Stephen J. Cannell, White Sister

White Sister

Stephen J. Cannell

St. Martin's, Aug 2006, $24.95

ISBN 0312347316

LAPD detective Shane Scully and his wife Alexa plan to meet in one hour. However, while he arrives at their rendezvous spot, she never makes it. Concerned as she would have told him if something came up, Shane is called to the crime scene of an executed African-American gangbanger found dead in Alexa's car with her gun nearby. Alexa is soon also found shot in the head, barely alive.

Regardless of law and police procedures including vested interest, Scully needs action while he prays for his beloved spouse. He investigates the homicide and her shooting, which leads to rap music. He quickly realizes that gangsta rap is fairy tales for children compared to the executive wars especially Lou and Stacy Maluga. She, known as "the white sister", can destroy a person legally through the law and media or illegally through a hit. If Scully gets to close she will use all her lethal weapons as blood on her hands make her even more ambitiously and deadly; Shane needs to bring her down using her methods, at least the illegal ones.

Scully is not just over the top in this exciting crime thriller, he is over Mount Everest as he is a bit (make that humongous) unhinged by what happened to Alexa. The story line is speed of light action that never decelerates until the final climax. Fans will put on their seat belts and crash helmets as they ride alongside an avenging Scully, who adds humor when he turns occasionally sensitive and mellow. Stephen J. Cannell writes a fun out of control High Noon tale.

Harriet Klausner