Vertical Coffin: A Shane Scully Novel

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.

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.

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.

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!!

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

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.

I'm reading the Shane Scully series in sequence so the character and relationship progress is enjoyable. Otherwise, too often I found myself bored and found the story dragging. Not what I'm used to from this acclaimed author.

Weak by comparison.

Several of the scenes showing Scully's softer side... his growing affection and relationship with his son and his continued admiration and respect for Alexa.

Not sure as it would depend on the storyline.

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

None really.

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

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

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.

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.

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.