Grisham book. For example, the head big-wigs of the law firm almost always conjur up images of an attorney you've probably met along the way, somewhere. Best of all, with the exception of one or two minor things, the alleged murderer is a person that almost anyone can relate to. If I had one critical thing to say, it would be that an intelligent person can not guess the ending, because the author does not provide enough facts for the reader to come to that conclusion. However, the ending is a good one, and one that makes you scratch your head. If you like Grisham, and you have a sense of humor, then you will truly enjoy this book!
Rating:
Summary: kept me reading
Review: I just finished this book. There were plenty of twists and surprises in the story, and a big one at the end. If you read for escape, this one will do it. A thumbs up from me. Reader in Oakland, California
Rating: 
Summary: Too Unrealistic to be worthwhile
Review: This book was so unrealistic with regard to how a courtroom trial would occur as to make the book maddening. The errors in the book go well beyond "poetic license" and into the real of unfathomable. To name but a few: 1. There is no way a District Attorney previously employed by a law firm would be involved in the prosecution of a member of his former firm accused of killing a former partner in that firm. Not possible. 2. There is no way a district attorney would ever have brought the case in the first place, based on the evidence presented in the book. 3. The relationship between the accused murderor and the deceased woman would never, ever be the basis for bringing a prosecution. And I've only named three of many unacceptable errors.
Rating:
Summary: What? Not a five star review?
Review: Wow. With all the praise this book is getting I doubt my dissenting voice will be heard, but no matter, here it is. There is a lot wrong with this book. I am a courtroom drama lover and a fan of Turow and R.N. Patterson. With all the treading this genre has received over the years you really need to do something to set yourself apart. Siegel does not. His characters are extremely basic (a la Crichton), the so-called plot twists are there but not interesting and mostly contrived and unrealistic. The dialog is strained--people just don't talk the way he writes. To be convicing a book like this has to be grounded in the real world, with real characters and a reason for us to care about them. All of this is missing in this book. If you are a great fan of this type of story and just want to be carried along by an airy and empty plot, go right ahead and buy this book. It seems many other people have done so. If you want a truly good read with some realism and complexity--steer clear. My mom bought this book for me as a gift. I wish she had saved her money.
Rating:
Summary: Before you think you've read it all, read this book!
Review: Sheldon Siegel is a fantastic writer! His book, Special Circumstances, includes it all. A great mystery with thrilling courtroom scenes that make you want to get up and slap the prosecutor and give a thumbs-up to the defense attorney. A superb look at the workings of a criminal justice system that suffers from the egos of those who oftentimes refuse to accept the truth because it jeopardizes their cases against the defendant. A great exposure to some of what actually takes place in many large law firms when it comes to the games that are played with people's lives and the exorbitant sums that are charged per hour for representation. This is a book filled with wit, sarcasm, humor, unexpected surprises, dramatic twists, good and bad feelings, and all the other things that make it more real than fiction. I could not put it down until I had completed reading it and I cannot wait until Mr. Siegel's second book is available through Amazon.com. A must read for anyone who enjoys John Grisham-type stories but with the addition of some light-hearted moments and some very unusual, but true to life, characters.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific Read!
Review: What a pleasant surprise! Thanks to Amazon, I found an intelligently written, suspenseful legal thriller. I look forward to future books by the author.
Rating:
Summary: Siegal writes about San francisco like a native.
Review: Siegal writes about San Francisco as if he grew up here. He mentions all the places the locals eat, hang out and make it home for us. I loved it and highly reccommend it for every San Franciscian and anyone who loves our city.
Rating: 
Summary: Special Circumstances
Review: This was a very interesting book and held your interest. It should have been getting more press on it. I still haven't seen it in the book store.
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