Rating: 
Summary: OK, but flawed
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: A starlet is accused of murdering her husband.
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Sorry but I just can't relate
Review: This is another high profile murder case with all the best of the best. The smartest of the smartest lawyers. Even their
kids are the bestest of the best. Lots of politically correct women. All tough as nails and smart as whips, yet are oh
so feminine don't you know. Not an average person in the book...which for me means BORING and who cares.
All these people have tons of money. so who cares! what trouble they get themselves into. What's the challenge?
What's the risk? The wealthy live their lives on a whole different plane than me. Sorry but I can't relate. I can't
relate nor feel for a 25 yr/o "actress" out of the Mission Dist. (poor mexican neighborhood) who marries an old rich
film maker, a known pig & adulterer, to further her career and then proceeds to [throw]away all the money he has given her
or she has earned via his film business and who drinks and drugs while living in a 10 million dollar home and
chauffeured around in a limo. She's accused of murdering him, but so what? They both were scummy.
Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful whodunnit; unforgettable characters
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful whodunnit; unforgettable characters
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: It's A Crime Not to Get This Book
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: loss of interest
Review: 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?
Rating:
Summary: loss of interest
Review: 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?
Rating:
Summary: Sheldon strikes gold again!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Sheldon strikes gold again!
Review: 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.
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