Rating: 
Summary: 4 1/2 stars
Review: 'Runaway Heart' refers to Herman Strockmeyer, an attorney described by some as "...a tree-and-bunny hugger who has sued just about every federal letter agency in the government". Well this time around he might just have a legitimate case.
The story moves at a rapid pace and concerns an interesting subject, top secret government experiments with DNA. You'll even get treated with a cameo by Shane Scully.
Cannell writes with a flare. You'll be finished reading this before you know it, feeling quite satisfied. Like a good movie.Higly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: MONKEYIN AROUND
Review: Cannell is best when he sticks to high-octane, energetic pacing and stronger characters. What we get in RUNAWAY HEARTS is a story that takes forever to kick into high octane gear, and we get as secondary characters, both seen and unseen, of Donald Trump, Barbra Streisand, James Brolin, Jim Carrey, Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson. It's like Cannell is showing how he panders with the upper crust celebrities. Cute, but rather unbelievable.
The plot is straightforward, although Cannell doesn't have to let the reader know on every other page, how "ugly and fat" Herman Strockmire is, or how "beautiful" his daughter Susan is. Judge Melissa King is too much of a villain to be believable, and the chimera aren't used enough to generate the suspense. There are some witty scenarios, and some black humor; and the ending picks up the pace considerably, but this is not Cannell at his best, as evidenced in his Shane Scully series.
Rating:
Summary: MONKEYIN AROUND
Review: Cannell is best when he sticks to high-octane, energetic pacing and stronger characters. What we get in RUNAWAY HEARTS is a story that takes forever to kick into high octane gear, and we get as secondary characters, both seen and unseen, of Donald Trump, Barbra Streisand, James Brolin, Jim Carrey, Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson. It's like Cannell is showing how he panders with the upper crust celebrities. Cute, but rather unbelievable.
The plot is straightforward, although Cannell doesn't have to let the reader know on every other page, how "ugly and fat" Herman Strockmire is, or how "beautiful" his daughter Susan is. Judge Melissa King is too much of a villain to be believable, and the chimera aren't used enough to generate the suspense. There are some witty scenarios, and some black humor; and the ending picks up the pace considerably, but this is not Cannell at his best, as evidenced in his Shane Scully series.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT READ!
Review: Cannell's books just keep getting better! I love his Shane Scully novels, and was really excited to find another of his books so entertaining! I highly recommend this to Cannell fans, and to those who might not yet be familiar with his work!
Rating:
Summary: This parabellum bullet really hurts, bubala!
Review: Herman Strockmire is a plaintiff's lawyer, litigating on behalf of all of the clients who can't protect themselves. Ludicrous at first but really, isn't that what we were supposed to believe lawyers would do as in Harper Lee's Atticus Finch? So I'm not sure that Herman is the anomoly. I have come to believe the rest of the profession took the fork in the road, not Herman. In any event, he is now prosecuting a case on behalf of the Monarch Butterfly, soon to be exiled to the same dusty books as the dinosaur because of the government's genetic alteration of food. They're killing the butterflys, man! But that's not all. As Herman and his lovely daughter Susan probe deeper, bodies start turning up. Not with a simple K-bar wound to the thoracic cavity or a Glock shot to the head, but ripped up bodies. Super human strength MOs. Could it be that the evil doers in the monarch butterfly case are into slightly more than genetically altering just food? Enter Jack Wirta, sullen, despondent, wise-cracking, friend of Shane Scully, wounded and left on the hill like a malnourished Spartan child in 350 B.C., who has started his own detective agency. And guess who is his first client? This is great Stephen Cannell! It's part Michael Crichton, part Robert Crais. But most of all it's part Rockford Files, the A-Team and Wiseguy. And why not? Mr. Cannell wrote those scripts. We see references to Barbra and Jim, and of course Ted and Mary. I have to be honest. I don't know these people. But when he's finished, Mr. Cannell has convinced me that I ought to. And, as Jack struggles with his percocet and percodan habit, there's a cool intervention scene that I don't think I've ever seen in a book. So strap this one on. Slip on your black jeans, black turtleneck and a throwaway ankle gun. There's no commercials. Enjoy, boychick! 5 stars. Larry Scantlebury
Rating:
Summary: This novel is completely mesmerizing!
Review: I have read many of Stephen J. Cannell's books, and I think this is my favorite so far! It's not only that it's exciting (couldn't put it down) -- but also, I found his imagery compelling and suspense perfectly timed. The premise sounds so out there until you read it and realize that it's not! The technological aspects are frightening. At the same time, the hero(s) in the book are believable and unique. I love the Quixotic Herman Strockmire. I hope we see more of him!
Rating:
Summary: This novel is FANTASTIC!
Review: I immensely enjoyed this work of Cannell's. I think it's my favorite of his so far. It's exciting, fast-paced, and the characters are unique and interesting - incredibly so. The fact that the technology in the novel exists is quite frightening and Stephen Cannell paints a realistic and believable picture of what could actually be in our future. Since I am an activist, I really loved (and could identify with) the Quixotic Herman Strockmire. I hope to see more of him in future novels!
Rating:
Summary: Cannell never disappoints!
Review: Jack Wirta, an ex-cop, starts a detective agency (next door to a gay dating service.) His first client is Susan Strockmeyer,
whose father is a lawyer weak of heart...no really he has heart problems. Herman Strockmeyer, the father, is an advocate of left-wing causes. Ah, the monarch butterfly! However, now we
are submersed in a government plot that utilizes DNA apes who become soldiers. Extreme killing machines that can rip your arm or leg off! Jack has qualms because of non-payment of his bills. But he kind of has a thing for Susan.
Although the theme seems rather absurd, the whole government secret plot is believable. I totally enjoyed this book and had a runaway read.
Rating:
Summary: Cannell never disappoints!
Review: Jack Wirta, an ex-cop, starts a detective agency (next door to a gay dating service.) His first client is Susan Strockmeyer,
whose father is a lawyer weak of heart...no really he has heart problems. Herman Strockmeyer, the father, is an advocate of left-wing causes. Ah, the monarch butterfly! However, now we
are submersed in a government plot that utilizes DNA apes who become soldiers. Extreme killing machines that can rip your arm or leg off! Jack has qualms because of non-payment of his bills. But he kind of has a thing for Susan.
Although the theme seems rather absurd, the whole government secret plot is believable. I totally enjoyed this book and had a runaway read.
Rating:
Summary: A Team Meets X Files
Review: Rather than summarize the book, as other reviewers have so skillfully done I recommend this book as an exciting page turner. Difficult to put down. SJC writes primarily about the LAPD beat and adds a bit of the x files. I really wanted to know more about "Pan" and his training, development and breeding. A better twist might have been if the DNA was alien or such. The Donald Trump addition was priceless. What ever happened to Pan after he wounded and ran away and disappeared, I've looked back several times and can't seem to find out what happened to him. If anyone knows please post. All in all it is a good quick read, possible made for TV movie.
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