Author Stephen J. Cannell is probably better known for the many TV shows he’s created and produced including The A-Team, The Rockford Files, and 21 Jump Street. It’s a reasonable assumption that he is drawing on his extensive knowledge of the Hollywood film industry. Those scenes involving film production and personalities are either very satirical or – heaven help us – there are some seriously twisted people making movies these days! Either way, the manner in which Shane gets caught up in the frenzy of movie pre-production provides a wealth of comic relief.

The mystery has two threads. In the first, when a major street gang leader is assassinated, Alexa fears that the level of gang warfare between the Crips and the Bloods is going to escalate plus an Hispanic gang seems to be involved. Chooch had been entangled with the Hispanic gang, but his “big brother” Amac had been instrumental in freeing Chooch from a lifetime commitment to the gang. Chooch, who is half-Hispanic, has not completely severed the connection. When his girlfriend, Amac’s second cousin, disappears, Cooch goes looking for her leaving his worried parents behind.

The second thread involves an attempt by a New Jersey crime family to take over film craft unions. Shane stumbles on this plot only by accident. A confidential informant of his, Nicky Marcella, shows up unexpectedly at a party given by Farrell Champion, a high-profile director. Shane and Alexa are invited because Alexa is a long-time friend of Nora who’s engaged to Farrell. Nicky claims to be the owner of a small production company. He asks Shane to find the current address of Carol White, an old friend who would be perfect for a role in the movie he’s presently casting. At the same party, Shane overhears Farrell make a comment that raises his suspicions. When Carol turns up brutally murdered, Shane learns that Nicky was acting for “Champagne” Dennis Valentine. In order to stop the take-over plot, Shane proposes the LAPD run a sting. In association with Nicky’s production company, they will pretend to be producing a film. But soon the film production spins out of control, and people and things are not what they seem.

Shane Scully has been established in the previous books as a police detective of solid moral fiber in a frequently immoral world. His character hasn’t changed in Hollywood Tough, but the changes in his personal life – marriage and fatherhood – have had an impact on his personality. The former tough guy now has a soft core capable of being touched by a heroin-addict hooker who was once the prettiest girl in Teaneck, New Jersey.

It’s not necessary to have read the previous books to understand the plot, but the background of Shane Scully adds dimension to his character. He is still the focus of the book; Alexa and Chooch have lesser roles and are even missing in action several times over the course of the plot.

The story has enough plots and subplots for several books. The solution to the whodunit is highly improbable and the ending has distinct deus ex machina overtones, but readers who enjoy a rollicking good tale along with their police procedural mystery are likely to relish Hollywood Tough.

A new Shane Scully book is being published in January. I, for one, will be looking forward to it. This is a mystery series I can strongly recommend.

--Lesley Dunlap