This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

1. 1. The Black Dahlia

   

   This noir crime novel is set in 1940s Los Angeles and follows two LAPD officers, Bucky Bleichert and Lee Blanchard, as they investigate the brutal murder of a young woman, dubbed the Black Dahlia by the press. As they delve deeper into the gruesome crime, they are drawn into a dark world of corruption, obsession, and madness. The case becomes personal for both men, testing their friendship and sanity, and leading them down a path of self-destruction.

   The 2068th Greatest Book of All Time

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2. 2. The Big Nowhere

   

   "The Big Nowhere" is a gripping crime novel set in 1950s Los Angeles, where three protagonists find themselves entangled in a web of corruption, violence, and deceit. As they navigate the dark underbelly of Hollywood and the police force, their lives become intertwined in a dangerous investigation involving murder, organized crime, and political scandal. With a relentless pace and intricate plot twists, the book explores themes of loyalty, ambition, and the blurred lines between good and evil in a city where everyone has something to hide.

   The 2291st Greatest Book of All Time

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3. 3. L.A. Confidential

   

   Set in 1950s Los Angeles, the novel follows three LAPD officers with different personalities and methods, who find themselves entwined in a web of corruption, sex, and murder. As they navigate the city's seedy underbelly, each officer faces his own moral dilemmas and personal demons, all while trying to solve a series of gruesome murders. The narrative explores themes of crime, power, and the thin line between right and wrong in a noir-style setting.

   The 2515th Greatest Book of All Time

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4. 4. White Jazz

   

   "White Jazz" by James Ellroy is a gritty crime novel set in 1950s Los Angeles, following the life of corrupt police officer Dave Klein. As he navigates the treacherous world of organized crime, racial tensions, and personal demons, Klein becomes entangled in a web of deceit and violence that threatens to consume him. With its dark and atmospheric prose, this gripping tale explores the blurred lines between law and corruption, ultimately questioning the nature of justice in a city consumed by power and greed.

   The 5368th Greatest Book of All Time

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5. 5. American Tabloid

   

   "American Tabloid" is a gritty crime novel that delves into the underbelly of American society during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The narrative follows three rogue law enforcement officers involved in various illicit activities, including drug trafficking, union corruption, and political conspiracies. The story intertwines with real historical events leading up to the JFK assassination, suggesting a sinister link between organized crime, the CIA, and the highest levels of government.

   The 6274th Greatest Book of All Time

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6. 6. La Confidential

   

   Set in the gritty underbelly of 1950s Los Angeles, this gripping crime novel weaves a complex tapestry of corruption, betrayal, and ambition within the LAPD. The story follows three distinctly different police officers—an ambitious careerist, a brutish enforcer, and a morally conflicted detective—as they navigate a labyrinth of deceit and violence. Their paths converge in the investigation of a brutal mass murder at a downtown coffee shop, unraveling a web of organized crime, political machinations, and personal vendettas. As secrets are exposed and alliances shift, the officers are forced to confront their own demons, leading to a dramatic and explosive climax.

   The 14983rd Greatest Book of All Time

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7. 7. Blood's A Rover

   

   Set against the turbulent backdrop of the late 1960s and early 1970s, this gripping narrative weaves a complex web of political intrigue, crime, and personal vendettas. The story follows a cast of morally ambiguous characters, including a rogue FBI agent, a private investigator, and a mobster, as they navigate a world rife with corruption and conspiracy. Their paths intersect in a high-stakes game of power and deception, where the lines between right and wrong blur, and the pursuit of justice becomes a dangerous obsession. As secrets unravel and alliances shift, the characters are forced to confront their own demons in a relentless quest for redemption.

8. 8. My Dark Places

   An L.A. Crime Memoir

   

   In this gripping memoir, the author delves into the haunting mystery of his mother's unsolved murder, intertwining his personal journey with a meticulous investigation into the dark underbelly of Los Angeles. As he revisits the crime scene and sifts through police records, he confronts his own turbulent past, grappling with feelings of guilt, loss, and obsession. The narrative unfolds with raw honesty, blending true crime with a poignant exploration of familial bonds and the relentless pursuit of truth, ultimately revealing the profound impact of violence and the quest for closure.

9. 9. Brown's Requiem

   

   Set in the gritty underworld of Los Angeles, the story follows Fritz Brown, a disgraced former LAPD officer turned private investigator, as he navigates a labyrinth of deceit, corruption, and betrayal. Hired by a peculiar caddy to investigate his sister's relationship with a wealthy older man, Brown finds himself entangled in a web of crime that stretches far beyond his initial assignment. As he delves deeper, he uncovers a sinister plot involving arson, murder, and a haunting past that threatens to consume him. The narrative is a dark exploration of obsession and redemption, painted against the backdrop of a city where morality is as elusive as justice.
10. 10. Clandestine

    

    Set in the gritty underbelly of 1950s Los Angeles, this noir thriller follows the turbulent journey of a young LAPD officer, Fred Underhill, whose ambitions and moral compass are tested when he becomes embroiled in a murder investigation. As he delves deeper into the case, Underhill uncovers a web of corruption, deceit, and betrayal that stretches far beyond the crime itself, forcing him to confront his own demons and the dark realities of the world he inhabits. The narrative is a gripping exploration of ambition, obsession, and the blurred lines between justice and vengeance.

11. 11. Killer On The Road

    

    Set against the backdrop of a gritty, crime-ridden America, this chilling narrative delves into the mind of a disturbed serial killer as he embarks on a cross-country spree of violence and terror. The story unfolds through the killer's own perspective, offering a haunting glimpse into his twisted psyche and the dark impulses that drive him. As he evades capture, the narrative explores themes of alienation, obsession, and the thin line between sanity and madness, creating a tense and unsettling atmosphere that keeps readers on edge.

12. 12. The Cold Six Thousand

    

    Set against the tumultuous backdrop of 1960s America, this gripping narrative delves into the dark underbelly of power, corruption, and conspiracy. The story follows three men—an ambitious FBI agent, a mob-connected ex-cop, and a ruthless hitman—whose lives intertwine amidst the chaos following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. As they navigate a world rife with racial tension, political intrigue, and organized crime, their personal ambitions and moral dilemmas lead them down a path of violence and betrayal, revealing the sinister forces shaping the nation's destiny.

13. 13. Perfidia

    

    Set against the backdrop of World War II, this gripping narrative delves into the dark underbelly of Los Angeles during the days following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The story weaves together the lives of a diverse cast of characters, including a Japanese-American forensic chemist, a corrupt LAPD captain, and a young woman caught in a web of intrigue and betrayal. As racial tensions escalate and paranoia grips the city, these individuals navigate a world of deceit, ambition, and moral ambiguity, revealing the complex interplay of power, loyalty, and survival in a time of national crisis.

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14. 14. The Best American Noir Of The Century

    

    This gripping anthology brings together a century's worth of the most compelling and darkly atmospheric stories from the noir genre, showcasing the talents of various authors who have mastered the art of suspense and moral ambiguity. Each tale delves into the shadowy corners of human nature, exploring themes of crime, betrayal, and the blurred lines between right and wrong. With its richly drawn characters and intricate plots, the collection offers a haunting glimpse into the underbelly of society, leaving readers enthralled by the tension and complexity of the human condition.

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15. 15. The Enchanters

    

    Set in 1962 Los Angeles after Marilyn Monroe’s death, a corrupt ex-cop turned fixer and tabloid sleuth, Freddy Otash, is hired to investigate a suspected cover-up. His search plunges him through studio backlots, mob joints, and crooked precincts, colliding with Hollywood power brokers and political operatives orbiting the Kennedys and Howard Hughes. The deeper he digs, the more the case twists into blackmail and violence, forcing him to face his complicity in a city built on secrets.

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16. 16. Red Sheet

    

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17. 17. L.A Noir

    

18. 18. Dick Contino' Blues

    

19. 19. Hollywood Nocturnes

    

    A visceral collection of hard-boiled noir tales set in mid-20th-century Los Angeles that follows cops, private eyes, celebrities and ordinary people driven by greed, lust and revenge. The stories expose corruption within law enforcement and the entertainment industry, blending brutal violence, moral ambiguity and dark humor, all rendered in terse, propulsive prose that evokes smoky bars, backlot glamour and ominous alleys. Recurring motifs—obsessive quests for truth, the blurring of justice and criminality, and the personal costs of ambition—bind the pieces into a cumulative, bleak portrait of a city rotting beneath its neon sheen.

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20. 20. The L.A. Quartet

    

    A quartet of hard‑edged crime novels set in 1940s–1950s Los Angeles that follows flawed cops, ruthless criminals, reporters and politicians as grisly murders, institutional corruption and political conspiracies unravel; with a noir atmosphere, intersecting investigations and obsessive quests for truth, the stories expose moral decay, racial and police violence, betrayals and cover‑ups beneath Hollywood’s glamour.