L.A. Noir – Cannonball Read 17

Truth Killzzz

What Meets the Eye: A Mystery by Alex Kenna

October 24, 2023 by Halbs Leave a Comment

My goodness, what a read! If you like modern mysteries, seedy underbellies, art weirdies, or flawed people trying to do the right thing in an ambiguous world, this is yer book! Or audiobook! Or papyrus – however you enjoy books, try this one. Alex Kenna went to art school and law school and was a prosecutor; therefore, she is the perfect person to write a mystery set in the L.A. art world about an ex-cop trying to navigate the legal system. Kate Myles was a […]

“I will not let brutality rule my life.”

The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy

March 29, 2021 by Halbs Leave a Comment

This is a confusing one to review. I can’t call Ellroy’s Black Dahlia entertaining because the story is so brutal, misogynist, racist, and disturbing. It is, however, compelling. Just like the characters in the book, I couldn’t leave the mystery alone. Who was the Black Dahlia? Who killed her? Why? The book is unsettling, and necessarily so. I wouldn’t recommend reading it if the topics of rape or other forms of brutality are topics best not brought up for you at this time. While this […]

“Everyone loves a beautiful dead girl.”

Windhall by Ava Barry

March 21, 2021 by Halbs 2 Comments

Windhall is a novel about Hollywood, the way men treat women, fame, obsession, and Los Angeles. Hailey is an antisocial journalist at a counterculture zine turned blog (I think) in LA. He is obsessed with the decades old murder of a Hollywood star at the home of an infamous director. His obsession weaves in with his own family’s story, as well as the DNA of modern day Los Angeles. It’s hard for him to separate the glamour and allure of the city with the facts, […]

More Marlowe

The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler

August 16, 2019 by Halbs Leave a Comment

“Organized crime is just the dirty side of the sharp dollar.” “What’s the clean side?” “I never saw it. Let’s have a drink.” If quotes like that excite you, and you tend to view the world through a haze of cigarette smoke and gimlet fog, then this book could very well be for you. The Long Goodbye is Raymond Chandler’s sixth novel featuring the jaded private dick with a heart of…silver, Philip Marlowe. It’s not the best in the series, but it’s towards the top. […]

It’s like you don’t even take the apocalypse seriously.

April 29, 2016 by Emmalita Leave a Comment

I am a big fan of Richard Kadrey’s Sandman Slim series. It is a crazy, operatic, dark, violent wild ride that regularly goes off the rails, spins out of control and then sticks the landing. If you like urban fantasy, noir-ish mystery and aren’t offended by god’s name being taken in vain, you should read it. I was giddy with excitement when I read that Kadrey has released a new book and that it’s the first book in a new series. The Everything Box is […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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