• Vertical Coffin

  • A Shane Scully Novel
  • By: Stephen J. Cannell
  • Narrated by: Scott Brick
  • Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (377 ratings)

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Vertical Coffin  By  cover art

Vertical Coffin

By: Stephen J. Cannell
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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Publisher's summary

In Shane Scully's most terrifying case to date, two elite SWAT units from the L.A. Sheriff's Department and the ATF appear to be engaged in a deadly midnight war. Officers from both agencies are being sniped at and murdered in vertical coffins. As the violence escalates, the mayor directs the LAPD, the only uninvolved and unbiased law enforcement agency, to investigate. Shane's wife, Alexa, under orders from Chief Tony Filosiani, assigns him to the case.

Almost immediately, Scully is thrust into a nightmare of police intrigue and finds himself with no friends in law enforcement, isolated in a lethal no-man's-land between two warring agencies. In a plot full of twists and thrills, where nothing is as it appears, Shane puts himself and his loved ones in terrible jeopardy before finally discovering the shocking and deadly truth.

Don't miss other titles in the Shane Scully series.
©2004 Stephen J. Cannell (P)2004 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC

Critic reviews

"Adept characterization, sharp dialogue, breakneck plotting, and great entertainment value." (Booklist)
"Scully has ample opportunity to prove how 'Hollywood tough' he is...veteran writer/TV producer Cannell has concocted his special brand of reader candy." (Kirkus)

What listeners say about Vertical Coffin

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Thrill To The Last Minute

This is my second download from audible, first being Paranoia by Joseph Finder. The reader reviews helped me pick another winner. Great story with a strong suspenseful ending! The author did a very nice job at slowing disclosing the riddle without exposing the villain until the end. Didn't want to stop listening and once again Scott Brick did a great narration.

I actually picked this audio book based partially on the narrator. Scott did a superb reading with Paranoia by Joseph Finder and did a nice job with Vertical Coffin. If you are remotely interested in SWAT or police investigations you will thoroughly enjoy this book.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Great detective story

In the same style as Michael Connerlly, this book shows a detective thinking through and solving a case, along with the emotions and thinking typical of many cops. He also includes information on crime solving designed to educate the reader...a plus.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting Listen

He kept me guessing right up to the last hour. Definitely worth the listen. He does a good job building the characters up and getting you to vest an interest. Good read.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

What a disappointing plot!

Based on reviews, I decided to give Cannell a try. The writing is good, and the plot pulls you in. The primary characters are interesting. The narration is excellent. However, there comes a point where the reason for the villain's problems with gender identity is revealed, after which the story just goes downhill. The plot turns ludicrous and asks the reader to believe ever more incredible developments. Bizarre characters appear out of nowhere, topped off by an anti-hero, a former Vietnam army medic. Toward the end, I felt as if the book had turned into a comic strip, a kind of parody of the genre.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Good solid cop story

Being an retired cop and a former Homicide investigator, the story was one that held my interest and made me want to forget everything else and listen. The ending seemed a bit chopped off, but overall a fantastic listen that I would recomend to all.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

TV Show.

Would you listen to Vertical Coffin again? Why?

No. It's like watching re-runs of a cop show.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Vertical Coffin?

None really.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Brick is a pro. He does the characters well but I cannot listen to him back to back.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It's like watching a typical TV Cop Show. Interesting, due to Brick, but not memorable.

Any additional comments?

I find it amazing how succesful writers can get so much of the technical details wrong. Cars, guns, etc. Check the facts before you write it!

Why is it that all of the characters have money from somewhere? That's NOT real life.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Moderately entertaining

It probably took Stephen J. Cannell a very short time to write this book and, unfortunately, it shows. It got me interested from the beginning, but then it rapidly coasted down. The story itself isn't bad, but it's quite predictable, full of useless details, very winding, fast-paced then suddenly slows down. There are very interesting moments, but the author did not milk them for what they were worth. Overall, an entertaining book in the action-thriller cop genre. But in that section, there are many other interesting alternatives. If you haven't read every single Connelly, then I suggest you head that way first.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Not very good!

If it were not for Scott Brick, I'd have tossed this after the first hour, but he does such a good job I hung with it, even after the most implausible plot twist ever written. Without giving any thing away, the protaganist has his female partner turn off her cell phone so she wouldn't get calls from "the bosses" this has unfortunate consequences. Hello, had neither of these geniuses heard of Caller ID...don't answer the phone and the caller's name flashes up, duh!

This happened mid way through the book and I couldn't get over it. In general, the book is overly long, full of other dumb stuff and well, not very good.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Better Then Expected!

I loved this book! Filled with twists and turns it kept me on my toes trying to pick up the clues before Scully did.....I have become a huge fan of Scott Brick and actually look for books he has narrated.....he is the best! I hope Stephen Cannell is busy on another "Scully" novel....If Scott Brick narrates I'm buying!!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Very good !

The characters are well developed and the story never gets boring. You won't be disappointed if you like detective stories and suspense.

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1 person found this helpful