THREE SHIRT DEAL: A Shane Scully Novel
Stephen J. Cannell
St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Thriller
Hardcover: 9780312366278
Paperback: 9780312945312

As much as I hate to admit it, WHITE SISTER, the sixth Shane Scully novel, somehow slipped by me. So I was a little shocked to find that Scully’s unique and successful marriage to his department’s chief was being strained and in danger of failing. It seems that a head wound that Alexa suffered in that book has left her with severe personality changes, which has Scully wondering what happened to the woman he married. And when Secada "Scout" Llevar, a beautiful investigator from Internal Affairs, asks him to look into a case, his previously monogamous feelings are tempted to wander.

Though Stephen J. Cannell is certainly not known as a romance writer, he always manages to include enough of a tender backstory to add dimension to his street-wise, tough-guy characters. He has a brilliant knack for creating people who are at once realistic and bigger than life. They are quick thinking, fast talking and capable --- perhaps willing to bend the rules but always with the goal of justice in mind.

A small-time crook is serving a life sentence for the murder of his mother. He admitted to the crime but now claims his confession was coerced by the cops. As Llevar tries to convince Scully to investigate, she chides his reluctance: “I thought you were supposed to be a White Knight…a walk-alone who wants to get it right and doesn’t sweat the fallout.” Scully replies, “That’s the Disney movie. In the Miramax version I s*** my pants and run like a rabbit.” It’s this kind of dialogue that crackles throughout the book and brings on waves of nostalgia for the old “NYPD Blue” series.

As he begins delving into the case, Scully quickly spots inconsistencies that should have been picked up by the original investigator. Yet they were overlooked by both the police and the district attorney who, by the way, is now running for mayor. And candidate Tito Morales is not eager to have any of his old cases turn up as bungled. Meanwhile, an apparently innocent man is being victimized by gang members in prison and kept in the general population by mysterious political maneuverings. Instead of being intimidated by the powerful forces that would shut down the investigation, Scully and Llevar work even harder to uncover the truth.

The white-knuckle climax of THREE SHIRT DEAL is one of the most exciting ever, nearly costing Scully his life. And, even when you think you have it all figured out, Cannell throws in a few more surprises just to add to your enjoyment. The underlying morality and dedication of characters like Shane Scully provide us with both entertainment and encouragement. Thank you, Mr. Cannell, for all the good reads!

    --- Reviewed by Maggie Harding, a substance abuse counselor in Phoenix, AZ who wanted to be Brenda Starr before life intervened. She reviews for www.bookreporter.com, www.faithfulreader.com and www.livinglightnews.com. To contact Maggie, e-mail Magster2@cox.net.

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