A case of love and squalor

the long version

"Someone is shooting dogs. Private detective Joe Andrews finds himself escaping an angry husband by climbing out a window. Outside, he runs into the police who are after the dog-killer, then undergoes a vicious grilling by two corrupt cops, and is thrown into a foul cell in the city jail. But the next day he is suddenly freed. His benefactor is the rich and powerful Harold Forrest, who hires Andrews to seize some explicit pornographic videos of Forrest's beautiful drug-addled granddaughter, Esme. When Andrews agrees, he is caught up in a rushing stream of events that involve a striking woman tormented by voices, the local gangster, and a vicious gang of kidnappers and drug-dealing pornographers who commit rape and murder without a qualm. Even as the clock ticks, and in spite of his best intentions, Andrews becomes involved with Esme. Will he be able to save Esme--and himself? and what evil is behind the dog killings?"--Page 4 of cover