In the noir history of Los Angeles, the unsolved murder mystery of Elizabeth Short, also known as the Black Dahlia, takes center stage. The book portrays a fictionalized account of the investigation carried out by LAPD cops Bucky Bleichert and Lee Blanchard, delving into the dark and twisted world of post-war Los Angeles. As the detectives navigate through police brutality, corruption, and personal entanglements, the story unfolds with elements of passion, deceit, and psychological tension, capturing the essence of the times and the characters involved.
The narrative follows Bucky Bleichert's relentless pursuit of the truth behind the Black Dahlia murder, intertwining it with his personal struggles and obsessions. Set against the backdrop of a seedy and corrupt Hollywood, the book presents a complex and gritty portrayal of the era, showcasing engaging character development, vivid descriptions, and a compelling plot filled with twists and turns that keep readers enthralled throughout the dark and eerie tale.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The narrative contains high levels of graphic violence, sexual content, racial slurs, and depictions of police brutality, which could be triggering for some readers.
Has Romance?
The novel incorporates a medium level of romantic elements centered around the relationships between the protagonists and their obsession with Kay Lake.
From The Publisher:
Bonus feature includes an original afterword by James Ellroy, titled "Hillikers," read by Stephen Hoye.
On January 15, 1947, the torture-ravished body of a beautiful young woman is found in a vacant lot. The victim makes headlines as the Black Dahlia-and so begins the greatest manhunt in California history.
Caught up in the investigation are Bucky Bleichert and Lee Blanchard. Both are obsessed with the Dahlia-driven by dark needs to know everything about her past, to capture her killer, to possess the woman even in death. Their quest will take them on a hellish journey through the underbelly of postwar Hollywood, to the core of the dead girl's twisted life, past the extremes of their own psyches-into a region of total madness.
Ratings (18)
Incredible (2) | |
Loved It (5) | |
Liked It (3) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (35):
Read It (17) | |
Want To Read (16) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (1) |
1 comment(s)
Many years ago I watched a movie based on this book and decided that I have to read a book believing that the book is always better than the movie. I'm not completely sure it was in this case.
The book was somehow upsetting to me. I don't know the reason. Maybe it is because Bucky Bleichert who tells this story is an unhappy character and his life and actions weren't nice. Or maybe it's the atmosphere of the whole book. Whatever it is, I couldn't read more then few chapters at once without being sad. This was slowing me down.
Plus, I was surprised how much I have actually remembered from the movie I watched more than seven years ago.
To me, it is not a crime story. It's more like the few years from the life of Bucky Bleichert told by himself thought the prism of the Black Dahlia case.
It wasn't a bad book but it also wasn't an easy read. I hadn't expected it will be so gloomy and sombre. Definitely not my cup of tea.
What can you read after
The Black Dahlia?
About the Author:
JAMES ELLROY was born in Los Angeles in 1948. He is the author of the Underworld U.S.A. Trilogy: American Tabloid, The Cold Six Thousand, and Blood's A Rover, and the L.A. Quartet novels: The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, L.A. Confidential, and White Jazz. He lives in Colorado.
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