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The Plan
The selling of the president is an assignment that could salvage TV producer Ryan Bolt's damaged life and career, But Bolt doesn't know whom he truly serves. And by the time he finds out, it may be already too late...for one nation under siege.
Audiobook
First published May 28, 1995
3 people are currently reading
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About the author
Stephen J. Cannell
68 books268 followersStephen 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 13, 2018
There was a time when I could not get enough Stephen J. Cannell’s writing. With numerous other series catching my eye, I never did get around to some of his standalone novels, including this one. One topic in my current reading challenge includes reading a book that has been on my To Be Read list for over 2 years. This one has been collecting digital dust since July 28th, 2011 (my Goodreads anniversary). At the time I finally began reading this novel, it had been rearranged numerous times on my shelf and made it to #46(!). Money makes the political world go round, even if it’s coming from the mob. With the pending US presidential election, Mickey Alo works to enact a plan his father crafted decades before to help those within the crime family; he’ll buy a candidate and place him in the Oval Office. With unlimited funds, Alo chooses someone he can shape with no public notoriety. Enter Rhode Island Governor Haze Richards, who wants nothing more than to make America work for its citizens. Not feeling he can make any difference, Richards will have to be massaged by his campaign manager, A.J. Teagarden, who will handle all the dealings with Alo. Turning to a childhood friend who has fallen on hard times, Alo has Teagarden contract Ryan Bolt to prepare a campaign video to help catapult the Richards campaign well past the established Democratic candidates. However, when Bolt learns on the sly that Alo and his mob money are behind putting Richards in the White House, Bolt flees and does all he can to ensure the secret gets out. Thus begins a cat and mouse game of Alo trying to neutralise the threat and Bolt seeking to remain one step ahead. With Richards steamrolling in the primaries, there does not seem to be anyone who can stop him, even if he is only reading from a script. Usually, the mob gets what it wants... and with Alo’s two significant projects, it seems the mantra will hold true. Cannell delivers in this wonderful standalone novel, mixing political and crime thrillers in a seamless narrative, which is recommended for those who love both genres. Written over two decades before this latest presidential election, Cannell shows that he has an uncanny ability at foreboding, though you’ll have to parse through this pre-Twitter narrative.
Stephen Cannell is a master at his art, having perfect his writing for television before making the leap to published novels. I thoroughly enjoyed his Shane Scully series and was certain to find something that would remind me why I stuck with that series until the author’s death. After reading this book, I cannot fathom why I waited so long to pick it up, though I suppose it served a wonderful purpose for this reading challenge. Cannell is able to construct a number of interesting storylines with a handful of strong characters. Ryan Bolt, washed-up television writer and childhood friend of Mickey Alo, plays a central role, though he is parachuted into the story in what might seem a tangential manner. The reader learns much about Bolt through flashbacks and the story’s development, allowing for a complex understanding of the man’s issues and his foibles, as well as what drives him to do his best. Haze Richards is the pawn of the entire story, whose early reluctance to ascend to power is soon lost when the intoxication of the ultimate prize becomes apparent. He is idealistic and seems almost wholesome, which differs greatly from the candidate parallel I found in modern presidential politics, but is soon ready to make demands and knock anyone out of his way. Mickey Alo has the money and the readiness to make things happen, worrying only about how best to execute his plan, which helps solidify the parallel between him and his modern-day tsarmaker... I mean kingmaker. A handful of other characters add depth to the story, which runs through numerous parallel plot lines, all of which are enriched by the banter and development found within the stellar narrative. The story is both entertaining and curiously telling at this stage, showing how money and power can serve to place anyone in a position of power and how the thrill of the race can turn anyone into believing what is put before them. Action is woven into the story, though it is offset with the continued momentum gain of a political campaign, which has little time to rest. The interested reader will have to see if, like at present, the political campaign within the book is caught with its proverbial hand in the cookie jar as it receives funds from a source seeking to sway the American political system.
Kudos, Mr. Cannell, for another fabulous book. The world lost a wonderful thriller writer when you passed on those years ago!
This novel meets the requirements of Topic #3, The Teetering Pile for the Equinox 4 Reading Challenge.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Stephen Cannell is a master at his art, having perfect his writing for television before making the leap to published novels. I thoroughly enjoyed his Shane Scully series and was certain to find something that would remind me why I stuck with that series until the author’s death. After reading this book, I cannot fathom why I waited so long to pick it up, though I suppose it served a wonderful purpose for this reading challenge. Cannell is able to construct a number of interesting storylines with a handful of strong characters. Ryan Bolt, washed-up television writer and childhood friend of Mickey Alo, plays a central role, though he is parachuted into the story in what might seem a tangential manner. The reader learns much about Bolt through flashbacks and the story’s development, allowing for a complex understanding of the man’s issues and his foibles, as well as what drives him to do his best. Haze Richards is the pawn of the entire story, whose early reluctance to ascend to power is soon lost when the intoxication of the ultimate prize becomes apparent. He is idealistic and seems almost wholesome, which differs greatly from the candidate parallel I found in modern presidential politics, but is soon ready to make demands and knock anyone out of his way. Mickey Alo has the money and the readiness to make things happen, worrying only about how best to execute his plan, which helps solidify the parallel between him and his modern-day tsarmaker... I mean kingmaker. A handful of other characters add depth to the story, which runs through numerous parallel plot lines, all of which are enriched by the banter and development found within the stellar narrative. The story is both entertaining and curiously telling at this stage, showing how money and power can serve to place anyone in a position of power and how the thrill of the race can turn anyone into believing what is put before them. Action is woven into the story, though it is offset with the continued momentum gain of a political campaign, which has little time to rest. The interested reader will have to see if, like at present, the political campaign within the book is caught with its proverbial hand in the cookie jar as it receives funds from a source seeking to sway the American political system.
Kudos, Mr. Cannell, for another fabulous book. The world lost a wonderful thriller writer when you passed on those years ago!
This novel meets the requirements of Topic #3, The Teetering Pile for the Equinox 4 Reading Challenge.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
March 10, 2010
Eh...My friend (who started me reading Cannell) told me that this was his best book, and got me really excited to read it. My expectations were very high at the beginning, especially having recently finished King Con (also by Cannell, and a really good read). For me, it was just somewhat unoriginal. How many tv shows/movies/books have done the "mob financing politicians" angle? I found myself wanting to get to the end, and not because I wanted to see what happened - but so that I could get it off my currently-reading list. I think the deal for me is that there were no "likeable" characters - Ryan and Lucinda, perhaps, but that was manufactured. I'm just not a big fan of the seedy underworld, I suppose. So overall, I give the The Plan a score of 74.
May 5, 2017
★ ★ 1/2
January 6, 2012
Despite the weak title, boring cover art, and the fact that this is Cannell's debut novel, THE PLAN is actually a superb thriller. In fact, though it's not his most entertaining work, it's probably his best-constructed story and contains some of his strongest writing. The plot certainly is not too far-fetched, and Cannell presents an all-too-believable scenario as to how a hijacking of an American presidency could conceivably take place. This book shows beyond a doubt that Cannell was right to get out of the TV producing business and begin writing novels. None of his television work can hold a candle to THE PLAN.
February 1, 2016
This book had many similarities between the plot and the 2016 election. Kind of amazing.
The resolution of the problem involved a lot of unbelievable luck in finding just the right person to help, but I enjoyed the book.
The resolution of the problem involved a lot of unbelievable luck in finding just the right person to help, but I enjoyed the book.
February 17, 2017
A disgraced television producer is trying to sell a president, only to learn that the candidate is serving another master.
Not one of Cannell's best.
Not one of Cannell's best.
June 9, 2022
BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS:
Print: COPYRIGHT: 6/18/1995; PUBLISHER: William Morrow & Co—1st edition; ISBN 978-0688140465; PAGES 420.
Audio: COPYRIGHT: 12/8/2014; ISBN: 9781590401507; PUBLISHER: Phoenix Books, Inc.; DURATION: 4:58:49; PARTS: 4; File Size: 143456 KB; Abridged
Feature Film or tv: Not that I know of.
SERIES: No
MAJOR CHARACTERS:
Paul Arquette
Warren Sacks
Ryan Bolt
Mickey Alo
Joseph Alo
Lucinda Alo
Cole (can’t recall his first name)
Caz (Nick name- spelling could be wrong)
SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
How I picked it: Perhaps I have some degree of obsessive-compulsive disorder, but once I have read multiple books written by one person, I tend to feel compelled to read them all. So, I went back to read Cannell’s earlier books. The first time I did, the first one he wrote wasn’t available, so, since they were not a series, I got the second one (not noticing that only an abridgment, which I typically avoid, was available in audio format) and didn’t much like it—in fact Don (husband) quit listening with me. Still, I felt compelled to read this first one and knew better than to invite Don to listen.
I find it a little hard to believe that someone who co-created the Rockford Files could write with such all-out vulgarity. I guess he wanted to make his Mafia characters authentic, but golly. I think even a Mob Boss would blush. Maybe I’m over-reacting—It’s just the story seemed to open harshly --kind of like when you dive into cold water—it hits as a fast and unwelcome shock, however much it was anticipated.
Then, quite early on there’s a scene I’ll just categorize as ‘cruelty to animals’ that might, combined with the offensive vocabulary, have had me tossing the book in the trash, were it mine (and in print). But I figured since the thing was only some 5 hours long (again, I did not realize this was an abridgement, but am sort of thankful it was at this point), I could somehow power through. Then, I was surprised, when I actually started wondering what would happen next…and thankfully, once the plot got a hold of Stephen, the need to color it with vulgarity seemed to taper off.
What’s it about? Well, that’s actually where Cannell’s talent bleeds through—it does seem well plotted. It’s about a top Mafia fellow who schemes to get an unknown politician into the White House, at which point the plan is to control him to abolish RICO (the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act), among other things, by appointing Supreme Court Justices that they suggest, and assert manipulations wherever else they can influence things. He plots it well, and either had a broad knowledge of a large variety of things, or researched well.
AUTHOR:
Stephen Cannell (February 5, 1941 – September 30, 2010). According to Wikipedia, Stephen “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.
After starting his career as a television screenwriter, Cannell created or co-created several dozen successful TV series from the 1970s to the 1990s, often with his creative partner Frank Lupo. Cannell's creations included The Rockford Files, The A-Team, The Greatest American Hero, 21 Jump Street, and The Commish. He also wrote novels, notably the Shane Scully mystery series.”
NARRATOR:
Stephen Cannell. (see above).
Stephen was also an actor, so it’s no surprise he read his own first novels—especially considering that, at least I am guessing; few self-respecting narrators would be willing to utter so much vulgarity. There were only a few deliveries that I thought, ‘How is it when an author is reading his very own lines, that he delivers them “wrong”? Maybe not everyone hears intonations and word stresses as I do and he’s saying it exactly as he meant it to be said?” But like I said, it wasn’t prevalent—well, but then, how could it have been when I would never say some of those words at all?
GENRE:
Fiction; Political Thriller;
LOCATIONS:
New Jersey; Rhode Island; California; Catalina; Israel
TIME FRAME:
Contemporary (1994)
SUBJECTS:
Murder; Psychology; Mafia; Corruption; Radio Frequency (RF) engineering; Politics; News networks; Crime; Murder; Violence; Animal abuse; Death: Loss
DEDICATION:
"To Marcia
who sees me through
and to
Derek, Naja, N’Gai,
and Garret who all left too soon
SAMPLE QUOTATION:
From Chapter 1: “The Sporting Club: January 3, 1996”
“Mickey Alo tipped the seat back but didn’t sleep. He looked out the window of the Lear-55 at the blue-green reef fifteen thousand feet below. His father’s pilot, Milo Duelo, had just announced that they were about to make their descent into Grand Bahama island. Mickey rubbed the stubble on his chin and wondered what the hell Paul Arquette was trying to pull. The call had been screwy. Paul’s voice screeched at him through fifteen hundred miles of Atlantic Bell cable.
“I can’t tell you on the phone . . . but it’s important. You can land at the deserted military field at Sand Dollar Beach. You won’t have to clear customs or immigration. Nobody will ever know you’re down here.
In the two rear seats of the plane, New York Tony Demarco and Little Pussy Bono were snoring contentedly. New York Tony had been Mickey’s bodyguard since he was at Harvard back in the late seventies; now he was his capo, or right hand. Tony was short and muscular with a head as big as a truck tire and a complexion like lunar lava. Little Pussy Bono had gotten his name and reputation as a cat burglar in New York, but now he handled special assignments for the Alo family. He had been working mostly for Mickey, now that Joseph Alo was sick. Little Pussy was slender and hawk-faced. Like most cat-burglars, God had designed him for air-conditioning vents and small openings.
The pressure in the rich gray and burl-wood cabin changed as New York Tony and Little Pussy sat up and rubbed their eyes.
Two minutes later, the plane touched down at the end of the apron and taxied to a stop. Mickey turned to face the two men in the seats behind him. ‘I don’t know what’s going on. Get a map of this fucking place and line up a car, don’t rent it, steal something, and stay handy. In case I need you, I want you ready to move. No phone calls, no contact with anyone, no record we were ever here.’ Mickey didn’t quite know why, but he sensed impending disaster.”
RATING:
2 stars. I can’t say it wasn’t written well, I just didn’t care for how graphic it was.
STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
6-7-2022 to 6-9-2022
Print: COPYRIGHT: 6/18/1995; PUBLISHER: William Morrow & Co—1st edition; ISBN 978-0688140465; PAGES 420.
Audio: COPYRIGHT: 12/8/2014; ISBN: 9781590401507; PUBLISHER: Phoenix Books, Inc.; DURATION: 4:58:49; PARTS: 4; File Size: 143456 KB; Abridged
Feature Film or tv: Not that I know of.
SERIES: No
MAJOR CHARACTERS:
Paul Arquette
Warren Sacks
Ryan Bolt
Mickey Alo
Joseph Alo
Lucinda Alo
Cole (can’t recall his first name)
Caz (Nick name- spelling could be wrong)
SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
How I picked it: Perhaps I have some degree of obsessive-compulsive disorder, but once I have read multiple books written by one person, I tend to feel compelled to read them all. So, I went back to read Cannell’s earlier books. The first time I did, the first one he wrote wasn’t available, so, since they were not a series, I got the second one (not noticing that only an abridgment, which I typically avoid, was available in audio format) and didn’t much like it—in fact Don (husband) quit listening with me. Still, I felt compelled to read this first one and knew better than to invite Don to listen.
I find it a little hard to believe that someone who co-created the Rockford Files could write with such all-out vulgarity. I guess he wanted to make his Mafia characters authentic, but golly. I think even a Mob Boss would blush. Maybe I’m over-reacting—It’s just the story seemed to open harshly --kind of like when you dive into cold water—it hits as a fast and unwelcome shock, however much it was anticipated.
Then, quite early on there’s a scene I’ll just categorize as ‘cruelty to animals’ that might, combined with the offensive vocabulary, have had me tossing the book in the trash, were it mine (and in print). But I figured since the thing was only some 5 hours long (again, I did not realize this was an abridgement, but am sort of thankful it was at this point), I could somehow power through. Then, I was surprised, when I actually started wondering what would happen next…and thankfully, once the plot got a hold of Stephen, the need to color it with vulgarity seemed to taper off.
What’s it about? Well, that’s actually where Cannell’s talent bleeds through—it does seem well plotted. It’s about a top Mafia fellow who schemes to get an unknown politician into the White House, at which point the plan is to control him to abolish RICO (the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act), among other things, by appointing Supreme Court Justices that they suggest, and assert manipulations wherever else they can influence things. He plots it well, and either had a broad knowledge of a large variety of things, or researched well.
AUTHOR:
Stephen Cannell (February 5, 1941 – September 30, 2010). According to Wikipedia, Stephen “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.
After starting his career as a television screenwriter, Cannell created or co-created several dozen successful TV series from the 1970s to the 1990s, often with his creative partner Frank Lupo. Cannell's creations included The Rockford Files, The A-Team, The Greatest American Hero, 21 Jump Street, and The Commish. He also wrote novels, notably the Shane Scully mystery series.”
NARRATOR:
Stephen Cannell. (see above).
Stephen was also an actor, so it’s no surprise he read his own first novels—especially considering that, at least I am guessing; few self-respecting narrators would be willing to utter so much vulgarity. There were only a few deliveries that I thought, ‘How is it when an author is reading his very own lines, that he delivers them “wrong”? Maybe not everyone hears intonations and word stresses as I do and he’s saying it exactly as he meant it to be said?” But like I said, it wasn’t prevalent—well, but then, how could it have been when I would never say some of those words at all?
GENRE:
Fiction; Political Thriller;
LOCATIONS:
New Jersey; Rhode Island; California; Catalina; Israel
TIME FRAME:
Contemporary (1994)
SUBJECTS:
Murder; Psychology; Mafia; Corruption; Radio Frequency (RF) engineering; Politics; News networks; Crime; Murder; Violence; Animal abuse; Death: Loss
DEDICATION:
"To Marcia
who sees me through
and to
Derek, Naja, N’Gai,
and Garret who all left too soon
SAMPLE QUOTATION:
From Chapter 1: “The Sporting Club: January 3, 1996”
“Mickey Alo tipped the seat back but didn’t sleep. He looked out the window of the Lear-55 at the blue-green reef fifteen thousand feet below. His father’s pilot, Milo Duelo, had just announced that they were about to make their descent into Grand Bahama island. Mickey rubbed the stubble on his chin and wondered what the hell Paul Arquette was trying to pull. The call had been screwy. Paul’s voice screeched at him through fifteen hundred miles of Atlantic Bell cable.
“I can’t tell you on the phone . . . but it’s important. You can land at the deserted military field at Sand Dollar Beach. You won’t have to clear customs or immigration. Nobody will ever know you’re down here.
In the two rear seats of the plane, New York Tony Demarco and Little Pussy Bono were snoring contentedly. New York Tony had been Mickey’s bodyguard since he was at Harvard back in the late seventies; now he was his capo, or right hand. Tony was short and muscular with a head as big as a truck tire and a complexion like lunar lava. Little Pussy Bono had gotten his name and reputation as a cat burglar in New York, but now he handled special assignments for the Alo family. He had been working mostly for Mickey, now that Joseph Alo was sick. Little Pussy was slender and hawk-faced. Like most cat-burglars, God had designed him for air-conditioning vents and small openings.
The pressure in the rich gray and burl-wood cabin changed as New York Tony and Little Pussy sat up and rubbed their eyes.
Two minutes later, the plane touched down at the end of the apron and taxied to a stop. Mickey turned to face the two men in the seats behind him. ‘I don’t know what’s going on. Get a map of this fucking place and line up a car, don’t rent it, steal something, and stay handy. In case I need you, I want you ready to move. No phone calls, no contact with anyone, no record we were ever here.’ Mickey didn’t quite know why, but he sensed impending disaster.”
RATING:
2 stars. I can’t say it wasn’t written well, I just didn’t care for how graphic it was.
STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
6-7-2022 to 6-9-2022
January 27, 2013
I miss Stephen Cannell as a writer he was great, as a TV producer he was second to none. But, I miss the man, he was just a good man.
January 16, 2020
First things first, I'm in the age bracket that has fond childhood memories of watching The Greatest American Hero and The A-Team on TV surrounded by my family. Fans of Stephen Cannell's TV career hold a special place in their hearts for the late '80s CBS show Wiseguy. I mention Wiseguy because The Plan seems to be a cousin to that show just like Cannell's novel King Con is a close blood relation to the Rockford Files.
This was Stephen Cannell's first novel and it did not disappoint. Say what you want about his love of sub-par Raymond Chandler similes, Cannell had an almost supernatural ability for plotting and pacing. And yet, there's a looseness to this one that isn't in his other books, which was something I liked about it. Most of his novels(and TV shows) run like well-oiled machines. Here, we have the work of a very successful TV writer who's going to have a ball indulging his lifelong dream of writing a novel. "I'm going to make myself happy. To hell with everyone else!" This one feels very personal to the author and I think it's all the better for it.
This was Stephen Cannell's first novel and it did not disappoint. Say what you want about his love of sub-par Raymond Chandler similes, Cannell had an almost supernatural ability for plotting and pacing. And yet, there's a looseness to this one that isn't in his other books, which was something I liked about it. Most of his novels(and TV shows) run like well-oiled machines. Here, we have the work of a very successful TV writer who's going to have a ball indulging his lifelong dream of writing a novel. "I'm going to make myself happy. To hell with everyone else!" This one feels very personal to the author and I think it's all the better for it.
January 8, 2019
This book is a fine holiday thriller; I find I'm in agreement with many of the other reviews. The amazing thing for me, given that it was published in 1996, was how it echoes current events in the U.S.A. Specifically, it features a bunch of crooks planning the nomination of a not-very-bright candidate for the presidency of the U.S., a candidate that they fully control, and who will pack the courts and pass legislation that favors the crooks. The final touch was the fact that one of the last chapters is simply titled 'Trump'.
March 23, 2023
The Plan is Stephen J. Cannell’s first novel and not bad for his first try. The mob wants to own a president and sets out to buy a television station to use to promote their president candidate to the White House. Too bad Cannell didn’t live to see this play out “allegedly” in 2016 though he might have been surprised which party allegedly accomplished it and allegedly the foreign mob responsible. The television network is called UBS and is run by the mob so anything mob related story is buried. Any reporter not toeing the line is fired or murdered.
May 20, 2020
I have enjoyed many of the Stephen J Cannell TV series over the years. When I found The Plan at my favorite thrift store I figured the $0.25 cost was worth the risk. It wasn't. So much profanity and vulgarity that I quit early into the book. I may be out my $0.25 investment but I did get an empty space in my bookcase.
August 22, 2023
Just finished reading this a second time. (It's been 12 years) Really enjoyed it. Cannell knows how to tell, and write, a very entertaining story-which should be no surprise given his sucess writing for TV. Well written, good character development, great pacing. A lot of fun to read. (I can't remember much detail because it's been a few weeks since I read this.)
July 2, 2025
Imagine reading a sopranos movie - MW
Phenomenal. Make it a damn movie! It reads like an action thriller script. Decent characters, great writing! None of the characters are complex or go through profound character development but the story is riveting. Written in 95’ all of the political dramatics are still fitting for today.
Phenomenal. Make it a damn movie! It reads like an action thriller script. Decent characters, great writing! None of the characters are complex or go through profound character development but the story is riveting. Written in 95’ all of the political dramatics are still fitting for today.
May 24, 2019
Enjoyable read. Cannell makes characters that you can identify with, and then runs you through the story where you either root for them or against them.
June 22, 2019
Много ми хареса. Имаше напрежение, интриги, обрати и много задкулисни игри. Дава представа колко точно манипулируеми може да сме хората и как всичко е възможно да бъде режисирано. Плашещо е, нали!?
January 18, 2020
pretty good. about the power and influence of media behind a candidate for president. part takes place in Israel.
March 2, 2020
Rousing start peters out after the first hundred pages. One dimensional, cliched characters.
March 24, 2020
I managed to get about half of this finished before I decided to quit.
June 9, 2020
Fans of Baldacci would enjoy this read. Excellent!!
September 25, 2022
Good read
June 1, 2023
How to steal a presidential election, and how to prevent from happening
February 16, 2014
WOW...a really great thriller type book.
Cannell's characters are at once believable and unbelievable. It's hard for ordinary folks to think in the diabolical way that the main villain in this story does, but I guess that's what makes the plot so interesting.
Mickey Alo is the son of a mob boss. After his father's death from (surprisingly enough natural causes), Mickey becomes the "head of the family."
Ryan Bolt is Mickey's childhood friend, who doesn't realize that:
1) Mickey's dad is all mobbed up
2) Mickey doesn't really consider Ryan his friend, rather he is entertainment for Mickey
3) Mickey is a sociopath
As adult's, Ryan inadvertently crosses Mickey is a business arrangement, and big, no I mean, BIG trouble ensues. Ryan ends up literally fighting for his life. Along the way, Ryan falls in love with Mickey's sister which causes even more bad feelings between the two men.
In the end, in order to survive, Ryan teams up with an ex-FBI agent, an ex-investigative reporter, a photo journalist, and his new love interest to bring down not only Mickey, but a presidential candidate as well.
This was an excellent book. It was written back in 1995, so some of the technology isn't up-to-date, but those items are easily overlooked in the thrill of the chase and the enjoyable plot line.
Cannell's characters are at once believable and unbelievable. It's hard for ordinary folks to think in the diabolical way that the main villain in this story does, but I guess that's what makes the plot so interesting.
Mickey Alo is the son of a mob boss. After his father's death from (surprisingly enough natural causes), Mickey becomes the "head of the family."
Ryan Bolt is Mickey's childhood friend, who doesn't realize that:
1) Mickey's dad is all mobbed up
2) Mickey doesn't really consider Ryan his friend, rather he is entertainment for Mickey
3) Mickey is a sociopath
As adult's, Ryan inadvertently crosses Mickey is a business arrangement, and big, no I mean, BIG trouble ensues. Ryan ends up literally fighting for his life. Along the way, Ryan falls in love with Mickey's sister which causes even more bad feelings between the two men.
In the end, in order to survive, Ryan teams up with an ex-FBI agent, an ex-investigative reporter, a photo journalist, and his new love interest to bring down not only Mickey, but a presidential candidate as well.
This was an excellent book. It was written back in 1995, so some of the technology isn't up-to-date, but those items are easily overlooked in the thrill of the chase and the enjoyable plot line.
April 10, 2013
My least favorite part of this book was the title. Seriously. The Plan? How gay is that? Fortunately, it wasn't my first Cannell to read - even though it was his first to write. I read King Con firstly, and found I liked the author quite a bit. Other than the title, this book wasn't half bad.
For his first endeavor into novelism, (you like that word?) Cannell did a good job planning this one out - because it's obvious there was a lot of planning involved here. To keep up with stories as large-scale and kinetic as his, you really have to plan everything out really well. Keep maps and notes and records of everything... I can't imagine writing something as grandiose as one of his stories. Somehow he manages to pull it off though, every time.
This book was about some gangsters' plans to get someone elected president for their own benefit, taxes, oil, whatever - I don't really remember. Probably a ludicrous plotline, but it's a fun read. I'm never quite sure how me manages to make his stories happen, and they're so wildly improbable - but he does. And as long as he does, he'll stay on top of my favorite authors list.
For his first endeavor into novelism, (you like that word?) Cannell did a good job planning this one out - because it's obvious there was a lot of planning involved here. To keep up with stories as large-scale and kinetic as his, you really have to plan everything out really well. Keep maps and notes and records of everything... I can't imagine writing something as grandiose as one of his stories. Somehow he manages to pull it off though, every time.
This book was about some gangsters' plans to get someone elected president for their own benefit, taxes, oil, whatever - I don't really remember. Probably a ludicrous plotline, but it's a fun read. I'm never quite sure how me manages to make his stories happen, and they're so wildly improbable - but he does. And as long as he does, he'll stay on top of my favorite authors list.
July 12, 2013
Organized crime started a plan to elect their own president to neuter the RICO Act and the Justice Department. They groomed their candidate for twenty years but then killed him when he tried to cut them out. The mob came up with a last minute candidate and hired unemployed writer Ryan Bolt to do a documentary to boost the candidate. When Bolt discovers the plan a contract is put out on him and a the sister of a mafia boss tries to save him. There is some explicit sex.
December 29, 2016
Okay, so I'm totally biased. I just love everything Stephen J. Cannell has done.
If I would be a bit more fair, I'd give The Plan 4 stars. or even 3.5. But no, 5 stars because it's Stephen. J. Cannell. Period.
His characters tend to use overly crude language from time to time, and the plot is fairly straight-forward, but Cannell manages to throw in some surprises, and take you on a thrilling ride, even though you know the destination.
If I would be a bit more fair, I'd give The Plan 4 stars. or even 3.5. But no, 5 stars because it's Stephen. J. Cannell. Period.
His characters tend to use overly crude language from time to time, and the plot is fairly straight-forward, but Cannell manages to throw in some surprises, and take you on a thrilling ride, even though you know the destination.
October 29, 2014
Creepy idea, and brought some ligt to the people behind the scenes. Slmetimes you have to wonder who is really pulling the strings to some important people. This book was about the Presidential candidate having his strings pulled by the Mob. Far fetched... Or is it? Some how, this seemed too possible. (Not implying anything about our current President, just wanted to clarify that!)
June 25, 2016
A writer with a sure touch. Though the book is couple of decades old, some of the sub plots are like today's news. He writes with a felicity which grabs your attention. The plot revolves round the attempt by the Mafia to put their own man in the White House. Some parts stretch credibility but the action keeps ticking and the dialogues are snappy. Good book for a weekend
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September 12, 2013If you like the original A-Team, Wiseguy or Rockford files, you will enjoy this book. It is full of mystery, espionage, and adventure. you never know what is going to happen next. It keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Ellen - staff
Ellen - staff
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