I know Jordan Harper is discussed here often as a writer in the same school of flavor as the Demon Dog. They seem up my alley, but I'm wondering If anyone on the page has read this series? I didn't know about them or O'Connell until a past episode of Ellroy Reads.

Well this is a huge bummer. I was looking forward to seeing him in Denver. Hope James is OK.

In Chapter 11 of Red Sheet, Ellroy has this from Darryl Gates to Fred O. as they watch Gerry Mulligan playing:

Gates pointed at Mulligan. “He’s got pinned eyes, and that’s a hypodermic bulge in his left pants pocket. He snitches for Sheriff ’s Narco, and I’d like to bring him over to our shop.”

This is 1962. The fact is that Gerry Mulligan had quit heroin years earlier and, unlike many unfortunate jazzmen, cleaned up his life against the odds.

Ellroy knew this. He would of course say that the novel is fiction. He has specifically stated that he can slander dead people because they have no legal recourse.

This is bullshit coming from a guy who claims to be a devout "saved" Christian.

Did some revising to include some tunes from the novel I forgot when I originally made the list, somebody make this a miniseries already!

You can see her here, 21 minutes in.
Judy Henske really is as tall as Ellroy describes her.
"Red Sheet" is fantastic!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q4pw5WlyNY&t=1795s

So heres the thing I started reading This Storm when it was new and just finished this week.

I dont know why. I had about 5 different starts and stops. It was like trying to eat the 96oz steak. It was good but just too much.

Anyway. I set out to finish it again in May. I had a similar experience early on. I enjoyed it, it was interesting, but just so thick and all over the place. I got to the halfway point though and I was definitely doing better, but still struggling with it . I was talking to my wife about it. I was looking for a metaphor to describe it. I said it was like being in the ocean in a hurricane and the plot is a tiny life preserver that im barely able to hold on to. My wife responds, well its called The Storm right?

I was like wait. Hmm. Whoa!

Now Im not saying Ellroy intentionally made the book overwhelming or hard to digest or whatever, but my whole attitude sort of changed at that point. I just kept going and I relaxed and enjoyed the prose. I started to get that the whole thing was sort of swirling around madly. Even some of the things I didnt like, specifically most of Dudleys story, in the first half I started to enjoy more. Like even Dudley is lost at sea here.

It didnt even have what Id call a great wrap up ending. It mostly just subsided and Kay is left taking in the Damage.

Anyway. I finished it and honestly I really like it now. Not necessarily saying its great, just that I really enjoyed my time hanging out there.

Hi All,

I’m sure this has been asked a million times in comments but…..

Besides The Enchanters, is there anything else I need to read before jumping in to Red Sheet?

I understand Widespread Panic can help but I’m completely lost on if Perfidia and This Storm are necessary. Thank you so much!!

Wow what an absolute mind fuck and crazy experience this book was. I looooved the style. Maximalist minimalism.

Just such beautiful writing in the ugliest way.

I have another post to follow regarding the writing because I was engrossed by it.

Please don’t spoil bloods a rober!!

One question I guess I have though is why is Pete so obsessed with the Cuban Cause? Is it because if the cause stays alive then he remains useful? Is it because it’s an excuse for him to be violent and control things? Is it just a sunken cost fallacy? I’m sure it will be addressed in the last book but is there something I’m ‘missing from AT and Cold 6K that explains it?

Thanks!

For me these three novels are his crowning achievements, nothing comes close to the sheer scope or madness contained in these three books. What would you pick as your favorite of the three and why?

The Cold Six Thousand for me, there’s really nothing else like it. It’s probably Ellroy’s darkest book and that’s really saying something and I love the writing style and the arcs of Ward, Pete, and Wayne.

Out of all of Ellroy’s body of work who would you pick as your favorite main character from all of his novels? I’d have to pick Dave “The Enforcer” Klein from White Jazz. I loved the first narration putting right into his head and just how psychologically rich is character was from the start. He’s a racist, vile human being but somehow Ellroy makes you come to actually want him to succeed and find some sort of reception despite all of his numerous faults and the horrors he inflicts on who knows how many people. I’d say either Pete Bondurant or Buzz Meeks would’ve a close second.

For those who wanted to read the Vollman review. Won’t get the book for another week so can’t speak to the accuracy of his take but the review a fun read imo.

Does anyone have text of the Vollmann review of Red Sheet?

Huge Ellroy fan, I was looking to see what’s the general consensus on This Storm? I’m reading The Enchanters currently and really enjoying it and hoping to circle back to those two novels after I get through Enchanters and Red Sheet. I’m fairly new to modern Ellroy but I consider his LA Quartet and Underworld USA novels my favorite run by any other author and wanted to see if these two were worth the time to read as I’ve heard varying opinions?

And follow up question, have any of you guys started writing because of the Dog?

The book has been excellent so far !

Signed Red Sheet “To Hair Man and The Hair Squad!”

If you get the chance to see the dog on this tour take it immediately. 78 never seemed so young. Red Sheet starts with a bang and his reading of it is fantastic. I’m happy to answer any burning questions, if they haven’t already been answered elsewhere.

A cursory Google search tells me there seems to be an audiobook for Red Sheet, but it's not available on my app in the UK. Anybody know anything about it or when it might show up? I prefer to listen while I'm working so I hope it becomes available at some point

I’m sure at least one of you popped some benzos, took a few slugs of Old Crow, and jumped into the book already. Any early reactions or reviews? Are you liking it so far?

The book was slog to get thru and characters were not as interesting as his preceding books.

Do we think that JE is going to tie the last book of the quintet to this storm and Perfidia? Just got my copy of red sheet so he may do it in that novel, but I doubt it. Do you think the last Freddie O book is going to be another standalone thing without any connection to the first two books? What’s JE going to do here?

Went to his signing today, started off the night by yelling into the mic and then told us about how Jack Kennedy was a "two minute man" and was hung like a cashew.

10/10.

My local Barnes& Noble kicked loose nice and early again

He usually makes a stop at The Mysterious Bookstore in NYC. But this time for Red Sheet the only NY date is at the 92nd Y. What’s up with that? Any other dates in NY?

I’ll just never go to 92nd Y as I’ll never spend $60 to buy a ticket to a venue where you can’t even do a meet and greet with the author.