A Violent Masterpiece
A Violent Masterpiece is James Ellroy by way of Tiktok and ketamine, a ripped from the headlines thriller about the dark underbelly of Los Angeles and the fatal mix of power and desire that propels all great noir. Three protagonists find that their lives intersect over the arrest and untimely death of a former child actor turned Hollywood producer, and a string of brutal murders by killer called the LA Ripper.
Eric Alger, the inciting victim, had a reputation for liking very young women, and was busted with hard drives full of child pornography. He fires his usual lawyer and hires Doug Gibson, a street fighting defense attorney who throws what grit he can in the wheels of a racist and corrupt justice system. Alger claims that he was set up, and moreover, he’s got reams of blackmail material on the most powerful people in LA. When he dies in his cell, only the most credulous person would think it’s an actual suicide.
Alger’s life was made possible by Kara Delgado, a concierge for Sub Rosa, an agency that can get you anything. Kara is very good at catering to the most debased desires of the rich and powerful. Her secret is a missing friend and colleague, Phoebe, and a growing disgust at her line of work.
Jake Deal is a parasite on the city, a livestreamer focusing on the most sordid aspects of LA’s streets. When he’s hired by persons unknown to do some blackmail investigations, he gets tossed into the maelstrom. Jake loves to drive, to misquote various people, “as the man said”, and live by his own code.
The writing is lurid and neon-drenched, perfectly apt for this modern noir. Harper rips his plot points from actual headlines: Epstein, homeless encampment clearings, LA Sheriff Department gangs, David Grossman, private security contractors and black-bag crisis PR teams. He paints a picture of deranged sex and violence at the apex of wealth and power. After all, when you can have anything, why not have anything?
I docked the half star because Harper doesn’t quite know when to stop. His style is full sensory overload, maximal speed and violence, and a true master would know that tension needs a moment of silence. But everything else is so good this is quibbling. A Violent Masterpiece is one hell of a ride.