Peepland

Life is cheap, unfair, and short in this sleaze-soaked ode to ’80s New York City. When a tape of a streetside murder ends up in peep show performer Roxy Bell’s hands, she finds herself entangled in a web of conspiracy, corruption, and bribery. With the help of her punk-rock ex-boyfriend, she’s after the truth–but the truth is far more dangerous than she knows. Novelists Faust (Money Shot) and Phillips (3 the Hard Way) bring an aching humanity to Times Square’s seamy past: Roxy and her fellow performers are depicted with a warmth that will make readers root for them immediately. Italian artist Camerini delivers a workmanlike outing, however, avoiding the aesthetic excess of the era—a choice that taps the brakes on some of the excitement. While none of the story is new, the authors bring dynamic flair to their nihilistic noir. (Aug.)