SOLVED. detective story published before 1962 [s]

[Enola]

Looking for a book for someone who started reading this book in 1962 when they were 9 years old but it was too hard and they stopped reading it. They remember that the main character was a detective who was trapped in New York City. We are not sure if the book is a children's book or if it was an adult book. The person thinks the detective was named or nicknamed Slimy/Slimey Lemuel. I have looked in the Detectionary but did not find any clues nor did I get any good leads using google search.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Enola, are you or that other person still looking for this, or did you find it?

[Enola]

No, we never found it and we have lost contact at this point. Always happy to learn the answer but I wouldn't put a lot of research into it now.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Did you ever find it?

[Enola]

No, we never did.

[Kate]

Enola ~~
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Good luck!

[Summer]

About 2 AM?

[Kris]

Enola, are you still looking for this book or did you find it?

[Enola]

I think Summer is correct, About 2 A.M. by COE, Charles Francis seems on target. Although the NYC setting didn't match the person's memory the rest matches up well.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

What do you see when you look at this cover?