"An entertaining read"
Upon graduating from the U of Penn with a journalism
degree, former basketball star Andrea "Andy" Cosicki tries
to obtain work with local newspapers, but is ignored until
her father Benjamin "Benny Lunch" gets her a position with
the tabloid Philadelphia Press. Her boss makes it clear
that he does not want her, but has no choice as obviously
the owners owed Benny Lunch for fixing something. So he
assigns Andy the impossible column of Mr. Action problem
solver for readers and to assist Shep Ladderbook the obit
writer. Almost immediately following her employment, the police
find the body of Benny Lunch in the basement of the burned
out Straight Up club. No one knows why he went there, but
the death is ruled an accident. When thugs invade her home
looking for something that Benny Lunch possessed, Andy
wonders if someone killed him over a deal he arranged or
that item not found so far. With the help of Ladderbook,
who provides newspaper cover and leads, she begins to
investigate. STREET MONEY is an entertaining read that combines elements
of an amateur sleuth with a professional investigation.
The story line focuses on Andy, as a rookie just starting
out so that her actions feel like an amateur sleuth yet
because of Ladderbook providing guidance her effort is also
professional. Andy makes the tale work as a modern woman
not ashamed of being over six feet tall and towering over
many of her colleagues. That self-positive attitude makes
Bill Kent's novel a joy to read as she digs into her
father's death to learn the truth of Benny Lunch. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted October 3, 2002
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