Book 111: American Tabloid by James Ellroy
Book 111: American Tabloid (Underworld USA #1).
Author: James Ellroy, 1995.
Genre: Period Fiction. Political Thriller. Spy Fiction.
Other Details: ebook. 589 pages. Unabridged Audiobook (19 hrs, 55 mns). Read by Jeff Harding.
1958. America is about to emerge into a bright new age - an age that will last until the 1000 days of John F Kennedy's presidency. Three men move beneath the glossy surface of power, men allied to the makers and shakers of the era. Pete Bondurant - Howard Hughes's right-hand man, Jimmy Hoffa's hitman. Kemper Boyd - employed by J Edgar Hoover to infiltrate the Kennedy clan. Ward Littell - a man seeking redemption in Bobby Kennedy's drive against organised crime. The festering discount of the age that burns brightly in these men's hearts will go into supernova as the Bay of Pigs ends in calamity, the Mob clamours for payback and the 1000 days ends in brutal quietus in 1963. - synopsis from UK publisher's website.
Wow! This novel just blew me away. Like the more recent A Brief History of Seven Killings it takes real life events and weaves in fictional characters with historical figures to explore themes of conspiracy and political intrigue. Also, as with Marlon James' book this was a very violent novel with a great deal of profanity and racist and sexist language throughout.
American Tabloid is considered one of James Ellroy's best works and it is easy to see why. It is gritty, bold and brash. I was riveted from start to finish. When I began it I found I was enjoying it so much that I bought the audio edition so I could experience it in two formats. Generally I listened for an hour each evening and read the corresponding pages the next day.
I am quite eager to begin the sequel, which caries on from the shocking events in November 1963.
Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.