"Metropolis" by B.A. Shapiro; Algonquin Books (355 pages, $27.95)
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Part mystery, part sociological study, B.A. Shapiro's new novel, "Metropolis," springs from a fascinating premise. Zach Davidson, former drug dealer gone straight, buys a castle-like storage facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, called Metropolis. These aren't the corrugated metal units you see out on the edge of town; these units are huge. Some are double-sized, with windows — almost like studio apartments. You see where I'm going here.