Shortcut Man

The son of legendary film director Preston Sturges takes an evocative Raymond Chandler spin through crime-haunted Los Angeles with his first novel, which introduces problem-solver Dick Henry. Henry, who rides around in his '69 Cadillac Coupe de Ville convertible, backed up by sideman Enrique Montalvo Rojas and the Laurel Canyon Irregulars, cuts straight to your problem. A deadbeat tenant? First, he asks nice. Then muscle comes into play. But when porn king Artie Benjamin hires Henry to find out who's sleeping with his wife, it gets personal. The shortcut specialist learns his own latest affair is with the very same femme fatale. His work often puts this modern-day Marlowe into "an unprofessional, biblical rage." ("Moses did not come down from the mountain and file a grievance report. He smashed the evil he beheld.") The bad guys perhaps could be a trifle badder, but the writing is a pleasure to read. More Southern California shortcutting, please, Mr. Sturges. (Feb.)