Shortcut Man - Book Review

"Shortcut Man" [P.G. Sturges/Scribner/224pgs], like the earlier "Strip" and moving effervescently through "Get Shorty" territory, affects the private dick arena within a bit of penchant egotism. While not decidedly original, the intentive almost Black Dahlia structure points at the inevitable cracking of the pscyhological facade of the Sunset Strip/Valley crowd. The essence of the porn industry as the marrying of loose morals and fast cash offers the background visage which ultimately undoes the lead character. The reasoning, like the infamous FBI trial of the man who did undercover work for the likes of John McTiernan, enforces a sense of elements that cannot be handled by conventional means. A "Shortcut Man" describes a person with connections and favors from civil servants to local muscle to get the job done quickly. The problem is that everyone is prone to lapses in judgment at one point or another. The key here is that the woman in question plays all sides with the dexterity of a horny schoolgirl but with a little less practical potential. Eventually, the resolution resurrects itself with a degree of irony despite a necessity of narrative that implies that the private eye be correct despite any missed calls he made. The intent reflects that he is true of heart despite his hard boiled roots. This vindictive detail provides definite insight into the psyche giving "Shortcut Man" the brevity it needs without outpacing his genre roots. Out of 5, I give it a 2.