Special Circumstances Audiobook By Sheldon Siegel cover art

Special Circumstances

Mike Daley/Rosie Fernandez Legal Thriller, Book 1

Preview

Get this deal Try for $0.00
Offer ends January 21, 2025 at 11:59PM ET.
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Special Circumstances

By: Sheldon Siegel
Narrated by: Tim Campbell
Get this deal Try for $0.00

$14.95/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends January 21, 2025 11:59PM ET. Cancel anytime.

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.95

Buy for $24.95

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

Debut author Sheldon Siegel bursts into the legal thriller arena with a riveting courtroom drama, exposing the world of big-time law firms and lawyers in a fresh, sharp-witted, wonderfully sardonic novel.

Meet Mike Daley. Ex-priest. Ex-public defender. And as of yesterday, ex-partner in one of San Francisco's most prominent law firms. Today he's out on his own, setting up practice on the wrong side of town. Then his best friend and former colleague is charged with a brutal double murder, and Daley is instantly catapulted into a high-profile investigation involving the prestigious law firm that just booted him.

As he prepares his case, Daley uncovers the firm's dirtiest secrets. It doesn't take long for him to discover that in this trial, ambition, friendship, greed, and long-standing grudges will play just as important a role as truth and justice.

Brilliantly paced, crackling with energy and suspense, Special Circumstances reminds us why we love to hate lawyers - but can't get enough of courtroom drama when it's done this well.

©2000 Sheldon M. Siegel, Inc. (P)2017 Sheldon M. Siegel, Inc.
Crime Thrillers Fiction Legal Thriller Exciting Suspense

Featured Article: Best Mystery Series—Listens That'll Take You Right to the Crime Scene


While a standalone mystery is great when you're in the mood for a one-and-done, sometimes you want to feed your craving with an entire mystery series—knowing there's a world and characters you can keep coming back to for the satisfaction of solving crimes. With audiobooks, you get the added bonus of sinking deeper into the setting, clues, and suspects as the story is performed for you, so you'll feel like you're alongside detectives, ready to bust a case.

What listeners say about Special Circumstances

Highly rated for:

Unexpected Twist Ending Engaging Legal Thriller Engaging Narration Intriguing Plot Twists Suspenseful Storyline
Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,769
  • 4 Stars
    968
  • 3 Stars
    258
  • 2 Stars
    52
  • 1 Stars
    49
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,799
  • 4 Stars
    706
  • 3 Stars
    192
  • 2 Stars
    49
  • 1 Stars
    32
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,599
  • 4 Stars
    835
  • 3 Stars
    236
  • 2 Stars
    64
  • 1 Stars
    34

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great series start...

I found this series by accident, liked the book I read, and came back to the beginning. It isn't a book for the ages, but it is an entertaining summer legal thriller.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Something was missing. Mixed feelings on this one

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Maybe? It's hard to say.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Honestly, I just wanted it to end. I didn't hate the book, but for some reason it started to feel like it was dragging. The courtroom scenes/banter, felt off at times. I really look forward to that part because it's usually the device that ties it all together. It felt off because the characters didn't balance each other out if that makes sense.

Have you listened to any of Tim Campbell’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I may try him again. He wasn't bad, but he some of his characters were not distinct enough. I had problems identifying who was speaking at times.

Was Special Circumstances worth the listening time?

I'd say it was. It wasn't perfect definitely had flaws. I think it could have shaved off a couple of hours. This felt more like an 8hr book than a 12.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Decent legal thriller, weak legal verisimilitude

The narrator in the story line were both pretty good. What marred the book for me, an experienced trial lawyer, were numerous unbelievable courtroom scenes featuring unprofessional and ludicrous direct- and cross examinations and inconsistent evidentiary rulings by the trial judge. Also, the notion that any court would tolerate the clear conflict of interest – both the DA and the defense attorney being a former partners with the victim and former colleagues of the defendant and present at the murder scene within hours of the crime—strains all credulity.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Characters I will like to get to know...

I liked this listen and #2 is in the wish list and it sounds even better. Likable characters and learning a lot about the law. Worth continuing on with the series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Special occurrence

lt took me awhile to finish. lt is good to listen to. Good job to you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Boring plot, snappy dialogue

This was an okay legal mystery. I almost didn't make it past the first chapter, where I was bombarded with too many characters and too much background information about the law firm that is at the center of this novel. Eventually, it did all make sense to me. Mike Daley is being fired as a law partner, and then there are two deaths at the firm. Another lawyer is accused, and Mike is hired to defend his friend. The plot of this really does not go anywhere. I didn't believe or care about the defendant. (When the defendant saw the dead bodies, this supposedly smart lawyer picked up the gun and took out the bullets!) This is a first person narrative, told by Daley. He and his partner/ex-wife Rosie were the two characters I liked. Daley's funny, wise-crack filled telling was entertaining, and the dialogue in the trial was fast and fun. Great narration with good dialogue lifted this 2 star plot to a 3 star listen for me. If you like funny, wise guy narration, you will probably like this. I enjoyed it just enough to not give up.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good Legal Thriller

This was a good first book in the series. It has a good solid plot and I never guessed the ending. It's not a thriller like Grisham or Connelly - not hold your breath action, but it's a sold legal mystery.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thrilling!

Absolutely loved the no nonsense, cut to the chase style, and was absolutely not prepared for the ending. Most of the time it's evident halfway through these types of novels who did it, but not this one!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story!

Good legal thriller. The courtroom scenes were lengthy. Much back and forth. I became a little dazed with all the "overruled" and "sustained." Amazed at all the questions that are asked and background information dug up in the story. Good ending with a little "ick" factor. I thought the narrator did a decent job

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Exceeded My Expectations!

The reviews and Tim Campbell as narrator was what led me to the purchase of this book. Tim is my favorite Narrator - probably of all time. He's absolutely amazing! Add to that a suspense-filled legal thriller situated in my home town of San Francisco (with a beautiful cover of the Golden Gate Bridge) and I couldn't help but be intrigued. From the moment I started reading & listening, I was hooked. You can't help but fall in love with Mike & Rosie. The roller-coaster Sheldon Siegel takes you on is addicting & I couldn't get enough! I'm not giving anything away but trust me: You want to read/listen to Special Circumstances. You'll be hooked too!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!