I don't give many books a full five stars, which should tell you all you need to know about my feelings on THE BLACK DAHLIA. Based on one of Hollywood's most brutal and baffling murder cases, Ellroy's novel is painstakingly researched, beautifully written, and believable. The atmosphere of a turbulent Los Angeles in the '40s drips from the pages, the characters all but walk off the page, and the intricate plot is masterfully handled. Dark, complex, with a sting like fine bourbon, THE BLACK DAHLIA is required reading.
