Reviews

Dr. Kwei Jones Quartey - Award-winning author of the Darko Dawson and Emma Djan Investigations Series

This novel moves like a freight train through a tunnel, and you know you'll be out of breath on the other side. Trueheart is quite nuanced -something going on beneath all that bravado. He might seem flippant, but that just covers up a fragility he wants to protect. In reality, he really is a true heart, and his cause is real."

Dr. Nolan Higdon -University of California, Santa Cruz

The People's Detective is a gripping detective novel that brings the streets of Oakland alive with a raw intensity. Dr. Baham masterfully weaves a tale  about the relentless pursuit for justice. With every page, readers are drawn deeper into the harrowing world of sex trafficking, white supremacy, and the indomitable spirit of the victims who seek redemption. This book is not just a thrilling read, but a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the fight for justice in the face of overwhelming odds.

Damien Hunter - author of The Madrinega Missiles

Superb…a masterful tale of a gritty urban reality that has all too often gone ignored by today’s news media: the hidden epidemic of missing and trafficked women of color in Oakland, California and the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The People’s Detective reads as though taken from today’s headlines, because it was. With the meticulous detail only a trained academic scholar turned novelist could bring to bear, Nicholas Louis Baham III has woven a gripping noir thriller of contemporary sexual slavery and political corruption set against the rich cultural tapestry and history of the City of Oakland. His hero, Sonny Trueheart, steeped in the tradition of Black American crime fiction, is a flawed and damaged ex-cop, and an alcoholic with an inability to control the violence in his heart. Detective Trueheart is also a man with a strong moral compass, allowing him, once confronted with a crisis, to find the strength to rise above his own demons to battle a pervasive evil and claim redemption for himself while helping the helpless, the victims of sex trafficking whom polite society has forgotten.

​Reader Reviews

Doug 

5.0 out of 5 stars

A Riveting, Thought-Provoking Mystery That Had Me Hooked!

I just finished The People’s Detective, A Sonny Truehart Mystery by Nicholas Baham, and wow—what a ride! This novel is everything I didn’t know I needed from a mystery: it’s fast-paced, full of action, but also incredibly deep. Sonny Trueheart is such a memorable character, a former cop who’s been through the wringer, carrying his own demons, yet he’s pulled into the gritty world of Oakland’s underbelly to uncover a human trafficking ring.

What surprised me was how much heart this book has. Baham takes on real issues like gentrification, police corruption, and the exploitation of vulnerable communities without holding back. You can feel the author’s love for Oakland in the way he describes it—a place full of history, beauty, and resilience. The plot kept me on edge, and I found myself rooting for Sonny every step of the way as he searches for both justice and his own redemption.

If you love mysteries that make you think and characters who feel like real people, this is absolutely worth picking up. I didn’t just read this book—I experienced it, and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. Highly recommended!

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Jaliza

5.0 out of 5 stars

A page- turner! You won’t want to put down The People’s Detective!

The People’s Detective combines real life occurrences with fiction. I felt like I learned so much but was entertained as well. I looked forward to picking up where I left off each night and was drawn back into the gritty, but familiar streets of Oakland.

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Walter 

5.0 out of 5 stars

A riveting book for the people

The back cover of the novel reads, "The People's Detective brings to light an under-reported story in the Bay Area and adds a distinctly Oakland aesthetic, martial arts mayhem, and the thrill off a bank heist to the ethos of the noir detective genre." Nick Baham takes us on a wild ride that is both very thrilling and incredibly informative. He notes, "History is merely a thing of the past for most Americans. Oaklanders are different. Oaklanders ride with ghosts, memories, and legends" [page 292]. Indeed! Those who do not live in Oakland will also gain a more nuanced understanding of aspects of society that those in power want to keep in the shadows. We deeply root for Sonny to set things right. I can hardly wait for the next book in the Sonny Trueheart series. Also, hopefully someone will make The People's Detective into a movie!

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Carol

5.0 out of 5 stars 

Oakland California Diaspora a Great Read

It is uncommon to encounter a book that portrays Oakland in such a favorable light as seen in The People's Detective, by Nicholas Louis Baham III. Finally, the writer gives a worthy personality to a fallen city. Readers are poised to experience a fresh perspective on Oakland, as two star characters set out to rectify the wrongs in a segmented part of Oakland, California. Aurora, a skilled martial artist and bodybuilder, is poised to address the injustices in Oakland, California. The author enriches each chapter with songs, enhancing the atmosphere of a city...

This book excels in introducing my two favorite characters, Aurora and Sonny Trueheart, who have truly established themselves as the people's detective. It's a great, informative read that draws one into problems and solutions. I highly recommend this book to all!

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