This novel was an "almost fair" attempt at pulp fiction, alá Raymond Chandler. It was quite slow starting and the primary character's speech was filled with "Uh-huh", "unh-unh", "unh-huh" and similar derivatives... sadly I have no idea what most meant. Absent the 'grunt speak' this could have been a decent, entertaining read. As it is... I will move on to another author.