Customer Reviews

Three Shirt Deal: A Shane Scully Novel (Shane Scully Series)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is definitely two stories instead of one. The first story is character development for Shane and Alexa. For those that don't follow the series, Alexa is recovering from a severe head injury that has produced severe behavioral effects. The second story is a generic corrpution mystery.

I've been following the Shane Scully series from the Tin Collectors. I'm an avid fan. For those that have read previous books and are interested in the Shane/Alexa personal development saga after White sister, buy the book used. If you're new to the series, start with Viking Funeral or Vertical Coffin instead and work forward chronologically.

In fact, it saddens me to say this, but I'm a little disappointed in the book. There were many incongruities in the relationship story and many loose ends left unresolved. Alexa's numerous behavioral transformations are hard to believe. The speed at which Alexa and Shane's marital problems appear to get resolved defies reality.

The corruption part of the story had many incongruities as well -- especially toward the end. Furthermore, it just wasn't that exciting. As an example, The system seemed to be against Shane from the start with no real reason given -- I assumed it had something to do with the mayoral politics, but the bureaucrats blocking the investigation weren't directly tied to the mayoral politics in play. And at the end, it all seems to magically clear up with not even an attempt at closure.

Chief Filosiani, who has been a friend in previous books is largly absent. Chooch makes a couple of cameo appearances, but that's it.

After White Sister, I couldn't wait for the next book. Now that it's come, I find myself wanting quality over quantity.

This was my fifth Scully book and Canell keeps me coming back. Brick is great with iflections and accents, and the stories are creative. This was a little more of a stretch but I am into the characters and they were right on.

Stephen Cannell is awesome, so much suspense I almost had to read the last page long before I was even close to it!

I would prefer to give this book a great review considering that the author passed away a few days ago, but sadly, Three Shirt Deal would be more aptly titled "What's The Deal?". Mr. Cannell's previous books were far more entertaining and less incredulous. The most improbable attempted murder and rescue at the end just left me rolling my eyes. I didn't hate it; it was just okay.

As a retired cop, I love great crime fiction. Michael Connelly's work is particularly outstanding, especially for its authenticity. Then there's the stuff which isn't very realistic, but is very enjoyable as an escape. That's where I place Mr. Cannell's "Shane Scully" series. I found one of his books left abandoned on a bench at our airstrip here in Iraq, and starting reading. Next thing I knew, I was hooked, and ended up buying the rest of the books in the series from Amazon. (No library on our small forward base, so Amazon is the best option.)

Here's what I liked about this book: I didn't solve the mystery by the end of the first chapter; Shane Scully is generally a sympathetic character; The bad guys (and girls)usually meet a bad end, but not through vigilantism. The use of convict language was interesting...

Bottom line: I recommend reading Mr. Cannell's novels. They were all worth the money I shelled out, though I finished all 5 that I purchased within a week of their arrival.

Great Shane Scully, while investigating a motorcycle gang off the 'time' with an IA officer, Shane gets in deeper than he could ever imagine after he finds that a 'three shirt deal' is street lingo for killing three people. Great Book, fast moving with a lot of twists and turns. Eric Bollinger. May15, 2009.

While Shane and Alexa Scully are trying to sort out their lives, both personal and professional, after Alexa's head trauma (from White Sister - the 6th Shane Scully novel), Shane is approached by Detective Secada "Scout" Llevar, an Investigating Officer with Professional Stardards (part of the I.A. Division) with an interesting case. A young meth-addict named Truit Hickman is serving twenty-five-to-life in California's notorious Corcoran Prison for killing his mother, and Scout believes the boy is innocent. She asks Shane to help her investigate the case even though there's a confession from Tru, and it's been closed by hard-nosed Captain Jane Sasso.

What Shane discovers is Miguel Iglesia, who now goes by Mike Church, is a far more likely suspect. But Church, Tru's friend, has some serious ties to power, through millionaire Wade Wyatt. Wyatt is the spoiled son of big-time attorney Aubrey Wyatt, and a Police Commissioner of a tiny police force for the tiny North Van Nuys Transit Authority. Both Church and Wyatt have ties to Prosecutor and Mayoral Candidate Tito Morales and Head of Van Nuys Homicide Division Brian Devine. Why would there be such power behind the prosecution of a small-time meth-addict murdering his mother over a simple six-pack of beer?

Facing suspension and a Skelly hearing over his investigation of Tru's case, Shane must also deal with the changes in Alexa's behavior. Because of her head injury, Alexa isn't the same emotionally, and Shane discovers she's on medication for seizures. Dealing with Alexa's emotional detachment from him, Shane finds himself attracted to Scout, jeopardizing his marriage.

This 7th book in Cannell's 'Shane Scully' series is again written in first-person from Shane's POV. I'm hoping for Stephen Cannell to go back to third person so I can find out more about what's in Alexa's mind. The plot in this mystery is good, the dirt just goes deeper and deeper until Shane is in way over his head. But the sub-plot of Shane and Alexa's relationship was, in my humble opinion, too simplified. In a complex head injury the chances of Alexa and Shane's problems being put into a nutshell would be impossible; I feel Cannell should have explored the complexities and complications further than he did. Of course this was stymied by his writing in Shane's POV again instead of third-person. Some of the sideline characters didn't feel fully developed either, like Church and Tito. Cannell paints such a perfect portrait of the LA mix that I was a little disappointed at the shallowing of some personalities. Chooch, Shane's son, was all but missing, and some further development with his challenges at college would be welcomed.

Over all, this is another great Shane Scully addition, despite it's shortcomings. The novel is fast-paced and quick to read, an easy over-nighter. I can't wait to see further growth with Shane's marriage and family. Enjoy!

My husband and I thoroughly injoyed this latest novel, as usual. Frequently Shane seems to miraculously escape injury, but not in this book. He is seriously injured serveral times and appears to show amazing recuperative ability. His conflicting feelings regarding his wife Alexa's changing personality, as a result of the near fatal head trauma in the previous book in the series, was realistically and sympathetically dealt with. And, again, as before, he is bucking the entire police department, including his wife, Acting Head of the Police Detective Bureau. But Shane is our favorite crime and corruption fighter and we anxiously await the next book in the series. As we watch football on TV we actually talk about the possibility of Coach Pete Carroll putting Shane's son Chooch in as quarterback for USC.

Slow, too. Sounds weird but true. I got through it, but stayed bored throughout. Also the dialogue is worse than usual.

Actor Scott Brick's excellent film performance background lends drama to his reading of Stephen J. Cannell 's story of Truit Hickman in Three Shirt Deal, where a small-time crook doing life in California's brutal prison for the murder of his mother. Shane helps investigate and review the case - and uncovers a dangerous series of new facts that could reveal a real murderer in hiding. Audio libraries will find it a popular drama read.