The Pallbearers by Stephen J. Cannell

Book Description
Abandoned by his parents as an infant, Scully was reared in an orphanage, Huntington House. The only positive thing in his young life was the attention of the Home’s director, Walter “Pop” Dix. Pop, an avid surfer, would take a small group of kids for early morning surfing. He was the father none of them had ever had.

That was thirty years ago. Now, Shane is forced to revisit these memories when Pop is found dead, the victim of an apparently self-inflicted shotgun blast. He leaves a message asking six specific people, all of whom attended Huntington House, to be his pallbearers, and Shane is one of the chosen. He and his fellow pallbearers don’t believe it was a suicide. That leaves murder. But why, and by whom?

Together, the pallbearers embark on a dangerous odyssey in pursuit of justice for Pop, and for retribution against those responsible for his death. Their journey takes them up against an unforeseen adversary whose power and influence far exceed anything they could have imagined.

My thoughts
The Pallbearers are six individuals who were troubled youth who were mentored by one Water Dix. Dix has committed suicide and so it is thought. Since one of the pallbearers is Shane Scully, a L.A. cop, the others pressure him to investigate. An interesting plot and group of characters, and Stephen J. Cannell knows how to write, but it lacked something. I enjoyed the book but could take it or leave it.


Note: I borrowed this book from my local library.