Author: Steve Trotter

ISBN:  0-595-32637-4

The following review was contrbuted by: NORM GOLDMAN:  Editor of Bookpleasures &CLICK TO VIEW  Norm Goldman's Reviews 

 Steve Trotter’s debut novel, The National Truth, set in Montréal, Canada, centers around a former rock musician, Dave Taylor, who decides to give up the world of music and return to his former occupation-tabloid journalism.

A Former staff writer and associate editor of supermarket tabloids, Trotter is very much at home in penning a novel containing some of the most off-the-wall characters, who are involved in even more bizarre dangerous undertakings. No doubt, Trotter is very much up to the task, as a result of his years of experience in writing this genre.

Our story gets off to a flying start, when within the first few days of Taylor’s return to the world of scandal mongering journalism, one of his co-reporters is found slain on church steps, a hooker by the name of Angel Moretti stalks him, and bikers try to kill him. In addition, he falls for the boss’s daughter, Niki, who is known to the readers of The National Truth as Crystal Ball- the world-renowned psychic columnist.

As the narrative shapes up, all hell breaks loose, as we are informed that our stalker was intimately involved with Dave’s boss Dudley. What is even more outlandish is that Dudley, after sexually brutalizing Angel, murders her, or so he believes.

Angel, however, surprises him one day, when she reappears, bites part of his nose off and gulps it down in one swallow.

For her trouble, Angel is locked up in a hospital for the criminally insane. However, she manages to find a way to beat up her security guard and escape. Once again she is in hot pursuit of Dudley, who she is determined to terminate his “manhood.” 

Throw in a couple of other murders, a crooked lawyer, a careless hit man who botches up his assignments, ample black humour and amazingly you have just the right ingredients for action and dialogue that is hilarious. Occasionally, however, I have to admit, the whole mix of events veers into excessive gory scenes. Notwithstanding, this is the “stuff” that sells tabloids and keeps our interest at the grocery checkout counters with their incredible headlines.

That said, unless you have a very sensitive stomach and a distaste of sensationalism, The National Truth is an impressive debut novel, tantalizing in the unbelievable, that will surely maintain your interest until the last chapter.