Three Shirt Deal

January 14, 2008
Scott Brick is adept at slipping convincingly into the mindset of his characters. As Cannell's series protagonist Shane Scully, his voice is tense, with an undercurrent of almost feverish anxiety. The LAPD cop is under pressure from trouble at home and on the job. As Cannell piles on the pressure, widening the rift between the Scullys and adding threats, torture and narrow escapes to the crime story, Brick keeps pace, injecting elements of frustration, shock, anger and surprising tenderness. Cannell is particularly adept at dialogue and action, and Brick handles both well. This crime yarn is a little too convoluted, involving a mayoralty campaign, gangbangers, a tricky home security scam, a million-dollar beer contest and an attempted homicide by roller-coaster. Both Brick and the novel are on steadier ground with the more emotional and believable story of Shane and Alexa's struggle to save their marriage. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin's hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 12).

November 12, 2007
Cannell, creator of TV’s Rockford Files
and A-Team
, fails to translate his considerable narrative gifts into print in this seventh Shane Scully police thriller (after 2006’s White Sister
). LAPD detective Scully has been struggling in his personal life ever since his wife, Alexa, the department’s chief of the detective’s bureau, was shot in the head and developed erratic mood swings. Secada Llevar, a sexy investigating officer for internal affairs, corners Scully and demands his help in reopening a homicide; she believes Tru Hickman, convicted of killing his mother to support a meth habit, was railroaded by some corrupt cops, but she has been ordered by her superiors to drop her inquiry. Scully joins her probe and predictably uncovers high-level corruption, possibly connected with an impending mayoral election, while struggling with his attraction to Secada. The perils-of-Pauline ending is better suited for the small screen, and the numerous implausibilities may be too much for some readers.