My Dark Places

My Dark Places by James Ellroy is split into 4 parts. The first part focuses on the real life detectives as they investigate the murder of Ellroy's mother in the late 50's. The second details Ellroy's life after her death. Which was pretty much drugs, booze and petty burglery until he pulls himself out of it. The third part features Bill Stoner the man who helps Ellroy with his mother's cold...more

My Dark Places by James Ellroy is split into 4 parts. The first part focuses on the real life detectives as they investigate the murder of Ellroy's mother in the late 50's. The second details Ellroy's life after her death. Which was pretty much drugs, booze and petty burglery until he pulls himself out of it. The third part features Bill Stoner the man who helps Ellroy with his mother's cold case in the mid 90's. Not only touching on the Ellroy murder, but also reaching into other cases Stoner was still trying to tie up. In the final part Ellroy finally starts looking into his mother's family and trying to find out more about her and what her early life was like. It's a good book and it's extremely frank in its language and details of murders and the Ellroy family life.   hide

This is James Ellroy's story. This explains his interest and expertise with LA Crime Mystery with the murder of his own mother when he was a small boy.

This was really compelling - I'm on board for his other work now.

Ellroy makes Bukowski look an amateur.

Engaging, well-written and very fucked up. Much like the author. I enjoyed reading about specific details in his life that drove him to make the decisions he has made. How many people in jail or living on the street have a similar story? How is it that Ellroy becomes a success and they don't? Life is weird.

Incredible prose, as always. Only this time the subject is his strange childhood and its everlasting impression on him and his writing.

sad.

Own a signed copy of it!!!

I normally never read autobiographies, but this is one of the most extraordinary stories I've ever read.