Lady Left

In this newest addition to the Lt. Nicky Rachmaninoff thrillers, Westbrook ( Nostalgia Kills ) once again delivers a mercilessly witty social satire, this time about the Hollywood leftist community. While vacationing with his family in Nicaragua, Rachmaninoff of the Beverly Hills police department becomes embroiled in a scheme to restore the Sandinistas to power. Masterminded by activist professor Cory Heard, the plan calls for digging up $1 billion worth of loot buried by former dictator Somoza. Rachmaninoff has barely survived the discovery of the treasure when Heard disappears into the jungle with the goods. The lieutenant picks up his trail in Beverly Hills, where a drug kingpin is plotting to steal the money from Heard in order to buy a movie studio. After Rachmaninoff finds the body of the drug dealer's closest competitor for the studio in front of police headquarters, he is pitted against killers and rapists, armed for the most part only with his wit. His repartee stands him in good stead when he has to outtalk a machine gun-wielding Sandinista who has his own plans for the money. Westbrook adeptly exercises the sophisticted riposte in a book distinguished by its poignant characters and well-paced plot. (Jan.)