Full of retro-fab fun, this smokin’ first in a new series from Copp (The Actor’s Guide to Greed
) introduces the L.A. Dolls, three gutsy (and still very hot) retired female PIs. For seven years in the ’80s, the Dolls made Charlie’s Angels look like mere pussycats. Their lives have taken divergent paths since: tough Dani Mendez is now San Francisco’s assistant chief of police; sweet Claire Walker-Corley is a happy suburban wife and mom; and glamorous Tess Monahan-Cardoza is a wealthy widow. Then drug kingpin Benito Coronel is released from prison; Claire’s son, Zak, is attacked after a bachelor party; Dani’s PI son, Bowie, barely escapes a bullet during a routine investigation; and Tess’s stepdaughter, Bianca, is almost kidnapped. The L.A. Dolls must set aside their differences and reunite to protect their kids and put Coronel back behind bars. Copp’s thrill-a-minute pacing, vibrant style and likable characters make an unbeatable team. (July)