cover image The Prostitutes' Ball: A Shane Scully Novel

The Prostitutes' Ball: A Shane Scully Novel

Stephen J. Cannell, St. Martin's, $25.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-312-55730-0

Cannell injects new life into his bestselling Shane Scully series by giving the LAPD homicide detective a new partner in his 10th outing (after The Pallbearers). Since Shane's regular partner is on leave, Shane teams with Sumner Hitchens, a handsome African-American detective widely disliked throughout the department. Hitch, who dresses like a menswear model, lives like the millionaire he has become as the result of selling the story of one of his homicide cases to the movies. This rubs Shane the wrong way, but after Hitch saves his life, Shane begins to see another side to the man. A quick resolution to a triple homicide they investigate—a famous movie director and two prostitutes shot dead at a party—leads them to another mystery that occurred 25 years before. Hitch and Shane are a powerful combination, both as characters and as detectives. Readers will look forward to seeing more of this dynamic duo. Author tour. (Oct.)