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Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez Mystery #5
The Confession
When the lawyer for the plaintiff in a scandalous sexual harassment suit against the San Francisco Catholic Archdiocese turns up dead, the possible victim of murder, ex-priest Mike Daley and his ex-wife and law partner, Rosie, set out to defend the prime suspect, Father Ramon Aguirre, but they soon discover that they have a nearly impossible task ahead of them. 35,000 first printing.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
4450 people are currently reading
1137 people want to read
About the author
Sheldon Siegel
82 books508 followersSheldon Siegel is a New York Times Bestselling novelist and author best known for his works of modern legal courtroom drama.
Siegel was born on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. He attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, and later went on to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as an Accounting major. He graduated with a Juris Doctor from Boalt Hall at the University of California, Berkeley in 1983. He has been in private practice in San Francisco, California for over twenty years and specializes in corporate and securities law with the law firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP.
Series:
* Mike Daley Mystery
Siegel was born on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. He attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, and later went on to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as an Accounting major. He graduated with a Juris Doctor from Boalt Hall at the University of California, Berkeley in 1983. He has been in private practice in San Francisco, California for over twenty years and specializes in corporate and securities law with the law firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP.
Series:
* Mike Daley Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
June 1, 2020
4 stars for an entertaining easy read. This is book 5 in the Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez series and it can be read as a stand alone, but I have been reading them in order and recommend doing the same. I have converted my wife into a fan of this series. She has almost finished book 1 Special Circumstances and plans to continue reading this series.
This book starts off with Mike, who is an ex-priest, in confession with his priest friend Ramon Aguirre. Mike left the priesthood, while Ramon stayed on and is now his parish priest. Ramon is trying to persuade Mike to remarry his ex wife and current law partner, Rosie Fernandez. They have 2 children, Grace, 12, and Tommy, 11 months old. Grace was born while they were still married, and Tommy was born years after the divorce. While Mike and Rosie still see each other, they also still live apart. They share parenting responsibilities.
Later that night, Ramon calls Mike. Ramon has been arrested for murder. He wants Mike to be his lawyer. Mike arrives at the police station, only to find 2 lawyers for the archdiocese of San Francisco determined to take over the case. Mike is able to stay on the case because Ramon insists on him being part of his legal team.
Mike and his team do solve the case without much help from the RC church. They also do it for free, since the church refuses to pay his fees. This is an intricate legal mystery, with an ending that I did not see coming until toward the end of the book.
I like the author's sense of humor. Some quotes:
Ramon to Mike: "I'm in the business of saving souls and yours is at the top of my list. You're a test case for the greatest challenge of my career."
Mike: "Which is?"
Ramon: "I'm trying to get my first lawyer into heaven."
Mike, thinking "Sometimes I miss the good old days when priests were stern taskmasters instead of aspiring stand up comics. 'What are my odds?"
Ramon: "Not good. I have to hold you to a higher standard because you used to be one of us."
Mike: "There's a sliding scale for sin?"
Ramon: "Yes."
Rosita Fernandez article in law journal: "Criminal defense work is like putting together a puzzle. You study each piece of evidence and try to find ways to cast doubt on the prosecution's case. If you overlook something important, your client is in serious trouble."
This was a kindle purchase.
This book starts off with Mike, who is an ex-priest, in confession with his priest friend Ramon Aguirre. Mike left the priesthood, while Ramon stayed on and is now his parish priest. Ramon is trying to persuade Mike to remarry his ex wife and current law partner, Rosie Fernandez. They have 2 children, Grace, 12, and Tommy, 11 months old. Grace was born while they were still married, and Tommy was born years after the divorce. While Mike and Rosie still see each other, they also still live apart. They share parenting responsibilities.
Later that night, Ramon calls Mike. Ramon has been arrested for murder. He wants Mike to be his lawyer. Mike arrives at the police station, only to find 2 lawyers for the archdiocese of San Francisco determined to take over the case. Mike is able to stay on the case because Ramon insists on him being part of his legal team.
Mike and his team do solve the case without much help from the RC church. They also do it for free, since the church refuses to pay his fees. This is an intricate legal mystery, with an ending that I did not see coming until toward the end of the book.
I like the author's sense of humor. Some quotes:
Ramon to Mike: "I'm in the business of saving souls and yours is at the top of my list. You're a test case for the greatest challenge of my career."
Mike: "Which is?"
Ramon: "I'm trying to get my first lawyer into heaven."
Mike, thinking "Sometimes I miss the good old days when priests were stern taskmasters instead of aspiring stand up comics. 'What are my odds?"
Ramon: "Not good. I have to hold you to a higher standard because you used to be one of us."
Mike: "There's a sliding scale for sin?"
Ramon: "Yes."
Rosita Fernandez article in law journal: "Criminal defense work is like putting together a puzzle. You study each piece of evidence and try to find ways to cast doubt on the prosecution's case. If you overlook something important, your client is in serious trouble."
This was a kindle purchase.
February 25, 2025
An authentic thriller on the Roman Catholic Church and its ongoing sex scandals
In a shocking piece of news that rivals a weather forecast that predicts the sun will rise tomorrow, the San Francisco Roman Catholic archdiocese finds itself as the defendant against a sexual harassment lawsuit. The archbishop and the diocesan administration quietly breathe a sigh of relief when the plaintiff’s lawyer is found dead of an apparent suicide. But the police soon find the situation may well be much, much worse than simple sexual harassment when they discover evidence that the death is a murder. And (well, don’t that just beat all?!), the evidence points to a priest as the likely killer!
Full disclosure: I acknowledge myself to be a confirmed atheist convinced of the real-life, ongoing criminality of the Roman Catholic Church. So I’m willing to admit that confirmation bias might be responsible for my reaction. That said, THE CONFESSION was a gripping, page-turning, absolutely credible thriller. It was a bonus to discover that THE CONFESSION was the fifth entry in an ongoing series (Michael Daley and Rosie Fernandez, his ex-wife and current law partner!) that now extends to 12 titles and counting. (Oh joy! Be still, my beating heart as eleven more titles get added to my ever-burgeoning TBR list).
Definitely recommended.
Paul Weiss
In a shocking piece of news that rivals a weather forecast that predicts the sun will rise tomorrow, the San Francisco Roman Catholic archdiocese finds itself as the defendant against a sexual harassment lawsuit. The archbishop and the diocesan administration quietly breathe a sigh of relief when the plaintiff’s lawyer is found dead of an apparent suicide. But the police soon find the situation may well be much, much worse than simple sexual harassment when they discover evidence that the death is a murder. And (well, don’t that just beat all?!), the evidence points to a priest as the likely killer!
Full disclosure: I acknowledge myself to be a confirmed atheist convinced of the real-life, ongoing criminality of the Roman Catholic Church. So I’m willing to admit that confirmation bias might be responsible for my reaction. That said, THE CONFESSION was a gripping, page-turning, absolutely credible thriller. It was a bonus to discover that THE CONFESSION was the fifth entry in an ongoing series (Michael Daley and Rosie Fernandez, his ex-wife and current law partner!) that now extends to 12 titles and counting. (Oh joy! Be still, my beating heart as eleven more titles get added to my ever-burgeoning TBR list).
Definitely recommended.
Paul Weiss
January 12, 2022
There is a murder in the community and the police find evidence that points to a catholic priest, Father Ramon, as the murderer. Old friends Mike and Rosie take the case pro bono. This is the fifth in Sheldon Siegel’s Daley and Fernandez series, and another mystery cum courtroom drama. As with the others in the series, the dialogues with their spoken words immediately followed by the contrasted thoughts are the highlight, and the book is worth reading just for those. The solving of the crime, however, is the weakest and least satisfying part and left me disappointed. Still a good read for those following the series.
June 28, 2021
Siegel’s fifth offering in the Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez legal thriller series has Mike defending Father Ramon Aguirre, a longtime friend, that has been accused of murdering Maria Concepcion, a fiercely competitive lawyer that has successfully sued the archdiocese multiple times. The evidence against this local priest serving in the San Francisco Mission District is overwhelming. Enjoy the legal maneuvers and investigative prowess of the two attorneys as they defend their friend.
April 22, 2020
good writer good plot
July 21, 2013
I'm not sure what was more ridiculous: the clichés or the predictability.
Listen, crime novels are my guilty pleasure, and I realize that it is pretty easy to figure out how about 75% of them are going to end before the book is halfway done. However, when I can figure it out in the first three chapters I know I'm in for a disappointing book.
Ex-priest turned lawyer Mike Daley takes on the defense of his close friend (and seminary classmate) after said friend is accused of murdering a parishioner. While there are some twists and turns nothing is that shocking. It was all pretty standard, and at this point I'm pretty good at eye rolling storylines involving "rogue" priests.
It certainly isn't a tough read, and I did read the whole thing. However, I have no plans to read the rest of the series (this is book 5). Maybe if I had read book 1 first I would think differently, but something tells me they are all a bit like this.
In the interest of full disclosure I am a practicing Catholic; however, I wasn't offended or angered by some of storylines. It isn't anything shocking (hint: the abuse scandals play a part in the book, but they are not the main crime).
Anyway, I don't recommend it. The book isn't poorly written or anything like that. In fact, I actually thought it was very well written. It just was too predictable for my own tastes.
Listen, crime novels are my guilty pleasure, and I realize that it is pretty easy to figure out how about 75% of them are going to end before the book is halfway done. However, when I can figure it out in the first three chapters I know I'm in for a disappointing book.
Ex-priest turned lawyer Mike Daley takes on the defense of his close friend (and seminary classmate) after said friend is accused of murdering a parishioner. While there are some twists and turns nothing is that shocking. It was all pretty standard, and at this point I'm pretty good at eye rolling storylines involving "rogue" priests.
It certainly isn't a tough read, and I did read the whole thing. However, I have no plans to read the rest of the series (this is book 5). Maybe if I had read book 1 first I would think differently, but something tells me they are all a bit like this.
In the interest of full disclosure I am a practicing Catholic; however, I wasn't offended or angered by some of storylines. It isn't anything shocking (hint: the abuse scandals play a part in the book, but they are not the main crime).
Anyway, I don't recommend it. The book isn't poorly written or anything like that. In fact, I actually thought it was very well written. It just was too predictable for my own tastes.
December 5, 2020
3.8/5
If I had just picked this book up and had never read another one of the books in the series, I would give this 4/5 stars. Because I’ve read 5 other books in the series, I’m lowering my grade, because they’re becoming a little formulaic. Still a great court room drama with a lot of twists.
If I had just picked this book up and had never read another one of the books in the series, I would give this 4/5 stars. Because I’ve read 5 other books in the series, I’m lowering my grade, because they’re becoming a little formulaic. Still a great court room drama with a lot of twists.
July 3, 2021
The fifth entry in the Mike and Rosie legal partnership series is not as good as the first four but once it gets rolling in the courtroom, it is interesting enough. Siegel does know his stuff when it comes to the interplay between the judge and the lawyers.
February 6, 2024
Am I loving this series...Indeed I am (you have to read it to understand the tongue in cheek.) So much so that I've read the first six books without updating my Goodreads.
This is a legal series where Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez take on hopeless cases and throw their all into them. With favourite characters appearing in each book, and aiding these two as much as they can, every story I've read so far, I've thoroughly enjoyed.
On to book seven!
This is a legal series where Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez take on hopeless cases and throw their all into them. With favourite characters appearing in each book, and aiding these two as much as they can, every story I've read so far, I've thoroughly enjoyed.
On to book seven!
August 1, 2023
Enjoy this series and glad I have returned to it. Mike and Rosie have a unique relationship and that makes this interesting.
Good additional characters as well.
Some good discussions on theology and the church here that I liked as well
Good additional characters as well.
Some good discussions on theology and the church here that I liked as well
May 28, 2025
Another winner for Siegel in this wonderful Mike & Rosie series. Excellent storytelling as usual. Not as suspenseful as others. Still worth it for fans of the series.
February 1, 2017
The fifth novel of American crime novelist Sheldon Siegel The Confession was despite all my expectations an amazing reading. When debating whether I should read the novel or not I encountered several reviews on this page and others who described the storyline as predictable, boring and poorly written - but since I am a bit of a sucker for crime and legal novels I decided to take a chance on this one and thank god I did.
Former Priest turned lawyer Mike Daley takes on the task to prove that his good friend and former ‘college’ Father Ramon Aguirre did not in fact kill one of his own parishioners. Mike and his ex-wife and law associate Rosie do not have it easy proving his innocence since all proof in the Maria Concepcion murder case points directly at Father Aguirre. The storyline gets even more complicated when it turns out that Ms. Concepcion, who is also a lawyer, was involved in two cases against the Archdiocese of San Francisco for sexual harassment. The Archdiocese has lawyers on stand-by for civil cases but not for criminal cases... usually. To Mike's amazement the Archdiocese appoints two lawyers to defend Father Aguirre in the murder trial but when the Archdiocese is put on the spot between the civil sexual harassment case and Father Aguirre’s murder trial, they decide to save the Archdiocese’s image instead of one of their own priests.
Now… truth be told – it took me almost two months to read this book because of school but would I have had the chance I would have probably read this one in a sitting. The writing style is a bit unique, each chapter starts with a quote, which is on one hand fascinating but a bit confusing for my taste.
The major issue that some pointed out was the predictability of the novel and that one I just do not understand. While reading my mind went to different endings and maybe one or two times even to the 'correct ending' however the way the storyline is constructed you get pulled out from whatever idea you have of the ending. Until the last final two chapters one is unsure if Father Aguirre is just full of it or not. I did not know whether to believe him or not until the last chapter. I wanted to believe Father Aguirre so much, he does not seem like the person to commit such a vicious crime but then you do have all these evidence that point directly at him and I just couldn't be sure until the very last. So, no… the novel is NOT predictable, and it is NOT poorly written. Sheldon Siegel is a great writer with a great sense of humor and let’s be real – there was NOTHING boring about this novel at all. Sure - if you don't like legal novels, then yes - it will be boring and some things will not make sense because that is just the way it is when you are not a fan of the genre. However if one likes the genre and understands what the different technical terms mean then it is not boring at all.
The topic of the novel, well I personally am not a Catholic but I do read a lot and I do watch the news and it has been a big topic involving the church and sexual harassment charges and one might even go to the point of thinking what they would really do to protect the Church’s image and this is – in my honest opinion – what the novel is about. Showing a bit that sadly an institution like the church has people in them who would do pretty much anything to protect said image. However it also shows that those are only a few, that there are still people - like Father Aguirre who still believe in the fundamental believes that are the foundation of said institution. Father Aguirre represents those priests who still have faith, who still think that being a priest is holy and a privilege given directly from God. He represents those who are as disappointed and disgusted by the news we hear on the news.
I give this book a solid ☆ 4.5 just because of the quotes at the beginning of each chapter.. it just bothered me a bit but I already bought the next book to read!! Great book if you love crime / legal novels. I can only recommend.
Former Priest turned lawyer Mike Daley takes on the task to prove that his good friend and former ‘college’ Father Ramon Aguirre did not in fact kill one of his own parishioners. Mike and his ex-wife and law associate Rosie do not have it easy proving his innocence since all proof in the Maria Concepcion murder case points directly at Father Aguirre. The storyline gets even more complicated when it turns out that Ms. Concepcion, who is also a lawyer, was involved in two cases against the Archdiocese of San Francisco for sexual harassment. The Archdiocese has lawyers on stand-by for civil cases but not for criminal cases... usually. To Mike's amazement the Archdiocese appoints two lawyers to defend Father Aguirre in the murder trial but when the Archdiocese is put on the spot between the civil sexual harassment case and Father Aguirre’s murder trial, they decide to save the Archdiocese’s image instead of one of their own priests.
Now… truth be told – it took me almost two months to read this book because of school but would I have had the chance I would have probably read this one in a sitting. The writing style is a bit unique, each chapter starts with a quote, which is on one hand fascinating but a bit confusing for my taste.
The major issue that some pointed out was the predictability of the novel and that one I just do not understand. While reading my mind went to different endings and maybe one or two times even to the 'correct ending' however the way the storyline is constructed you get pulled out from whatever idea you have of the ending. Until the last final two chapters one is unsure if Father Aguirre is just full of it or not. I did not know whether to believe him or not until the last chapter. I wanted to believe Father Aguirre so much, he does not seem like the person to commit such a vicious crime but then you do have all these evidence that point directly at him and I just couldn't be sure until the very last. So, no… the novel is NOT predictable, and it is NOT poorly written. Sheldon Siegel is a great writer with a great sense of humor and let’s be real – there was NOTHING boring about this novel at all. Sure - if you don't like legal novels, then yes - it will be boring and some things will not make sense because that is just the way it is when you are not a fan of the genre. However if one likes the genre and understands what the different technical terms mean then it is not boring at all.
The topic of the novel, well I personally am not a Catholic but I do read a lot and I do watch the news and it has been a big topic involving the church and sexual harassment charges and one might even go to the point of thinking what they would really do to protect the Church’s image and this is – in my honest opinion – what the novel is about. Showing a bit that sadly an institution like the church has people in them who would do pretty much anything to protect said image. However it also shows that those are only a few, that there are still people - like Father Aguirre who still believe in the fundamental believes that are the foundation of said institution. Father Aguirre represents those priests who still have faith, who still think that being a priest is holy and a privilege given directly from God. He represents those who are as disappointed and disgusted by the news we hear on the news.
I give this book a solid ☆ 4.5 just because of the quotes at the beginning of each chapter.. it just bothered me a bit but I already bought the next book to read!! Great book if you love crime / legal novels. I can only recommend.
March 9, 2017
This is an amazing series - every book has been a 5 star so far. I don't know how the author comes up with these impossible legal cases but they are real page turners.
August 18, 2014
After I finished Book 4 of author Sheldon Siegel's seven-book series featuring former husband-and-wife Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez - one I'd picked up for a couple of bucks as part of a special deal at Amazon.com - I was so hooked that I was determined to read the remaining three. Ah, but the price was $3.99 each for the Kindle versions, and I wasn't happy at the prospect of shelling out 12 bucks (or wait for them to turn up at a library). So what's a cheapskate to do?
Right about then, this cheapskate discovered the new Kindle Unlimited program, which offers as many free Kindle books as you can read for $9.99 per month. Hmmm, I said, I wonder if the ones I want qualify? When I learned that the answer was yes, they do, I looked more closely at the program and saw the 30-day free trial. In not much longer than it took me to fill out the online forms, I downloaded the three Siegel books as part of that trial. I'm a fast-enough reader, I reasoned, that I'd be able to finish them within the trial period, so even if I decided not to continue with the paid membership, I'd come out ahead (when your membership is canceled, all books you've downloaded are removed from your Kindle).
Since that day, I've downloaded another three books I've been wanting to read (two for me and one for my husband's Kindle). I haven't yet decided whether I'll stick with the program after my freebie runs out, but I do know I'll finish the Siegel books with no problem.
Book 5 begins as a potentially devastating sexual harassment lawsuit has been filed against the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The accuser's lawyer has been murdered, and Father Ramon Aguirre, a local parish priest and long-time friend of Mike and Rosie (who despite being divorced continue to work together at their law firm) is accused of the crime. It seems like an open-and-shut case as the priest's fingerprints are found in very incriminating places - but Mike believes so much in Father Aguirre's innocence so strongly that he convinces a reluctant Rosie to take on the case pro bono.
First, though, Mike - who spent three years as a priest himself before early in his career - must convince Archdiocese powers that be that he can do the job better than they can, especially since the good Father has a history of being a bit of a rebel who doesn't always tow the church's lines.
Bit by bit, aided by some standby characters including Mike's former cop brother Pete, who's now a very competent private investigator, the list of possible suspects gets whittled down - but not far enough to identify the real murderer and prevent Father Aguirre from going to trial in what appears to be an open-and-shut case. Now, Mike and Rosie must put up a good defense while continuing to dig to find the real culprit. But the real fight may be against the Archdiocese leaders, who at this point are ready and willing to throw Father Aguirre under the bus to protect the church's image and money.
Admittedly, I'm not a Catholic, but the lengths to which the church would go in circumstances like these did seem a bit implausible to me, but it was a good story anyway. I was, however, more than a little annoyed to discover that close to 30% of the content in this one is excerpts from the others in the series (yes, I got it free so it doesn't matter, but I'm passing it along as an FYI to potential buyers anyway).
Right about then, this cheapskate discovered the new Kindle Unlimited program, which offers as many free Kindle books as you can read for $9.99 per month. Hmmm, I said, I wonder if the ones I want qualify? When I learned that the answer was yes, they do, I looked more closely at the program and saw the 30-day free trial. In not much longer than it took me to fill out the online forms, I downloaded the three Siegel books as part of that trial. I'm a fast-enough reader, I reasoned, that I'd be able to finish them within the trial period, so even if I decided not to continue with the paid membership, I'd come out ahead (when your membership is canceled, all books you've downloaded are removed from your Kindle).
Since that day, I've downloaded another three books I've been wanting to read (two for me and one for my husband's Kindle). I haven't yet decided whether I'll stick with the program after my freebie runs out, but I do know I'll finish the Siegel books with no problem.
Book 5 begins as a potentially devastating sexual harassment lawsuit has been filed against the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The accuser's lawyer has been murdered, and Father Ramon Aguirre, a local parish priest and long-time friend of Mike and Rosie (who despite being divorced continue to work together at their law firm) is accused of the crime. It seems like an open-and-shut case as the priest's fingerprints are found in very incriminating places - but Mike believes so much in Father Aguirre's innocence so strongly that he convinces a reluctant Rosie to take on the case pro bono.
First, though, Mike - who spent three years as a priest himself before early in his career - must convince Archdiocese powers that be that he can do the job better than they can, especially since the good Father has a history of being a bit of a rebel who doesn't always tow the church's lines.
Bit by bit, aided by some standby characters including Mike's former cop brother Pete, who's now a very competent private investigator, the list of possible suspects gets whittled down - but not far enough to identify the real murderer and prevent Father Aguirre from going to trial in what appears to be an open-and-shut case. Now, Mike and Rosie must put up a good defense while continuing to dig to find the real culprit. But the real fight may be against the Archdiocese leaders, who at this point are ready and willing to throw Father Aguirre under the bus to protect the church's image and money.
Admittedly, I'm not a Catholic, but the lengths to which the church would go in circumstances like these did seem a bit implausible to me, but it was a good story anyway. I was, however, more than a little annoyed to discover that close to 30% of the content in this one is excerpts from the others in the series (yes, I got it free so it doesn't matter, but I'm passing it along as an FYI to potential buyers anyway).
January 23, 2020
Love this series and its characters. The first-person narration with quotes and then snide thoughts are so clever. Moves along with wit and compassion and determination. I only wish our library system had them all. I wonder if these books are available on audible....
May 18, 2015
This fifth novel in the Daley/ Fernandez mystery series from author Sheldon Siegel was his best yet. "The Confession" tackles into the dark and ugly world of the hierarchy within the Catholic Church. While one lawsuit for sexual misbehavior against one priest is moving into court, another priest becomes accused of murder. A "Jane Doe" civil suit against the church is upended when plaintiff's attorney Maria Concepion is believed to have committed suicide. The suicide quickly is then ruled murder. The accused murderer is Father Ramon Aguirre. Aguirre is long time friend and former colleague of Mike Daley. Daley quickly jumps in to represent Aguirre. However, the powers to be in Catholic Church have other plans. The church wants Aguirre to be represented by a firm it holds onto retainer. The firm on retainer also is where Maria's ex-husband works and was opposing her in "Jane Doe" case. Mike and Rosie do finally get to go it alone when big shot firm pulls out to handle civil suit against church, and Aguirre. Trying to get through for answers from the powers to be within church and law firm are daunting. Mike really goes several extra steps to get his friend and client off from murder charge. This crackling story line was amazing. With each of author Sheldon Siegel's books they seem to get better than the last. The suspense was thick enough to cut with a knife. The colorful and extraordinary characters really had this novel cooking. The legal team of Daley/ Fernandez is hard not to really pull for on every single page. The little guys battling the big imposing adversaries makes for great reading. 5 stars out of 5 possible. Author Sheldon Siegel entire series featuring Daley/ Fernandez is incredible. I'd highly recommend to jump into this series as soon as possible. It's really a solid winner. I have the seventh novel coming up next, and I can't wait to jump onto it. Check it out !!!!!
August 29, 2022
Courtroom dramas are a staple of the fiction world. The genre has been around since Erle Stanley Gardner wrote his Perry Mason novels beginning in 1933. Gardner wrote 82 novels and four short stories about the lawyer, and the series ranks only behind Harry Potter and Goosebumps in sales. Sadly, the TV series offers viewers a more sedate, more wily than wild Perry Mason.
Most readers today read the legal thrillers of Michael Connelly, John Grisham, Lisa Scottoline, and Scott Turow. I also read and enjoy Robert Bailey, Paul Levine, Steve Martini, and Victor Methos.
One of my favorite legal thriller authors happens to be Sheldon Seigel. Like some of the best authors in this genre (Methos, Turow) Seigel is a lawyer, practicing in the San Francisco area, although he is a third-generation native of Chicago's Southeast Side.
Seigel is a member of the Board of Directors of the Northern California Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, and an active member of the International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.
Siegel published his first novel, Special Circumstances about San Francisco criminal defense attorneys Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez in 1998.
Before we discuss The Confession, which is the fifth in the series of 13 novels, let's briefly discuss his two main characters. In legal thrillers, you have authors like Grisham, who regularly introduces new characters and others like Turow, who focuses his novels on the Kindle County justice system. Like Connelly's Mickey Haller, it's these characters we fall in love with. Often, the process of unraveling a mystery or exposing the truth seems secondary to the journey of the primary characters.
In Seigel's case, he devised a world of point and counterpoint, of different ethnicities, of the City of San Francisco that is essentially a character in the novels, and ancillary characters that are so much more than wallpaper to drive the plot along.
The two main characters are Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez. Daley is a former Catholic priest who left to become a lawyer. Fernandez is a lawyer, who happened to be married to Daley (when he was a lawyer, of course) and then got divorced. Despite their personal struggles, the two opened a small law firm and somehow become entangled in the San Francisco's biggest legal cases.
With Daley being an ex-priest, the novel's title, The Confession, reverberates with irony, sarcasm, and intrigue.
Here are the liner notes for the novel: "Confessions abound-some of them quite unexpected-in Sheldon Siegel's new legal thriller. Mike Daley doesn't go to confession much since he left the priesthood twenty years ago and became a lawyer, but that doesn't stop his old friend, Father Ramon Aguirre, from trying to get him there. "It wouldn't kill you to go to church once in a while," he tells Mike. But it does kill someone. For several months, a ruinous sexual harassment suit has been building against the San Francisco Catholic Archdiocese, and when the plaintiff's lawyer is found dead, an apparent suicide, an almost audible sigh of relief is heard in certain quarters. But that is before the police find evidence of murder. Even worse-the evidence points to Father Aguirre. Mike and his ex-wife law partner, Rosie, jump in to take the priest's case, but what started out as difficult soon appears impossible as forensics, witnesses, and secrets from Father Aguirre's past all incriminate their client. Soon, their wits are the only things keeping the priest from a life sentence or worse, and wits simply may not be enough-unless they can conjure up a miracle of their own."
The Confession is definitely worth a read. Seigel wisely offers readers of summary of his Daley-Fernandez world, so new readers to his legal thriller series can hit the ground running after a few pages.
What makes The Confession so good, as well as the entire series? First, Seigel takes a chance that pays off. He writes his Mike Daley character in the first person. In the hands of a lesser writer, the first person viewpoint would be needlessly restrictive. Seigel, however, is a master of his first-person narration. In his Daley persona, Seigel is funny, sarcastic, a social observer, a relentless critic of hypocrisy, and displays a caustic wit.
Second, the priest to lawyer conversion fits neatly into the controversy crockpot with all the trials and tribulations of the Catholic Church. It's like Mike Daley went from rooting for God as a priest to making deals with the devil as a lawyer.
Third, Seigel does not let his characters remain static. In the classic Perry Mason novels, it was rare that the four main characters had much development, either emotional, financial or personal. By contrast, the Daley-Fernandez tryst has gone through numerous iterations in the series, and the secondary characters like Daley's ex-cop PI brother Pete, and Rosie's mother all have a narrative thread. In short, Seigel doesn't allow his secondary characters to be setups for the main event.
Finally, if you watched too much Fox News and have this view of San Francisco of all rich elites with too much money and too little common sense, Seigel's graphic and detailed descriptions of the city, such as the Tenderloin district, will shock, surprise and seduce you. Unlike some legal thrillers where the income level of the characters is well into seven figures, Seigel portrays citizens that the justice system, the social safety net, and cultural relevance has neglected. Seigel is obviously a rich man, but he clearly has not forgotten his blue-collar Chicago roots.
Give The Confession a try. As Saint Augustine once said, "The confession of evil is the beginning of good works."
Most readers today read the legal thrillers of Michael Connelly, John Grisham, Lisa Scottoline, and Scott Turow. I also read and enjoy Robert Bailey, Paul Levine, Steve Martini, and Victor Methos.
One of my favorite legal thriller authors happens to be Sheldon Seigel. Like some of the best authors in this genre (Methos, Turow) Seigel is a lawyer, practicing in the San Francisco area, although he is a third-generation native of Chicago's Southeast Side.
Seigel is a member of the Board of Directors of the Northern California Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, and an active member of the International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.
Siegel published his first novel, Special Circumstances about San Francisco criminal defense attorneys Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez in 1998.
Before we discuss The Confession, which is the fifth in the series of 13 novels, let's briefly discuss his two main characters. In legal thrillers, you have authors like Grisham, who regularly introduces new characters and others like Turow, who focuses his novels on the Kindle County justice system. Like Connelly's Mickey Haller, it's these characters we fall in love with. Often, the process of unraveling a mystery or exposing the truth seems secondary to the journey of the primary characters.
In Seigel's case, he devised a world of point and counterpoint, of different ethnicities, of the City of San Francisco that is essentially a character in the novels, and ancillary characters that are so much more than wallpaper to drive the plot along.
The two main characters are Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez. Daley is a former Catholic priest who left to become a lawyer. Fernandez is a lawyer, who happened to be married to Daley (when he was a lawyer, of course) and then got divorced. Despite their personal struggles, the two opened a small law firm and somehow become entangled in the San Francisco's biggest legal cases.
With Daley being an ex-priest, the novel's title, The Confession, reverberates with irony, sarcasm, and intrigue.
Here are the liner notes for the novel: "Confessions abound-some of them quite unexpected-in Sheldon Siegel's new legal thriller. Mike Daley doesn't go to confession much since he left the priesthood twenty years ago and became a lawyer, but that doesn't stop his old friend, Father Ramon Aguirre, from trying to get him there. "It wouldn't kill you to go to church once in a while," he tells Mike. But it does kill someone. For several months, a ruinous sexual harassment suit has been building against the San Francisco Catholic Archdiocese, and when the plaintiff's lawyer is found dead, an apparent suicide, an almost audible sigh of relief is heard in certain quarters. But that is before the police find evidence of murder. Even worse-the evidence points to Father Aguirre. Mike and his ex-wife law partner, Rosie, jump in to take the priest's case, but what started out as difficult soon appears impossible as forensics, witnesses, and secrets from Father Aguirre's past all incriminate their client. Soon, their wits are the only things keeping the priest from a life sentence or worse, and wits simply may not be enough-unless they can conjure up a miracle of their own."
The Confession is definitely worth a read. Seigel wisely offers readers of summary of his Daley-Fernandez world, so new readers to his legal thriller series can hit the ground running after a few pages.
What makes The Confession so good, as well as the entire series? First, Seigel takes a chance that pays off. He writes his Mike Daley character in the first person. In the hands of a lesser writer, the first person viewpoint would be needlessly restrictive. Seigel, however, is a master of his first-person narration. In his Daley persona, Seigel is funny, sarcastic, a social observer, a relentless critic of hypocrisy, and displays a caustic wit.
Second, the priest to lawyer conversion fits neatly into the controversy crockpot with all the trials and tribulations of the Catholic Church. It's like Mike Daley went from rooting for God as a priest to making deals with the devil as a lawyer.
Third, Seigel does not let his characters remain static. In the classic Perry Mason novels, it was rare that the four main characters had much development, either emotional, financial or personal. By contrast, the Daley-Fernandez tryst has gone through numerous iterations in the series, and the secondary characters like Daley's ex-cop PI brother Pete, and Rosie's mother all have a narrative thread. In short, Seigel doesn't allow his secondary characters to be setups for the main event.
Finally, if you watched too much Fox News and have this view of San Francisco of all rich elites with too much money and too little common sense, Seigel's graphic and detailed descriptions of the city, such as the Tenderloin district, will shock, surprise and seduce you. Unlike some legal thrillers where the income level of the characters is well into seven figures, Seigel portrays citizens that the justice system, the social safety net, and cultural relevance has neglected. Seigel is obviously a rich man, but he clearly has not forgotten his blue-collar Chicago roots.
Give The Confession a try. As Saint Augustine once said, "The confession of evil is the beginning of good works."
September 2, 2014
I liked this book and it was a quick read. I would have given it a higher rating except for the mistakes in the book. The murder that occurs in the book is listed as one day and time and then a few pages later, it is listed as another day and time. It is just irritating to me that it wasn't proofed better and this mistake caught before publishing. That to me is the same as a silly grammar error that anyone should have caught.
November 3, 2017
This series is very readable although they are very similar - the hero and his ex-wife are lawyers who keep getting involved with defending the accused in high-profile murder cases who seem to be guilty but swear they're not.
And most of the cases involve people they know personally - he's clearly as unhealthy an acquaintance as Jessica Fletcher.
He also has a habit of describing characters as looking exactly like famous actors - so apparently San Francisco is stuffed to the gills with Hollywood A-lister lookalikes. Now that I've noticed that tic it jars every time he does it.
There's something odd in the murder case that I couldn't make sense of - but then I didn't go back and re-read anything to check whether I'd misunderstood. The corpse is an apparent suicide - slitting her wrists in the bath - but she's supposed to have first slathered herself in cream. Why would anyone have covered themselves in moisturiser before getting into the bath rather than afterwards? Who in the world slathers cream *everywhere* all at the same time and I got the impression this cream hadn't been 'rubbed in' but just left, like a full-body face-pack - which is just peculiar. If you're a murderer trying to cover your tracks in some way why would you think the police would find it reasonable that a suicide had done something so odd? And, in discussing this cream, there's mention of some unpleasant sounding rash which appears to be significant but is then never mentioned again. Finally, the prosecution's case is that the murderer incapacitated the victim; ran a bath; stripped her; smeared her entire body in cream; dumped her in the bath; slit her wrists and cleaned up after themselves and the prosecutors are suggesting that all that could be accomplished in very little time. The defendant's lawyer argues them down to saying the window of opportunity might have been under 5 minutes but he doesn't seem to find the scenario as ludicrous I do. He never even discusses how deep the bath water was and how long it would take to run or how likely it was that someone would get out of the bath to answer the door at night.
And most of the cases involve people they know personally - he's clearly as unhealthy an acquaintance as Jessica Fletcher.
He also has a habit of describing characters as looking exactly like famous actors - so apparently San Francisco is stuffed to the gills with Hollywood A-lister lookalikes. Now that I've noticed that tic it jars every time he does it.
There's something odd in the murder case that I couldn't make sense of - but then I didn't go back and re-read anything to check whether I'd misunderstood. The corpse is an apparent suicide - slitting her wrists in the bath - but she's supposed to have first slathered herself in cream. Why would anyone have covered themselves in moisturiser before getting into the bath rather than afterwards? Who in the world slathers cream *everywhere* all at the same time and I got the impression this cream hadn't been 'rubbed in' but just left, like a full-body face-pack - which is just peculiar. If you're a murderer trying to cover your tracks in some way why would you think the police would find it reasonable that a suicide had done something so odd? And, in discussing this cream, there's mention of some unpleasant sounding rash which appears to be significant but is then never mentioned again. Finally, the prosecution's case is that the murderer incapacitated the victim; ran a bath; stripped her; smeared her entire body in cream; dumped her in the bath; slit her wrists and cleaned up after themselves and the prosecutors are suggesting that all that could be accomplished in very little time. The defendant's lawyer argues them down to saying the window of opportunity might have been under 5 minutes but he doesn't seem to find the scenario as ludicrous I do. He never even discusses how deep the bath water was and how long it would take to run or how likely it was that someone would get out of the bath to answer the door at night.
December 27, 2025
Mike Daley is a lawyer, a graduate of Boalt Hall of Law, Berkeley's premiere law school, and, coincidentally, my alma mater, so he has a leg up in my book. He's representing Ramon, a priest, accused of murder. The victim, a girlfriend of his from his pre-priesthood days, was pregnant and Ramon may be the father. Okay, that's an interesting twist. The Archdiocese wants to take over the case in order to protect its interests, but Ramon wants Mike and his ex-wife Rosie, to represent his best interests. But Ramon can't directly defy the Archdiocese. So Mike is fighting the D.A. and his own co-counsel. I like the complications this introduces. The author handles all the legal stuff in a clever, entertaining way while still being quite accurate.
But the real appeal is the clever dialogue. There's a lot of it, but the author employs a shtick where interleaved between the lines of dialogue are asides showing what Mike is really thinking. It works well. Everybody, including Mike, is lying to everyone else but Mike's asides keep us on the right track. The book has its flaws. Daley uses his brother as a P.I. who can magically find anything, tail everyone, tap any phone, get private police and other records, etc., largely through illegal methods. As an FBI agent for 26 years I'm well aware of what a P.I. can reasonably be expected to achieve and this ain't it. So suspend your disbelief. Of course every time Mike makes some progress, one more thing goes wrong, implicating his client. His fingerprints are on the murder weapon; they're on the neck of the strangled victim; a star defense witness gets murdered, etc. Despite a few cliches, it was a fun read. Goodreads doesn't allow half stars, but I'd give this 4.5.
But the real appeal is the clever dialogue. There's a lot of it, but the author employs a shtick where interleaved between the lines of dialogue are asides showing what Mike is really thinking. It works well. Everybody, including Mike, is lying to everyone else but Mike's asides keep us on the right track. The book has its flaws. Daley uses his brother as a P.I. who can magically find anything, tail everyone, tap any phone, get private police and other records, etc., largely through illegal methods. As an FBI agent for 26 years I'm well aware of what a P.I. can reasonably be expected to achieve and this ain't it. So suspend your disbelief. Of course every time Mike makes some progress, one more thing goes wrong, implicating his client. His fingerprints are on the murder weapon; they're on the neck of the strangled victim; a star defense witness gets murdered, etc. Despite a few cliches, it was a fun read. Goodreads doesn't allow half stars, but I'd give this 4.5.
August 24, 2025
Here we go again… another well-deserved 5-star rating for one of the Mike-Daley-Rosie Fernandez legal mysteries from Sheldon Siegel.
This time, the client-defendant is unexpected. It’s Father Ramon Aguirre, Mikes’ long time friend and former colleague (back from the days when Mike was a priest). The flash point is the death of Maria Concepcion, a long-time parishioner who was an attorney. She had become an aggressive litigator against the SF archdiocese in sexual misconduct cases. Then, one night, Maria winds up dead in her apartment. It could be a suicide. She’s emotionally beaten-down by some failed relationships. But the police are convinced it’s not a suicide. They find lots of important and highly persuasive evidence pointing to Ramon as the murderer. The Archdiocese, as one would expect, arranges for a high powered team to handle Ramon’s defense. But he wants Mike and Rosie. And the story is off and running.
As usual, it’s written from Mike’s first-person point of view. And we get our usual literary treats… significant participation by Nick (the Dick) Hanson, and Mike giving color commentary on the action worthy of Monday Night Football.
This time, the client-defendant is unexpected. It’s Father Ramon Aguirre, Mikes’ long time friend and former colleague (back from the days when Mike was a priest). The flash point is the death of Maria Concepcion, a long-time parishioner who was an attorney. She had become an aggressive litigator against the SF archdiocese in sexual misconduct cases. Then, one night, Maria winds up dead in her apartment. It could be a suicide. She’s emotionally beaten-down by some failed relationships. But the police are convinced it’s not a suicide. They find lots of important and highly persuasive evidence pointing to Ramon as the murderer. The Archdiocese, as one would expect, arranges for a high powered team to handle Ramon’s defense. But he wants Mike and Rosie. And the story is off and running.
As usual, it’s written from Mike’s first-person point of view. And we get our usual literary treats… significant participation by Nick (the Dick) Hanson, and Mike giving color commentary on the action worthy of Monday Night Football.
August 11, 2021
This is the 5th sequential book i have enjoyed in the series. Siegel story development reminds me of f the much loved Perry Mason and Ironsides drama & cadre of investigators & good/bad cops.
I like how each book in the series builds on some of the characters from past books. Siegel throws out clues, but waits until the very end to nail the perpetrator (whom we suspected all along)!.
As a retired lawyer I appreciate the interactions between the prosecutors trying to build political futures and the defense lawyers walking a fine line of professionalism
M to zealously represent a client who may or may not be guilty. I especially enjoy Lawyer Daley’s unspoken responses before he speaks - good lessons to all lawyers to chose words carefully & stay cool in the presence of adversaries and ‘persons of interest. I definitely will continue to follow Mike & Rosie as they seek a balance between their personal lives and their passion for justice.
I like how each book in the series builds on some of the characters from past books. Siegel throws out clues, but waits until the very end to nail the perpetrator (whom we suspected all along)!.
As a retired lawyer I appreciate the interactions between the prosecutors trying to build political futures and the defense lawyers walking a fine line of professionalism
M to zealously represent a client who may or may not be guilty. I especially enjoy Lawyer Daley’s unspoken responses before he speaks - good lessons to all lawyers to chose words carefully & stay cool in the presence of adversaries and ‘persons of interest. I definitely will continue to follow Mike & Rosie as they seek a balance between their personal lives and their passion for justice.
December 31, 2021
Lawyer and ex-priest Mike Daley is back again, this time going to bat for Father Ramon Aguirre, his longtime friend and beloved local priest in San Francisco's Mission District. Aguirre is accused of murdering his parishioner Maria Concepcion, a fiercely competitive lawyer who became something of a celebrity after instigating and successfully settling several abuse cases against the Roman Catholic Church. As Daley moves from the drug and prostitution-ridden underbelly of San Francisco, where auto parts and offers of legal aid are exchanged for cooperation, to the tension-filled courtroom and the hushed offices of the church, it gradually becomes apparent that Ramon isn't the only character with a lot at stake in this intelligent, timely thriller.
As in the first 2 books of this serie, the brisk narrative offers a nonstop barrage of cynical asides to the reader—not to every taste. But a great story and a somewhat unbelievable ending. 2,5*!
As in the first 2 books of this serie, the brisk narrative offers a nonstop barrage of cynical asides to the reader—not to every taste. But a great story and a somewhat unbelievable ending. 2,5*!
December 13, 2017
Mike Daley was a priest before feeling disappointed and ending up as a defense attorney, but he never lost touch with his friend Father Ramón Aguirre. A sexual harassment lawsuit is ongoing against the Catholic Archidiocese, and when the plaintiff's lawyer is found dead, evidence points to Aguirre and he is soon arrested for murder. He obviously asks Daley to take his case, but it will not be an easy task. In addition of having all the incriminating evidence, the Catholic Church also wants to get involved to avoid bad publicity and being affected. Additionally, Father Aguirre has his own secrets that will not help his case in any way. There does not seem to be a way out for him, but his faith in Daley never wavers.
October 27, 2024
author need to shake his plots up, too familiar
Mike character needs uplifting. He’s too lame and naive. He’s so scary. I love Pete. He gives the story a little action to keep it interesting because there’s no actions. I wish Pete had more roles in these books. And author if you’re going to make Mike and Rosie an item, please spruce up their boring relationship. All they have in common are their children and complaints about their jobs. After every case, they have a come to Jesus meeting about whether to stop and watch the kids grow, lay low for a while, don’t take murder cases, etc. I’m sorry author, the chapters you create for Mike and Rosie are irrelevant. They don’t even bring any excitement to the storyline. I hope author moves away from Mike and Rosie romance.
Mike character needs uplifting. He’s too lame and naive. He’s so scary. I love Pete. He gives the story a little action to keep it interesting because there’s no actions. I wish Pete had more roles in these books. And author if you’re going to make Mike and Rosie an item, please spruce up their boring relationship. All they have in common are their children and complaints about their jobs. After every case, they have a come to Jesus meeting about whether to stop and watch the kids grow, lay low for a while, don’t take murder cases, etc. I’m sorry author, the chapters you create for Mike and Rosie are irrelevant. They don’t even bring any excitement to the storyline. I hope author moves away from Mike and Rosie romance.
July 1, 2018
"Another Difficult Case For Mike Daley"
Mike Daley used to be a priest before becoming a defense attorney. He'd not been to confession for years, but Father Ramon Aguirre keeps trying to invite him to confession. But what he really needs is a defense attorney. A sexual harassment suit was building against the San Francisco Catholic Archdiocese ... until there is a death of a woman, and it is believed to be suicide. But soon the police finds evidence of murder ... pointing to Father Aguirre. Mike and Rosie quickly take on the case. There are many past histories revealed and it will take a miracle to defend the Father. A great legal thriller which you'll agree is awesome!
Mike Daley used to be a priest before becoming a defense attorney. He'd not been to confession for years, but Father Ramon Aguirre keeps trying to invite him to confession. But what he really needs is a defense attorney. A sexual harassment suit was building against the San Francisco Catholic Archdiocese ... until there is a death of a woman, and it is believed to be suicide. But soon the police finds evidence of murder ... pointing to Father Aguirre. Mike and Rosie quickly take on the case. There are many past histories revealed and it will take a miracle to defend the Father. A great legal thriller which you'll agree is awesome!
July 4, 2023
Another very good courtroom drama by Sheldon Siegel. I have discovered this author quite recently and I must say Siegel never disappoints.
Ramon, a priest, calls his old friend Michael Daley for help because he has been arrested for the murder of a lawyer named Maria Concepcion. Although Ramon admits that he visited Maria the night that she died, he proclaims his innocence. Michael Daley and his partner Rosie Fernandez accept to defend Ramon pro bono.
There are several interesting characters in this story and Michael and Rosie will do everything they can to prove Ramon’s innocence. Enough twists and turns will keep you turning the pages quickly. I give this book a four star.
Ramon, a priest, calls his old friend Michael Daley for help because he has been arrested for the murder of a lawyer named Maria Concepcion. Although Ramon admits that he visited Maria the night that she died, he proclaims his innocence. Michael Daley and his partner Rosie Fernandez accept to defend Ramon pro bono.
There are several interesting characters in this story and Michael and Rosie will do everything they can to prove Ramon’s innocence. Enough twists and turns will keep you turning the pages quickly. I give this book a four star.
June 2, 2017
The Stories are Getting Addicting
So ... Yes, I think this series is consistently good and entertaining, and I'm looking forward to reading the remaining books.
However, this particular story AGAIN had a blaring, weak link that wasn't pursued very well. Yes, it was actually touched upon and directly discussed -- but the fact that this-and-that occurred was then just dropped, nothing more said, and IT was a major point that you'd think the police would have quickly grabbed onto. Oh, well .. so much for Monday Morning QuarterBacking ...
So ... Yes, I think this series is consistently good and entertaining, and I'm looking forward to reading the remaining books.
However, this particular story AGAIN had a blaring, weak link that wasn't pursued very well. Yes, it was actually touched upon and directly discussed -- but the fact that this-and-that occurred was then just dropped, nothing more said, and IT was a major point that you'd think the police would have quickly grabbed onto. Oh, well .. so much for Monday Morning QuarterBacking ...
February 22, 2020
I am a tremendous fan of this series, which seems to get better and better. I am usually shy with five stars for books like this, but it really held my attention, the story was terrific - fully believable - and the characters most excellent. I listened to it as an audiobook, and found it very well read. I loved the quiet snide comments from Daly, as he responded to others' remarks - a very clever addition to the story. I'll be on to the next in this series, it's emerging as a strong favorite for me.
July 3, 2023
Love this Series!
San Francisco is a prime character in Siegel series about a former priest/criminal defense lawyer and his ex wife partner and PI brother plus a handful of recurring characters. intriguing plots with a few twists. This one was especially engaging as it involves a priest accused of murder and duplicitous priests and lawyers of the San Francisco archdiocese. Fast read and looking forward to the next (each stands alone--I just get invested in these people!) Mike Daley murder case.
San Francisco is a prime character in Siegel series about a former priest/criminal defense lawyer and his ex wife partner and PI brother plus a handful of recurring characters. intriguing plots with a few twists. This one was especially engaging as it involves a priest accused of murder and duplicitous priests and lawyers of the San Francisco archdiocese. Fast read and looking forward to the next (each stands alone--I just get invested in these people!) Mike Daley murder case.
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