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Shane Scully #1
The Tin Collectors
The bestselling novelist and award-winning Hollywood producer weaves a high-tension novel of suspense around a chilling conspiracy of corruption within the LAPD, reminiscent of the classic movie "Chinatown."
Inside the department, they're called Tin Collectors: Internal Affairs Agents, the police of the police. If they catch you breaking the rules, they'll come after your badge. If they want you badly enough, they'll collect more than just your tin.
LAPD Detective Shane Scully is startled awake in the middle of the night by a call from his ex-partner's wife, who is being beaten by her abusive husband. Racing to their house to stop the fight, Scully ends up killing his ex-partner, a cop who is beloved within the department. Suddenly, Scully finds himself an outcast, shunned by his fellow cops who intend to exact vengeance no matter what the cost. Internal Affairs zeroes in on the "renegade" cop with their sharpest young prosecutor, the ice queen Alexa Hamilton, who has her own reasons for taking revenge on Scully.
Desperate to save his career, Scully starts kicking over rocks within the LAPD. What he uncovers is pure evil: a conspiracy going to the very top that ultimately threatens not just his own life but that of a young teenage boy, Chooch, entrusted to Scully's care by his mother - Sandy Sandoval. Known as the Black Widow, Sandy is a beautiful and courageous woman who also happens to be the LAPD's most important undercover informant, and Scully will do anything to keep her son safe. Stephen J. Cannell combines mystery and violence, loyalty and passion in a tale with an ending as unpredictable as LA itself.
Inside the department, they're called Tin Collectors: Internal Affairs Agents, the police of the police. If they catch you breaking the rules, they'll come after your badge. If they want you badly enough, they'll collect more than just your tin.
LAPD Detective Shane Scully is startled awake in the middle of the night by a call from his ex-partner's wife, who is being beaten by her abusive husband. Racing to their house to stop the fight, Scully ends up killing his ex-partner, a cop who is beloved within the department. Suddenly, Scully finds himself an outcast, shunned by his fellow cops who intend to exact vengeance no matter what the cost. Internal Affairs zeroes in on the "renegade" cop with their sharpest young prosecutor, the ice queen Alexa Hamilton, who has her own reasons for taking revenge on Scully.
Desperate to save his career, Scully starts kicking over rocks within the LAPD. What he uncovers is pure evil: a conspiracy going to the very top that ultimately threatens not just his own life but that of a young teenage boy, Chooch, entrusted to Scully's care by his mother - Sandy Sandoval. Known as the Black Widow, Sandy is a beautiful and courageous woman who also happens to be the LAPD's most important undercover informant, and Scully will do anything to keep her son safe. Stephen J. Cannell combines mystery and violence, loyalty and passion in a tale with an ending as unpredictable as LA itself.
370 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
115 people are currently reading
2896 people want to read
About the author
Stephen J. Cannell
68 books268 followersStephen J. Cannell was an American television producer, writer, novelist, and occasional actor, and the founder of Cannell Entertainment (formerly Stephen J. Cannell Productions) and the Cannell Studios.
Cannell created or co-created several successful TV series from the 1970s to the 1990s. Creations included The Rockford Files, The A-Team, The Greatest American Hero, 21 Jump Street, and The Commish. He was an Emmy winner and was awarded The Eye - Lifetime Achievement Award by the Private Eye Writers of America.
Cannell created or co-created several successful TV series from the 1970s to the 1990s. Creations included The Rockford Files, The A-Team, The Greatest American Hero, 21 Jump Street, and The Commish. He was an Emmy winner and was awarded The Eye - Lifetime Achievement Award by the Private Eye Writers of America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
February 11, 2015
I had some ups & downs with this. Overall, it was a pretty thrilling, well done suspense novel & well read, too. The story started with a bang & there were plenty of interesting twists & turns all the way through. While there was some hyperbole, nothing too far out of bounds. The characters were well drawn, too. On top of that, there were several different threads running through the story that added a lot. IOW, Scully had a real life to juggle as one of the worst couple of weeks of his life plowed on like a train wreck.
He also used a wonderful device of having Scully write letters to his father. That could have gone either way, but I really liked it. A lot of internal thought was summed up or put into perspective that way & it eventually added more to the twist. He handled guns very well & believably. That's a real plus, something to be cherished these days.
Looking back over what I just wrote, you'd think it was a 4 star read. It could have been. It had the makings, but a couple of things really bugged me & I almost dropped it about 1/4 of the way in. Motivations & actions weren't always all they could have been. Some happened just because the story needed them to while I wondered why they didn't do something else. It didn't happen a lot & was forgivable. Still, with all the explanation most actions received, it felt like cheating.
Worse (possibly made much worse by this being an audio book) the author pads the story with extraneous details. I HATE that. I'm a real fan of tight writing. For instance, he tossed random street names & directions into a journey that served no purpose. I kept wondering what the significance of some of them were, but there was none. They weren't well known roads & they weren't even mentioned later on in the story when the action came back to that area.
Trips also had a bit of revealing dialog & then "... they said nothing for the rest of the trip." even though it was hours long. Picky? It is, but it's not believable, makes them seem shallow. I'd rather he left my imagination free to imagine small talk as most people would have indulged in.
In some ways, it read like a first novel, although I think it is his 6th. Overall, I'll give it a solid 3 stars & might rate the next one higher since a lot of the background has now been filled in for this series. I'm definitely going to check out the next one.
He also used a wonderful device of having Scully write letters to his father. That could have gone either way, but I really liked it. A lot of internal thought was summed up or put into perspective that way & it eventually added more to the twist. He handled guns very well & believably. That's a real plus, something to be cherished these days.
Looking back over what I just wrote, you'd think it was a 4 star read. It could have been. It had the makings, but a couple of things really bugged me & I almost dropped it about 1/4 of the way in. Motivations & actions weren't always all they could have been. Some happened just because the story needed them to while I wondered why they didn't do something else. It didn't happen a lot & was forgivable. Still, with all the explanation most actions received, it felt like cheating.
Worse (possibly made much worse by this being an audio book) the author pads the story with extraneous details. I HATE that. I'm a real fan of tight writing. For instance, he tossed random street names & directions into a journey that served no purpose. I kept wondering what the significance of some of them were, but there was none. They weren't well known roads & they weren't even mentioned later on in the story when the action came back to that area.
Trips also had a bit of revealing dialog & then "... they said nothing for the rest of the trip." even though it was hours long. Picky? It is, but it's not believable, makes them seem shallow. I'd rather he left my imagination free to imagine small talk as most people would have indulged in.
In some ways, it read like a first novel, although I think it is his 6th. Overall, I'll give it a solid 3 stars & might rate the next one higher since a lot of the background has now been filled in for this series. I'm definitely going to check out the next one.
July 17, 2016
This first installment in the Shane Scully books captivated me from the first page. It’s undeniable that this author has the talent and the experience to capture the reader’s attention from the very first words on the page. From what I’ve read, Stephen J. Cannell, was a master story writer and successful screen-writer for many years.
In the Tin Collectors, we get to know LAPD Sergeant Shane Scully, who finds himself in a big mess after responding to a domestic disturbance, during his personal time, and ending up killing his ex-partner in self defense. It doesn’t take long for Scully to realize he’s being punished, if not set up because of his actions. It will take him courage and determination to get to the bottom of what is happening around him because of his actions.
I absolutely enjoyed this read. Admittedly, it doesn't provide the wonderful depth and wealth an Harry Bosch book does - in this genre Connelly is the best - but still, it has a great pace (and actions scenes), but also moments of self-reflection. I especially appreciated the letters Scully wrote to his father. A man he never knew. I can’t wait to see if the next book is as thrilling.
In the Tin Collectors, we get to know LAPD Sergeant Shane Scully, who finds himself in a big mess after responding to a domestic disturbance, during his personal time, and ending up killing his ex-partner in self defense. It doesn’t take long for Scully to realize he’s being punished, if not set up because of his actions. It will take him courage and determination to get to the bottom of what is happening around him because of his actions.
I absolutely enjoyed this read. Admittedly, it doesn't provide the wonderful depth and wealth an Harry Bosch book does - in this genre Connelly is the best - but still, it has a great pace (and actions scenes), but also moments of self-reflection. I especially appreciated the letters Scully wrote to his father. A man he never knew. I can’t wait to see if the next book is as thrilling.
May 19, 2012
Fun and action packed. No, it's not great literature, but is that really what you were hoping for from the creator of the A-Team? Anyway, the story is solid, the main character is great, and you can't help but love Cannell's overuse of jargon-laden "cop talk." Very fast-paced, and Cannell strikes up a great balance between the mystery and the action.
August 17, 2022
This was sooo good! Shane Scully reminds me of Harry Bosch from Michael Connellys novels. This has it all from shootouts, kidnappings, corrupt cops, corrupt officals, prostitution and blackmail. Its not all just action either the softer moments Scully has with a teenager he is looking after and the ways he goes about his investigation make this a sharply paced and edge of your seat thriller. Ive just ordered the next three books in the series.
September 10, 2011
I came across a reference to "The Tin Collectors" in a Michael Connelly novel -- one of the characters was reading it. I filed it away for future reference and finally read the book. It was a lot of fun to read and I tore right through it.
It starts off with a bang as Shane Scully, the main character, shoots his former partner, Ray, who is about to kill his (Ray's) wife. From there, it starts as a police procedural, written with a great deal of detail and (I assume) accuracy about the L.A.P.D. Then, it veers off into more open territory as Shane uncovers a plot that is afoot in Los Angeles.
Some have criticized the turn in the book away from the gritty world of real cops into a more wide-open adventure story. I disagree. Cannell presents the plot well and advances each movement logically. Do some elements, such as the suitcase full of cash, strain credulity? Sure, but this is fiction, not a biography or a history. In addition, there are many details in the plot that twist later in the story that Cannell hides masterfully.
The strength of the book are its characters. Just about every character in the book is presented in a compelling way. Scully, the moral, but not by-the-book cop, is out of hollywood, but still is well done. Sandy's backstory gives here reality. Alexa and Chooch both evolve as the story unfolds and have some nice surprises to their arcs. It is a wild story, but one told with believable characters, all of whom the reader "gets".
Like some other readers, I had settled in at the beginning of the book for a Connelly-style procedural and was a bit taken aback when the fists and bullets really started to fly. However, the story is entertaining enough so that I was able to shift my expectations and go along for the ride (and the flight). As in most good "series" books, this one ends with a nice setup for "The Viking Funeral".
It starts off with a bang as Shane Scully, the main character, shoots his former partner, Ray, who is about to kill his (Ray's) wife. From there, it starts as a police procedural, written with a great deal of detail and (I assume) accuracy about the L.A.P.D. Then, it veers off into more open territory as Shane uncovers a plot that is afoot in Los Angeles.
Some have criticized the turn in the book away from the gritty world of real cops into a more wide-open adventure story. I disagree. Cannell presents the plot well and advances each movement logically. Do some elements, such as the suitcase full of cash, strain credulity? Sure, but this is fiction, not a biography or a history. In addition, there are many details in the plot that twist later in the story that Cannell hides masterfully.
The strength of the book are its characters. Just about every character in the book is presented in a compelling way. Scully, the moral, but not by-the-book cop, is out of hollywood, but still is well done. Sandy's backstory gives here reality. Alexa and Chooch both evolve as the story unfolds and have some nice surprises to their arcs. It is a wild story, but one told with believable characters, all of whom the reader "gets".
Like some other readers, I had settled in at the beginning of the book for a Connelly-style procedural and was a bit taken aback when the fists and bullets really started to fly. However, the story is entertaining enough so that I was able to shift my expectations and go along for the ride (and the flight). As in most good "series" books, this one ends with a nice setup for "The Viking Funeral".
April 10, 2013
I read this one in thirty-six hours or so, having a lot of time to sit around. It's a fast read. This was the first of the Shane Scully continuing character series, and it wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. I expected Shane Scully to be a great cop with a lot of respect - just this guy who breezes through life and gets pretty much everything he wants. I formed this precocious opinion about him based on the way Cannell writes his characters. And he's never had a continuing character in any of his stand-alone books, so I figured this one guy would be a bad-ass. I was actually, by the end of the book, pleasantly surprised that he was a normal guy just like the rest of us.
The entire book is actually about him fighting charges brought by a corrupt Internal Affairs Division for shooting another cop. The odds are stacked against him, and he has to fight through the whole book to win back his badge and his position - as well as to keep his life. Cannell is known for his grandiose stories and globe-spanning character interactions and travels. This one wasn't as large on that scale, but you can expect that it was large in who all was in on the corruption. Of course it went all the way to the top of the department and to the mayor of Los Angeles. So it was big in a different respect. I think I liked it better than most of the others I've read by him though, and will rate it four stars. Of course there was a sex scene - he still hasn't upgraded his story template - but he didn't beat my ass with the rest of his writing. He is indeed getting better.
The entire book is actually about him fighting charges brought by a corrupt Internal Affairs Division for shooting another cop. The odds are stacked against him, and he has to fight through the whole book to win back his badge and his position - as well as to keep his life. Cannell is known for his grandiose stories and globe-spanning character interactions and travels. This one wasn't as large on that scale, but you can expect that it was large in who all was in on the corruption. Of course it went all the way to the top of the department and to the mayor of Los Angeles. So it was big in a different respect. I think I liked it better than most of the others I've read by him though, and will rate it four stars. Of course there was a sex scene - he still hasn't upgraded his story template - but he didn't beat my ass with the rest of his writing. He is indeed getting better.
September 20, 2007
The Tin Collectors - VG
Stephen J. Cannell
LAPD Sergeant Shane Scully intercedes in a domestic-violence situation involving his former partner Ray Molar and Molar's wife, Barbara, who was once Scully's lover. The confrontation ends with Molar dead and Scully in big trouble. Molar, who was tight with LAPD's upper brass, apparently was holding sensitive material about the department, which is now missing. The brass senses that Scully may be using the material as future leverage against possible murder charges. Facing suspension, Scully is mystified when instead he's suddenly transferred to Internal Affairs. In trying to clear his own name from inside IA--whose officers are known as "tin collectors" for their efforts to strip fellow officers of their badges--Scully ferrets out a weblike conspiracy of corruption that extends to the highest levels of L.A.'s municipal government.
Stephen J. Cannell
LAPD Sergeant Shane Scully intercedes in a domestic-violence situation involving his former partner Ray Molar and Molar's wife, Barbara, who was once Scully's lover. The confrontation ends with Molar dead and Scully in big trouble. Molar, who was tight with LAPD's upper brass, apparently was holding sensitive material about the department, which is now missing. The brass senses that Scully may be using the material as future leverage against possible murder charges. Facing suspension, Scully is mystified when instead he's suddenly transferred to Internal Affairs. In trying to clear his own name from inside IA--whose officers are known as "tin collectors" for their efforts to strip fellow officers of their badges--Scully ferrets out a weblike conspiracy of corruption that extends to the highest levels of L.A.'s municipal government.
September 22, 2020
I found this book to be a combination of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series and Joseph Wambaugh books. I loved the cast and it really is just a 4 star book but I loved the ending so much I had to jack it up a star :) Can't wait to read the next one.
October 19, 2018
Bravo! A good fast read! now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
March 10, 2024
A very good cop thriller.
March 15, 2021
PROTAGONIST: Shane Scully, police detective
SETTING: Los Angeles
SERIES: #1
RATING: 4.5
WHY: LAPD detective Shane Scully was partners with a violent and volatile man named Ray Molar. When Molar's wife (also an ex of Shane) calls asking for help, Shane arrives to see Ray beating her to death. Scully ends up killing Molar in self defense and unleashes a world of trouble for himself. Molar is connected within the department, and Scully is wrongfully charged with murder. Corruption is endemic up to the top of the department and Scully is being railroaded. He is aided by an adversary in attEMpting to understand what is happening. At the same time, a hooker he befriended has unloaded her difficult teenaged son, Chooch, on Scully for a month while she is on an undercover assignment. Despite himself, Scully bonds with the boy. The book is pretty standard stuff, but entertaining. At times over the top; the good guys are bulletproof. The Chooch thread is the best thing about it.
SETTING: Los Angeles
SERIES: #1
RATING: 4.5
WHY: LAPD detective Shane Scully was partners with a violent and volatile man named Ray Molar. When Molar's wife (also an ex of Shane) calls asking for help, Shane arrives to see Ray beating her to death. Scully ends up killing Molar in self defense and unleashes a world of trouble for himself. Molar is connected within the department, and Scully is wrongfully charged with murder. Corruption is endemic up to the top of the department and Scully is being railroaded. He is aided by an adversary in attEMpting to understand what is happening. At the same time, a hooker he befriended has unloaded her difficult teenaged son, Chooch, on Scully for a month while she is on an undercover assignment. Despite himself, Scully bonds with the boy. The book is pretty standard stuff, but entertaining. At times over the top; the good guys are bulletproof. The Chooch thread is the best thing about it.
August 11, 2017
My husband, who is not a reader, and I listened to this book in the car on our recent vacation. We both really enjoyed it. The old-school style cop story was easy to follow but interesting and intriguing enough to hold our attention. For my husband, it was much more like watching television than reading, as the book is packed with dialogue and great descriptions of people and places. We have another road trip in December, and I'll probably save the second one in the series for that.
April 21, 2025
This is a fun book. It reads like a TV show or movie, which makes sense as the author created and/or wrote for some iconic series—The Rockford Files, The A-Team, Hunter, and others.
It really shines through in this novel. This book has that sort of pacing. In fact, it reminded me of a 90s cop movie.
It’s not all action. The mystery is front and center. But there are a surprising number of shootouts along with helicopter chases, boat chases, and other action “scenes.”
I’ll be reading the next in the series. Highly recommended.
It really shines through in this novel. This book has that sort of pacing. In fact, it reminded me of a 90s cop movie.
It’s not all action. The mystery is front and center. But there are a surprising number of shootouts along with helicopter chases, boat chases, and other action “scenes.”
I’ll be reading the next in the series. Highly recommended.
May 16, 2023
I liked everything about this. The dialogue was tough, funny and thebook seved as a reminder of how nasty things were in L.A. in the bad old days. Lots of historical references, which I enjoyed.
July 25, 2018
I wrote this review for a friend shortly after reading this book in 2004:
Stephen J. Cannell, creator of hit TV series such as The Rockford Files and The A Team has turned his talent to writing. And that is not a bad thing.
This is not a true mystery – a crime has been committed and we follow along on the search for the guilty party. We know early on who the bad guys are here, and we're along for the ride as Shane Scully brings them down, making it more of an adventure or thriller than mystery. That doesn't make it a bad story.
Cannell slows this story down with too many digressions to explain things like LAPD procedure. Often, action or dialog takes five while he explains something to us. Most times we can figure out what he's talking about by the context. And the few times we can't, Cannell could have pared his explanations by half.
Cannell handles action well. He should with all the successful TV shows he’s written. He does a good job with dialog and description, except for an occasional over-description of a place. He also does a good job with the interaction between Scully and Cooch, a man-boy bitter over being palmed off on Scully, who feels a closeness to the boy he can't explain. Scully's efforts to save the boy from making wrong decisions ring true to anyone who has ever dealt with a rebellious teenager. Cannell does a good job with scenes involving Scully and Alexa, too. Initially adversaries, they slowly form an alliance as free-wheeling Scully convinces by-the-book Alexa he's being railroaded to cover up the evil his killing of Ray Molar risked exposing.
One thing I found a little hard to buy in The Tin Collectors was that Scully is totally alone. Not one other cop in the whole LAPD believes he's getting a raw deal. Doesn't he have a partner? He should – every cop does – and that partner should stand by his side. But Scully's a lone eagle until Alexa starts to see things his way. This lapse detracts from an otherwise very good story.
I have two other minor quibbles with this story. One, when Scully loses his camera, he just goes out and buys another one. I don't know about you, but I make a lot more than a cop (Aside here: We pay the people who protect our lives and property too damn little for the job they do and the risks they take on our behalf), and I would think long and hard before plunking down close to five hundred dollars for a camera and selection of lenses. My second beef is with Alexa. She seems to have a bottomless supply of handguns and ammo in her purse. That doggone thing must weigh a ton, and how a petite slender woman can lug it around totally mystifies me.
If you’re looking for a new series to read, start with this one then go through the rest of the books in it in order. It’s a series well worth reading.
Stephen J. Cannell, creator of hit TV series such as The Rockford Files and The A Team has turned his talent to writing. And that is not a bad thing.
This is not a true mystery – a crime has been committed and we follow along on the search for the guilty party. We know early on who the bad guys are here, and we're along for the ride as Shane Scully brings them down, making it more of an adventure or thriller than mystery. That doesn't make it a bad story.
Cannell slows this story down with too many digressions to explain things like LAPD procedure. Often, action or dialog takes five while he explains something to us. Most times we can figure out what he's talking about by the context. And the few times we can't, Cannell could have pared his explanations by half.
Cannell handles action well. He should with all the successful TV shows he’s written. He does a good job with dialog and description, except for an occasional over-description of a place. He also does a good job with the interaction between Scully and Cooch, a man-boy bitter over being palmed off on Scully, who feels a closeness to the boy he can't explain. Scully's efforts to save the boy from making wrong decisions ring true to anyone who has ever dealt with a rebellious teenager. Cannell does a good job with scenes involving Scully and Alexa, too. Initially adversaries, they slowly form an alliance as free-wheeling Scully convinces by-the-book Alexa he's being railroaded to cover up the evil his killing of Ray Molar risked exposing.
One thing I found a little hard to buy in The Tin Collectors was that Scully is totally alone. Not one other cop in the whole LAPD believes he's getting a raw deal. Doesn't he have a partner? He should – every cop does – and that partner should stand by his side. But Scully's a lone eagle until Alexa starts to see things his way. This lapse detracts from an otherwise very good story.
I have two other minor quibbles with this story. One, when Scully loses his camera, he just goes out and buys another one. I don't know about you, but I make a lot more than a cop (Aside here: We pay the people who protect our lives and property too damn little for the job they do and the risks they take on our behalf), and I would think long and hard before plunking down close to five hundred dollars for a camera and selection of lenses. My second beef is with Alexa. She seems to have a bottomless supply of handguns and ammo in her purse. That doggone thing must weigh a ton, and how a petite slender woman can lug it around totally mystifies me.
If you’re looking for a new series to read, start with this one then go through the rest of the books in it in order. It’s a series well worth reading.
May 21, 2020
I'd enjoyed some of Cannell's TV shows growing up, such as the A-Team and 21 Jump Street (he has a huge screenwriting and series creator resume, from writing on the likes of Columbo to creating the afore-mentioned series along with The Rockford Files, The Commish, and many others), but hadn't read any of his fiction, so when I saw this in a secondhand bookstore in Nelson during my Christmas and summer holidays several years ago, I grabbed it. And was really glad I did.
This is the first novel in the 11-book Shane Scully series from Cannell (who more recent television watchers may have noticed playing in the crime writers' poker games in Castle alongside the likes of Rick Castle and real-life crime novelists Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, and James Patterson).
THE TIN COLLECTORS is a fun read that starts strong, with Los Angeles detective Shane Scully thrown into a tough situation then finding himself under investigation after he shoots his former partner Ray Molar when responding to a domestic disturbance while off duty - Molar was beating his wife. A bad situation quickly becomes even worse. Molar had hooks with LAPD's brass, and there's talk he was holding sensitive material about the department, which has gone missing. Some on high think Scully has swiped it for himself, as future protection, and start putting on the squeeze.
Facing a homicide investigation and suspension, things get even worse when Scully is suddenly transferred to Internal Affairs. The 'tin collectors', whose job it is to try to take the badges of cops corrupt and compromised, while perhaps taking some innocent scalps unfairly along the way.
The 'rat squad', as they've been called elsewhere. As if Scully wasn't side-eyed enough already.
Trying to clear his own name from the inside of Internal Affairs - is he being set up, and if so, why are powerful people trying to take him down? - Scully stumbles into a conspiracy that rises through the ranks to the highest levels of police and local government. Overall, THE TIN COLLECTORS had plenty of political intrigue, conspiracies, visual storytelling, a twisting plotline that kept me hooked, and more. Cannell has been a star when it comes to on-screen crime fiction, and shows here that he's a pretty dab hand when he transfers his talents to novels too. A good read.
This is the first novel in the 11-book Shane Scully series from Cannell (who more recent television watchers may have noticed playing in the crime writers' poker games in Castle alongside the likes of Rick Castle and real-life crime novelists Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, and James Patterson).
THE TIN COLLECTORS is a fun read that starts strong, with Los Angeles detective Shane Scully thrown into a tough situation then finding himself under investigation after he shoots his former partner Ray Molar when responding to a domestic disturbance while off duty - Molar was beating his wife. A bad situation quickly becomes even worse. Molar had hooks with LAPD's brass, and there's talk he was holding sensitive material about the department, which has gone missing. Some on high think Scully has swiped it for himself, as future protection, and start putting on the squeeze.
Facing a homicide investigation and suspension, things get even worse when Scully is suddenly transferred to Internal Affairs. The 'tin collectors', whose job it is to try to take the badges of cops corrupt and compromised, while perhaps taking some innocent scalps unfairly along the way.
The 'rat squad', as they've been called elsewhere. As if Scully wasn't side-eyed enough already.
Trying to clear his own name from the inside of Internal Affairs - is he being set up, and if so, why are powerful people trying to take him down? - Scully stumbles into a conspiracy that rises through the ranks to the highest levels of police and local government. Overall, THE TIN COLLECTORS had plenty of political intrigue, conspiracies, visual storytelling, a twisting plotline that kept me hooked, and more. Cannell has been a star when it comes to on-screen crime fiction, and shows here that he's a pretty dab hand when he transfers his talents to novels too. A good read.
January 18, 2025
When I had read perhaps one fifth of this novel I thought that I had found a new favourite amongst the modern crime fiction writers. But unfortunately Mr. Cannell managed to spoil the story far before the ending which was probably supposed to be the climax of the great adventure.
It's a pity that all authors nowadays are the children of the "too many American movies" generation. It shows in all agent, police, crime, horror... etc fiction novels. They tend to be more like movie scripts than stories which are a bit closer to reality.
Naturally (and luckily) there are some exceptions, but Stephen J. Cannell is not one of those. In the end this was just quite well written bulk. Read and forget. Forgetting isn't too hard though as one has read almost the same story a dozen times before and/or seen it in the movies. Or both.
All and all Cannell managed to use almost every cliché of the moving picture industry before finishing his story: The most unlikely pair to solve the crime, rough but good looking hero, wrong suspect hunted by everyone, lovemaking in the shower, shootouts and car chases... the list is long and not-so-unique. Not even close.
This is television series stuff, not a crime novel which could be taken half-seriously.
Btw. Land Rover has a continuous four-wheel-drive which one doesn't switch off and normally fire doors open outwards.
To Finnish readers the translator had generated more mistakes: Chorus line ei ole kuoro vaan paremminkin tanssiryhmä. Nimitz-class vessel ei ole kantosiipialus vaan lentotukialus, the sail boat was ketsi eikä kitsi etc.
If you like novels which are no-brainers and just "harmless" violent entertainment you might like this.
But if you like a slightly better fiction, choose some old-timer like John le Carré, Len Deighton - or Harlan Coben from the younger generation.
Merkkimiehet
WSOY 2002
It's a pity that all authors nowadays are the children of the "too many American movies" generation. It shows in all agent, police, crime, horror... etc fiction novels. They tend to be more like movie scripts than stories which are a bit closer to reality.
Naturally (and luckily) there are some exceptions, but Stephen J. Cannell is not one of those. In the end this was just quite well written bulk. Read and forget. Forgetting isn't too hard though as one has read almost the same story a dozen times before and/or seen it in the movies. Or both.
All and all Cannell managed to use almost every cliché of the moving picture industry before finishing his story: The most unlikely pair to solve the crime, rough but good looking hero, wrong suspect hunted by everyone, lovemaking in the shower, shootouts and car chases... the list is long and not-so-unique. Not even close.
This is television series stuff, not a crime novel which could be taken half-seriously.
Btw. Land Rover has a continuous four-wheel-drive which one doesn't switch off and normally fire doors open outwards.
To Finnish readers the translator had generated more mistakes: Chorus line ei ole kuoro vaan paremminkin tanssiryhmä. Nimitz-class vessel ei ole kantosiipialus vaan lentotukialus, the sail boat was ketsi eikä kitsi etc.
If you like novels which are no-brainers and just "harmless" violent entertainment you might like this.
But if you like a slightly better fiction, choose some old-timer like John le Carré, Len Deighton - or Harlan Coben from the younger generation.
Merkkimiehet
WSOY 2002
August 29, 2011
This, the first in a series of novels about LAPD Detective Shane Scully, may be an acquired taste, but I've definitely acquired it. It reads like a cross between many of the TV characters that the author has created. Very reminiscent of Jim Rockford, from "The Rockford Files", Shane is street-hardened cop with disdain for the top brass and a soft spot for hard-luck cases. It feels like it would have made a great '70s made-for-tv movie. Heavy on the cop lingo, with perhaps a little too much inlaid translation thrown in, for those not familiar with street-speak. That's really it's weakest point, as the novel keeps moving, keeps you guessing until the last few chapters. No huge surprises, thanks to lots of foreshadowing, but there are a few interesting twists as it goes along. The ending is mostly satisfying, with a slight touch of "that was too easy", but not enough that it lacks credibility. Overall, a very good read.
July 30, 2012
Very promising start to a noirish mystery/thriller series featuring LAPD detective Shane Scully, which now reaches 11 novels. Shane gets called by a former girlfriend to a domestic violence situation in which he has to get his former partner in self defense. As it becomes apparent that the department wants to crush him with an internal affairs investigation, he starts digging into the activities of his ex-partner for clues to what is behind the railroading efforts. The massive police corruption issues he uncovers may be implausible, but they made for a fun ride in the reading. A nice backdrop to the tale is Shane�s deepening relationship with a troubled teen-aged boy whom his call-girl friend asks him to mentor.
January 22, 2013
"The Tin Collectors" is the first book in the Shane Scully series by Stephen J. Cannell. It also is the first book I have read by the author. Before I read the book I had expected that "The Tin Collectors" would be a good read because I had enjoyed many of the TV shows that Stephen J. Cannell had created/written (The Rockford Files", "The A-Team", "21 Jump Street", and "Renegade" to name just a few). Now that I have read the book I can say that "The Tin Collectors" lived up to my expectations! It was a well-written, entertaining, action packed thriller that kept me interested from the start to the finish. I recommend "The Tin Collectors" to anyone who likes reading crime thrillers. I look forward to reading more of the Shane Scully series.
April 24, 2015
The positive: This book was exceptionally researched. The procedural police work was polished and you could tell the author spent time with real cops looking over every one of these scenes.
HOWEVER
If I hadn't of purchased this on audible, I wouldn't have finished it. From the initial setup to the characters to the painful dialogue, I never cared about what was happening or any of the characters. This got into the action so quickly that there was not enough emotional attachment nor a protagonist who I wanted to root for. This is no Harry Bosch, but if you're into canned thrillers give it a try.
HOWEVER
If I hadn't of purchased this on audible, I wouldn't have finished it. From the initial setup to the characters to the painful dialogue, I never cared about what was happening or any of the characters. This got into the action so quickly that there was not enough emotional attachment nor a protagonist who I wanted to root for. This is no Harry Bosch, but if you're into canned thrillers give it a try.
May 7, 2009
The Tin Collector's is the first in Steve Cannell's Shane Scully series. I think I've found another good source for police detective/crime mysteries. Right up there with Michael Connelly, John Lescroart, James Patterson, and Ed McBain, to name a few. I'll definitely be checking out the next book in this series.
August 11, 2011
A great book! Its a cop story that has lots of twists in the plot, but is easy to follow. It is about a corupt police system in which the police and mayor will do anything to not get caught. Such a great story and a real page-turner. I would love to read more Cannell books.
July 26, 2012
I'm stoked. I can hardly wait to read all of Cannell's treasure trove of novels. Yummy-licious!
To track your authors with series and where you left off, try:
www.fictfact.com (where I go by Tnavres).
To track your authors with series and where you left off, try:
www.fictfact.com (where I go by Tnavres).
December 27, 2012
A good cop/crime buster novel that almost got a 5-star rating until it veered off into action-packed nonsense. Still, all in all, a good read. I would recommend it to fans of action crime dramas.
September 22, 2020
Fair to middling
May 31, 2021
BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS:
Print: 12/1/2000; St. Martin's Press; 978-0312269595; 389 pages.
Audio: 7/18/2008; Brilliance Audio; B001D066EK; Duration 10:07:00
Feature Film: No.
Series: Shane Scully book 1
CHARACTERS:
Shane Scully—LAPD
Ray Molar—Shane’s former LAPD partner
Barbara Molar—Wife of Ray Molar
Alexandra (Alexa) Hamilton—LAPD Internal Affairs detective
Chooch—15-year-old that Shane agrees to take in for a friend
Sandy—An informant of Shane’s and the mother of Chooch.
SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
Selecting this book was due to an earlier accident of having stumbled upon the third book of this series, “Hollywood Tough”. I’d been looking for other books by the author of Incendiary on Overdrive and forgot that when there isn’t anything, Overdrive tosses in the closest match. There are other books by Michael Cannell but not in the LAPL Overdrive collection, so it gave me Stephen Cannell.
So, now that we have listened to everything “Connelly”, and after having listened to the first book of Robert B. Parker, and needing a break from that author, I decided to return to this author, and pick up the first two books that I hadn’t realized existed when I picked up that 3rd book of the series. This is the second in the series. I enjoyed this first as much as that third. The characterizations are good, the dialogue is good, and the plot kept my interest.
AUTHOR:
Stephen Cannell (February 5, 1941 – September 30, 2010). According to Wikipedia, Stephen “was an American television producer, writer, novelist, and occasional actor, and the founder of Cannell Entertainment (formerly Stephen J. Cannell Productions) and the Cannell Studios.
After starting his career as a television screenwriter, Cannell created or co-created several dozen successful TV series from the 1970s to the 1990s, often with his creative partner Frank Lupo. Cannell's creations included The Rockford Files, The A-Team, The Greatest American Hero, 21 Jump Street, and The Commish. He also wrote novels, notably the Shane Scully mystery series.”
This book merits my reading the entire series. 😊
NARRATOR: Robert Lawrence. I find no details about this narrator online. I liked Robert’s narration.
GENRE:
Mystery, thriller, crime, police procedure
LOCATIONS:
Los Angeles, Lake Arrowhead
TIME FRAME:
Current-2008
SUBJECTS:
Fatal shooting, criminals, rogue police, conspiracy, corruption, Internal Affairs
SAMPLE QUOTATION:
From Chapter 1 “Use of Force”
“Shane was in deep REM black. Way down there, but still he heard the telephone’s electronic urgency. The sound hung over him, a vague shimmer, way above, up on the surface. Slowly he made his way to it, breaking consciousness, washed in confusion and anger. His bedroom was dark. The digital clock stung his eyeballs with a neon greeting: 2:16 A.M. He found the receiver and pressed it against his ear.
‘Yeah,’ he said, his voice a croak and a whisper.
‘Shane, he’s trying to kill me,’ a woman hissed urgently.
‘What . . . who is this?’
‘It’s Barbara.’ She was whispering, but he could also hear a loud banging coming over the receiver on her end, as if somebody was trying to break down a door.
‘He’s trying to kill you?’ he repeated, buying time so his mind could focus.
Barbara Molar. He hadn’t seen her in over two months, and then just for a moment at a police department ceremony, last year’s Medal of Valor Awards. Her husband, Ray, had been one of the recipients.
A crash, then: ‘Jesus, get over here, Shane. Please. He’ll listen to you. He’s nuts, worse than ever.’
Shane heard another crash. Barbara started screaming. He couldn’t make out her next words, then: ‘Don’t, please . . .’ She was whimpering, the phone dropped on a hard floor, clattering, bouncing, getting kicked in some desperate struggle.”
RATING: I gave this book 4 stars 😊.
BEGAN LISTENING-FINISHED LISTENING
5/7/21 – 5/15/21
Print: 12/1/2000; St. Martin's Press; 978-0312269595; 389 pages.
Audio: 7/18/2008; Brilliance Audio; B001D066EK; Duration 10:07:00
Feature Film: No.
Series: Shane Scully book 1
CHARACTERS:
Shane Scully—LAPD
Ray Molar—Shane’s former LAPD partner
Barbara Molar—Wife of Ray Molar
Alexandra (Alexa) Hamilton—LAPD Internal Affairs detective
Chooch—15-year-old that Shane agrees to take in for a friend
Sandy—An informant of Shane’s and the mother of Chooch.
SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
Selecting this book was due to an earlier accident of having stumbled upon the third book of this series, “Hollywood Tough”. I’d been looking for other books by the author of Incendiary on Overdrive and forgot that when there isn’t anything, Overdrive tosses in the closest match. There are other books by Michael Cannell but not in the LAPL Overdrive collection, so it gave me Stephen Cannell.
So, now that we have listened to everything “Connelly”, and after having listened to the first book of Robert B. Parker, and needing a break from that author, I decided to return to this author, and pick up the first two books that I hadn’t realized existed when I picked up that 3rd book of the series. This is the second in the series. I enjoyed this first as much as that third. The characterizations are good, the dialogue is good, and the plot kept my interest.
AUTHOR:
Stephen Cannell (February 5, 1941 – September 30, 2010). According to Wikipedia, Stephen “was an American television producer, writer, novelist, and occasional actor, and the founder of Cannell Entertainment (formerly Stephen J. Cannell Productions) and the Cannell Studios.
After starting his career as a television screenwriter, Cannell created or co-created several dozen successful TV series from the 1970s to the 1990s, often with his creative partner Frank Lupo. Cannell's creations included The Rockford Files, The A-Team, The Greatest American Hero, 21 Jump Street, and The Commish. He also wrote novels, notably the Shane Scully mystery series.”
This book merits my reading the entire series. 😊
NARRATOR: Robert Lawrence. I find no details about this narrator online. I liked Robert’s narration.
GENRE:
Mystery, thriller, crime, police procedure
LOCATIONS:
Los Angeles, Lake Arrowhead
TIME FRAME:
Current-2008
SUBJECTS:
Fatal shooting, criminals, rogue police, conspiracy, corruption, Internal Affairs
SAMPLE QUOTATION:
From Chapter 1 “Use of Force”
“Shane was in deep REM black. Way down there, but still he heard the telephone’s electronic urgency. The sound hung over him, a vague shimmer, way above, up on the surface. Slowly he made his way to it, breaking consciousness, washed in confusion and anger. His bedroom was dark. The digital clock stung his eyeballs with a neon greeting: 2:16 A.M. He found the receiver and pressed it against his ear.
‘Yeah,’ he said, his voice a croak and a whisper.
‘Shane, he’s trying to kill me,’ a woman hissed urgently.
‘What . . . who is this?’
‘It’s Barbara.’ She was whispering, but he could also hear a loud banging coming over the receiver on her end, as if somebody was trying to break down a door.
‘He’s trying to kill you?’ he repeated, buying time so his mind could focus.
Barbara Molar. He hadn’t seen her in over two months, and then just for a moment at a police department ceremony, last year’s Medal of Valor Awards. Her husband, Ray, had been one of the recipients.
A crash, then: ‘Jesus, get over here, Shane. Please. He’ll listen to you. He’s nuts, worse than ever.’
Shane heard another crash. Barbara started screaming. He couldn’t make out her next words, then: ‘Don’t, please . . .’ She was whimpering, the phone dropped on a hard floor, clattering, bouncing, getting kicked in some desperate struggle.”
RATING: I gave this book 4 stars 😊.
BEGAN LISTENING-FINISHED LISTENING
5/7/21 – 5/15/21
March 18, 2017
An early morning call from an ex-partner's wife sends Detective Sergeant Shane Scully headfirst into a boatload of trouble when he has to kill the man to save his abused wife in self-defense. Between Shane's previous relationships with both Lt. Molar and his wife, missing evidence that the Chief is desperate to find, and an Internal Affairs investigator out to get him, the last thing Shane needs is temporary custody of an angry 15 year old whose mother is working undercover for the DEA.
Stephen J. Cannell is one of the best. I use the present tense, because his work is timeless. Even my library seems to agree with that as there is a note in the front of this book that states "Literary Value, Do Not Discard - Author". The hardback book is old and worn, rebound once less than a year after it was published. But it stands proudly ready to welcome the next reader new to either Cannell or this particular book.
I had the unique pleasure of meeting him two years before his death, sitting at a table with just three other people and discussing some of his television series, his books, and his friends. It shines brightly in my memories. And when I read one of his books, I'm reminded once again of his extraordinary talent to create characters that you care for, or even hate, as needed, whether on television or in books.
Here we have a lonely cop who is searching for something to make his life worth all the pain. While the mess he gets into seems like the end of everything for him, it is actually the start of something new, something worth fighting for. While I'm sad that Cannell passed away before he could complete any more books in this series, he did give us eleven total about Shane, plus others not part of a series. He was a writer all others should learn from. Without a doubt. 4.5 out of 5.
Stephen J. Cannell is one of the best. I use the present tense, because his work is timeless. Even my library seems to agree with that as there is a note in the front of this book that states "Literary Value, Do Not Discard - Author". The hardback book is old and worn, rebound once less than a year after it was published. But it stands proudly ready to welcome the next reader new to either Cannell or this particular book.
I had the unique pleasure of meeting him two years before his death, sitting at a table with just three other people and discussing some of his television series, his books, and his friends. It shines brightly in my memories. And when I read one of his books, I'm reminded once again of his extraordinary talent to create characters that you care for, or even hate, as needed, whether on television or in books.
Here we have a lonely cop who is searching for something to make his life worth all the pain. While the mess he gets into seems like the end of everything for him, it is actually the start of something new, something worth fighting for. While I'm sad that Cannell passed away before he could complete any more books in this series, he did give us eleven total about Shane, plus others not part of a series. He was a writer all others should learn from. Without a doubt. 4.5 out of 5.
January 20, 2018
Ive had the Stephen Cannell collection on my kindle for a while but I’ve never got around to starting any of them until recently. I began with this, the first in the series, during a bout of insomnia, reading over a few nights (or very early mornings) in a row until I finished it.
At first I was unsure if I really wanted to start reading this book, until I was about 3 chapters in, then I changed my mind. It was engaging, and a fast paced story from the beginning. I couldn’t put it down once I had got going.
There are a good amount of characters, not too many that you get mixed up with who is who. I read through the early hours until I was so tired I had to put the book down, I didn’t want to stop reading it but had no choice. Sleep finally came. I was like this over three nights in a row, slept a night, then finished the book.
I’m not going to talk about the story, except to say that I’m really happy I started this book, and the series about Scully, the detective and main character. The scene is set to develop the characters through the rest of his books. I really can’t wait to start the next book, The Viking Funeral.
At first I was unsure if I really wanted to start reading this book, until I was about 3 chapters in, then I changed my mind. It was engaging, and a fast paced story from the beginning. I couldn’t put it down once I had got going.
There are a good amount of characters, not too many that you get mixed up with who is who. I read through the early hours until I was so tired I had to put the book down, I didn’t want to stop reading it but had no choice. Sleep finally came. I was like this over three nights in a row, slept a night, then finished the book.
I’m not going to talk about the story, except to say that I’m really happy I started this book, and the series about Scully, the detective and main character. The scene is set to develop the characters through the rest of his books. I really can’t wait to start the next book, The Viking Funeral.
June 20, 2021
So Shane Scully is an emotionally damaged LAPD cop who is pestered in this novel by Internal Affairs. He's particularly vulnerable because he was abandoned by his mother when he was very young, which is why it is very meaningful to him when he finds out he has a grown child. If this all sounds familiar even though you've never read the Scully series, it's because this is the same character sketch as Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch. Since I enjoyed the Bosch series, I didn't mind, but if I were Connelly, I would be a little miffed, but then, it seems Connelly borrowed some of the Scully storyline for his later Bosch books. The Tin Collectors is a decent mystery, peppered with cop and jailbird speak, which is interesting. Bottom line: Cannell is a good writer and the characters are well-differentiated and interesting, the story moves along at a good pace and it all makes sense.
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