by Robert Daley
New York's Finest have produced such heroes as Frank Serpico and Popeye Egan (of The French Connection fame). Now Robert Daley, a former NYPD deputy commissioner and author of 15 books, offers the story of another real cop: Robert Leuci, a baby-faced member of an elite special investigating unit. Detective Leuci became an undercover agent in 1971 and made cases against crooked lawyers, bondsmen, Mafia members, drug dealers and many fellow officers—including his own partners. The author claims "the dialogue has either been taken from concealed tape recordings...or been carefully reconstructed through interviews with the participants." Prince of the City reads for the most part like a novel; the only slow parts are Daley's labored attempts at pop psychiatry. Movie rights have already been acquired, with rumors that John Travolta will play Leuci. (Houghton Mifflin, $10.95)
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