John Shaft, private detective and black Vietnam veteran, gets caught in the crossfire when New York City's underground erupts in internecine warfare. Something has happened to cut it all up and set it all off and it's Baby, addict daughter of Harlem Boss, Knocks Persons. She's been kidnapped by the Mob until Persons agrees to hand over the Spanish Harlem heroin trade. Shaft takes on the job and with the help of a black militant army, stormtroops Thompson Street, setting fires, coaching chaos, and rescuing needle-ridden Baby. Contemporary contours are hazy but the action's solid for a very readable chaser. (Kirkus Reviews)