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  • L.A. Confidential

  • By: James Ellroy
  • Narrated by: Jeff Harding
  • Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (260 ratings)
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L.A. Confidential cover art

L.A. Confidential

By: James Ellroy
Narrated by: Jeff Harding
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Summary

Christmas 1951, Los Angeles: a city where the police are as corrupt as the criminals.

Six prisoners are beaten senseless in their cells by cops crazed on alcohol. For the three LAPD detectives involved, it will expose the guilty secrets on which they have built their corrupt and violent careers. The novel takes these cops on a sprawling epic of brutal violence and the murderous seedy side of Hollywood.

©1990 James Ellroy (P)2016 Isis Publishing Ltd

What listeners say about L.A. Confidential

Average customer ratings
Overall
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Performance
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

awesome

wonderful, ellroy a great writer and Mr Harding a v fine narrator ... brought me great pleasure

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Not for audio

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

This book was not suited as an audiobook, the tone and pace of the story does not come across well when in audio ...the characters did not come alive as the dialogue in the book was best read than spoken

What could James Ellroy have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not put it in audio

Would you be willing to try another one of Jeff Harding’s performances?

I love Jeff Hardings performances , it was because of him I chose this

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Yes it is a good novel

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Forget the fil,

I enjoyed the film but the book is in a different league. Long and complex written in a terse economical style. I found it difficult to follow at times as it requires a degree of concentration I sometimes lack but worth the effort. Two things I very rarely do: 1. Re-listen to a book; 2. Award five stars. I will be doing both.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Narrator

I am only a few minutes into this book. I just can't stand the narrative of this person Mr Jeff Harding.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Review the actual book

Like modern art, seems a lot of people giving this great reviews because of the 'literary acclaim' or the reputation of the film rather than reviewing it on merit. Most of the punchy, short, stark dialogue consists of 5 word sentences. Most of it is virtually unintelligble due to the excessive use of unexplained 1950 'Dick Tracey style' crime slang along with random police acronyms. The plot and scenes bounce around leaving completely confused and disoriented. The characters come across a childish charactatures from an old kids to show. Its awful.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Superb Novel

One of the finest pieces of crime fiction. The narration is outstanding and immerses the listener in that bleak ‘50’s LA atmosphere.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Seen the movie?

Well don't let that stop you from reading the book. Full of extensive detail and true to history events. LA Confidential is a page turning thrill ride.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Best crime novel I’ve listened to since Raymond Chandler. Played whole thing twice now to be sure of getting entire plot. Whatever the opposite is of “short-changed”, is how it leaves you feeling.
(for best experience do the books in order)

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Racial slur warning.

Having seen the movie i was interested. I could not however finish even the first chapter on account of being so uncomfortable by the abundance of hateful words toward many minorites.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

compelling

others said it was hard to follow, I didn't think so at all, I was gripped start to finish

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