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anti_formalist12's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ohmyvisage's review against another edition
4.0
"And my death was a thrill, on suicide hill"
Oh yeah, this is where the rubber meets the road for Ellroy. Where all of his talent begins to show and where Lloyd Hopkins justifies himself as a classic detective character.
The amount of growth Elroy shows from Because the Night to Suicide Hill is astounding. While I did enjoy Brown's Requiem and Clandestine, the first two Hopkins books were decidedly uneven and, until I read Suicide Hill, unnecessary.
SH changed all that. Hitting the ground running with a tense and atmospheric introduction of The book's main villain, we don't even get to meet Hopkins until almost 40 pages into the book. The character work is also much more well-rounded than the previous two novels. Hopkins finally SHOWS why he is a hotshot detective that the boss have to tolerate, and the trio of antagonists all have fairly complex and deep pathologies, while also showing hidden depths and the capacity for change. It takes quite a bit of effort to generate sympathy for a character whose primary character tic is to hum the Jaws theme as he chases after women, but by the end he is redeemed and sympathized. It's an incredible piece of work.
The prose isn't quite as dynamic or engaging as future Ellroy novels, but it does still have plenty of interesting turns of phrase and shows his talent as a wordsmith. There's one particular passage, that I won't fully quote since it's fairly graphic, but shows that particular talent of his where it is a seemingly crass declaration, but actually says more about society and particularly men's views of women than not. I've been thinking about it constantly.
Perhaps it was the lowered expectations set by the first two novels, but suicide Hill delivers the goods and is worthy of inclusion with Ellroy's canonical works. Also, it heightens the previous two novels by incorporating themes from them into the conclusion. It is very much worth a read for even a casual fan of the demon dog
4.5/5
Oh yeah, this is where the rubber meets the road for Ellroy. Where all of his talent begins to show and where Lloyd Hopkins justifies himself as a classic detective character.
The amount of growth Elroy shows from Because the Night to Suicide Hill is astounding. While I did enjoy Brown's Requiem and Clandestine, the first two Hopkins books were decidedly uneven and, until I read Suicide Hill, unnecessary.
SH changed all that. Hitting the ground running with a tense and atmospheric introduction of The book's main villain, we don't even get to meet Hopkins until almost 40 pages into the book. The character work is also much more well-rounded than the previous two novels. Hopkins finally SHOWS why he is a hotshot detective that the boss have to tolerate, and the trio of antagonists all have fairly complex and deep pathologies, while also showing hidden depths and the capacity for change. It takes quite a bit of effort to generate sympathy for a character whose primary character tic is to hum the Jaws theme as he chases after women, but by the end he is redeemed and sympathized. It's an incredible piece of work.
The prose isn't quite as dynamic or engaging as future Ellroy novels, but it does still have plenty of interesting turns of phrase and shows his talent as a wordsmith. There's one particular passage, that I won't fully quote since it's fairly graphic, but shows that particular talent of his where it is a seemingly crass declaration, but actually says more about society and particularly men's views of women than not. I've been thinking about it constantly.
Perhaps it was the lowered expectations set by the first two novels, but suicide Hill delivers the goods and is worthy of inclusion with Ellroy's canonical works. Also, it heightens the previous two novels by incorporating themes from them into the conclusion. It is very much worth a read for even a casual fan of the demon dog
4.5/5
megaultratron's review against another edition
4.0
This one was great! Finally Lloyd faces some consequences and feels like he has something to fear in his life. The killers were an interesting group and it read a lot more like the other Ellroy books I love. Would recommend. BUT would I tell people they need to read the other books first? I guess it would be important but you would be ok just reading this maybe? Honestly though I would say this trilogy is for Ellroy fans first and not a good way to get acquainted with the man and his writing. Instead go read American Tabloid.
davidet's review against another edition
2.0
Wow, such hardboiled
Amazing poliziotti ribelli e criminali tosti
Very uomini duri
Best discorsi sul sesso
So violent
Iniziato e mollato a pagina 48.
Amazing poliziotti ribelli e criminali tosti
Very uomini duri
Best discorsi sul sesso
So violent
Iniziato e mollato a pagina 48.
happeningalmond's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bloodonsnow's review against another edition
3.0
This book was decent for most writers, but mediocre for Ellroy. It was, however, interesting to see him becoming - you can almost see the man that would eventually come to write LA Confidential in these pages, see some of the themes that would become the subjects of all of his work touched upon.
I do think this one got tied up in too neat a bow. Perhaps that was what his publisher wanted, perhaps it was what Ellroy thought his readers wanted. Either way, the tidy red bow on the bloody trilogy does a disservice. I'm glad he grew out of that.
I do think this one got tied up in too neat a bow. Perhaps that was what his publisher wanted, perhaps it was what Ellroy thought his readers wanted. Either way, the tidy red bow on the bloody trilogy does a disservice. I'm glad he grew out of that.
alexnaderwrites's review against another edition
3.0
This was the third Ellroy book I've read and my least favorite. Its not bad, but it is nowhere near on the same level as Black Dahlia or White Jazz
bundy23's review against another edition
3.0
The worst of the trilogy, once again Ellroy overwrites everything and its definitely for the best that he didn't write any more Lloyd Hopkins novels because it was really starting to get a little stale by the end.
cmorris2022's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know why but there is something about the Hopkins series that reminds me so much of a dirty version of Nero Wolfe. These books are so well written.
bloodonsnow's review against another edition
3.0
This book was decent for most writers, but mediocre for Ellroy. It was, however, interesting to see him becoming - you can almost see the man that would eventually come to write LA Confidential in these pages, see some of the themes that would become the subjects of all of his work touched upon.
I do think this one got tied up in too neat a bow. Perhaps that was what his publisher wanted, perhaps it was what Ellroy thought his readers wanted. Either way, the tidy red bow on the bloody trilogy does a disservice. I'm glad he grew out of that.
I do think this one got tied up in too neat a bow. Perhaps that was what his publisher wanted, perhaps it was what Ellroy thought his readers wanted. Either way, the tidy red bow on the bloody trilogy does a disservice. I'm glad he grew out of that.