L.A. Confidential (La Quartet) (Mysterious press)

by James Ellroy

Christmas 1951, Los Angeles: a city where the police are as corrupt as the criminals. Six prisoners are beaten senseless in their cells by cops crazed on alcohol. For the three LAPD detectives involved, it will expose the guilty secrets on which they have built their corrupt and violent careers. The novel takes these cops on a sprawling epic of brutal violence and the murderous seedy side of Hollywood. One of the best (and longest) crime novels ever written, it is the heart of Ellroy's four-novel masterpiece, the LA Quartet, and an example of crime writing at its most powerful.

• ISBN10: 0446674249
• ISBN13: 9780446674249
• Publish Date: 1 September 1997 (first published 1 June 1990)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Grand Central Publishing
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 512
• Language: English

Reviews

[Michael @ Knowledge Lost]

I remember the movie from a while ago, and I do enjoy a good James Ellroy novel, so I was excited to read LA Confidential. To my surprised this book seems a bit all over the place, more so than usual and at times I struggled to keep up with what is happening. I know Ellroy likes to have a lot happening at his complex plots do come together but I did feel like it was a bit too much like a chore to keep up in this book.

LA Confidential is about organized crime, politics, corruption, drugs, pornography, prostitution, racism and like other books in the LA Quartet series, it is centred around a real crime; this time it’s the Bloody Christmas scandal. It’s an interesting technic Ellroy uses; true crime as the bases of his novels. I always enjoy reading his novels, but sometimes I think he goes over the top with the racism and the abuse towards homosexuals; I know and understand it was a sign of the times, but sometimes I wish it was just toned down a little, it doesn’t seem necessary. One think I did find interesting, is the use of Mickey Cohen in the book, and the more I read about this gangster the more I think Patrick Fischler was just a perfect choice for him in the game L.A. Noire.

While I think the three protagonists was a good way to do a complex storyline, I did feel lost at times. I would recommend the Black Dahlia as a better choice for someone new to Ellroy. After reading this book, I sat down and rewatched the movie. I’m pleased that the movie did do the book justice and I’m pleased to have read this book. I can’t wait to read more.