THE SECRET SIGN OF THE LIZARD PEOPLE

A debut novel presents a Los Angeles murder story.

William “Beefy” Goodness and Jerome “Leafy” Green are about as different as two Los Angeles Police Department detectives can be. Although both served in the United States military and happen to be effective crime solvers, they are opposites in most other ways. Whether it’s their opinions on politics or fast food or the fact that Beefy is from Chicago and Leafy hails from Oakland, they manage to put aside their differences to form a cohesive team. Their current focus is the bizarre murder of a model on the famous Hollywood sign in LA. The woman was gunned down in broad daylight, but figuring out why and by whom is no simple matter. The two detectives may have their share of resources (not the least of which involve a dog that can pretend to sniff out liars and a helpful “tech-head” cop named Armand Hammer) yet the further they get on the case, the stranger it becomes. Not every foul thing that transpires in LA can be blamed on the Santa Ana winds. Something beyond the usual “California crazy” is afoot, and Beefy and Leafy need to figure it out before it’s too late. With names like Beefy, Leafy, and Armand Hammer, Buckley’s adventure unfolds in a zany manner. Amid all the investigative work, the main players find plenty of time for chitchat. Whether they are trying to figure out the latest scandal on the “C&N” news channel or wrap their heads around the idea that in America you can beat up whomever you want “as long as it’s in the name of the Judeo-Christian-God or some other authorized deity or force,” the comedy has a sardonic edge. A reliance on word games causes some humor to fall flat, as with the line “If POTUS and FLOTUS went riding in a Lotus, would SCOTUS even notice?” But in the end, silliness proves to be just the tip of a weird iceberg.

While not always amusing, this tale takes a playful yet cynical look at detective work.