Books Like...

'White Jazz' by James Ellroy is the final installment in the L.A. Quartet series, delving into the unimaginable corruption within the police department and the intrigue between major players in the LAPD. The story follows a detective lawyer attempting to solve puzzles while dealing with criminal acts and memories of past actions. The narrative is characterized by a gritty, noir style filled with violence, gore, and racism, presented through a fragmented stream of consciousness that keeps readers engaged with its tension and pace.

Set in corrupt 1950s Los Angeles, "L.A. Confidential" by James Ellroy follows a complex web of intrigue within the LAPD involving three different police officers: Ed Exley, Bud White, and Jack Vincennes. The book delves into themes of corruption, obsession, and brutality, presenting a noir epic filled with suspense, action, and unexpected twists. Ellroy's writing style is described as brutal, clipped, and terse, with short chapters that make the book hard to put down.

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.

A thrilling novel that weaves its way through plot lines, characters, events, and discovery. The story revolves around the 50's red scare and a number of murders in LA, told from three different police officers' points of view. It delves into the dark side of 1950s Los Angeles, exploring themes of police corruption, serial murder, Communist witch hunts, and the underworld of homosexual prostitution.

"My Dark Places" by James Ellroy is a memoir that delves into the author's own childhood, focusing on his mother's unsolved murder and his quest to find the true culprit many years later. Ellroy intricately weaves a narrative that reads like fiction, revealing haunting truths about his past in a brutally honest fashion. The book combines elements of a true crime investigation with a personal confession, offering insights into the dark and violent art that shapes Ellroy's literary obsessions.

"American Tabloid" is a fast-paced and complex thriller that interprets historical events through the eyes of a hardboiled crime novelist. Set in the late 1950s to the assassination of JFK, the book delves into the seedy underbelly of America, showcasing corruption, crime, violence, betrayal, and political machinations involving real-life figures like JFK, RFK, J. Edgar Hoover, and Jimmy Hoffa. The narrative weaves together a mix of fictional characters like Ward Littell, Pete Bondurant, and Kemper Boyd with historical events such as the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Crisis. The writing style, characterized by short, staccato sentences and a tabloid-like approach, captivates readers with its gritty and detailed portrayal of a dark period in American history.

The Cold Six Thousand, the second book in the Underworld USA series by James Ellroy, delves into the dark, amoral underbelly of America, portraying gratuitous violence, corruption, and conspiracy theories. The novel intricately weaves together historical events such as the turmoil following JFK's assassination, the Vietnam War, and the rise and fall of Martin Luther King, all while showcasing morally repugnant characters that readers end up caring about. Ellroy's unique writing style, with clipped sentences and a rhythm akin to poetry, propels the plot forward at a relentless pace, creating a complex and enthralling narrative that covers crime fiction, conspiracy theories, and American history.

Widespread Panic by James Ellroy is a fast-paced novel set in 1950s Hollywood, following the story of Freddy Otash, a corrupt cop turned private investigator who delves into the dark underbelly of the city while working for scandal magazines. The book is filled with salacious gossip about movie stars, scandals, and sleaze, all narrated in a compressed, intense writing style that reads like a lush prose poem. Ellroy's unique language and alliteration bring the postwar Los Angeles setting to life, intertwining real-life historical figures with fictional characters, creating a vivid portrayal of a world filled with secrets, crimes, and personal struggles.

The narrative of Widespread Panic revolves around Otash's quest to solve mysterious murders of women he knew personally, all while dealing with his own desires and conflicts. The book's high concept nature, with Otash stuck in purgatory and forced to confess his dreams and sins, adds a layer of complexity to the story. Ellroy's masterful historicity and verbal artistry shine through the book, making it a challenging yet rewarding read for fans of crime fiction and historical novels.

Blood on the Moon by James Ellroy follows the story of Sergeant Lloyd Hopkins, a brilliant but troubled detective, as he investigates a series of murders spanning nearly two decades. The book delves into the psychological aspects of both Hopkins and the killer, exploring their disturbed psyches and traumatic pasts. The narrative alternates between the perspectives of Hopkins and the killer, highlighting their contrasting paths in life. Hopkins uncovers a connection between the murders through meticulous investigation, while the killer remains elusive, preying on young women with careful planning and varying methods.

The book is set in a noir, gritty version of Los Angeles, depicting the dark underbelly of the city and the complexities of its characters. Ellroy's writing style is described as intense and visceral, driving home the violence and darkness of the story. The plot unfolds at a fast pace, with the tension escalating as Hopkins closes in on the killer, revealing a cat-and-mouse dynamic between the two characters. Despite flaws in the writing and character behavior, the book offers a compelling exploration of trauma, obsession, and the blurred lines between good and evil.

'Hollywood Babylon I' by Kenneth Anger is a sensational delve into the scandalous and sordid tales of Old Hollywood, spanning the 1920s to the 1950s. The book uncovers the hidden horrors and excesses of Hollywood's golden age, shedding light on the moral hypocrisies, debauchery, and amoral behavior of the stars of that era. Kenneth Anger, a filmmaker well-versed in decadence, serves as a salacious raconteur, providing a racy whirlwind tour of the dark corners of Golden Age Tinsel Town. The book is filled with lurid anecdotes, insider gossip, and captivating stories that reveal the seamy underbelly of the movie-making industry, all presented in a style that exudes caustic wit and iconoclastic flair.