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Runaway Heart: A Novel
When The Science Exists...
Behind the impenetrable walls of a black-op government laboratory a top-secret weapon is being developed-a genetically engineered animal with superhuman strength and speed. It thinks. It obeys. It kills without conscience.
And The Danger Is Real...
Lost-cause attorney Herman Strockmire and his daughter Susan are passionate advocates against corporate Goliaths. When one of their employees is literally torn limb from limb by one of the government's experimental prototypes, Herman knows he is onto something big.
Survival Is Not An Option.
Hired to dig deeper into the employee's death, jaded PI Jack Wirta is a man with little left to lose. Armed with nothing more than determination, Herman, Susan, and Jack plunge headlong into harm's way, stumbling upon a nightmare beyond all imagining.
Behind the impenetrable walls of a black-op government laboratory a top-secret weapon is being developed-a genetically engineered animal with superhuman strength and speed. It thinks. It obeys. It kills without conscience.
And The Danger Is Real...
Lost-cause attorney Herman Strockmire and his daughter Susan are passionate advocates against corporate Goliaths. When one of their employees is literally torn limb from limb by one of the government's experimental prototypes, Herman knows he is onto something big.
Survival Is Not An Option.
Hired to dig deeper into the employee's death, jaded PI Jack Wirta is a man with little left to lose. Armed with nothing more than determination, Herman, Susan, and Jack plunge headlong into harm's way, stumbling upon a nightmare beyond all imagining.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published August 16, 2004
24 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
Stephen J. Cannell
68 books269 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 36 reviews
February 15, 2014
Great Characters, Giant Plot Holes
Published in 2003 by Sound Library (BBC Audiobooks America)
Read by Nick Sullivan
Unabridged
Duration: 11 hours, 47 minutes
Stephen J. Cannell (1941-2010) was best known as a television writer, producer and the creator of such classic shows as the A-Team , The Rockford Files and The Greatest American Hero . But, late in his career Cannell also wrote a lot of novels, mostly action-based mysteries (not all that surprising considering his history in television).
Runaway Heart is, in some ways, a typical Cannell story, but it does have some distinct differences. There are three main characters. The book starts with Herman Stockmire, an overweight, idealistic Los Angeles-based attorney with a bad heart (arrhythmia) who heads up a law firm called The Institute for Planetary Justice. Despite the big name, the Institute consists of Herman and his daughter Susan. Together, they go to court for all sorts of hopeless causes. They have sued mega-corporations, the CIA, the military and almost all for naught.
The story starts with a lawsuit over genetically modified crops and how they are affecting Monarch butterflies. Herman fares poorly in court (again) and is fined $1 million for wasting everyone's time in court. Of course, Herman and the Institute have no way to pay this off. This is typical of Cannell's TV shows - he loves to write about likable, idealistic losers with real faults.
But, in this case, Herman Stockmire is onto something...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2014/...
Published in 2003 by Sound Library (BBC Audiobooks America)
Read by Nick Sullivan
Unabridged
Duration: 11 hours, 47 minutes
Stephen J. Cannell (1941-2010) was best known as a television writer, producer and the creator of such classic shows as the A-Team , The Rockford Files and The Greatest American Hero . But, late in his career Cannell also wrote a lot of novels, mostly action-based mysteries (not all that surprising considering his history in television).
Runaway Heart is, in some ways, a typical Cannell story, but it does have some distinct differences. There are three main characters. The book starts with Herman Stockmire, an overweight, idealistic Los Angeles-based attorney with a bad heart (arrhythmia) who heads up a law firm called The Institute for Planetary Justice. Despite the big name, the Institute consists of Herman and his daughter Susan. Together, they go to court for all sorts of hopeless causes. They have sued mega-corporations, the CIA, the military and almost all for naught.
The story starts with a lawsuit over genetically modified crops and how they are affecting Monarch butterflies. Herman fares poorly in court (again) and is fined $1 million for wasting everyone's time in court. Of course, Herman and the Institute have no way to pay this off. This is typical of Cannell's TV shows - he loves to write about likable, idealistic losers with real faults.
But, in this case, Herman Stockmire is onto something...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2014/...
October 7, 2016
A conspiracy thriller about the usual evil corporation that is creating a supersoldier monster with genetic manipulation.
I had trouble getting into this one.
I had trouble getting into this one.
September 19, 2017
I think I missed something here. Pan got away so where did he go and what happened to him?
April 7, 2023
The story took a bit to get going. The second half was more interesting, almost as if he were writing and hoping for inspiration as the words hit the page.
The misogynistic point of view of many of the male characters was a bit off-putting and tiresome.
Here is a writer that was a wild success in the 70s in television. I loved Rockford Files as a kid and have caught myself watching an episode for nostalgia sake. Perhaps I liked James Garner’s interpretation of the character more than the writing… who knows. It’s eye opening to watch and see the attitudes that were accepted back then.
The end of this book was more compelling, if a bit far fetched. I can certainly see why he did so well in television.
The misogynistic point of view of many of the male characters was a bit off-putting and tiresome.
Here is a writer that was a wild success in the 70s in television. I loved Rockford Files as a kid and have caught myself watching an episode for nostalgia sake. Perhaps I liked James Garner’s interpretation of the character more than the writing… who knows. It’s eye opening to watch and see the attitudes that were accepted back then.
The end of this book was more compelling, if a bit far fetched. I can certainly see why he did so well in television.
June 7, 2018
I don't really remember this story I listened to as an audiobook back in 2004. I know it was set in California and that the subject was genetic manipulation. Here's the review I wrote back then:
A rollicking good story about environmentalist lawyer Herman Strockmeier, his daughter Susan, and the P.I. they hire, Jack Werta, is made even more delightful as Barbra Streisand's beachhouse, Ted Danson's fishing boat, and the real Donald Trump are called in to foil an evil government agency.
I now can't believe I wrote a sentence in which the words delightful and Trump were juxtaposed!
A rollicking good story about environmentalist lawyer Herman Strockmeier, his daughter Susan, and the P.I. they hire, Jack Werta, is made even more delightful as Barbra Streisand's beachhouse, Ted Danson's fishing boat, and the real Donald Trump are called in to foil an evil government agency.
I now can't believe I wrote a sentence in which the words delightful and Trump were juxtaposed!
June 4, 2019
I see the average rating for this book currently stands at almost exactly three-and-a-half stars -- which is exactly what I'd like to give it. Decent, not a complete waste of your time, but certainly not great.
May 26, 2019
Probably my least favorite Cannell novel. The abstract science and weak characters made this a 'less than fun' read. Love Cannell's works but this one was a flop for me.
June 9, 2019
I finished it. Lots of name dropping , even Donald made the book...omg, and he is a hero. LOL . Definitely not my favorite novel but then again an easy read.
May 17, 2020
Excellent writing, no obvious plot holes, engaging and believable cast. Kept me reading reading to the end and wanting more.
May 1, 2022
Read in 2003. Combines cutting edge biotechnology and action packed suspense.
April 2, 2023
All I can say is this is an oldie but a goodie.
June 27, 2025
Interesting, definitely disturbing (violence).
April 10, 2013
Once again, a big, far-fetched story by Cannell. This is why I continue to read his work. The stories are huge and impossibly improbable, but they're so much fun. I'm wondering if ever he will write me a book whose lead characters don't find romance and make love under the stars because they had finally found a reason to be something they weren't before. Blah, blah, blah. People who look good like to fuck each other. There doesn't have to be displaced romantic feelings and passionate embraces. Just let them fuck and be done with it. Not because someone needs to let go control of some part of his life. Whatever. These love scenes Cannell writes come in the mystery template he uses, and he only changes the names.
Other than that, I really didn't have that much problem with the book. Much better a story to support the same cause than Michael Crichton's Next. He actually built the characters up and gave you a story long before you saw the first product of trans-species genetic experimentation. And they were more well done I believe. Where Crichton's book read like a political rag, Cannell's reads like a drama. A thriller. Well done on this one, SC.
I wasn't as bothered this time by his overuse of the same phrases. His catch phrases seemed to keep to dialog, and his writing overall seems to have improved some. I'll give him a full extra star for that category here, over his last standalone novel.
Other than that, I really didn't have that much problem with the book. Much better a story to support the same cause than Michael Crichton's Next. He actually built the characters up and gave you a story long before you saw the first product of trans-species genetic experimentation. And they were more well done I believe. Where Crichton's book read like a political rag, Cannell's reads like a drama. A thriller. Well done on this one, SC.
I wasn't as bothered this time by his overuse of the same phrases. His catch phrases seemed to keep to dialog, and his writing overall seems to have improved some. I'll give him a full extra star for that category here, over his last standalone novel.
February 28, 2014
I chose this book because I recognized the author's name from the Rockford Files television show, which was a favorite of mine for the hip dialogue and quirky characters. This book brought it all back - the excitement, strong personalities and great dialogue. Sometimes I even laughed out loud. I'd forgotten fiction could be this much fun. Went back to the library and found that my branch has 5 more of Stephen Cannell's books on the shelves, so I'm going to try another. A side character in the Runaway Heart, Shane Scully, is the subject in a series of "Shane Scully" books.
July 24, 2011
Cannell becoming one of my favorite authors. Good descriptive prose both pithy and humorous.
This tale borders on - or is - science fiction. Lots of action and real Hollywood actors used as characters. Because Cannell is himself a Hollywood celebrity, I suspect a lot of the situations and scenes are true-to-life. Even "the Donald" makes a cameo...
This tale borders on - or is - science fiction. Lots of action and real Hollywood actors used as characters. Because Cannell is himself a Hollywood celebrity, I suspect a lot of the situations and scenes are true-to-life. Even "the Donald" makes a cameo...
March 16, 2009
Cartoon-caption writing disguised as a novel. Maybe it got better after 20 pages - I wouldn't know, as I couldn't cope with any more than that. It was a struggle to knock over that many.
Would have been impressive if it was a primary school essay, rather than a published book.
Would have been impressive if it was a primary school essay, rather than a published book.
Read
September 16, 2009Herman Strockmire sets an example other lawyers should emulate, he definitely isn't in it for the money. He is a champion of lost causes, unfortunately for us not many are willing to go after big brother or big business.
June 20, 2011
A very enjoyable book, likeable characters and an intriguing plotline (human-chimp hybrids being secretly developed by DARPA with extraordinary powers, to serve as army soldiers. Written in the same vein as the 'Castle' tv show.
August 3, 2011
this is not a Scully , but R says he is mentioned in it and ALexa, most of his stand alones are abridged at this point, hope with his death they will now make them available to us audiophiles in the unabrdiged format!!!! He says it's got Scully's old partner in it
gave-up
December 31, 2014The late Stephen J. Cannell was the author of 18 novels, most notably the 11 book series featuring LAPD Sgt Shane Scully. In the Runaway Heart he veers into the supernatural and, for me, pens his only unreadable work.
May 8, 2014
If you like stories about biological experiments gone awry, then this is a pretty good one. How far does one go to create a perfect soldier? This book leaves the reader thinking. Definitely held my attention.
Read
May 12, 2008I took a break as I had a difficult time getting into this book...
July 29, 2008
One of the funniest books I ever read.
February 7, 2009
The author has tightened up his writing a lot in the 4 years since this book was published.
Interesting take on the Evilness of DARPA.
Interesting take on the Evilness of DARPA.
December 28, 2010
Thumbs down! I read 60 pages, scanned more. Can't finish.
February 25, 2011
Don't bother even if bored.
September 21, 2014
Interesting characterization and plot, but sex, foul language, and predictability abound
July 30, 2011
Scary that there could be half-robert soldiers. Cool story.
June 1, 2012
I listened to this on the way to and from visiting family. Far fetched, entertaining and the miles sped by.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews