L.A.Noir: The Lloyd Hopkins Trilogy – “Blood on the Moon”, “Because the Night”, “Suicide Hill”
Product Description
A single-volume edition of three of the novels featuring Detective Sergeant Lloyd Hopkins of Los Angeles. The first involves the apparently random killings of 20 women, the second a multiple murder committed with a pre-Civil-War revolver, and the third a conspiracy of police corruption.
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L.A.Noir: The Lloyd Hopkins Trilogy – “Blood on the Moon”, “Because the Night”, “Suicide Hill”
I am a huge James Ellroy fan – having read almost all of his work – and while this trilogy is good, it is far from his best work. For example American Tabloid, LA Confidential and Black Dahlia are all much better.
If you are not familiar with James Ellroy it is worth noting that his prose style does not find universal favour. He writes in very short, punchy sentences – personally I find it an effective and entertaining style but it does irritate others.
It is interesting to note that in his introduction Ellroy claims that he wrote the second and third parts of the trilogy because after completing the first part he read Red Dragon by Thomas Harris which he acknowledges as a far superior book and felt he need to do better. On one level he is correct, Red Dragon is a superior book and Will Graham is a superior and more interesting ‘hero’. However, he is harsh on himself – these are still very good books.
As is usual in Ellroy novels he concentrates on the psychological motivation of the main characters (sometimes, slightly simplistically, tying the whole personality back to a defining moment from childhood). Ellroy has the skill to carry this off and it works well (although he does flirt with caricature).
Overall, very good and certainly well worth reading although, in my opinion, not the place to start if you are new to Ellroy
Rating: 4 / 5
Expecting the brillinace of ‘The Black Dahlia’, ‘L.A. Confidential’ or ‘American Tabloid’? Well tough, buddy, you’re not gonna get it! But you should read it anyways. Why? Cause the promising newcomer that wrote ‘Brown’s Requiem’ had to evolve into the Big Boogaloo that wrote ‘Dahlia’ somehow, and these three novels show you pretty much the path he took. The first one is pure macho hero-worship with Ellroy writing about a brilliant, ‘sex-obsessed’ cop tracking a monster. Second, same, but the monster there rocks. Then the third, and Ellroy’s hero is less brilliant, and he shows his new discovery: ‘Macho’ = ‘Fear’ = ‘B.S.’. Book one is by the guy that wrote ‘Requiem’, book three is by the guy that wrote ‘Dahlia’. If you’re a fan, its like the proud moment when a baby learns its first swear word.
Rating: 4 / 5
I was looking forward to reading this trilogy with great anticipation. Having only recently found Ellroy, I am rapidly devouring everything he’s written. The first book in the trilogy,’Blood on the Moon’ seemed to encompass everything I have come to know and love about Ellroy’s work. The flawed hero, made human through he’s weaknesses, a series of horrific crimes, a bleak dark view of LA wonderfully evoked. ‘Blood on the Moon’ is a great book.
It’s just a shame that the concluding two thirds of the trilogy left me empty. For the character of Lloyd Hopkins, when it’s bad it just keeps getting worse. The stories seems more fanciful and contrived, plot comes second to Hopkins. Hopkins problems drive the character, becoming more important than showing any real growth or development.
In the end I was disappointed, everything that marks Ellroy as one of the truely great crime writers is here, but the elemts just didn’t end up working together. The experience hasn’t stopped me reading Ellroy, or loving his work. This trilogy just ends up being below his usually high excellent standard.
Rating: 3 / 5
Unfortunately, this book is not the sequel to American Tabloid. Rather, it is the three Lloyd Hopkins novels in one volume. These are well worth reading, however. They show James Ellroy early in his career. The promise of the great writer Ellroy would become is on display in these earlier works.
Rating: 3 / 5
Do not give up on Ellroy because of LA NOIR. This collection is his weaker stuff. Try the LA Quartet( The BLack Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, LA Confidential, White Jazz) and American Tabloid. These are much better examples of Ellroys prose.
Rating: 5 / 5