ANONYMOUS REX

ANONYMOUS REX Eric Garcia (Random House, $23) A detective thriller featuring a velociraptor PI and a secret society of dinosaurs disguised as humans? Sounds really dumb, but Garcia's awesomely funny debut novel could become one of this fall's sleeper hits. Vincent Rubio has a washed-up Los Angeles detective agency, lousy credit, and a dead partner -- on top of an addiction to basil and a hard time keeping his tail tucked away in his latex human suit. A routine arson investigation promises to get him back on his (clawed) feet, until the case sends him to New York, the scene of his partner's suspicious death by runaway taxi. Witty, fast-paced detective work makes for a good mystery, but the story's sly, seamlessly conceived dinosaur underworld contains all the elements of a cult classic. A