Book Review: Street Level

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Street Level    
Robert Truluck
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Private Investigator   Adult Content   Noir
St. Martin’s, Sep 2000, $22.95, 224 pp.

Successful private investigators need a streak of independence, but even sleuth Duncan Sloan admits he is so much the maverick he follows no rules nut his own. Sloan spent two years in prison before his appeal overturned his conviction, but that has not tampered his methodology of doing it his way.

The Orlando detective’s latest case involves Minnesota multimillionaire Isaac Pike who wants a baby. Though a powerful person, Isaac is gay and his own disgusted father has stopped any adoption. Isaac has deposited sperm in a local clinic so that a surrogate mother can provide him with the infant he desperately wants. However, a clinic employee steals the sperm, inseminates Crystal Gail Johnson, and tries to blackmail Isaac. He hires Sloan to find the woman and bring her to Isaac, unaware of the power and nastiness of the opponents.

STREET LEVEL is an exciting shamus tale that is not for the faint of heart. The tale is filled with profanity and graphic violence. Those readers with strong stomachs will enjoy the fast paced, action packed noir that won the St. Martin’s/PWA 1999 contest due in part to its anti-heroic, but memorable character.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner