No Human Involved

When you first meet Munch Mancini and LAPD Detective Mace St. John, there's not much to like. Munch is an alcoholic, drug-addicted hooker, and Mace a tired cop with sad eyes and sallow skin. But readers are advised to stick with them because Seranella's first novel, set in 1970s L.A., has grit and authentic street life to spare. Mace wants to question Munch because a pimp known as Flower George has been murdered. Munch wants to leave the life, kick heroin and sober up. She gives Mace the slip and talks herself into a mechanic's job at Happy Jack's Auto Repair. Mace, who lives in a lovingly restored Pullman car, has another homicide on his hands when body parts turn up at nearby Ballona Creek. As Mace learns more about that victim while pressing his search for Munch, the two cases converge. Mace and Munch find themselves on a collision course with a very nasty motorcycle gang led by a sociopath who may be getting inside information from the police. The novel's title comes from a Wambaugh-worthy cop joke that's perfect for a book in which characters reveal more depth and humanity than first impressions indicate. (Aug.)