Emma's Reviews > The Black Dahlia

Well.

As is true of many goodreads readers, I am a serial book hopper.
NOT TODAY! I devoured this book like a starving woman!
Today I discovered for myself- (not you guys! You probably discovered it many books ago!)a whole new genre and author- according to Wiki- neo crime noir. James Ellroy. Absolutely brilliant.

This is based on a true and unsolved crime in the late 1940s in LA, in the time of the zoot suit troubles and disturbed young ex marines and soldiers home from the War. Every one wants to make a buck. You know...chain smoking, gun toting, gangsters and drug dealers, a police department riddled with corruption, pimps and ' hooers' (Ellroy's word)

Ellroy's mother was also murdered and I believe in interviews the author admits that this novel has all the more intensity, passion and obsession you might expect, as a result.

This was such a dark novel. I don't know why this was news to me when it comes from the 'noir' genre, but I really was genuinely surprised by its corrupt and sleazy undertones. The writing has a hard boiled feel to it that I loved.

All the characters were compromised and flawed. In the story everyone's lives were touched or ruined by the victim of the crime, the Black Dahlia, whether she was known to them personally or not.

Can't wait to read the next one and explore this whole new-to-me genre!