Brown's Requiem by James Ellroy
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Book Reviews of Brown's Requiem
Book Review: Great P.I. Fiction
Summary: 5 Stars
I am not a James Ellroy fan. In fact, "Brown's Requiem" is the only novel of his that I have read, because it is the only one of his books I've found that is a straight private detective story. And as an example of the that genre, this books stands among the best. Ellroy's hero, Fritz Brown, is everything a good P.I. should be; world weary, cynical, alcoholic and carrying heavy baggage from his past. He also has plenty of good character eccentricities, like a fascination for classical music. He is also prone to make that classic P.I. mistake, to fall in love with a woman he knows he probably shouldn't fall in love with.All of this said the book takes some unexpected twists and turns. Brown ends up investigating his own client, his romantic interest turns out to have a VERY complicated past and his case turns out to be far more elaboarate than it first appears. All of this leads to a violent and satisfying climax, like any good P.I. novel should. Fans of P.I. masters such Andrew Vachss, George Pellecanos and yes, Raymond Chandler, out to be right at home with Fritz Brown.
Book Review: Brown's Requiem
Summary: 5 Stars
This book differs from Ellroy's later work in that it pays lip service to the conventions of the private eye story. Don't kid yourself; this is not a conventional crime novel. Narrator Fritz Brown combines intellectual snobbery with a casual sort of brutality and not too latent racism. Fat Dog Baker is as finely developed a psychopath as Dudley Smith or Coleman Maskie. Brown's childhood best friend is a twisted allusion to Mycroft Holmes. The title suggests that Brown finds redemption through his experiences in the book. I think you'll find that it suggests it with a smirk. This book is a fine example of something simple done almost perfectly, a accomplishment far more difficult than it seems.
IMHO this book is on a par with the LA books, and head and shoulders over "American Tabloid."
Book Review: More than a great read
Summary: 5 Stars
I have a special place in my heart for this book. It is nowhere near the league of "L.A. Confidential" or "American Tabloid," but it is still very good. I first read this about eight or nine years ago, right around the time "L.A. Confidential was first released in hardback. It was my first experience with Ellroy, and all I wanted to do when I finished was suck in the rest of his work. This is a super hard-boiled detective story the way they should be done. It's got murder, arson, porno, loads of shady characters, you name it. The real plus to this book is the ending, which is among the most satisfying I have ever read. Raymond Chandler never did 'em like this.Book Review: One of Elroy's Best
Summary: 5 Stars
Hits like a freight train with his earlier "bang bang" style that still moves well before his more recent scratchy, staccato style that's much more difficult. Think of this as right on the edge stopping just short of a work like Bukowski's hard boiled "Pulp" ... absolutely one of the very best hard boiled detective stories.Book Review: Excellent First Novel
Summary: 4 Stars
I want to start off by saying that I will not recap the book, it isn't my style, I am not good at it, and I think that is can give too much away for someone who has not read the book yet. Also, I am sure others have and why do it again?
What I will tell you is my impression and the tone of the book. This book, like all of Ellroy's books the atmosphere practically jumps off the page. Without being wordy like some authors he manages to set the scene, the emotion and the feel in just a few sentences. This book is dark, it is fiery, but more than that is shockingly emotional. It isn't overt, and it takes a second read to really feel it, but there is a subtext to the characters that most will lose in the action and the Ellroyisms. There is good action, there is snappy dialogue and there are a few twists.
I will say this as the only negative. For some reason Ellroy telegraphs the ending, and that was bothersome. I didn't mind too much because to read Ellroy is to appreciate the road not the destination. Read this book, it is worth the time.