Three Shirt Deal

Shane Scully #7

by Stephen J. Cannell

LAPD detective Shane Scully has been struggling in his personal life ever since his wife, Alexa, the department's chief of the detective's bureau, was shot in the head and developed erratic mood swings. Secada Llevar, a sexy investigating officer for internal affairs, corners Scully and demands his help in reopening a homicide; she believes Tru Hickman, convicted of killing his mother to support a meth habit, was railroaded by some corrupt cops, but she has been ordered by her superiors to drop her inquiry. Scully joins her probe and uncovers high-level corruption, possibly connected with an impending mayoral election, while struggling with his attraction to Secada.

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

8 pages, Audio CD

First published January 15, 2008

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

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is exactly what I expect from a Shane Scully book. I liked the ending where they decide it wasn't about Tru, it was about them and their principles :)

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cannell puts together a good book. Crooked politicians and cops, entitled young rich men, nasty gang bangers against a cop who pushes the rules to get the bad guys. Throw in a couple of smart, beautiful women who help Detective Shane Scully catch the bad guys and you’ve book a good read. Couple it with snappy dialog and plot that has some twists and turns and you’ve got a page turner.

If you like police stories you should put this on your reading list.

[Davehk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This guy is my New Favorite Author -for how long we'll see.

If you like Robert Crais, Jack Reacher or Bernie the burglarizing book dealer, you'll like this author too.

Set in LA - it's VERY much like Elvis's character from M. Crais.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usual Shane running amuck with the rules. Good read.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good entry in the Shane Scully series.

In the last book, which I haven't read, Scully's wife got shot in the head, and hasn't fully recovered. A good looking policewoman asks Scully to look into whether a guy was framed into prison by the cops. He agrees, and is immediately sucked into a much bigger, more dangerous case than he anticipated. And then he has a stroke.

Pretty good, but the stroke doesn't seem to have all that much affect on Scully, which doesn't seem realistic to me. Nobody is tougher than a stroke.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

While there is a bit too much interplay between husband and wife in the novel in my opinion, it’s still a good Cannell novel. 8 of 10 stars

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. Fun read

[Tracie Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS:
Print: 1/15/2008; St. Martin's Press, First Edition; ISBN 978-0312366278; 336 pages.
Audio: 5/13/2008; Brilliance Audio; ISBN; Duration 9:33:00; Unabridged
Feature Film or tv: Not that I know of.
Series: Shane Scully book 7

Major characters:
Shane Scully--LAPD
Alexandra (Alexa) Scully—LAPD
Chooch—Shane’s son, Alexa’s step-son
Secada (Scout) Llevar – An Internal Affairs detective
Truit Hickman – An addict and small-time criminal

SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
My husband and I enjoyed this 7th book in the Shane Scully series where an internal affairs detective tries to recruit Shane to assist in an investigation of an incarceration that looks all wrong, in the hopes that Shane can, in turn, recruit his wife to pull strings and assist with the problem of the detective’s boss having called her off the case. Alexa has her own problems and has no interest—in fact she continually rebukes Shane for his growing interest in the case. Brain injuries, politics and criminals always make for intrigue.

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.”
This book merits my reading the entire series. 😊

NARRATOR:
Scott Brick. (January/30/1966).
Sn excerpt from IMDB:
“Actor, screenwriter and audiobook narrator Scott Brick definitely gives new meaning to a hyphenate career with credits in film, television, stage and radio. Born on January 30, 1966 in Santa Barbara, California, Brick studied both acting and writing at UCLA, and joined the ranks of working professionals upon leaving school in 1989.”
Scott’s “and THEN, would you believe . . .” edgy tone is perfect for this series.

GENRE:
Fiction, Mystery, thriller, crime, police procedure, suspense

LOCATIONS:
Los Angeles, Venice Beach

TIME FRAME:
contemporary

SUBJECTS:
Drugs, corruption, gangs, incarceration, brain injury

DEDICATION:
"This one's for my two girls.
Tawnia, you always see the truth and show me how to succeed with grace. You have enriched my life in so many untold ways.
Chelsea, you put a smile on my face, keep me young, and with your generosity show me how to be a better friend.
No father has ever had two more beautiful daughters. I love you guys."

SAMPLE QUOTATION:
From Chapter 1:
"Let's talk about the meds you found yesterday."
"I found them in her purse. She'd peeled the label off the bottle so I wouldn't know the doctor or what they were for. I had the police labe identify them. The results came back this morning. Carbamazepine and Sodium valporate."
"Do you know what those are commonly prescribed for?"
"According to the labe, they're for seizures."
He nodded. "Has your wife been having seizures?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen one, but if Alexa was taking this stuff, maybe. She stopped driving her car last week. She gets picked up and brought home by a department driver now. I was hoping she'd tell me on her own what's going on. So far she hasn't."
"Your wife was abducted last July and suffered a gunshot wound to the head resulting in a severe traumatic brain injury. That was less than eleven months ago. TBI seizures often crop up months afterward and can continue for years. And you say she's already back to work?"
"She had a lot of stuff pending. It's a big job. She supervises two hundred people."

RATING:
4 stars. I’m attached to these characters now.

STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
12-19-2021 to 12-27-2021

[Tina Cauthorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny story, I discovered Stephen Cannell from watching the TV show, “Castle”. He was one of Castle’s poker buddies. Since I enjoy reading books by his other poker buddies, James Patterson and Michael Connelly, I tried the Shane Scully books. I’ve enjoyed them. This book had some great twists and turns. A creative story line. I always like the interaction between Shane and his wife, Alexa. This book included a lot of the challenges in a marriage two police officers.

[Mark Giordano · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting story from Stephen J. Cannell. It took a while before the reason for the title was revealed but it was a good story about politics, corruption and doing what's right even when you're being told not to. A couple of interesting plot twists and something you can easily read on a long flight.

[Rob Paczkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started typical... kinda drugs, gangs, murder... then it gets a twist and then the "fun" starts and it moves along well. The side story of husband and wife intertwined with the story well and there is satisfactory "closure" to not have to continue the series to to get questions answered.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great crime story. I liked the way the author unfolded it to us bit by bit as if we were the detectives. Highly recommend!

[Andrew Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable read. Have not read Cannell in a while but will get back to him.

[Hazel Bright · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best one in the series so far. Tru is an interesting character, and the mystery is well-done.

[Naima Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one!
I LOVE how consistent he is!
On to the next!

[Susan Dennis]

This is one of the best of this Shane Scully series. It's a good read with a very good story.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 2008. Crooked politicians, entitled cops and nasty gang bangers.

[Joanne Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the main characters. The story was a bit hard to believe in parts but it was a fun read.

[Grace Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book on audio

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery, great action.

[Dav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three Shirt Deal (#7) A Shane Scully Detective Series by Stephen J. Cannell

"Shirt" is a euphemism for kill. Truit, a victimized drug addict goes to prison for killing his mom. Internal Affairs IA officer, Ms. Scout gets a letter from Truitt & a little checking of the facts show a frame up and corruption involving the DA who's a mayoral candidate, a local gang, the son of a rich attorney and a rogue cop.

Scout is helped out by detective Shane. Then they're ordered to drop it, when they don't, an attempt on their life lands Scout in the hospital. Shane continue the investigation with the help of his wife/ex-boss Alexa.

Gangster Church has the brewery employee, Wade find out where the Bud Light million-dollar bottle will be sold. Drug addict Truit is hired to buy the winning bottle, since he's a stoner they'll steal the prize from him. When Truit's mom interferes they kill her & frame Truit. After killing the prize official they list the corrupt DA as the winner. Church uses the money to bolster his business, including a private Transit Police Service. His little band of criminals are now official cops & qualify for 15 million dollars in federal aid.

Detective Shane knows all this, but can't prove it. One of Church's private cops again trys to kill Shane & Alexa kills the assassin/cop. With this evidence they could force Church to sell out the lawyer & the DA. But, in exchange for leniency for his son, the lawyer agrees to help convict Church & the DA. The wealthy lawyer brings his son out of hiding in Cuba to testify.

... not a bad story for a crime drama, but after a couple of years, completely forgettable.






Series list
1 The Tin Collectors

2 The Viking Funeral

3 Hollywood Tough

4 Vertical Coffin

5 Cold Hit

6 White Sister

7 Three Shirt Deal

8 On the Grind

9 The Pallbearers

10 The Prostitutes' Ball

11 Vigilante

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am currently reading Three Shirt Deal by Stephen Cannell.

Three Shirt Deal
Stephen Cannell
Thriller
322 pages
COPYRIGHT: 2008
ISBN: 978-0-312-36627-8

Truit Hickman is a small-time crook doing life in California's notoriously brutal Corcoran State Prison for the murder of his mother. He admitted to the crime, but now Hickman claims his confession was coerced by the cops. A beautiful Internal Affairs detective, Secada "Scout" Llevar, asks Shane to help investigate, and he agrees after learning the original homicide detective was Brian Devine, a ruthless cop with whom Scully has a bad history.

What begins as a routine review quickly turns into something much more deadly. The case is abruptly shut down by an LAPD deputy chief, and Shane begins to suspect that for unknown reasons Hickman really may have been framed by the police. But some things, once started, cannot be stopped, and the investigation spirals dangerously out of control, implicating a violent Hispanic gang, a millionaire power broker, and the front-runner in the Los Angeles mayoral race.

Meanwhile, Shane and Alexa struggle to save their marriage, which has come perilously close to disintegration since Alexa's near-fatal shooting in White Sister - just as Shane finds himself attracted to his new partner. Could the answer to their marital troubles be tied to the case he's investigating? In Cannell's heart-pounding thriller, Shane is tried in ways he has never been, risking his family, his job, and his life.

[Zeal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its been more than a year since I read 'Seven Ancient Wonders', and I resisted reading this book for so long for two reasons: First, because I wanted to save the book for as long as possible, and second, because I thought Seven Ancient Wonders was the best book ever and nothing could top it. I was very wrong. I had hoped that 'The Six Sacred Stones' would be better, and I thought that it would be very good, but I knew that nothing be better than 'Seven Ancient Wonders'. So when I came to reading 'The Six Sacred Stones', I was positively shocked.

'Seven Ancient Wonders' was amazing: it was epic. But somehow, Matthew Reilly managed to make 'The Six Sacred Stones' even more amazing and more epic. The story was competely unpredictable, written flawlessly, designed to keep me hooked, even when I was not reading it. The characters were develo

ped so well that readers were left sympathising and caring about them, loving their friends and hating their enemies. The thrills were shocking, the action sequences incredible, the details precise, and the overall story extremely enjoyable. There was never any room for boredom, and it was torture to stop myself from reading it all at once.

The only problem with 'The Six Sacred Stones': the book ended. I just wish Six Sacred Stones would go on forever. But I hear that 'The Five Greatest Warriors' might be even better, if that's possible...
In 'The Six Sacred Stones', Matthew Reilly's genius has been proven once again. If Shelfari allowed me more stars, I would rate this book 25 stars out of 5.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

LAPD Detective Shane Scully is asked for help by (the very beautiful) IA detective Secada “Scout” Llevar, who is investigating a case where a young man’s confession was alledgedly coerced by the cops and pled out by the soon-to-be Mayor Deputy DA. But the case runs deep, threatening the careers of both Scully and Scout and also Shane’s wife, as it takes in a violent Hispanic gang, a bad cop and the millionaire son of a high powered lawyer. I’ve never read anything by Cannell before (though the man helped shape my childhood and teen viewing), but I’m very keen to pick up the rest of the Scully series now. Filling the story with plenty of character work (Scully’s wife Alexa was shot in the head in a previous novel and this time, he has to deal with her mood changes and dislocation from reality, which ties in with his attraction to Scout), good use of locations and enough abbreviations to assume that there was plenty of research, this crackles along. The characters are very human - the results of the beating Scully goes through stays with him and the denouement, where he realises someone can’t change their perception of life, is touchingly done - and you feel for them all. The book is punchy and amusing, violent and fast paced, with each piece of the puzzle slotting in perfectly as it goes (and when the title is explained, that makes perfect sense too).A great read, a real page turner, I highly recommend this.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

its about a cop, this is a series, his wife is the chief of police or something. she got shot in the head in a previous book. her personality has changed, they relieved her of her duties, she wasnt the same when she came back to work

her husband gets mixed up with a good looking other cop (no cheating) investagating a old crime where a boy was put away for life for killing his mother. only he didnt kill her, he was so tweaked out on drugs he confessed but he didnt do it

the bad guys that did it had somethign to do with winning a million dollars off a 6 pack of bud light, homeland security for buses in a car repair place. very confusing. the cop figured it out, but not before he got kidnapped by the gang of car repair guys who took him to magic mountain to throw him off the collasis roller coaster (which richard on martello built!). thats where i left off this morning, going to hopefully finish it at lunch when his wife or someone comes to save him at the last minute.

finished it at lunch today his wife came in at the last minute and saved him by shooting one of the bad guys. he got the rich lawyer to give up his son who was hiding in cuba, i doubt that would happen, he will never last in teh prison. they got the wrong stupid guy out of prision, the same day hes back in jail for having a needle on him, some people never learn.

[David Hibberd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this story reminds me of eating a Tootsie Pop, you do a lot of licking before you reach the prize in the center. Shane Scully is asked to look into a murder case where the suspect confessed but now claims he didn't do it. After meeting with the convicted murderer, Scully is convinced that he didn't commit the crime. He begins looking into the crime. The more he and an Internal Affairs detective, "Scout" Llevar investigate possible suspects and motives, the more complicated the case becomes. As they get closer to discovering the truth and go against the orders of their department superiors, the more dangerous things become. Both Scully and Scout come close to dying in a shooting attempt on their lives. A second attempt on Scully's life happens before the case is finally solved. Because they are investigating a violent Van Nuys gang, there is an abundance of profanities. Were it not for that, I would have given this four stars.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

As one might expect from one of television's top producers, Stephen J. Cannell writes another solid installment in his series about LAPD detective Shane Scully. He's on familiar territory here, dealing with the same themes of police and government corruption we've seen in earlier novels, but the actual plot is clever, twisty, and unpredictable.

Even better he redeems the ending of the previous book, White Sister, which ended a little too happily with Scully's wife, Alexa, seeming to miraculously recover from a gunshot to the head. As this book shows, her recovery isn't anywhere near as smooth and miraculous as it seemed, and watching the two of them find their way back to each other provides half of the enjoyment.

Looking forward to Cannell's next novel--a standalone--and to future installments in this series.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like a roller-coaster. Do you remember how there is the slow click-click-click pull up the highest peak then fast and scary till the end? The action in this book is the same. You are wondering if it will ever get started and then it's 3am and you can't pull your hands off long enough to lay the book down even though if it were a week-day night you would have to get up in two hours to get ready for work. I did manage to put a marker in the book at chapter 40 last night. That was when I decided this book was like a roller-coaster. Before I discovered a real roller-coaster in chapter 51 tonight. I finished the ride a few minutes ago. If you like cops and crime, mysteries and lawyers you should pick up this one. It is good. Way to go Mr. Cannell! My first 'Scully' won't be my last.

[Merry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Shane Scully read only this time, the perfect wife (Alexa) is having problems at work because of the head trauma suffered in an earlier book. It's a nice role-reversal with Shane having to be the careful one and his wife, the reckless one, for a change. The book starts by laying out the problem and the pace never lets up. While not my favorite Shane Scully book, I'd give it a 4.5 for well thought out plotting and keeping my interest all the way to the end.

Merged review:

Informative and entertaining, this Shane Scully mystery was a nice change of pace with Shane's wife, Alexa, in the role of risk-taker (a role usually attributed to Scully). Well-plotted in typical Cannell fashion, but there was just something missing.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I learned from this book is that all orphans make great fictional detectives who rarely follow the rules in their quest to undo the deeds of sloppy police work. That, and the detectives have gorgeous Amazons throwing themselves at their feet when the reader learns that there is a cuddly, sensitive teddybear beneath the hard brittle exterior the policeman shows the world.

Beneath all the stereotypes from Lethal Weapon, etc., Cannell shows that he can write a captivating tale full of puzzling clues. The author creates a hyperbolic hero that the general public adores and tells tales that can keep a readers interest--which is why he has created so many television series.