Lots of fun period detail, engaging characters, and a decent mystery. But sadly, I've already read Hambly's BRIDE OF THE RAT GOD, which is pretty much this book except with cool supernatural elements and way more interesting Pekinese dogs. I guess it sounded good, take a previous fantasy and rework it into a straight mystery...anyway, I remember that book pretty well. I won't remember this one in six months (to be fair, that happens a lot these days). Her depiction of the era isn't as vibrant as what she does for 1800s New Orleans, but it is for me the best part - the movie stars and their antics, the empty spaces around Los Angeles, the smell of sage and chapparal on the hills. Her research is always amazing. If the series takes off, Hambly has lots of material to work with and I would read the next.

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