Vigilante

Shane Scully #11

by Stephen J. Cannell

In the last novel by acclaimed producer and New York Times bestselling author Stephen J. Cannell, LAPD detective Shane Scully and his partner Sumner Hitchens investigate a crime with ties to the sometimes violent world of reality TV

Lita Mendez was a thorn in the LAPD's side.  An aggressive police critic and gang activist, she’d filed countless complaints against the department. So when she's found dead in her home, Detective Scully and his partner Hitchens fear the worst: that there's a killer in their ranks.

Outside the crime scene, Nixon Nash and his television crew have set up shop.  Nash is the charismatic host of a hit reality show called "Vigilante TV," dedicated to beating the cops at their own game: solving murders before they can.  Now he has the murder of Lita Mendez in his sights.  He presents the detectives with a choice: either join his team, or prepare for a public takedown.

But Scully knows that Nash isn't the folk-hero he seems.  He will do anything in the name of self-promotion.  If a detective got in his way, would he be prepared to kill? In this new novel, Scully will have to risk everything save himself and the job he loves.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense

312 pages, Hardcover

First published December 6, 2011

About the author

Stephen J. Cannell was an American television producer, writer, novelist, and occasional actor, and the founder of Cannell Entertainment (formerly Stephen J. Cannell Productions) and the Cannell Studios.

Cannell created or co-created several successful TV series from the 1970s to the 1990s. Creations included The Rockford Files, The A-Team, The Greatest American Hero, 21 Jump Street, and The Commish. He was an Emmy winner and was awarded The Eye - Lifetime Achievement Award by the Private Eye Writers of America.

Reviews

[Tracy P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disgraced after being fired from the police force and then jailed for a short stint, vigilante, Nixon Nash reinvents himself and becomes a reality TV talk show host. His angle is getting to beat the cops to crime scenes and solving them first. At his most recent scene he gives the cops an ultimatum: join him and work as a team or prepare to be publicly humiliated.
Shane Scully doesn't think he is as out for the public interest as his foremost objective and is not happy about his methods. He does not plan on following Nash's demands, but Scully might have underestimated just how far this egotist is willing to go when anyone gets in the way of his determination to rule the ratings?
A whirlwind of highly intense, fast-past action, and dynamic characters, Vigilante is one heck of a ride, and the best of the series I have encountered to date. That's saying a lot since I think they are all very good.
Scott Brick is always amazing and makes listening a delight.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a winner for a first reads! I wanted to win this for 2 reasons:

1. I love mysteries
2. I have read almost all of J.Kellerman, J.A. Jance, and Robert B. Parker as well as Nevada Barr, Dana Stabenow and Sue Grafton and I was looking for a new mystery series writer with characters that are flawed but likable! This was it!

This was my first read of a Cannell and I was not disappointed. In fact, I read it in 2 days because I found it hard to put down. (even now it is late, but I won't sleep until I write this review).

It has just the right amount of suspense all the way through and I really liked the way the 2 detectives worked together. Shane Scully is the first person narrator and Hitch is his partner who got rich by selling a story of a case he solved to a movie studio. Despite the difference in their financial situation, they respect each other.

They work in Homicide Special Division in L.A. and catch a murder that involves a woman who has been filing charges against the police. But it gets stickier than that when a reality TV show host challenges them to find the murderer before he does. His goal is to prove how imcompetent the police are. So then when some evidence leads them to arrest one of their own on the suspicion of murder, they are entangled in a web I didn't know how they were going to work out of.

The book is a fast, engaging, earthy, suspenseful and sometimes witty read that would keep any murder mystery fan guessing about the outcome til the very end. Highly recommend and I will be seeking out more of his books with these characters- I am so sorry this is his last book.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

LAPD detectives Shane Scully and his partner Hitch are called to a neighborhood with lots of gang activity where the dead body belongs to Lita Mendez. She hated the police, filing hundreds of complaints against them, and they felt the same way about her. Outside the house, even before the detectives get there, a TV crew led by Nix Nash is filming. Nix is an ex-law enforcement officer, then lawyer, then prison inmate and now reality TV show host who loves to attack police and show how foolish they look. The only clues the detectives start off with are a smell of garlic in the air and a coffee cup with fancy coffee dregs at the bottom.

I enjoyed this book from 2011. I looked for it due to a recommendation that popped up on my Goodreads page. I like books that show all the steps the detectives take to solve a crime. Scully and Hitch think outside the box. I didn't realize this book was #11 in a series so that means 10 more books to read. The hot Texas heat has me inside under the air conditioning so lots of hours to catch up on reading.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vigilante is the 11th novel in the Shane Scully series by Stephen J. Cannell, acclaimed and prolific TV and novel writer, who is recently deceased. I was notified by Goodreads that I had won an advance copy of this novel. But when I saw that it was #11 in the series, I quickly downloaded #1, The Tin Collectors (2001) to my Kindle so I could have a little insight into the main character. However, after finishing Vigilante, I don't feel that I missed anything at all by not having read most of the books in the series. Like most main characters in police procedurals these days, Shane Scully is a flawed character with a very big heart, which usually gets him into trouble. The series takes place in L.A., Cannell's hometown. Shane Scully's partner is Sumner Hitchens, who became a millionaire by selling murder cases to the movies, one of which was a smash hit. (A bit like Cannell himself, although to my knowledge, Cannell was never in law enforcement.)

Scully and Hitchens are posted to Homicide Special, an elite investigations unit and Scully gets a cell call about a murder that is too sensitive to talk about on the cell phone. He and Hitch go right to the scene, where they find Nixon Nash, a supposed police watchdog, from Vigilante-TV already set up with cameras rolling. (What's up with that?) Nash is a former Florida Marine Patrol officer who is forced to resign over an error in procedure on a very important case. He then becomes a lawyer and gets caught embezzling his own law firm. Nash spends 18 months in prison, writes a book while there, is released and he goes to Miami where he starts a local show called Vigilante TV, which is quickly syndicated. His M.O. is to ferret out police corruption and throw a big spotlight on police incompetence.

Lying dead inside the house is another big thorn in LAPD's side, Lita Mendez, a community activist whose self-appointed job it is to start civil actions and Internal Affairs complaints against the LAPD for supposed violations of gang members and other community persons rights. She had just moved into this house. LAPD is less than thrilled by her actions, Internal Affairs captain Stephanie Madrid has filed restraining orders against Mendez. Mendezes husband, Lester, an ex-cop who retired from a SIS unit which was shut down due to extreme violence becomes part of the mix. The prior tenant of the house has an argument with the victim over a ceiling fan left in the house. There's a mysterious garlic smell in the house, an unknown coffee cup outside in the bushes, an unsolved cold case whose vic might have been dating one of the persons of interest, a party on the H.M.S. Bounty, and a similar slash and burn scenario in Atlanta where Nash last set up his cameras. And Nash is feeding Scully and Hitch information about the case that may or may not be a set up. The brass want this cleared in a hurry.

It was a terriffic ride right down to a big "wow" on my part near the end. Even if I hadn't read book #1 prior to starting the advance copy, I wouldn't have needed any background. The novel stands by itself, although knowing some background obviously makes the characters even more interesting and developed.

I am definitely going to read the others in this series.
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[Amber Foxx · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the fast pace, the working friendships, the portrait of a marriage that thrives despite the police careers of both partners—or maybe even because of the shared stresses and the way they understand each other. The in-depth details of police work were fascinating, and the story engaged with the issue of conflicted police-community relations without taking sides or preaching. It’s part of the realistic setting. I loved the way Hitchens and Scully cracked the case through attention to subtle clues. Hitchens is more likeable and interesting than Scully, but that’s partly an effect of point of view. The narrator, Scully, is more observant of others than he is self-revealing, so he is harder to get to know even though he’s telling the story. The first person POV blunts a certain amount of the tension, because obviously the narrator survives, but there’s enough tension to go around that this seldom weakens the suspense.

I suspect the author consciously chose to build a scene around a certain old-fashioned form of peril that was used in a number of late nineteenth century plays and satirized in several popular silent comedies. It doesn’t seem possible that he wrote this particular scene without awareness of its historical antecedents, and I bet he had fun plotting it. I would have fun saying what it is, but that would be a spoiler. (No, the protagonist does not hang from a cliff.)

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vigilante is the 11th novel in the Shane Scully series by Stephen J. Cannell, acclaimed and prolific TV and novel writer, who is recently deceased. I was notified by Goodreads that I had won an advance copy of this novel. But when I saw that it was #11 in the series, I quickly downloaded #1, The Tin Collectors (2001) to my Kindle so I could have a little insight into the main character. However, after finishing Vigilante, I don't feel that I missed anything at all by not having read most of the books in the series. Like most main characters in police procedurals these days, Shane Scully is a flawed character with a very big heart, which usually gets him into trouble. The series takes place in L.A., Cannell's hometown. Shane Scully's partner is Sumner Hitchens, who became a millionaire by selling murder cases to the movies, one of which was a smash hit. (A bit like Cannell himself, although to my knowledge, Cannell was never in law enforcement.)

Scully and Hitchens are posted to Homicide Special, an elite investigations unit and Scully gets a cell call about a murder that is too sensitive to talk about on the cell phone. He and Hitch go right to the scene, where they find Nixon Nash, a supposed police watchdog, from Vigilante-TV already set up with cameras rolling. (What's up with that?) Nash is a former Florida Marine Patrol officer who is forced to resign over an error in procedure on a very important case. He then becomes a lawyer and gets caught embezzling his own law firm. Nash spends 18 months in prison, writes a book while there, is released and he goes to Miami where he starts a local show called Vigilante TV, which is quickly syndicated. His M.O. is to ferret out police corruption and throw a big spotlight on police incompetence.

Lying dead inside the house is another big thorn in LAPD's side, Lita Mendez, a community activist whose self-appointed job it is to start civil actions and Internal Affairs complaints against the LAPD for supposed violations of gang members and other community persons rights. She had just moved into this house. LAPD is enraged by her actions, Internal Affairs captain Stephanie Madrid has filed restraining orders against Mendez. Mendezes husband, Lester, an ex-cop who retired from a SIS unit which was shut down due to extreme violence becomes part of the mix. The prior tenant of the house has an argument with the victim over a ceiling fan left in the house. There's a mysterious garlic smell in the house, an unknown coffee cup outside in the bushes, an unsolved cold case whose vic might have been dating one of the persons of interest, a party on the H.M.S. Bounty, and a similar slash and burn scenario in Atlanta where Nash last set up his cameras. And Nash is feeding Scully and Hitch information about the case that may or may not be a set up. The brass want this cleared in a hurry.

It was a terriffic ride right down to a big "wow" on my part near the end. Even if I hadn't read book #1 prior to starting the advance copy, I wouldn't have needed any background. The novel stands by itself, although knowing some background obviously makes the characters even more interesting and developed.

I am definitely going to read the others in this series.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Rating* 4.0
*Genre* Murder, Mystery, Thriller, Last book of series, Shane Scully

*Review*

Vigilante (Shane Scully #11) is the final novel in the Shane Scully series after writer, and TV producer Stephen J. Cannell passed away in September 2010. Unless another writer gets the families permission to continue this story, this is good-bye.

Quote of the book - "Sometimes this job really kicks ass," Hitch after he and Scully solve a cold case murder that everyone thought was dead and buried by incompetent police officers with one foot out the door towards retirement.

The story is a mystery right from the very start. LAPD’s Homicide Special Squad Detectives Scully and Hitch are forced to ask tough questions after coming across a dead boy of a rather annoying, but famous trouble maker in a neighborhood known for gangs and drugs.

The questions begin immediately: Who killed Lolita "Lita" Mendez LAPD's most vocal critic and pain in the ass? Was it a police officer, or a gang banger for whom she tried to protect by filing numerous frivolous complaints? Why was she killed in the first place? Was it because she knew too many secrets about the LAPD, or was it because she was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and was set up for the fall to make someone else look brilliant by solving her murder?

If you followed America's Most Wanted, this would be like the host of that show turning up in your town and bringing his circus with him. He would first aim complaints directly at the police department and make claims that he can solve the major crime of the day before the cops.

In this case, Nixon Nash is a host of Vigilante TV who has made numerous enemies out of various police forces, including the Atlanta PD, by stepping on their shoes, and making them look stupid. Nix has a bunch of former police officers, lawyers, district attorneys, and even a judge at his beck and call.

For Scully, this case will try the very fiber of his being and put his career in jeopardy as Nix knows that the only way to get what he wants is to ruin the careers of officers like Scully.
Thankfully, this story plays out exactly like we expect from a Cannell novel. The bad guy is revealed after making some idiotic commentary, and good police work by both Scully and Hitch lead to the eventual downfall of the killer as well as solving a cold case and settling the minds of the victims’ family.

When I thought The Prostitutes' Ball (Shane Scully #10) was the last book of this series, I said I shall miss this series. I’ll miss it because of Scully, Alexa, Hitch, Chooch, and their adventurers and relationships. It's been a nice ride which unfortunately had to end.

[Tad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to receive an early review copy of Stephen Cannell’s Vigilante, a Shane Scully novel. This was my first time reading Cannell and even though it’s the 11th Shane Scully novel, I had no problem jumping into the story.

Shane Scully and his partner, Sumner Hitchens, get handed a hot case. The murder of Lita Mendez, a gang activist with a long history of filing complaints and making enemies in the police department. To make it hotter, Nixon Nash, host of the show, Vigilante, shows up and plans to make the case the centerpiece of his show. A show which has embarrassed police and ended careers in other cities in previous seasons.

This was a fast-paced, well-written and entertaining crime mystery. The characters were nicely developed and engaging. There were enough suspects to keep you uncertain who the killer was, without feeling misled with flimsy red herrings. It was also refreshing to have a protagonist who was fairly well-adjusted, without a drinking or drug problem, a skeleton in his closet, or some other emotional or moral problem to overcome. Just a good investigator in trying circumstances.

Nix Nash was a villiain you love to hate. A smarmy tv host with a checkered past and vast resources. His actions and the motives behind them keep you guessing until the end.

This book is in some ways an old fashioned gumshoe detective novel, but with a modern twist in the form of a tv investigation racing with the detective to solve the crime. Cannell skillfully blends the two different worlds into an entertaining novel. An interesting detective along with a complicated cast of villains and suspects makes for a very good read. I look forward to checking out other Cannell/Scully books. Recommended for any fan of crime fiction and mystery novels.

[Hallie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen J. Cannell, the novel and TV writer who died a year ago, leaves his readers panting for breath with “Vigilante,’’ a signature final thriller in his Shane Scully series. One expects Scully to any minute emerge from a downtown Los Angeles alleyway and run smack into Joseph Wambaugh’s Hollywood Nate or Ed McBain’s Steve Carella.

The novel opens with Scully, a detective in an elite investigations unit, watching a rug-wrapped bum urinate against the side of a landmark downtown building that is home to LAPD’s Internal Affairs. Scully’s “first cop dilemma of the day’’ is whether to arrest the guy and stink up the inside of his Acura. He’s rescued by an urgent call to a homicide scene so sensitive the dispatcher won’t give the victim’s name over cell transmission. The address is on a block ruled by Evergreen, one of city’s notorious Hispanic gangs.

When Scully gets there, the scene is already staked out by “Vigilante TV.’’ Its on-air celebrity, Nixon Nash, is a former cop and disbarred attorney whose favored tactic is putting arresting officers on trial.
Scully soon realizes why Nash and his cameras are there. The victim, Lita Mendez, has been a vocal police critic and gang activist, personally responsible for hundreds of complaints that led to the demotion of numerous officers. Nash has hot tips he’s eager to pass along, but Scully is wary of being set up by a man more invested in taking down the police than tracking down killers.

With its meticulously crafted plot fueled by adrenaline and crackling dialogue, this novel could be used to teach a TV scriptwriting class. The shoes keep on dropping right up to the final page.

Review published in The Boston Globe 12/25/2011

[Kelly Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vigilante by Stephen J. Cannell
First, I wish to convey that I felt a great honor to have been chosen to read and review, Stephen J. Cannell’s final book; and it did not disappoint.
I have read only one other Cannell book, At First Sight: A Novel of Obsession. It was witty and delightful.
The same cannot be said for Vigilante. Cannell has mixed a TV reality show, which competes with police departments to solve murders that have become embarrassments within their communities, with a dead activist, a possible corrupt IA office, and Shane Scully his protagonist.
Scully is not entirely a by- the- book cop. He is thorough, intuitive (no paranormal talents here), and dedicated. However, he is also stubborn, occasionally self-deprecating, and has a bad habit of not calling for back up.
The TV reality show is headed by an ex-law enforcement officer (the Florida Marine patrol), an ex-lawyer turned ex-convict (five in the pen for embezzlement), and narcissistic Nix Nash. It seems the only intent of the show is to suggest that every police department is full of corruption and negligent loafers.
Scully thinks Nash has something more nefarious up his sleeve and he doesn’t intend to let this goldbricker get the better of him.
Vigilante is tightly woven with very little spurious descriptions or adjunct window dressing. While there is some coarse language, it is not used so excessively that it distracts from the story. It is primarily used in appropriate situations rather than salaciously. In addition, this is an easy smooth read.
I knew I would miss Mr. Cannell’s imagination and his TV shows, but I now know that I will miss reading new Scully novels, as well.

[Steven Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of Vigilante as part of the Goodreads First-Reads program, where readers get books for free in the hope that reviews get written for the various social media outlets.

I don’t generally choose police procedurals when I select the novels I read, so I don’t have an extensive background in the genre. This one got picked up because I got it free (often a deciding factor)...

It’s called “A Shane Scully Novel” and is apparently 11th in the series. I hadn’t read any of the prior novels, but this doesn’t seem to be a factor, as this novel stands alone well. (Stephen J. Cannell, the author, is also the creator of a number of police shows for television, so he’s got the skills for handling loosely connected stories down.)

I really loved this book. I was engaged by both the protagonists and antagonists throughout, and thought the premise was original enough that I was not at all anticipating any of the twists that happened. I was quite happy that I was reading this book, and then the ending thundered off the pages, as all the threads were tied together, and thrust the book into the “wow” column. This was a bunch of fun.

5 of 5 stars.

[Mario · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good; fast-paced, well-written, and it has one of the most marvelously unlikable characters I have ever encountered. On the negative side the book was a little thin on supporting characters and the ending felt almost too neat to be satisfying. On the other hand, both of those problems contributed to an incredible flow. All too often books in this genre tend to lag a bit in the middle but that wasn't the case here. All of the parts of the formula are where they belong, but, in my opinion, this book was better crafted than most offerings. There was one particular point in the crime-solving that I felt pushed the bounds of believability a little too far (I can't bring myself to spoil things too much, but it was the identification of the smell that I'm talking about here), but overall it was highly enjoyable.

This is my first Shane Scully novel (though, sadly, Cannell's last) but I'd definitely go back and read the others.


I received this free through Goodreads First Reads (thanks!).

[Magentabooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had not read from this author before and I was just thrilled to find a new, good writer.

Shane Scully is a fictional Detective III in the LAPD. Alexa and Scully live with Chooch Scully, who is Shane Scully's son.Shane Scully seems to be a tough cop who can bend the rules in order to get things done. Detective Scully and his partner Hitchens have a tough case ahead and they fear the worst: that there's a killer in blue, walking among the police ranks. Because the dead person is a woman who was not a popular person among the LAPD police. She was an activist and had made many complaints against the police forces. No wonder, no one was happy to be assigned to investigate her death.

I had not read the previous novels but this novel stands by itself, although knowing some background obviously makes the characters even more interesting if I had read the previous novels (and I probably will do so now). If you are looking for a great action novel then this is the right book for you!!!!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if someone destroyed your career and life. Well this is what the book is about. You have a host of a TV show that purposely destroys the lives of policemen in various cities for some unknown reason that doesn't become clear until about the middle of the book. Now the TV host is an ex-policemen and lawyer. He got kicked off the force and his license was taken away so he turns to in his own mind fighting crimes. Not your every day crimes but the high profile ones. In the process he ridules the detectives and officers that are investigating the case could he be behind these cases, could it have something to do with him being kicked off the police force. Hmmmm something to think about. Well he met his match in Scully and Hitch who are partners on the L.A. police force. Will they be able to beat him at his own game when they are assigned to a high profile case that he so happens to beat them to the scene. If you want to find out read the book.

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I signed up for this book not because of the title or the cover graphics but simply because of the author. I have never read anything by him before, I have never even heard of him, but once I read the author bio I had to see what this guy was about. Come on, who doesn't like the A-Team, (not that stupid movie they recently made but the original television series) the Rockford Files were great and need I say anything more about 21 Jump Street. Cannell is a television hero and I had to see what his writing was like and no surprise, it's good. This is a good mystery/thriller that makes you want to check out the rest of the series. It has believable characters that you pull for even when they break the rules a little. I am glad I won this book and I am interested in reading more by this author.

[Silverana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book starts out kind of slow, gradually introducing us to the situation. The main concept of police vs. a TV show in fighting crime is very interesting. There is constant suspense and anxiety as to who will be the winner. Then near the middle and end, the story really gets exciting and full of action and unexpected events. I did not want to stop reading. While the protagonist, Shane Scully, seemed too impulsive and annoyed me at times, this quality made him seem real and led to many turning points in the story. His partner, Sumner Hitchens, was a great addition, loved his jokes. It always seemed like they wouldn’t get out of the glitches they found themselves in, so it was intriguing to find out how each problem was worked out. The writing was smooth, made it seem like I was watching a movie. It was an enjoyable read!

Received free through Goodreads First Reads. Thank you!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is only the second Stephen Cannell book that I have read. The face that I have not read the previous novels did not affect my understanding in this book. The book was entertaining and frustrating at the same time. I had no idea who was the murderer or how all the pieces would fit together. I was frustrated because I was so mad at the media guy for twisting cases to make police officers look bad. I loved how Scully & Hitch balanced each other out and worked their way through the case. Cannell did a great job walking the reader through the logic that Scully & Hitch used to solve the murder. I look forward to going back to the beginning and reading more of the Shane Scully series.

(This book was received through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.)

[judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Cannell gets five stars but not for this book (I'd rate it a 3). The man gave many of us a huge amount of pleasure during his life. We have his books but we also have the memory of over 40 TV shows he wrote and created. My favorite--The Rockford Files. 21 Jump Street, The A-Team, Hunter, The Commish and many others weren't exactly my thing but obviously and deservedly people loved them. His place in crime fiction was solidified for me when he became a regular at Castle's poker table. Let's face it, you only get a seat at that table if you are in the top rung of mystery writers. It's touching and appropriate that they left his seat empty for a season. Thanks for the memories, Mr. Cannell. RIP

[Joe Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just remember, this is the guy responsible for the Rockford Files. Characters are memorable, dialogue is intense and the action just keeps rolling. The plot is guaranteed to keep you personally involved until you reach the end (whether you have time for sleep or not). Several parallel plots add to the story line but, don't detract from anything and finally merge near the end. It is hard to read this tale and recognize that the well has run dry and we'll have to find an alternative for all the entertainment that Stephen J. Cannell has provided over the last twenty years. I can hardly wait to put my hands on another work published since his death, "The Prostitutes Ball".

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the final Shane Scully book in a fine series before the authors death. In this one LA detective Scully is investing the homicide of a huge critic of the LAPD and is being followed by the host of a TV show that is down on the LAPD. Every move he makes is caught on film. Really good story. I give it 4 stars.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vigilante, the sequel is no "Prostitutes Ball." In fact, it is only about half as good and therefore worthy of 5 of 10 stars.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast read.

[Rob1109 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stephen J. Cannell is best known for his TV shows. And that is what this book felt like. Whereas novels have character background and development, TV shows rely more on action and plot. This is how I viewed Vigilante.

Positives:

It was a very fast moving book. I finished it in 2 nights. It didn’t drag. There were no unnecessary scenes. He’s not overly heavy on description which I like. The chapters were short. The book moved along at a steady pace. Also, it wasn’t just the usual who-dun-it which was a nice departure. The book picked up toward the end. The last 60 pages or so were very intense and that’s what elevated this from the 2-stars I planned to rate it to 3.

Negatives:

The author’s style and the characters.

An author’s writing style is a subjective topic. While I liked the fact no scenes dragged or were drawn out, I did have a few issues with Mr. Cannell’s style.
Many many MANY times he relied too much on cop lingo without explaining what it meant. I read a lot of detective novels and mysteries, especially ones that take place in LA. That being said, even I was lost with some words he used—and never explained. He also used abbreviations and again, failed to explain what it stood for---or didn’t for several pages. For example, I’m paraphrasing here but in one scene one cop says to the other, “There’’ll be a UC on scene.” UC? What is that? It wasn’t explained for about 8-10 pages that a ‘UC’ is an ‘undercover cop.’ Maybe that’s true but I’ve never seen that used in any other novel featuring the LAPD—and I’ve read a lot. The first third of the book relies heavily on Hispanic gang members. Frequently, they drop a word here or there in Spanish. However, Mr. Cannell never explained what the word means in English.

Lastly, the characters. Shane Scully and Hitchens (cant recall his first name) are partners. Scully is the protagonist. However, it’s Hitch who comes off as the smarter of the two. Scully frequently has to ask his partner’s opinion on what they should do next. Also, the entore Hitch character seems unbelievable. His backstory is that a case he solved was made into a movie and as such, he’s become filthy wealthy. He spends 2 weeks every summer in Paris at a culinary school. He lives an estate atop Mount Olympus, one of LA’s most expensive areas and drives a Porsche. Yet, despite this, he remains working as a homicide detective? Why???

Also, the title of the book is somewhat deceptive. There is no vigilante.

Overall, there were things about this book I liked and things I didn’t. As stated earlier, it was a solid 2 up until the final 60 or so pages and that’s why I’m bumping my rating to 3-stars. I’m sure I’ll read more books by him. I guess the key to this novel is to read it but don’t expect too much other than passing a few nights.

[Denise Hlavka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found in my LFL. Funny that as I read this book, I thought it seemed a bit like a screenplay type action. Then I realized that Stephen Cannell is the creator of Rockford Files, the Commish, 21 Jump Street etc.
It was a good plot involving two police cases that a reality TV show, aptly called Vigilante, is also working on, trying to solve before the police solve them. No spoilers...but if you’re looking for an engaging, fast paced police yarn, this would fit the bill.

[Roger Scherping · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Scully and Hitch are an interesting set of characters, and the plot was very imaginative. I also liked the inside look at police work and terminology. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. I expected that the last witness would be a character from the book, and I thought the arrest of Lester was too predictable, based on how well crafted the rest of the book was. I also wasn't clear how they got a conviction on Nix without Batiste.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last Scully novel that I know of and that's fine with me. Stephen Cannell is too focused on women's looks for me and I've long felt that he's living vicariously through this character. I find Scully irritating.

[Patricia English · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book on tape. It was a very good book and I am so happy that I listened to it. I had not ready his other books so you can read them out of order. Really good story, Kept you going.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly, the conclusion of the Shane Scully series. I gave the previous ten stories a three rating, I liked them, this one I gave a four, as it seemed on of the better, but just as much for the entire series. Enjoyable police detective series.

[Elisa Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing police procedural written by a master. It's a shame this is the last book by the great Stephen J. Cannell. He contributed so much to the genre (both in books and TV). He and his characters will be missed.

[Ratforce]

From his experience writing for television, Stephen Cannell learned how to deliver plots that literally cut to the chase. His detective novel Vigilante is set in L.A. and has a sensibility not unlike that of John Sandford’s writing.