My Dark Places

by James Ellroy
My Dark Places cover
Good Books rating 3.88
True Crime
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Paperback • £9.99
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  • ID: 2390
  • Added: 2025-10-13
  • Updated: 2026-02-22
  • ISBN: 9780307488510
  • Publisher: Vintage
  • Published: 2009-09-23
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

In My Dark Places, James Ellroy, renowned for his L.A. Quartet and The Underworld USA Trilogy, turns his investigative lens on his own past. In 1958, his mother Jean Ellroy was brutally murdered, a crime that was never solved. Ellroy spent decades running from the ghost of his mother, only to return to Los Angeles in 1994 to uncover the truth. Partnering with a skilled homicide detective, Ellroy embarks on a quest to solve his mother's murder and reclaim her memory. The book is not just a true crime narrative but also a profound exploration of loss, obsession, and the complex relationship between a son and his mother. /n/n Ellroy's journey is as much about his own personal demons as it is about the crime. He confronts his past, his feelings of guilt and desire, and the societal violence that shaped his life. The result is a gripping and introspective memoir that blurs the lines between true crime and personal redemption, offering a unique perspective on the American way of violence.

Reviews
Cannonball Read · Jake · 2019-07-06
compelling 4.00

Ellroy's honesty and raw portrayal of his life make this memoir a compelling read. The book is a journey of self-discovery and redemption, offering a deep insight into the author's mind.

What stands out in this memoir is Ellroy's raw and honest portrayal of his life. He leaves nothing out, making the narrative both compelling and thought-provoking. The book is a journey of self-discovery and redemption, offering a deep insight into the author's mind. Ellroy's unique writing style and his ability to convey his emotions make this a powerful and memorable read. The memoir is not just about his mother's murder but also about his own struggles and his journey towards self-acceptance.

Quick quotes

    What I appreciated about this book, and by extension its author, is how raw and honest Ellroy is about his life.

    Nothing is out of bounds, making the narrative both compelling and thought-provoking.

    A journey of self-discovery and redemption, offering a deep insight into the author's mind.

Reddit - r/books · 2018-01-01
amazing 4.50

The book is an amazing exploration of the author's brutal self-honesty and pain. It offers insight into the intensity of his work.

This memoir is an intense and brutally honest account of the author's life, providing a good idea of where the intensity of his work comes from. The raw and unflinching nature of the writing makes it a powerful read. While it's not for the faint of heart, it's a deeply personal and revealing journey that offers a unique perspective on the author's experiences and the sources of his creative energy.

Quick quotes

    An amazing book with lots of brutal self-honesty and pain.

    Gives you a good idea of where the intensity of his work comes from.

    It's a deeply personal and revealing journey.

Captain Fez · 2014-10-15
harrowing 3.00

The book is challenging, especially in sections detailing the author's struggles with addiction. It's a raw and unflinching account that doesn't shy away from harsh realities.

This memoir is not an easy read, particularly when it delves into the author's personal struggles with drugs and alcohol. The honesty is brutal, and it's clear that the author is laying bare his most painful memories. It's a testament to his courage, but it's also a tough journey for the reader. The book's intensity is both its strength and its weakness, making it a powerful but difficult experience.

Quick quotes

    My Dark Places is not an easy book to enjoy, particularly in the section where Ellroy writes about his own decline into drugs, alcohol abuse.

    The book is raw, unflinching, and brutally honest.

    It's a tough journey, but one that's ultimately rewarding for its honesty.

The Guardian · 1996-11-14
moving 4.00

The memoir is a poignant tribute to the author's mother and a journey through his darkest memories. It's a powerful exploration of loss and redemption.

Ellroy's ability to kick his bad habits in time to save himself is a central theme of the book. This memoir is his ode to the mother who never had the chance to do the same. It's a deeply personal and moving account that explores themes of loss, addiction, and the search for redemption. The author's raw honesty and vivid reportage make this a compelling read, though it's not without its challenging moments.

Quick quotes

    Ellroy is able to kick his bad habits in time to save himself.

    My Dark Places is his ode to the mother who never had the chance to do the same.

    This is James Ellroy's journey through his most forbidding memories.

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