Customer Reviews

Street Level

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Plot is really secondary to the characterizations and dialogue in this fine first novel. Duncan Sloan is a well-conceived hero with a heart in hiding, and his encounters throughout have a resounding ring of truth to them--primarily because of the splendid rendering of the characters' voices. As well, with seeming effortlessness, author Truluck creates believable, even touching, characters. And this is no small accomplishment.

A book well worth reading.

Isaac Pike, gay millionaire from Minnesota, is in a real bind. Sperm he deposited at a fertility clinic has not only been stolen but implanted into a low-life, trailer park nude dancer and if he ever wants to see his soon to be delivered child, he's going to have to pay up big time. The girl, Crystal Gail, was last seen in Orlando Florida, so Pike hires loose cannon private detective, Duncan Sloan, to sort out this mess and find the girl. Unfortunately, Sloan isn't the only person looking for Crystal, but he's the only one who wants to find and keep her alive. As the body count begins to grow exponentially and Sloan zeroes in on Crystal's whereabouts, he puts his plan in action and hopes they all come out of this alive..... Bob Truluck has written a spare, gritty and often witty novel full of graphic language and violence that's not for the faint of heart. His wise-cracking, hard-boiled detective, Duncan Sloan is an original, well drawn with a strong irreverent voice. This is a mystery/thriller that has it all...tight, fast paced plot, great characters and vivid, riveting scenes you won't soon forget. All in all a terrific debut you'll have to read in one sitting and a P.I. you'll look forward to following for many years to come.

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

excellent book and wonderful plot - the characters are well detailed & are truly realistic and believable. I will definetly be looking for more books from Mr. Truluck

I liked Truluck's voice, and the book had moments for me that were enjoyable, but I wouldn't read another book by this author. It's more suited to someone who likes the hardboiled genre, the old Maltese Falcon style, set in the here and now. The main character is believable and sarcastically humorous, if you enjoy that. I did.

This is the first book to feature Duncan Sloan, a sorta private investigator, but not quite on the legal side of the business. Yet he manages to create havoc and blends in well with the street crowds around Orlando. Being set in a town familiar to many people, not just the residents, but also many visitors is an advantage for the author. Readers can relate to the toll ways and interstates as well as the surrounding communities and references to place names.

This time Duncan is helping a man, Isaac Pike, find the girl who is carrying his baby. All arranged illegally through a sperm bank heist. It makes sense that this could happen in real life, what with the way some clinics are run. Blackmail from every angle is running the gamut.

But this book involves more than just trying to find a pregnant girl, there are twists everywhere Duncan turns and some nasty bad guys want a piece of the action.

Sloan enlists the aid of a couple of cops and actually makes them look good. Most PI books make the cops out like the Keystone Cops variety, but here, we have a sort of understanding, not really friendly, but workable.

Sloan is a wise-cracking smart alecky kind of guy who gives the impression he really doesn't care for anyone or anything, but in his heart he does, and every once in a while it slips out. You just gotta love this guy.

Following leads, enlisting the aid of the police when feasible, avoiding getting himself arrested, and saving the damsel in distress all in the days work for one Duncan Sloan. Oh, and getting paid a hefty fee is a plus for our hero.

Bob Truluck's first novel is a fast-paced detective thriller. A gay millionaire's sperm is stolen and injected into an unknown girl, the demand is simple- money or his baby dies. In comes Sloan, a man of the streets and a PI with a reputation to find the girl and put an end to a chain of gruesome murders which have been turning up, regarding the case. The novel has its share of action and mystery, and things get very nasty with the involvement of Latino gangs. For a debut, Street Level is a fine starting point for any new author and hopefully Truluck knows how to follow this one up correctly. It would've been much better if this book was thicker, because it was entirely interesting and original, so much that it shouldn't have finished so speedily. And, any Private Eye who admits he belongs out their on street level is a winner in my opinion; Sloan is a likeable character. A nice piece of reading for fans of this genre.

Bob Truluck is truly talented. This book had an original storyline that made it a real page-turner. The main character, Duncan Sloan, keeps the book exciting with his sarcastic charm and wicked humour. I will definately keep my eyes open for Bob Truluck's books

As a mystery writer from southern California with my debut novel in initial release, I am constantly amazed by my fellow mystery writers who happen to operate out of Florida. We all know their names, and now we must add Bob Truluck's name to the list. In STREET LEVEL, he earns his place on the short list of excellence. In this debut adventure for his PI, Duncan Sloan is given the job of tracking down a gang of thieves who withdrew a gay millionaire's sperm deposit from a sperm bank and used it to impregnate a woman from a trailer park who is dreaming of a big score from her maternity. The noirish plot grows wilder from there, and you need to read STREET LEVEL to believe it. Keep in mind it's set in Florida. It's a great debut mystery. I recommend it heartily.

Great read! Great first novel! With the proliferation of books from South Florida and the Keys, it is a relief to find a good mystery set in Central Florida. Bob knows the Orlando area (that is the City of Orlando, not MickeyLand). Good plot with well developed central characters. Highly enjoyable page-turner. Recommended. Awaiting the next one!