The Plan

Making his debut as a novelist, Emmy Award-winning writer/producer Stephen Cannell brings all the fast-paced excitement of his hit elevision shows to this political thriller. If you enjoyed "The Rockford Files," "The A-Team," and "Hunter," The Plan is your cup of suspense. When TV writer/producer Ryan Holt finds his career on the skids, he's eager to help his former prep school roommate, stereotypical mob goon Mickey Alo, by coming up with a documentary about a little known presidential candidate. Eventually, our hero discovers that Mickey is attempting to buy the presidency for the terminally ignorant governor of Rhode Island. The plot takes many twists and turns plus a few careenings as Holt eventually finds himself in a perilous mano a mano with the Mafia. The stakes are the highest office in our land. Author Cannell has pulled out all the stops for his first page-turner.

`The Plan' is hatched by the Mafia to back a presidential candidate and get him elected in order to use him as a puppet once he's in power. They don't like the RICO Act which essentially says that anyone with prior knowledge of a crime is deemed to be as guilty of the crime as the person who perpetrated it. They're keen to find a way to get the act overturned and this is the solution they have come up with.The two main protagonists are a couple of friends who had met at prep-school. Mickey Alo from New Jersey is the son of a mafia boss who will take over from his father when he dies and Ryan Bolt who lives in California and is an award-winning writer / executive producer. Ryan becomes involved with Mickey after being asked to do a documentary on his candidate. Things turn sour between the two ex-friends which ultimately casts them as enemies in the story. From this point on we are treated to two storylines, a presidential campaign in full swing, and a deadly hunt where only violence is the sure outcome.The action is fast-paced and I felt compelled to keep reading long into the night. If you enjoy books about the supposed behind the scenes action of a presidential race mixed with a bit of mob involvement and can handle a bit of violence, I think you'll enjoy this book.

The fact that what took place in this novel could happen in real life is mind-boggling. I enjoyed this action-packed thriller because it came so close to the truth as we know it. It causes one to stop and think about previous elections of officials and how the media paints them depending on how much clout and money they possess. The characters can almost be matched with some of those well-known to us that hold high office today. This book kept be awake because it was one that you could not put down in the middle of a chapter. I will be looking for Stephen Cannell's books when I am bored with the usual shootem-ups.

I loved this book and have been turned on to other Cannell books. The characters were fascinating, unique and well thought out. I keep waiting for the movie. The plot extends a broad range will a masterfully told and frightening reality.

I always liked Stephen J. Cannell,s TV shows, so I decided to buy the Plan, his first novel. I really didn't know what to expect of it. It was great. The plot is fascinating, the characters clearly defined and realistic. The plot, which involves the President of the United States being in the pocket of a ruthless Mafia organization is chillingly feasible. The line between good and evil is not blurred at all. The good guys are distinctly good and the bad guys are distinctly bad. A gem. It should be made into a great movie.