The conceit is an interesting one: a hard-boiled detective story set in a near future where “evolved” talking, dressed, career-driven animals are the norm, punishment for crimes consists of cold storage (literally), and asking questions is terribly rude unless you have an investigator’s license. However, the execution leaves a little to be desired. Why wouldn’t an evolved animal, such as a kangaroo, make use of its assets more when in a tight spot, such as those killer feet? What significance does crime-solving have in a world where you can forget the day’s events by snorting the legal and encouraged drug Forgettol? Or maybe the hard-boiled detective novel doesn’t really hold my interest under any circumstances. Regardless, this one is entertaining enough for a throwaway novel, which is all it aims to be.