Riding the Snake [Import] [Paperback]

Stephen J. Cannell (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Penguin; New Ed edition (2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140277080
• ISBN-13: 978-0140277081
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,001,010 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never a dull moment - action from first page to the last, October 24, 2003

By 

Schtinky "Schtinky" (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Riding the Snake (Mass Market Paperback)

Wheeler Cassidy is an alcoholic rich boy whose only aim in life is to hang out at the Country Club bar to get drunk and pick up on member's wives. Living off estate money yet often running short, his decline on the steep side after the death of his father, he lives one day just as the last until his up-and-coming, successful, brother Prescott is killed.

Shortly following his death, his secretary Angie Wong is brutally murdered; and beautiful black Tanisha Williams from the LAPD Asian Crimes unit is called to the scene. Tanisha grew up in the gang infested streets of the LA `hoods' and watched her five year old sister die from a gunshot wound. She wanted to fight back by becoming a police officer but soon became untouchable on the force and under IA investigation when transferred to the Asian Crimes unit, the worst place for a black female officer.

Tanisha and Wheeler make a very unlikely team as the hunt begins for Prescott and Angies murderers; both of them out of luck and out of time and out of patience. From LA to Hong Kong they search for clues to the murders, soon becoming targets themselves.

Interwoven into their desperate man hunt is the story of Fu Hai, an innocent man imprisoned for crimes his father did not even commit. He finally frees himself from Khotan and step by step begins his journey to America, trying to `Ride The Snake' as an illegal immigrant. His journey is brutal and degrading and yet filled with hope that he will be able to someday also free his sister who is trapped in poverty. Fu Hai must sell himself to the tongs to ride the snake, and so his journey is a long series of hardships, deceptions, beatings, and illness.

With amazing descriptions of Hong Kong harbor, streets and ghettos, palaces and The Walled City, Mr. Cannell takes you on an incredibly face paced adventure in this non-stop action novel. The suspense stays with you right to the ending, each page packing a punch. Great book for airplane travel or a weekend snuggled in your favorite chair.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really, really good!, May 8, 2004

By 

DeQuaina Washington (A small, boring town in Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Riding the Snake (Mass Market Paperback)

I, being a very fickle reader--meaning that if I don't like something about the book, or something about it rubs me the wrong way--or if it is unbearably boring, I will stop reading it--found this book to be almost perfect. It kept me held tight until the last page. I bought it because I buy anything with a multi-cultural character make up--and I was even happier to discover that there was an IR relationship involved. But like another reveiwer said, the IR relationship took a backseat to the general greatness of this books' plot. It was really good, interesting, fast paced, and I loved the characters--all of them. I especially loved Fu Hai's journey for freedom, for wealth, for something different from the hardship he'd been accustomed to his entire existence. Cannell's writing is airtight, and he knows what he's talking about--which is another plus. My only qualms, which constituted removing one star from my rating--was the horrible slang he used for the South Central characters--including the main character Tanisha's dialogue at times. It was laughable, and I, being an African American female, didn't know what the people were talking about half the time because they were saying things I've never even heard before. But, I didn't grow up anywhere like South Central L.A. either so maybe I'm just not hip enough... Anyway, the book was great, go get it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thrill ride - and a joy to read, March 22, 2006

By 

DWD "DWD's Reviews" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Riding the Snake (Hardcover)

After having slogged my way through a couple of books lately this one was a real pleasure. Now, don't get me wrong with the 5 star rating here - it's not a life-changing book. It's just a whole lot of fun.

And it should be since it comes from famed television producer and writer Stephen J. Cannell. One can tell that he has plenty of experience (what kind of experience? How about working on 'Adam-12' and 'Columbo', creating the 'Rockford Files', 'Baretta', '21 Jump Street', 'The A-Team' , 'The Greatest American Hero' and at least a dozen more) with creating likeable, interesting characters and putting them over their heads in difficult situations.

In this case, a white ne'er-do-well playboy from Berverly Hills and a black female street-hardened cop from South Central team up to take on the Chinese Triad criminal syndicate.

Sound hoaky? sure, it does.

But, it works anyway.

Lots of fun and a breeze to read means that this reader gives this one an 'A'.