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A Kane Novel #3
Allison
"From Amazon bestselling author Steve Gannon, thrillers that will keep you up all night . . . but make sure to lock your doors and windows first."Allison Kane, a journalism student at UCLA, takes a summer job as a TV news intern, soon becoming involved in a scandalous murder investigation and the media firestorm that follows -- a position that pits her squarely against her iron-fisted police detective father.Exploring the secrets that lie at the core of every family, Allison tells a story of growth and sexual awakening, of betrayal and reconciliation, and most of all, of the abiding strength of the family spirit.
- GenresMystery
394 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2012
138 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Steve Gannon
13 books39 followersI was a Navy brat, the oldest of four kids. My dad served as a captain in the US Navy, so our family moved around a lot—North Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia. When my dad finally took a post at the Pentagon for the remainder of his career, we landed for good in Falls Church, Virginia.
After a high-school education under the not-so-gentle tutelage of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, I embarked for college one step ahead of a serious run-in with the Falls Church police—eventually completing my undergraduate education at Duke University and USC with a degree in physics. Following a stint as a systems engineer in the Southern California aerospace industry, I headed back to UCLA for graduate work, earning a DDS degree four years later. I passed the California Dental Board exam that summer and prepared to begin a new career.
At that point I think I had my first identity crisis. I liked school. Beat work. Plus it allowed me to put off deciding what I wanted to do with my life when I grew up. I had never really thought about the future much. I had just gone from day to day, surmounting one hurdle at a time. Now that I was finished with school, was this going to be it? Work?
Not that I don’t like work. I held down part-time jobs during most of my college years— retail sales in a bookstore, swing shift on a loading dock, nights as a bartender. Like that.
In retrospect, I think those jobs were as influential as my formal education in shaping who I am. I recall little of my advanced math courses (and by little I mean zero), and I haven’t practiced dentistry in years, but I do remember things I picked up working various jobs, things I have been able to use in my writing.
Anyway, I opened a dental office on the Westside of town and began my life as an adult. But not without a struggle. During the years I practiced dentistry in Brentwood (right down the street from where O.J. Simpson didn’t kill Nicole), I got my Screen Actors Guild card and “acted” in TV commercials, shamelessly promoting everything from luggage to beer. I also modeled in a worldwide print campaign for Camel cigarettes before “Joe Camel,” the famous R.J. Reynolds cartoon that more effectively targeted kids, took over the cigarette advertising reins. That job was fun. Except for the smoking.
And I wrote fiction. Lots of fiction. All kinds of fiction. Mostly short stories, but some longer pieces, too. Some even got published.
Upon retiring from dentistry in my mid-thirties, I spent a decade as a real-estate developer specializing in beachfront construction in Malibu. Homes for the stars. More recently I’ve served as executive director for an Idaho nonprofit that promotes classical music concerts and presents various educational programs. And I continue to write.
Okay, seems like a lot of careers for one guy, right? I agree. Bottom line, I guess I was always ready to take a chance on something new, which led me down a lot of unexpected paths. But one constant remained throughout, something that gave me a way to use all my experiences, both good and bad. Writing.
And in the end, that’s what I finally decided I wanted to do, even if I were to ever grow up . . . someday. I think it’s what I do best.
My first full novel, titled A Song for the Asking, was published to both critical and reader acclaim by Bantam Books. The book was inspired by the question: “Can a homicide detective who deals with the worst of human nature go home to a normal family life?” In doing the research for my fictional lead character, LAPD Detective Daniel Kane, I met some fascinating people, learned some unexpected things, and made some lifelong friends.
IMG_0206Since then I have continued the “Kane Novel” series, following with bestsellers Kane, a thriller, and Allison, a suspense tale told from the perspective of Kane’s only daughter, Allison. A fourth in the series, titled L.A. Sniper, is scheduled for release in 2014. Glow, a standalone novel that chronicles the e
After a high-school education under the not-so-gentle tutelage of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, I embarked for college one step ahead of a serious run-in with the Falls Church police—eventually completing my undergraduate education at Duke University and USC with a degree in physics. Following a stint as a systems engineer in the Southern California aerospace industry, I headed back to UCLA for graduate work, earning a DDS degree four years later. I passed the California Dental Board exam that summer and prepared to begin a new career.
At that point I think I had my first identity crisis. I liked school. Beat work. Plus it allowed me to put off deciding what I wanted to do with my life when I grew up. I had never really thought about the future much. I had just gone from day to day, surmounting one hurdle at a time. Now that I was finished with school, was this going to be it? Work?
Not that I don’t like work. I held down part-time jobs during most of my college years— retail sales in a bookstore, swing shift on a loading dock, nights as a bartender. Like that.
In retrospect, I think those jobs were as influential as my formal education in shaping who I am. I recall little of my advanced math courses (and by little I mean zero), and I haven’t practiced dentistry in years, but I do remember things I picked up working various jobs, things I have been able to use in my writing.
Anyway, I opened a dental office on the Westside of town and began my life as an adult. But not without a struggle. During the years I practiced dentistry in Brentwood (right down the street from where O.J. Simpson didn’t kill Nicole), I got my Screen Actors Guild card and “acted” in TV commercials, shamelessly promoting everything from luggage to beer. I also modeled in a worldwide print campaign for Camel cigarettes before “Joe Camel,” the famous R.J. Reynolds cartoon that more effectively targeted kids, took over the cigarette advertising reins. That job was fun. Except for the smoking.
And I wrote fiction. Lots of fiction. All kinds of fiction. Mostly short stories, but some longer pieces, too. Some even got published.
Upon retiring from dentistry in my mid-thirties, I spent a decade as a real-estate developer specializing in beachfront construction in Malibu. Homes for the stars. More recently I’ve served as executive director for an Idaho nonprofit that promotes classical music concerts and presents various educational programs. And I continue to write.
Okay, seems like a lot of careers for one guy, right? I agree. Bottom line, I guess I was always ready to take a chance on something new, which led me down a lot of unexpected paths. But one constant remained throughout, something that gave me a way to use all my experiences, both good and bad. Writing.
And in the end, that’s what I finally decided I wanted to do, even if I were to ever grow up . . . someday. I think it’s what I do best.
My first full novel, titled A Song for the Asking, was published to both critical and reader acclaim by Bantam Books. The book was inspired by the question: “Can a homicide detective who deals with the worst of human nature go home to a normal family life?” In doing the research for my fictional lead character, LAPD Detective Daniel Kane, I met some fascinating people, learned some unexpected things, and made some lifelong friends.
IMG_0206Since then I have continued the “Kane Novel” series, following with bestsellers Kane, a thriller, and Allison, a suspense tale told from the perspective of Kane’s only daughter, Allison. A fourth in the series, titled L.A. Sniper, is scheduled for release in 2014. Glow, a standalone novel that chronicles the e
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 18, 2014
This is a complex and engaging story, that is well written with depth and character development throughout.
It follows the investigation into the murder of a young actress. Allison Kane is a college student, given the opportunity to work at the CBS news room. Her father, Dan Kane, a detective with the LAPD, is leading the investigation into the murder.
Moral and ethical dilemmas abound in this story. How far is Allison willing to go in covering the story of the murder for CBS? Is she willing to undermine her father's investigation in order to further her career?
But along with this main story, is the coming of age story of Allison, the main character. We see Allison's character mature over the events of the story, and it holds a message for all of us in deciding what is truly important.
I absolutely loved this story and the writing style of the author. Highly recommended!
It follows the investigation into the murder of a young actress. Allison Kane is a college student, given the opportunity to work at the CBS news room. Her father, Dan Kane, a detective with the LAPD, is leading the investigation into the murder.
Moral and ethical dilemmas abound in this story. How far is Allison willing to go in covering the story of the murder for CBS? Is she willing to undermine her father's investigation in order to further her career?
But along with this main story, is the coming of age story of Allison, the main character. We see Allison's character mature over the events of the story, and it holds a message for all of us in deciding what is truly important.
I absolutely loved this story and the writing style of the author. Highly recommended!
May 21, 2013
I liked the conflict, even though it made me want to reach into the book and shake Allison. But, you know, at twenty something that's not an uncommon response from an adult. The author kept many plates spinning, a murder investigation of a preteen actress, serious health challenges in Allison's family, romance and media boundaries. This guy is good. If I write what I didn't like, it'd be a spoiler.
August 23, 2017
Compelling family saga, great read
"Allison" is an emotionally charged teen angst story of a young girl coming of age. It's also an intelligent, well-written police procedural drama. Author Steve Gannon has created a realistic family saga where the complex, well-crafted characters are memorable. There's one small sexual encounter, so it's not a story for young readers.
Gannon wove in pithy aphorisms that had me laughing: "If a woman talks in the woods and there’s no man around to hear her, is she still complaining?” and "If we can't show our feelings, we might as well be men." (LOL. Gonna use that woods one again.)
Occasional prosaic writing verging on poetic prose is worthy of Pat Conroy's "Prince of Tides": "Past a seaside berm, racing to elude uprushing tongues of foam, a platoon of stilt-legged terns pecked at the water’s edge, their nimble dance with the waves casting flitting shadows in the slanting rays of the early morning sun." Lovely, lovely.
Allison tells her story in the first-person, but the omnipotent narrator also gets inside the heads of the other characters to describe their motives and thought processes. Sometimes I lost track of who was speaking during quoted reportage as well.
Sometimes the wrong words came out of Allison's mouth in first-person-singular. Words like: youngster, young—would a 19-year-old girl describe a guy her own age (or older) as a "young man"? That threw me out of story. Who was speaking? An older man (the author), or Allison? And there were typos. Also, some of Gannon's landmark descriptions feel like they're coming out of the mouths of relators. Better to have characters to also use colloquial names vs. legal names for authenticity.
I didn't realize that "Allison" was the third book in a quartet about the Kane family. The book stands alone, and the necessary backstory is blended in so seamlessly, I had no idea that there were prequels: "A Song for the Asking", and "Kane." I like the economic reuse of setting and spin-off characters in different books, but I'm not a fan of serial books that are cliff-hangers, as they often end abruptly (read: badly written), and leave me, the reader, feeling unsatisfied. This book is a complete stand-alone story that won't leave you hanging, but it will leave you hungry for more.
FWIW, I rarely bestow a five-star rating on any ebook I've reviewed. Some ebooks are so awful, they deserve minus-star ratings. "Allison" is in a league of its own, and deserves a full five-star rating. Kudus Mr. Gannon.
Read my full Amazon review
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
"Allison" is an emotionally charged teen angst story of a young girl coming of age. It's also an intelligent, well-written police procedural drama. Author Steve Gannon has created a realistic family saga where the complex, well-crafted characters are memorable. There's one small sexual encounter, so it's not a story for young readers.
Gannon wove in pithy aphorisms that had me laughing: "If a woman talks in the woods and there’s no man around to hear her, is she still complaining?” and "If we can't show our feelings, we might as well be men." (LOL. Gonna use that woods one again.)
Occasional prosaic writing verging on poetic prose is worthy of Pat Conroy's "Prince of Tides": "Past a seaside berm, racing to elude uprushing tongues of foam, a platoon of stilt-legged terns pecked at the water’s edge, their nimble dance with the waves casting flitting shadows in the slanting rays of the early morning sun." Lovely, lovely.
Allison tells her story in the first-person, but the omnipotent narrator also gets inside the heads of the other characters to describe their motives and thought processes. Sometimes I lost track of who was speaking during quoted reportage as well.
Sometimes the wrong words came out of Allison's mouth in first-person-singular. Words like: youngster, young—would a 19-year-old girl describe a guy her own age (or older) as a "young man"? That threw me out of story. Who was speaking? An older man (the author), or Allison? And there were typos. Also, some of Gannon's landmark descriptions feel like they're coming out of the mouths of relators. Better to have characters to also use colloquial names vs. legal names for authenticity.
I didn't realize that "Allison" was the third book in a quartet about the Kane family. The book stands alone, and the necessary backstory is blended in so seamlessly, I had no idea that there were prequels: "A Song for the Asking", and "Kane." I like the economic reuse of setting and spin-off characters in different books, but I'm not a fan of serial books that are cliff-hangers, as they often end abruptly (read: badly written), and leave me, the reader, feeling unsatisfied. This book is a complete stand-alone story that won't leave you hanging, but it will leave you hungry for more.
FWIW, I rarely bestow a five-star rating on any ebook I've reviewed. Some ebooks are so awful, they deserve minus-star ratings. "Allison" is in a league of its own, and deserves a full five-star rating. Kudus Mr. Gannon.
Read my full Amazon review
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
May 12, 2019
Great character development. The entire series was a welcome addition to a genre that I enjoy. This author is self published and until I got a disability that made it difficult for me to hold a book, I never ventured into a kindle. There I descovered Steve Gannon’s series and have read them all.
Highly recommended if you want a good thriller or detective story. The music described in a very moving way probably speaks to his wife’s expertise.
Highly recommended if you want a good thriller or detective story. The music described in a very moving way probably speaks to his wife’s expertise.
January 24, 2022
Awesome
Very strong characters. Wonderful store line. The story unfolds just right and brings the characters to light. The scenic parts make you feel like you can actually see them. Very well described. Theirs lives intermingle in wonderful ways. The story line keeps you guessing what will happen next. Very good book!!!
Very strong characters. Wonderful store line. The story unfolds just right and brings the characters to light. The scenic parts make you feel like you can actually see them. Very well described. Theirs lives intermingle in wonderful ways. The story line keeps you guessing what will happen next. Very good book!!!
November 24, 2017
Every one of the Kane Series books by Steve Gannon are 5 stars. This was a wonderful continuing saga of the Kane family!
I highly recommend this series!
I highly recommend this series!
April 9, 2019
A family dynamic thriller!
A page turner from start to finish! Career, integrity, child abuse, intuition, love, trust, self doubt and acceptance are skillfully addressed.
A page turner from start to finish! Career, integrity, child abuse, intuition, love, trust, self doubt and acceptance are skillfully addressed.
September 21, 2019
Love the local color and family dynamics
October 5, 2019
Excellent
I absolutely love these books. They are well written and so descriptive of so many events happening. Love this family. Can’t wait to read more.
I absolutely love these books. They are well written and so descriptive of so many events happening. Love this family. Can’t wait to read more.
October 4, 2023
Thoughtful Tale
Allison’s journey to find the person she is was well reported. And it was combined with an intriguing mystery which was complicated by the personalities involved. The result could have been chaotic, but it wasn’t.
Allison’s journey to find the person she is was well reported. And it was combined with an intriguing mystery which was complicated by the personalities involved. The result could have been chaotic, but it wasn’t.
February 1, 2015
Great read!
This is a book about Allison (Alli) who was going to college and her best friend got her to skip classes to go to the beach. While they were at the beach they witnessed 3 girls that were out in the water and all of a sudden they were taken into the waves and unable to get out. Two life guards went in to save 2 of the girls but the other girl would not have a chance if someone didn't act fast. Alli dived into the water, and struggled through the current and the waves to save the 3rd girl. A cameraman happened to be out on the beach and captured the rescue on film. Then she met the cameraman, named Mike, and he helped Alli get a job. Alli went to work for a news station and was covering a story about a young girl named Jordan that had been murdered. Alli's dad was with the police force and was working a homicide case (the same case) that his daughter was covering. Since they were family it was causing hardships on the dad to get evidence on the case with his daughter being a reporter. This story will cover hardships, rape, trust, cancer, love, hurt, lies, and more. A great story with a great ending.
This is a book about Allison (Alli) who was going to college and her best friend got her to skip classes to go to the beach. While they were at the beach they witnessed 3 girls that were out in the water and all of a sudden they were taken into the waves and unable to get out. Two life guards went in to save 2 of the girls but the other girl would not have a chance if someone didn't act fast. Alli dived into the water, and struggled through the current and the waves to save the 3rd girl. A cameraman happened to be out on the beach and captured the rescue on film. Then she met the cameraman, named Mike, and he helped Alli get a job. Alli went to work for a news station and was covering a story about a young girl named Jordan that had been murdered. Alli's dad was with the police force and was working a homicide case (the same case) that his daughter was covering. Since they were family it was causing hardships on the dad to get evidence on the case with his daughter being a reporter. This story will cover hardships, rape, trust, cancer, love, hurt, lies, and more. A great story with a great ending.
October 18, 2014
"If we can't show our feelings, we might as well be men."
Allison, the headstrong, strong-willed daughter of the Kane family, comes into her own in "Allison." After years of feeling jealousy towards her brothers, especially piano prodigy, Travis, she is starting to realize what she wants out of life and to realize she is super talented in her own right. She is starting to heal from her brutal rape four years ago (see "A Song for the Asking") and actually is thinking about romance - for herself.
I love this author. This is the third of the Kane books (and not to be the last, from what the author writes). "A Song For the Asking" is still my favorite (I've read and reread it many times) but "Kane"and "Allison" are both excellent, too.
Two things Gannon does especially well are dialogue and characterization. Conversations just flow in his books and I feel like I KNOW his characters intimately. I hope we keep getting to know more about the Kane family.
Oh, and I want to be invited to one of the Kane beach shindigs. They do know how to throw a party.
Allison, the headstrong, strong-willed daughter of the Kane family, comes into her own in "Allison." After years of feeling jealousy towards her brothers, especially piano prodigy, Travis, she is starting to realize what she wants out of life and to realize she is super talented in her own right. She is starting to heal from her brutal rape four years ago (see "A Song for the Asking") and actually is thinking about romance - for herself.
I love this author. This is the third of the Kane books (and not to be the last, from what the author writes). "A Song For the Asking" is still my favorite (I've read and reread it many times) but "Kane"and "Allison" are both excellent, too.
Two things Gannon does especially well are dialogue and characterization. Conversations just flow in his books and I feel like I KNOW his characters intimately. I hope we keep getting to know more about the Kane family.
Oh, and I want to be invited to one of the Kane beach shindigs. They do know how to throw a party.
June 16, 2013
Kane and his murder investigation are secondary to Allison in this book in the "Kane" series. He's pretty much secondary to his wife here as well as she undergoes her own trials.
Fast forward a few years and Allison is now attending UCLA. It's the summer before she transfers to USC when she lands a job which could prove lucrative to her future in journalism. She's struggling with feelings of never living up to her older brother's achievements and bc of that, feeling second in her mother's eyes. She comes to terms w some things in her life.
Kane is a detective on the case after a body is found in a local reservoir. When certain information is leaked, it reflects poorly on him since his his daughter is working for a local news station.
Since Allison and her life are the focus in this one, I was left hungry for more of the investigation. There seemed to be a lack of draw that drew me in to the first two in this series.
Still good though.
Fast forward a few years and Allison is now attending UCLA. It's the summer before she transfers to USC when she lands a job which could prove lucrative to her future in journalism. She's struggling with feelings of never living up to her older brother's achievements and bc of that, feeling second in her mother's eyes. She comes to terms w some things in her life.
Kane is a detective on the case after a body is found in a local reservoir. When certain information is leaked, it reflects poorly on him since his his daughter is working for a local news station.
Since Allison and her life are the focus in this one, I was left hungry for more of the investigation. There seemed to be a lack of draw that drew me in to the first two in this series.
Still good though.
October 28, 2015
Another great read from Steve Gannon. Once again Detective Kane is knee deep in a case but this time he is up against his only daughter Allison. She has taken a summer job as a news TV intern so she is walking a fine line between keeping her position on the job and her relationship with her dad separate and peaceful. This book looks further into Allison's life and how she is handling her life and relationships after her rape. It looks into her relationship with her family, school, and now her job. It was a great read and I can't wait till the next book comes out
June 13, 2017
I couldn't finish it. The pedantic descriptions of every last thing got to be way too much. I stopped caring about the plot because I had to wade through too much other junk to get to it. I can't recommend it unless you want to read excruciating detail about the architecture of the USC campus, authentic cuisine from interior Mexico, treatment protocol for leukemia, and myriad other things that don't really move the plot forward.
August 26, 2019
Another very good Kane novel. Focussing on his daughter, Allison gives a new perspective on not only Kane, but the family dynamics. Sibling rivalry, striving to meet one's parents expectations and garner their attention. Allison chosen a path which puts her at odds with both parents. The murder of a 14 year old actress provides an interesting backdrop for the family conflicts. A good read that unexpectedly touched emotions and made me look at my relationship with my own adult children.
March 22, 2014
Well done and tear jerking
fantastic story line, several mini-stories,great characters, detective Kane, knows what happens but his journey to find "proof" is elusive complicated by family drama. Going back to read 1st Kane book and looking forward to new book. Loved it
fantastic story line, several mini-stories,great characters, detective Kane, knows what happens but his journey to find "proof" is elusive complicated by family drama. Going back to read 1st Kane book and looking forward to new book. Loved it
January 23, 2013
All the books in this series are awesome. Great story about family ups and downs with a mystery in the middle. Start at the beginning. You won't be sorry.
July 2, 2013
Way too dragged out with too many non-specific subjects and characters, forced myself to 55% but couldn't go further, I just lost interest!
August 19, 2013
really enjoyed this book!! hoping Gannon writes more about this family. will look for other books by him as well.
April 28, 2014
Although there is a good mystery, that is only half the story. The relationships within the family and Allison's maturing into an independent adult are equally important.
June 9, 2014
It was a great book kept my interest and read Kane first though they go together I really liked them both recommend
July 6, 2014
Enjoyed reading the book. Though not an intriguing plot, Steve Gannon's style of narration made it interesting. The ending however was like a 'slammed shut' door!
August 7, 2014
Good offshoot of the Kane books, already liked the Allison character from those, this one continues it and has her growing up in the shadow of her parents.
November 20, 2016
Jk
This is book 3 and once again I was enthralled
Once you start you do not stop
Mr Gannon can be proud of these books
This is book 3 and once again I was enthralled
Once you start you do not stop
Mr Gannon can be proud of these books
June 26, 2014
great read.
Read
February 1, 2016good read
April 15, 2017
Loved it
Another great story by Steve Gannon. I was kept wanting more. Can't wait to get started on another Kane novel.
Another great story by Steve Gannon. I was kept wanting more. Can't wait to get started on another Kane novel.
May 3, 2017
As always
I hate that I have gotten tied up in the Kane Family. I hate that I like them, and want to know them better. I hate that I feel sadness and joy and anger and despair. It's like these books were written for me. Mr Gannon has a knack for reaching the emotional depths that are normally the realm of a woman. Then he switches to the harddriving stubborn doggedness and profane world of a homicide detective. All of this is seamless. That he wrote book 2 as book 3 was a stroke of genius. It is The Kent Family Chronicles in modern in times. Couldn't wait for the next book and dreaded the end. Great job.
I hate that I have gotten tied up in the Kane Family. I hate that I like them, and want to know them better. I hate that I feel sadness and joy and anger and despair. It's like these books were written for me. Mr Gannon has a knack for reaching the emotional depths that are normally the realm of a woman. Then he switches to the harddriving stubborn doggedness and profane world of a homicide detective. All of this is seamless. That he wrote book 2 as book 3 was a stroke of genius. It is The Kent Family Chronicles in modern in times. Couldn't wait for the next book and dreaded the end. Great job.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews