Book Cover

But there was no escape from the Black Dahlia.

# Review

I had wanted to read Ellroy’s novels after watching L.A. Confidential and this is the first book in his L.A. Quartet series.. Inspired by the real-life gruesome murder of Elizabeth Short, this gritty crime novel follows two detectives, the reserved Bucky Bleichert and the hotheaded Lee Blanchard, as they are drawn into a complex murder investigation.

The story takes place in 1940s Los Angeles and Ellroy provides interesting cultural and social context based on thorough research. Ellroy’s LA is one that is dark and filled with vice, avarice, and cynicism. Ellroy’s world is filled with corrupt cops, self-interested criminals, and complicated relationship dynamics. The themes are almost all taboo, ranging from violence to sexual fixation. The plot itself is full of grotesque twists and turns which actually caught me off guard. Maybe because I read this book during the final hours of a long-haul flight, but I found all of the diverting plotlines distracting and the narrative to be a tad on the slower side. Despite these shortfalls, the novel was very enthralling.

# Conclusion

Definitely a very heavy read.

# Overall rating: 7.6

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