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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I honestly didn't like the graphic violence and depravity in this book. Ellroy's afterward was interesting, because he explains how he became enthralled with the Black Dahlia case. The author follows the details of the murder case with accuracy of what is available about the case.
Part of why I didn't finish is that I was listening to the audiobook and lost my place and didn't feel like figuring out where I was. Because even though I was halfway through, I just didn't care enough.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence
Moderate: Death, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racial slurs
Minor: Rape, Suicide
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
The last book Ellroy wrote in conventional prose, it's still packed with violence, corruption, racism, misogyny, drugs, murder, sexual violence, sexual obsession, bad cops, and bad cops tormwented with a sliver of conscience. The search for the killer of Elizabeth Short is riven with politics and venality, and one cop who becomes utterly obsessed and his partner tagged along reluctantly for the ride, becoming drawn into the madness. Still, at heart, a tightly plotted whodunnit that unravels amidst the high-strung psychosis and melodrama.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I know it's a classic. I like suspense. I wanted to like it. But I didn't. Even for an average-lengthed book, it felt long and overraught. For whatever reason that was my reaction, but Ellroy is a good writer so worth a shot to try him out.