Saturday, December 10, 2011

Vigilante-Stephen J. Cannell

Vigilante


Stephen J. Cannell

St. Martin’s, Dec 6 2011, $25.99

ISBN: 9780312646110



Someone murders activist Lita Mendez. LAPD Detectives Shane Scully and Sumner Hitchens lead the inquiry. However their biggest fear is that one of their peers killed the police critic.



“Vigilante TV” reality show host Nixon Nash and his crew arrive at the murder scene. On his show, Nash solves homicides before the cops can. His plan is to do so with the highly visible Mendez case. He gives the two cops the choice of joining his inquiry or look like fools on TV. Scully knows his opponent has no scruples nor tied by the law and procedurals; he also believes Nash would have the two detectives murdered if they seem on the verge of solving the homicide before him.



The latest Scully police procedural (see The Prostitutes’ Ball) is a tense thriller that grips readers from the onset and never lets the audience go until the final denouement. The story line is fast-paced and though the ending is anticipated early, fans will relish the exciting competing investigations. Stephen J. Cannell, who died last year pays homage to himself as a successful writer and TV producer with his mantra (that only he could affirm) that justice and the law mean nothing when the media especially TV are involved.



Harriet Klausner





1 comment:

Francis said...

This looks like a gripping read. I heard an extract from the audio book on Elaine Charles' radio show The Book Report. Int a great wat to learn about new books.