A review by book_bookman
The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy

2.0

Similar to my thoughts on "L.A. Confidential", this is okayish for the bulk of the proceedings but fumbles in the resolution. The gritty, morally ambiguous cop/detective stuff is more effective here than it was in "L.A. Confidential" by virtue of being more grounded in reality, but in turn, it shoots itself in the foot with the true crime aspects. I'm a noted disliker of true crime and this doesn't escape the perils of incorporating real-life tragedy into the narrative. I can't profess to be an expert on the Black Dahlia case, but I can tell you that this is definitely an uncharitable portrayal of events. Suffice to say, I don't think I'll be reading another Ellroy novel anytime soon.
Also, part of me wonders if David Lynch is a fan of this novel given the similarities between the portrayal of Elizabeth Short and her influence on the characters in the novel and that of Laura Palmer in "Twin Peaks".