Stephanie S. reviewed on + 168 more book reviews
This is a very dark book, and written in a very "noir" style. James Ellroy's mother was murdered when he was 10 years old, and of course it affected his life. He grew up angry and very lost--and fascinated with serial murderers, in particular the Black Dahlia case, which he has written about extensively. This book chronicles his attempts years later, as an adult, to go back and solve his mother's murder, but he also tells of his harrowing youth--much of it mired in drugs and violence. Parts of this book were very hard to read about. But the writing is vivid and very urgent, and Ellroy obviously is a very talented writer. I am glad I read this book.
