bossbg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jackpumpkinhead's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Frequently boring for long stretches of UAES paranoia, but Upshaw is a great character to follow and Meeks grows on you. The murder case at the heart of the book is the best part, and it was a solid conclusion. I just can't act like I didn't have to force myself to read huge chunks of this, which was not a problem with Black Dahlia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Murder, Racism, and Hate crime
itsmarkyall's review against another edition
5.0
It's unfair how good a writer James Ellroy is. I'll read a chapter, put the book down, and say, "Damn." There's no other word that can describe this guy's talent.
The Big Nowhere may be one of the best murder mysteries that I've read. It kept me guessing until the killer was revealed and contained enough twist and turns that I never knew what was going to happen. There's some real "holy shit" moments thought the book. Easy 5 stars.
The Big Nowhere may be one of the best murder mysteries that I've read. It kept me guessing until the killer was revealed and contained enough twist and turns that I never knew what was going to happen. There's some real "holy shit" moments thought the book. Easy 5 stars.
jimmypat's review
4.0
Electrifying. Ellroy is an absolute master of keeping a sprawling plot moving forward with total intensity. I’m not sure anyone else can write crime novels with such authority, passion, and bravado. A warning however: this book is grisly and not for the faint of heart- I really didn’t want to read some of the sections of the book. With a lesser writer, I doubt I would have made it through. I’m eagerly ready to read LA Confidential.
vince_m's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Fantastic read. I'm a jaded reader so it's hard to shock and suprise me but this book delivered both in spades. It's scary, well-written, atmospheric and astonishingly compelling. James Ellroy is a man after my own heart and well on the way to becoming a favorite author.
jefecarpenter's review against another edition
2.0
I wasn't expecting to run out of gas in my noir fling, but the banality of evil in the protagonists just wore me out; the dirty violence for trashy pleasures just started looking like dirty violence, you know?!
8797999's review against another edition
4.0
Superb. The second entry to the LA Quartet and my second experience of James Ellroy. What a story, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a very thrilling read with some superb characters and several unexpected twists to the plot. Not one for the feint hearted. I really liked Danny as a character and for some reason Dudley Smith. He is a very good villain and easy to hate but also somewhat charming (in my opinion).
I would have liked it to be a bit deeper into the communism side of things but as far as the investigation went it was edge of your seat, full of lies, blood and corruption. Very visceral.
The next in the series is LA Confidential and I think many have that pegged as the best of the quartet so I am looking forward to experiencing it, I haven’t seen the film so am going in with preconceptions.
I would have liked it to be a bit deeper into the communism side of things but as far as the investigation went it was edge of your seat, full of lies, blood and corruption. Very visceral.
The next in the series is LA Confidential and I think many have that pegged as the best of the quartet so I am looking forward to experiencing it, I haven’t seen the film so am going in with preconceptions.
christinefredrickson's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
clarkness's review against another edition
5.0
imho a much stronger, more interesting story than the black dahlia. You can really see the seeds of where LA Confidential comes from in this one. A great Los Angeles noir.