Clandestine

by James Ellroy

Book Overview

In James Ellroy's riveting second novel, an ambitious beat cop is hot on the trail of a serial killer who frequents L.A. dive bars and preys on the fallen women he finds there. Los Angeles, 1951. For... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380805294
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.8" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Couldn't put it down!

This is the first hard-boiled/noir book that I have ever read, and it was really wonderful! The dialouge is rich and snappy, and the characters are memorable. This novel peaked my interest in the noir genre of films and books again.

The beginning of the L.A. saga

Some of Ellroy's works are interconnected and critics or publishers have distributed his LA novels in the so-called LA Quartet (Black Dhalia, The Big Nowhere, LA Confidential and White Jazz)or the Dudley Smith Trio (the previous except Black Dhalia). Why Clandestine doesn't appear in any of this series is a mystery to me. Indeed Clandestine can be considered the first chapter of any of the series: it is set in LA in the early 50's, the plot follows similar patterns as the rest of the series (LAPD talented young officer gets into trouble and finds redemption by investigationg a murder), it features the omnipresent Dudley Smith... Perhaps it is not as mesmeraizing as some of the LA Quartet but it is quite more realistic. It is free of some of the coincidential elements (i.e. officer assigned to a case conected with a crime his father investigated 20 years before)that somehow destroy the coherence in the other novels. To sum up a fantastic introduction to Ellroy's noir universe.

Dead Solid Imperfection... Ellroy Style

One of the reasons I love James Ellroy is his unflinching, honest portrayal of what all humans are: flawed, to different degrees. CLANDESTINE, to me, is what begins the L.A. saga, and it is the only way to be introduced to one of Ellroy's best characters: The monster that is Dudley Smith.Many, it seems, felt the ending wrapped up too neatly or improbably, but it worked for me entirely. It's more than a warm-up for his best, BLACK DAHLIA, and stands on its own as noir. Ellroy shows us yet another facet of self-destruction redeemed in the nick of time so that at least SOME good can come from life's horrid injustices.On a final note, I must confess, I am a dog lover, and the addition of Night-Train was comically wonderful (read it, and you will know what I'm talking about).James, you've done it again!

One of my favorites....

One of my favorites of all of Ellroy's novels. It's an earlier work, but the book is extremely solid. I believe this is the first time we are introduced to The Victory Motel, Dudley Smith, and his groupies. Very entertaining. Some parts are almost gut-wrenching in their humanity. Much of the book is bittersweet. If you are a fan of Ellroy's better known works like LA Confidential and The Black Dahlia -- Clandestine will not disappoint...

This book is as good as any noir you'll ever read

After getting hooked on Elroy by watching and then reading LA Confidential, I progressed to the rest of the LA Trilogy. On thier completion I found myself somewhat bemused as to which novel to read next. However, in spite of the old addage, something in the cover of Clandestine called to me. I was not to disappointed. The reader is thrown straight into the seedy world of the Fifties LAPD, and into the mind of an arrogant, officer with designs on quick promotion no matter who gets in the way. His determination for advancement is only equalled by his callous disregard for women. Once again we are confronted by the nemesis, in the shpe of Dudley Smith, who having seen it all, is watchful for our devious hero. The book quickly deels with his quick rise to fame, only to fall from grace even quicker. His time out the force is both mentally and soulfully destroying, and in this time of despair his only hope is to repair his broken marraige and to solve his great case to his own satisfaction, as much to appese his own conscience as to see justice done. The hero's desires are refered to as the "wonder", but the great mystrey left unsolved after this riveting story is how James Elroy can create time and again such vivid pictures through his words.