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Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez Mystery #11
The Dreamer
The chef's knife was in the wrong place...wedged deep in the gut of celebrity chef Carlos Cruz.San Francisco's hottest young chef rose from modest beginnings to getting a James Beard Award for his upscale Mission District eatery, El Conquistador. In addition to creating cutting-edge cuisine, the mercurial Cruz has been accused of sexual harassment multiple times.When Mercedes "Mercy" Tejada finds her boss dying in the alley behind his trendy bistro, she knows she's in a lot of trouble. The waitress job wasn't ideal, but the tips paid the bills. Smart, ambitious, and tenacious, Mercy was granted Dreamer status while studying to become a nurse.With the bloody discovery, Mercy realizes she could lose it all. And not just for her -- her entire family is at risk too.In the eleventh installment of New York Times bestselling author Sheldon Siegel's iconic San Francisco series, ex-spouses and Public Defenders Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez are thrust into this politically charged case where they must battle the District Attorney, the immigration authorities, the political establishment, old family secrets, and each other in a desperate search for the truth.The case is personal. Mercy's mom, Perlita, is the longtime housekeeper for Rosie's mother, Sylvia. It is Sylvia who asks Rosie and Mike to handle Mercy's case. There are political ramifications as well. Rosie is running for re-election as Public Defender. Her decision to handle a dreamer's defense herself will not play well to a portion of the electorate.As Mercy's case hurtles toward trial, Rosie, Mike, and Mike's brother/private investigator, Pete, race between the tenements, trendy restaurants, and century-old churches of the Mission District in a desperate search for an elusive truth where everybody--including Mike and Rosie and their families--has something to hide.An intricate plot, likeable characters, powerful suspense, and a touch of humor are Sheldon Siegel's hallmarks. In THE DREAMER, readers will discover once again why Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez have been called two of the most compelling characters in contemporary crime fiction.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2020
3016 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Sheldon Siegel
64 books504 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 105 reviews
August 21, 2020
4 stars for another enjoyable legal mystery by Sheldon Siegel. This is book 11 in the series, but all of them would work as standalones, because Siegel provides enough background information on the characters and their relationships in each book for the reader to read them out of order. However, there are developing relationships that progress throughout the series, so I read them mostly in order.
In this book Rosie's mom Sylvia asks her to defend Mercedes "Mercy" Tejada, who is the daughter of Sylvia's longtime housekeeper and friend, Perlita Tejada. Mercy is accused of murdering her boss, Carlos Cruz. Both Perlita and Mercy are undocumented.
Rosie is now the elected Public Defender and Mike's boss. Mike is co chief of the felony division of the PD office. They usually don't try cases, due to administrative responsibilities. But Sylvia's wants Rosie to take on this case and Rosie can't say no to her mom. The evidence against Mercy is substantial, and she has been in jail for a year, awaiting trial.
Two quotes:
Mike's Uncle John "Besides,' he continued, 'I don't like all of the nastiness directed at immigrants, legal or otherwise. It's mean spirited. Most of them come here because they're desperate to find work and feed their kids.--just like our ancestors."
Cocktail--"Rivera ordered an El Chapo, a combination of mescal, prickly pear liqueur, lime tamarind and agave, served on the rocks with a cayenne salt rim."
Both my wife and I enjoy this series.
I read this kindle unlimited book in 3 days.
In this book Rosie's mom Sylvia asks her to defend Mercedes "Mercy" Tejada, who is the daughter of Sylvia's longtime housekeeper and friend, Perlita Tejada. Mercy is accused of murdering her boss, Carlos Cruz. Both Perlita and Mercy are undocumented.
Rosie is now the elected Public Defender and Mike's boss. Mike is co chief of the felony division of the PD office. They usually don't try cases, due to administrative responsibilities. But Sylvia's wants Rosie to take on this case and Rosie can't say no to her mom. The evidence against Mercy is substantial, and she has been in jail for a year, awaiting trial.
Two quotes:
Mike's Uncle John "Besides,' he continued, 'I don't like all of the nastiness directed at immigrants, legal or otherwise. It's mean spirited. Most of them come here because they're desperate to find work and feed their kids.--just like our ancestors."
Cocktail--"Rivera ordered an El Chapo, a combination of mescal, prickly pear liqueur, lime tamarind and agave, served on the rocks with a cayenne salt rim."
Both my wife and I enjoy this series.
I read this kindle unlimited book in 3 days.
March 28, 2020
It was another good book by this author, all the books have been good in this series. It felt like putting on an old shoe reading this book . It was nice to see the main characters again and the case was ok , I felt maybe it was to easy of a case for Mike and Rosie that would be my one major complaint. The story moved at a good pace and it was an easy read. You do not have to read the first book in this series to read this one but my own opinion it only makes sense to reads the books in order in any series. I look forward to the next boo in the series and hope maybe it is a harder case, so I say go ahead and give this book a spin.
September 8, 2020
First Sentence: The Honorable Elizabeth McDaniel glanced at her watch, rested her chin in her palm, and spoke to me in a world-weary tone still bearing a trace of her native Alabama.
Mercedes "Mercy" Tejada is a Dreamer who was brought to the United States as a baby. Now she's accused of murdering her boss, James Beard Award recipient, Carlos Cruz. Carlos was known for sexually harassing his female staff, particularly Mercy. Now, he is dead in an alley, Mercy kneeling over him, and her prints on the knife next to him. San Francisco Public Defenders Rosie and Mike are against the clock to prove Mercy innocent, and to keep her, and her family, from being deported.
Siegel begins with an amusing vignette that pleases and establishes Mike Daley as a sharp, clever, and well-established lawyer. The way in which we meet the others in Mike's life, especially his ex-wife and boss, Rosie Fernandez, is handled succinctly, but with clarity.
A murder case is always the perfect base for a legal mystery. Add the element of a Dreamer with an undocumented mother, and the level of suspense immediately escalates. The decision of Rose to be the lead attorney, with Mike as second chair, makes one smile.
Siegel excels at throwing back the cover on the legal system. He shows just how unjust justice can be, especially if one is a woman, a person of color, and undocumented. Siegel takes on the issue of undocumented workers. What is nice is that the story addresses the issue from a moral perspective, rather than a political one.
Reading about a city one knows well always adds a personal touch. However, even when it is a city unknown to the reader, some things have become sadly universal in urban areas—"A homeless man asked me for change. A man in a Warriors jersey offered me a fentanyl. A woman in a halter top asked me if I was looking for a date."
There is an excellent twist and good questions are raised during the investigation. One doesn't normally think of the initial, information-gathering phase of a case as being suspenseful. Under Siegel's deft hand, it is.
It may be a classic trope, but it is always interesting to have a victim everyone wants to kill. But watching Rosie and Mike prepare a case with no other suspects, and no witnesses, based on a defense of SODDI (“some other dude did it”), and with the prosecution not meeting the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt makes things all the more engrossing.
"The Dreamer" is a well-done legal mystery with a very satisfying affirmation at the end. Siegel is an under-appreciated author who writes excellent legal procedurals.
THE DREAMER (LegalProc-Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez-San Francisco-Contemp) – VG
Siegel, Sheldon M. – 11th in series
Sheldon M. Siegel, Inc. – Mar 2020
Mercedes "Mercy" Tejada is a Dreamer who was brought to the United States as a baby. Now she's accused of murdering her boss, James Beard Award recipient, Carlos Cruz. Carlos was known for sexually harassing his female staff, particularly Mercy. Now, he is dead in an alley, Mercy kneeling over him, and her prints on the knife next to him. San Francisco Public Defenders Rosie and Mike are against the clock to prove Mercy innocent, and to keep her, and her family, from being deported.
Siegel begins with an amusing vignette that pleases and establishes Mike Daley as a sharp, clever, and well-established lawyer. The way in which we meet the others in Mike's life, especially his ex-wife and boss, Rosie Fernandez, is handled succinctly, but with clarity.
A murder case is always the perfect base for a legal mystery. Add the element of a Dreamer with an undocumented mother, and the level of suspense immediately escalates. The decision of Rose to be the lead attorney, with Mike as second chair, makes one smile.
Siegel excels at throwing back the cover on the legal system. He shows just how unjust justice can be, especially if one is a woman, a person of color, and undocumented. Siegel takes on the issue of undocumented workers. What is nice is that the story addresses the issue from a moral perspective, rather than a political one.
Reading about a city one knows well always adds a personal touch. However, even when it is a city unknown to the reader, some things have become sadly universal in urban areas—"A homeless man asked me for change. A man in a Warriors jersey offered me a fentanyl. A woman in a halter top asked me if I was looking for a date."
There is an excellent twist and good questions are raised during the investigation. One doesn't normally think of the initial, information-gathering phase of a case as being suspenseful. Under Siegel's deft hand, it is.
It may be a classic trope, but it is always interesting to have a victim everyone wants to kill. But watching Rosie and Mike prepare a case with no other suspects, and no witnesses, based on a defense of SODDI (“some other dude did it”), and with the prosecution not meeting the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt makes things all the more engrossing.
"The Dreamer" is a well-done legal mystery with a very satisfying affirmation at the end. Siegel is an under-appreciated author who writes excellent legal procedurals.
THE DREAMER (LegalProc-Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez-San Francisco-Contemp) – VG
Siegel, Sheldon M. – 11th in series
Sheldon M. Siegel, Inc. – Mar 2020
March 20, 2020
I do enjoy the world of Mike and Rosie. Their cases are always interesting and the cast of characters are people I could see myself hanging out with. I hope to see more adventures in the future!
February 27, 2021
This book was a big disappointment. I had some real hopes for it since the settings seem well described and takes place in a neighborhood where I lived 50 years ago. However, the characters at the center of the mystery seemed like cardboard cutouts. Mercy, a young women with Dreamer status, is on trial for murdering her boss. She is never developed as a character. If asked if she did it she says no. If asked if she has eaten she says yes. If asked if she is taking her insulin she says yes.
Maybe my problem is that this is the first book I have read in a series that has 10 earlier book. Siegel does spend some effort describing re-occurring characters. But the details about where they went to high school and college 30 or 40 years ago seem like filler. I have no idea why so many people find this to be a 4 or 5 star book.
Maybe my problem is that this is the first book I have read in a series that has 10 earlier book. Siegel does spend some effort describing re-occurring characters. But the details about where they went to high school and college 30 or 40 years ago seem like filler. I have no idea why so many people find this to be a 4 or 5 star book.
March 29, 2020
The book was very repetitive , very predictable and very political. I like the characters, but this story was weak.
June 24, 2021
This book was pretty decent not really a huge fan on reading murder mystery books when I first started reading I kind of forgot how quickly I went through the first half although I did thought that there would be more to it.
Also I was kind of suspicious of that Alejandro Cruz killed his brother.
Also I was kind of suspicious of that Alejandro Cruz killed his brother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2020
More filler
Is it l e or do these characters seem like poorly disguised copies of Dismas Hardy, et al? Every time I read one of these books, I spend half the time skimming the cut and paste crud from the previous novels, plus the absurd meal descriptions every other page!
Is it l e or do these characters seem like poorly disguised copies of Dismas Hardy, et al? Every time I read one of these books, I spend half the time skimming the cut and paste crud from the previous novels, plus the absurd meal descriptions every other page!
January 31, 2023
illegal means illegal
Good book, fun and intriguing story BUT I am pretty sure everybody knows you never pull a knife from a wound until you are in the operating room as the knife is blocking the blood from leaking out of the lacerated vessels and organs. I am pretty sure most readers made a face when that issue was brought up repeatedly.
Breaking a law has consequences and the family often suffers by a mistake made by the perpetrator. If the mother is living in a country illegally for 1 month or 20 years she is still breaking the law, the more years the more cumulative the breach. If the mother is caught it only seems motherly that she would take her children with her if she is deported. Citizenship does not really play a part in a family, a mother would not leave her 4 year old behind. The author mentioned 4 times about how terrible it would be for Isabel to be left behind, what kind of mother would leave her behind regardless whether she were a US citizen. If a mother snuck into Disney Land and got caught, would she leave her 4 year old behind to reap the benefits of the Happiest Place on Earth??? Many people live too far away, can't afford the tickets or do not know how to sneak into Disney BUT those that do stand in line and get a ticket can enjoy all the Wonders available without having to worry about getting caught and being thrown out for their illegal method of gaining access. Think of all of the millions of people who would bust/sneak into Disney if there was no fence or ticketing process.
Good book, fun and intriguing story BUT I am pretty sure everybody knows you never pull a knife from a wound until you are in the operating room as the knife is blocking the blood from leaking out of the lacerated vessels and organs. I am pretty sure most readers made a face when that issue was brought up repeatedly.
Breaking a law has consequences and the family often suffers by a mistake made by the perpetrator. If the mother is living in a country illegally for 1 month or 20 years she is still breaking the law, the more years the more cumulative the breach. If the mother is caught it only seems motherly that she would take her children with her if she is deported. Citizenship does not really play a part in a family, a mother would not leave her 4 year old behind. The author mentioned 4 times about how terrible it would be for Isabel to be left behind, what kind of mother would leave her behind regardless whether she were a US citizen. If a mother snuck into Disney Land and got caught, would she leave her 4 year old behind to reap the benefits of the Happiest Place on Earth??? Many people live too far away, can't afford the tickets or do not know how to sneak into Disney BUT those that do stand in line and get a ticket can enjoy all the Wonders available without having to worry about getting caught and being thrown out for their illegal method of gaining access. Think of all of the millions of people who would bust/sneak into Disney if there was no fence or ticketing process.
May 25, 2022
This is the eleventh installment of the Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez serie. Mercedes Tejada is a Dreamer who was brought to the United States as a baby. Now she’s accused of murdering her boss, celebrity chef Carlos Cruz who was known for sexually harassing his female staff, particularly her. Now, he is dead in an alley, Mercy kneeling over him, and her prints on the knife next to him. Rosie and Mike are against the clock to prove Mercy innocent, and to keep her, and her family from the threat of deportation!
It may be a classic trope, but it is always interesting to have a victim everyone wants to kill. But watching Rosie and Mike prepare a case with no other suspects, and no witnesses, based on a defense of SODDI (“some other dude did it”), and with the prosecution not meeting the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt makes things all the more engrossing.
There is a major plot twist and a very satisfying affirmation at the end. Siegel is an under-appreciated author who writes excellent legal procedurals and this book is one of his strongest offerings.
4.5*
It may be a classic trope, but it is always interesting to have a victim everyone wants to kill. But watching Rosie and Mike prepare a case with no other suspects, and no witnesses, based on a defense of SODDI (“some other dude did it”), and with the prosecution not meeting the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt makes things all the more engrossing.
There is a major plot twist and a very satisfying affirmation at the end. Siegel is an under-appreciated author who writes excellent legal procedurals and this book is one of his strongest offerings.
4.5*
November 17, 2020
Mike’s ex mother in law had brought her neighbor into his and Rosie’s offices The daughter was charged with murder of the chef where she had been working . After a year in jail she now needs a new lawyer, and no funds to pay for Mike and Rosie to take.
Mercy was not born here, she was a “dreamer” granted an immigration policy to stay here and become a nurse. She had been working with the owner Cruz, he was always hitting on her. He demand too much from all of them, she needed money to take home for her mother. With little time before the court date, and papers sent over were very thin.
The workers that had work at the restaurant have disappeared, main,y because they were ICE from Mexico. A good flowing procedure of a case, will they win or lose. The other was of people here wanting a better life and what they go through, sometimes like Mercy the circumstances were not good.
Mercy was not born here, she was a “dreamer” granted an immigration policy to stay here and become a nurse. She had been working with the owner Cruz, he was always hitting on her. He demand too much from all of them, she needed money to take home for her mother. With little time before the court date, and papers sent over were very thin.
The workers that had work at the restaurant have disappeared, main,y because they were ICE from Mexico. A good flowing procedure of a case, will they win or lose. The other was of people here wanting a better life and what they go through, sometimes like Mercy the circumstances were not good.
May 8, 2024
I love every book in the Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez legal thriller series. THE DREAMERS was a neat variation in the series because this time, Rosie is trying the case! In this book, a prominent chef is found stabbed in an alley behind a San Francisco restaurant and one of the restaurant’s employees is blamed, a young woman who he was harassing, along with most of the staff there. Mercy is a Dreamer and her mother is in the country illegally, which complicates her case when ICE threatens to deport her mother. I always enjoy the mysteries in this series, and the trial scenes, and having Rosie’s mother and father Guillermo play a bigger role in this book as side characters was fun too. The tone of the book is the perfect amount of snark and I love the San Francisco setting, which is described in detail. The side characters are so great in this series and I always love seeing them from book to book. 5/5 stars.
February 1, 2021
The Dreamer
The Dreamer is absolutely an A#1 storyline, with a murder charge against Mercy, herself a Dreamer. Everything about this story could be true. The more than successful Restaurant, with the more than successful Chef who is a sexual predator on all of his employees & even on the female manager hired by his financial backer. He threatened his undocumented workers with ICE to make them comply.
He is murdered. Mercy is arrested & charged with murder.
Rosie Fernandez & Mike Daley take her case. There's so much more to the story. Witnesses with & without documentation. Witnesses murdered in their own businesses. You HAVE to read this story. Great characters. Great Read!
The Dreamer is absolutely an A#1 storyline, with a murder charge against Mercy, herself a Dreamer. Everything about this story could be true. The more than successful Restaurant, with the more than successful Chef who is a sexual predator on all of his employees & even on the female manager hired by his financial backer. He threatened his undocumented workers with ICE to make them comply.
He is murdered. Mercy is arrested & charged with murder.
Rosie Fernandez & Mike Daley take her case. There's so much more to the story. Witnesses with & without documentation. Witnesses murdered in their own businesses. You HAVE to read this story. Great characters. Great Read!
May 23, 2023
Women don't tug at their hair
That phrase reoccured 3x in the book describing 3 different female characters' behavior. It was annoying once. Three times, it was exasperating.
First, author or editors, please recognize when you repeat yourselves.
Second, think about what you are describing. Women tug wigs, not natural hair. They smooth, fluff, run fingers through, and arrange they do not tug.
Dreamers had a bit too much repetitive family stuff for me. It gets tiresome after a while, hearing they ask how's the family doing when's they just saw each other 10 minutes ago. And asking and asking each other the same things repeatedly.
I do like their fight for what's right, the defense strategy, and the church community's activism.
That phrase reoccured 3x in the book describing 3 different female characters' behavior. It was annoying once. Three times, it was exasperating.
First, author or editors, please recognize when you repeat yourselves.
Second, think about what you are describing. Women tug wigs, not natural hair. They smooth, fluff, run fingers through, and arrange they do not tug.
Dreamers had a bit too much repetitive family stuff for me. It gets tiresome after a while, hearing they ask how's the family doing when's they just saw each other 10 minutes ago. And asking and asking each other the same things repeatedly.
I do like their fight for what's right, the defense strategy, and the church community's activism.
December 26, 2024
The blurb on the back of this novel mentions an intricate plot, likable characters, powerful suspense, and a touch of humor. All these are true, though the plot of this one is not all that intricate, but it keeps the reader turning the pages. Having read all the books before this in the series, however, I am most drawn to the characters, both the main couple and the secondary and tertiary supporting class, all of whom are working-class San Franciscans with deep roots in the city. It's a book of neighborhood loyalties, family ties, and hidden secrets.
The accused in this case is a dreamer, and the author lays out not only a tale of law and suspense, but also the complexity of immigration in the US.
The accused in this case is a dreamer, and the author lays out not only a tale of law and suspense, but also the complexity of immigration in the US.
June 6, 2020
The Dreamer is a very timely story dealing with The problems facing Dreamers in our country. A Dreamer is accused of murdering her Boss ( A Mexican -American chef). The author understands the Politics involved in this process, Dreamers do jobs that most Americans would not do, they live in fear from the Authorities and the people who hire them. The author understands Police Procedures and how once the police lock in on a suspect they become close minded and basically quit investigating the crime. I loved the ending of the book and I hope that the author continues writing about these characters.
April 29, 2021
Another good book in this series
Although I thought this was not the best book in the series, I like the continuation of the series. The reason I was a little disappointed in this one was because I felt like it didn’t quite develop the story line as well and I particularly thought the trial itself, which is usually very well detailed, was a little shorter and less detailed than usual. Of course, the premise of the book was that they only had 3 weeks to prepare for trial so that would perhaps explain the simplicity of the narrative. All of that being said, I still gave it 5 stars and am off to read the next book.
Although I thought this was not the best book in the series, I like the continuation of the series. The reason I was a little disappointed in this one was because I felt like it didn’t quite develop the story line as well and I particularly thought the trial itself, which is usually very well detailed, was a little shorter and less detailed than usual. Of course, the premise of the book was that they only had 3 weeks to prepare for trial so that would perhaps explain the simplicity of the narrative. All of that being said, I still gave it 5 stars and am off to read the next book.
February 16, 2024
Well, another 9 books have passed since my last review of this series, and unfortunately, I have come to the end of the road. I'm sincerely hoping that there will be more, and feel that the ending intimates that there will be.
Each book is a different case, and I just love the dynamic between the characters. Mike is one of those lawyers, where if he feels that his client is innocent, he goes above and beyond to find something or someone to prove their innocence. With his PI brother Pete, they are an unstoppable force. I love the balance between professional and personal and really feel that the reader gets entrenched and becomes one them.
I can't wait for more of this series.
Each book is a different case, and I just love the dynamic between the characters. Mike is one of those lawyers, where if he feels that his client is innocent, he goes above and beyond to find something or someone to prove their innocence. With his PI brother Pete, they are an unstoppable force. I love the balance between professional and personal and really feel that the reader gets entrenched and becomes one them.
I can't wait for more of this series.
July 9, 2024
I am a devotee of legal dramas and Sheldon Siegel writes thoroughly engaging stories of which "The Dreamer" (#11 in the series) is an excellent example. After a few days of absorbing the background and scene setting, the court proceedings began with Rosie (1st chair) and Mike (2nd chair) as defense counsel. From the time that the prosecution called its first witness until the verdict was rendered, I couldn't put the book down. I stayed up until well after 1 a.m. unwilling to postpone reading until the legal situation was fully resolved. For me, "The Dreamer" is an exceptionally entertaining novel and one I highly recommend.
April 1, 2020
This was a good legal thriller. I've been following the series and really like the main characters. Rosie and Mike were once married and couldn't make it work. Instead they opened a law practice together. Their current client is a young woman accused of murdering her boss. The girl's mother is friends with Rosie's mother. Hence Rosie's involvement in the case. Things are complicated by the fact the defendant 's mother is an illegal and if it becomes known ICE could get involved and she could be deported.
If you enjoy good courtroom drama then you don't want to miss this one.
If you enjoy good courtroom drama then you don't want to miss this one.
April 8, 2020
Predictable But Entertaining
This series is always entertaining and relevant. The characters begin to feel like a family. They are very human and warm.
I have one criticism that started to bug me as it became more evident. Siegel often starts a chapter with a conversation and then sets the physical setting. Once you notice it, it becomes annoying and predictable.
Otherwise addressing immigration and the Dream Act are worthy subjects. And of course happy endings don’t hurt. Overall a pleasant read.
This series is always entertaining and relevant. The characters begin to feel like a family. They are very human and warm.
I have one criticism that started to bug me as it became more evident. Siegel often starts a chapter with a conversation and then sets the physical setting. Once you notice it, it becomes annoying and predictable.
Otherwise addressing immigration and the Dream Act are worthy subjects. And of course happy endings don’t hurt. Overall a pleasant read.
August 5, 2020
Another entertaining case by the Mike Daley and crew. This plot evolves around a celebrity chef who is murdered and one of his wait staff just happens to be a Dreamer charged with the crime. The story shines a light on the Latinx community and the hardships of being a Dreamer (immigrant) in this country. As always the characters are well developed, suspense is created as soon as you start guessing who actually did it and why. Sheldon Siegel's uses his hallmark legal strategies as Rosie and Mike plot how to defend the Dreamer in their court battle with the city SF prosecutor.
December 21, 2021
Is Everyone a Dreamer
Rosie and Mike our in another classic courtroom adventure as Rosie decides to help a friend if her Momma as her daughter has been charged for murder of her boss. He was a top rated chef and a top end sexual animal who treats people like dirt. Her name is Mercedes and she us found at the scene with the knife in her hands and on her clothes. She was trying to save him but the police don't believe her and with her being a dreamer which she isn't a illegal but she is not a US citizen finds her being the only suspect.
Rosie and Mike our in another classic courtroom adventure as Rosie decides to help a friend if her Momma as her daughter has been charged for murder of her boss. He was a top rated chef and a top end sexual animal who treats people like dirt. Her name is Mercedes and she us found at the scene with the knife in her hands and on her clothes. She was trying to save him but the police don't believe her and with her being a dreamer which she isn't a illegal but she is not a US citizen finds her being the only suspect.
July 15, 2023
Another enjoyable book in the series, though it’s concerning how many people have commented that it helped them learn about or understand the immigration system. The portrayal of ICE was exaggerated—they’re not trailing PDs and jonesing to deport the single mother of a U.S. citizen 4 year old. Perlita would not be an enforcement priority under the current policies, which have been in place since 2014.
Overall, a fun read but the immigration drama was heavy-handed and less interesting than Siegel’s usual whodunit work.
Overall, a fun read but the immigration drama was heavy-handed and less interesting than Siegel’s usual whodunit work.
May 18, 2021
I liked the family element that was brought back into this book. Some of Mike's
for
Cliques are getting stale. ie: nobody says, "Pete's name was shown on the display". (numerous times) real people
would say " my phone rang; it was Pete. " I'm a new reader and fan of your work. I've read all of your Mike/Rosie series in the last 4 months. If you can't stay ahead of me, I will probably suffer with withdrawals. Get back to work.
for
Cliques are getting stale. ie: nobody says, "Pete's name was shown on the display". (numerous times) real people
would say " my phone rang; it was Pete. " I'm a new reader and fan of your work. I've read all of your Mike/Rosie series in the last 4 months. If you can't stay ahead of me, I will probably suffer with withdrawals. Get back to work.
July 20, 2023
Mercedes ‘Mercy’ Tejada is a Dreamer who was brought to the United States as a baby. She is now accused of murdering her boss, celebrity chef Carlos Cruz. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that she is guilty. Enter San Francisco Public Defenders Rosie Fernandez and Mike Daley!
Siegel’s legal thriller shows just how unjust justice can be—particularly for a woman, a person of color, and undocumented. Siegel offers an intricate plot with a touch of humor.
Siegel’s legal thriller shows just how unjust justice can be—particularly for a woman, a person of color, and undocumented. Siegel offers an intricate plot with a touch of humor.
February 21, 2020
This plot has more twists and turns than San Francisco's famous Lombard Street, and is too complex to summarize in a few sentences. See book description above.
I consider myself a pretty fair "armchair detective," but I missed a vital clue: there is a discrepancy in the witnesses' testimony. If you can catch it, you may be able to figure out who the killer is before the final reveal.
I consider myself a pretty fair "armchair detective," but I missed a vital clue: there is a discrepancy in the witnesses' testimony. If you can catch it, you may be able to figure out who the killer is before the final reveal.
March 28, 2020
I was delighted to spend the day reading The Dreamer and being back in the world of Mike and Rosie - while obeying the current directives of the health authorities to stay at home due to the pandemic.
I enjoy the humour in the books, the feeling that I know these people, and Siegel's ability to provide information about, and ways of looking at, various legal and humanitarian issues.
I enjoy the humour in the books, the feeling that I know these people, and Siegel's ability to provide information about, and ways of looking at, various legal and humanitarian issues.
March 28, 2020
Anything this author writes is great. He is a great writer. I started and finished this book in one day. It grabbed me from the first page and I could not put it down. Very well written murder mystery. It has interesting cast of characters and a very fast paced and with just the right amount of humor thrown in. I highly recommend this book
April 21, 2020
I always enjoy the Mike Daly books. I find the characters to be believable and the story lines are well thought out. I think it was a very timely topic for those caught up in the immigration dilemma. The fear that the characters have about being deported was well described in this book. Unfortunately too many cases don’t end on a good note.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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