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Whenever I read a book by Stephen Cannell I stop to marvel at what a man, handicapped by dyslexia, can nevertheless accomplish as a writer. He must have had the most tremendous drive as a young person not to be daunted by his inability to read quickly or, for that matter, to write speedily and accurately, yet to become the prolific writer he is today. It was only when he had his daughter tested in order to discover what fault plagued her progress that he discovered their shared disability. Cannell is an Emmy Award author yet did not turn to penning books until he had been writing for television for decades. Amongst his credits are The Rockford Files, The A-Team, 21 Jump Street, The Commish, Wiseguy and a particular favourite of mine, The Greatest American Hero. In 1995, Cannell saw his first novel The Plan, a political thriller, released. Thereafter he wrote Final Victim, King Con, Riding the Snake and The Devil's Workshop. Following these books, and aiming at completing a book a year, the author produced the first of the adventures of Shane Scully of the LAPD, The Tin Collectors. He followed that with The Viking Funeral and now the third in the series, Hollywood Tough. The book opens with Scully and his new wife, his superior officer Alexa, attending a Hollywood party celebrating the engagement of Alexa's friend Nora to newly famous Hollywood producer Farrell Champion. Shane becomes disturbed when he overhears a careless remark from the prospective groom implying he has murdered two former wives. Add to the mix a former associate of Scully's son Chooch, gangster American Macado, star obsessed Mafioso Dennis Valentine, grifter and sometime police informant Nicky Marcella and Scully discovers he has a combustible combination. He feels guilt when a prostitute is murdered as his actions have contributed to the death. An aggregation of circumstances sees Scully involve the LAPD in a multi-million dollar losing movie deal which causes him to lose the approval of Chief Filosiani of the LAPD, the so-called Day-Glo Dago. Scully finds himself aiding his wife in one of her cases as well as attempting to solve problems of his own. As usual, both main protagonists are put in great physical danger and endure many perilous adventures. Mr. Cannell is reported to plan every aspect of his novels before he ever begins writing them, and it shows. Unlike others of his contemporaries this author does not wander down by-ways which may take his interest on one day and lose it on the next. He is one who makes every word count - although some of his words, being in the nature of patois, may be incomprehensible to some of his readers. Scully's dilemmas become very real to the reader as the sergeant seeks to balance respect for his wife as his lieutenant against the actions he must pursue in order to help his dearly loved son. The whole is an interesting and chill provoking read. I would not be averse to reading more of the adventures of Shane Scully Note: This review is based on the Australian edition released by Allen & Unwin  on February 7 2003 at $Au29.95
Reviewed by Denise Wels, February 2003
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