A review by adampm97
American Tabloid by James Ellroy

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Grimey dark and violent, really doesn't pull any punches. Not all just style though, the plotting is really well done and the three main characters are all sympathetic (relatively) in their own ways. Over the course of the novel each of them became my favourites at certain points. Ellroy is really good at exposing how crime, intelligence, assassinations and blackmailing, all works. At times I was surprised by how violent this is but it's never gratuitous, and written very matter-of-factly. Highlights would have to be the Bay of Pigs sequence and really most of the last half of the book. Again I want to commend Ellroy for making three horrible guys basically quite loveable. I'll miss hanging out with Big Pete!