CASUAL REX

PI Vincent Rubio hits the mean streets of LA once again in the prequel to Garcia's ANONYMOUS REX. The premise is the same: Dinosaurs are not extinct, but have become small enough to wear elaborate human disguises and walk among us, using herbs as recreational drugs. Once that's accepted, this is an enjoyable, hard-boiled, yet comic, detective novel. Jim Hanks (yes, he's Tom's brother) does a great job with the tough PI dialogue and atmosphere, and his timing and vocal ability are used to good effect as he interprets Garcia's cast of memorable dinosaurs (and a few humans). Hanks is fully involved in the characters and story, making this fun to listen to. M.A.M. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 02]