Homicide Special: A Year with the LAPD's Elite Detective Unit

by Miles Corwin

With an Updated Epilogue by the Author

"A compelling portrait of seasoned homicide cops at work. This is L.A.'s darkest ironic, heart-breaking, stunningly violent, unfailingly human. Riveting."
-Jonathan Kellerman

The mandate for Los Angeles' unique police unit Homicide Special is to take on the toughest, most controversial, and highest-profile cases. In this "literate, unfailingly interesting work of true crime" ( Kirkus Reviews ), acclaimed writer Miles Corwin uses unprecedented access to narrate six of the unit's cases-and capture its newest generation at work.

When a call girl from Kiev dies in the line of duty, detectives Chuck Knolls and Brian McCartin seek her killer among a circle of Russian women who have been sold into white slavery. When a gangster's daughter takes a bullet, veterans Jerry Stephens and Paul Coulter trace clues scattered across the country to a Manhattan real-estate magnate. A cold case is reopened; a mother-daughter drowning and a baffling rape/murder are solved. And, finally, Corwin re-creates the investigation surrounding the late Bonny Lee Blakley, allegedly murdered by her actor-husband, Robert Blake.

With a revised epilogue updating each of these fascinating cases, Homicide Special offers a riveting, behind-the-scenes look at one of the preeminent units of homicide detectives in the country.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Journalism, Memoir, Audiobook, Sociology

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Miles Corwin, a former Los Angeles Times reporter, is the author of three books. The Killing Season (1997) was a national bestseller. And Still We Rise (2000) was awarded the PEN USA West award for nonfiction. Homicide Special (2004) was a Los Angeles Times bestseller. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara and received his M.A. at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

Reviews

[Katherine Giles · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like David Simon... you'll be mildly entertained by Miles Corwin.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

That's my literary journalism professor!!



Shout out to Professor Corwin for writing an awesome book and inviting one of the actual detectives to a guest lecture. You rule bro.

[kat]

read for class

[Karissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homicide Special: A Year with the LAPD's Elite Detective Unit by Miles Corwin is just what the title says. You follow six homicide cases with the Homicide Special unit detectives of Los Angeles.
The case we start off with is the murder of a prostitute from Kiev, Ukraine. They suspect the murder has to do with the Russian Mafia, so the FBI is called in to help with the investigation. A little after this case is assigned, a different pair of detectives in the unit is given the case of Susan Berman. She was the extremely paranoid daughter of a mafia boss, and has been found dead in her home. She had very little friends, so after a while the police narrowed it down to her editor, or her father's old friend who lent her money for medication and her book. It was the latter who they suspected most, but could not contact or incriminate him. The next case we're shown is the re-opening of a cold case. The murder of Stephanie Gorman, a 17 year old girl murdered in her home back in the 80s. The detective on the case, a seasoned cold-case cracker, hoped to identify the killer through a handprint found on the wall despite the fact that most physical evidence gathered from the crime scene had been lost. Two other cases investigated are the mysterious apparent mother-daughter drowning of a Japanese-American mother and her 4 year old daughter and the rape/murder of Lourdes Unson, a doctor from Puerto Rico. The last we track is the shooting of Bonny Lee-Bakley, wife of the former child star Robert Bakley.
Homicide Special was an enjoyable book. It was written in order of when the cases were assigned, so the book would switch from case to case as the investigations went on. Most of the cases were solved in the end, though still waiting to be put on trial at the time the book was published. I normally don't read non-fiction, but I liked the detective work. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys crime solving or thrillers.

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miles Corwin, an investigative journalist, spent a year with the squad of detectives in charge of especially complex or high-profile cases. This book is full of stranger-than-fiction dialogue:

"Good morning, fellow racketeers." --Homicide detective Otis Marlow during a scandal that involved the LAPD

"Let me ask you something, just for myself. Did your mother tell you not to say anything to the police?" The detective who asked this said it was a question that perhaps only a Jewish cop would ask a Jewish witness.

"This isn't what I expected." --Murder suspect, complaining about litter in the LAPD's hallways

"A Boy Scout boat running hookers. I can't believe it."

"I want to book him right now, so I can confiscate his toupee."

"My personality doesn't matter. We'll be booking his ass soon."

"Today's suspect is tomorrow's victim."

"This is more interesting than your usual drive-by with Flaco and Spanky as your suspects."

"You're too dumb to be a police officer! Give me your badge and gun and go home."

About the murder case against former actor Robert Blake: "Not quite O.J. Maybe an off-Broadway O.J."

"Let's document who did what and when. I don't want to see you all end up on the stand saying, 'We all did a lot of stuff, but I don't know exactly what.'"

"You know what really bothers me? The press is already calling this the Blake murder. It's like the victim doesn't count. Her past might have been pretty questionable, but she's still the victim. . . . It's the Bakley murder."

[Adam Milton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to give this book another half star but Goodreads doesn't allow that and after thinking about it this book doesn't deserve the other half star.

I bought this book hoping that it would be sort of like Homicide: A year on the killing streets. It wasn't. Not by a long shot. I enjoyed most of the book but by the last few chapters I found myself reading it just to finish this book. I spent more time counting the pages I had left than enjoying it.

My biggest complaint is that I was told and never shown LA, the murders, the investigation or the detectives. I was told who they were as men, as professionals, but it was presented so artlessly and flat that after a while it grew hard to really care.

If this book were a meal it could have used a little longer in the oven, and a pinch more salt.

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I debated about whether to give this four stars or five stars. I'd read Corwin's other book (about inner city AG program) And Still We Rise and loved it. Of course, because I'm a teacher myself, I understand and can navigate through the small details of that book. I'm aware that the only reason that I prefer And Still We Rise to Homicide Special is my own personal experience.

Homicide Special was written with care and an attention to small details. It shows what feels like an authentic view into the LAPD from the detectives' viewpoint.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting non-fiction accounts of a few murders and/or rape cases by an "elite" group of detectives in Los Angeles. Ok insight into some procedural work and interview methods. There was a little too many descriptions of routes taken and different restaurants the detectives chose for meals. Perhaps that was to make the detectives seem more human to the reader - or maybe I'm just a cynic. Published in 2003 the Robert Blake case had not gone to trial at the time. The case as described here sounded like a pretty good one.

[Aletha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was pretty good, like David Simon's homicide but set in Los Angeles. I liked the book overall but I have a gripe. A CRIMINALIST is not a CRIMINOLOGIST. There's a difference.

[Josh Avery · Rating 3 out of 5]

A literary professor spent a year with the LAPD's Homicide Special division in the early 2000's and documented his experiences.

This book focuses primarily on 6 cases. A Ukrainian madam who may or may not have been involved in human trafficking, a Jewish mobsters daughter whose death is tied to Robert Durst, a Japanese mother and daughter found tied together at the bottom of a river, a Phillipino doctor, never married but was found raped and murdered in her apartment, a cold case involving the daughter of a prominent attorney in the 60's and the wife of actor Robert Blake, shot to death in his car while he stepped back into a restaurant stating "he forgot his gun."

There are profiles of the detectives assigned to each case as well as brief, but detailed history of the Homicide Special Division up to the OJ Simpson trial, which marred their reputation for a long time. This is an extremely detailed and well edited book, I wouldn't expect anything less from a Literary professor, but there are zero spelling or grammatical errors.

Although the stories of each case are well told, they are not told in any sort of organization and I wish each story would have been told on its own as opposed to it being a bit jumbled. They also lead up to the primary suspects being arrested in all but one case ( the cold case was not solved as of the time of publishing) but, they did not go into what happened in the court cases in any of these situations.

The above are the only criticisms, but, they take away from the enjoyment of the book overall.

B- a good book if you like true crime, but too unorganized and open ended to really get into.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

-4.5- This book is almost perfect for a non-fiction crime read. The author is exceptionally conversant with the town of Los Angeles and gives the reader a tour of the city while espousing on various historical footnotes and dining establishments. Several of these culinary delights I have had the opportunity to partake in as a former resident of this metropolis. I think it is this unique approach which lifts this book up from the doldrums of a typical crime read. Don't get me wrong, Corwin (the author) nails his crime case files home with a large ball-peen hammer. In fact, one of the cases featured here is the 2001 Susan Berman murder by that psychotic fuck Robert Durst that is finally being litigated in the L.A. criminal courts twenty years later. My opinion his sick ass finally goes down and dies within two years in the state pen. Corwin picks several fascinating cases and pursues them as far as he can. One of the drawbacks with this type of book is that it has to be published before the cases are resolved, which required me to follow up on the interweb--hence the 4.5 rating. Corwin's descriptions of the detectives and the utter dogshit working environment; antiquated equipment, waiting several years for forensic evidence results, and having to buy notepads out of the detectives own pocket were all interesting tidbits into an agency that is not elite. In fact in several cases convictions had already occurred when the results came back--fucking absurd. I enjoyed this book and I think anyone who enjoys James Ellroy's L.A. will as well.

[Aynge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this months ago, but finally finished it since I've been on lockdown like the rest of the world. Part of me wants to give this five stars, but I realized that would not have been honest. The detectives who solve these ghastly crimes deserve 5 stars. This book was almost a slog. I think part of the problem, which is not necessarily the writer's fault, is that we do not get closure at the end of the book. Of course we don't. One of the murders featured was Susan Berman's. Her killer (c'mon, we all know he did it), Robert Durst, just went on trial right before the lockdown. This book was published in 2001, almost 20 years ago (!). Anyway, the content is enthralling but the writing is not. I kept thinking of other books about true crime that had me speeding through the pages (Devil in the White City, Black Dahlia Avenger, etc), and had to force myself to plow through. But because of this book, I'm going to watch The Jinx, that documentary that came out a few years ago about psycho killer Robert Durst. So... 3 1/2 stars?

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not have the updated epilogue--but I would recommend readers go for that edition of the book since it will be interesting to see what happened with the less well-known cases.

The premise here is that a journalist embeds with LAPD's elite homicide detective unit (only the complex, hard, or notorious cases, and those involving celebrities), Homicide Special, and watch the detectives do their work. Corwin weaves in the backstories of the detectives, the LAPD, the evolution of Homicide Special, Los Angeles, the suspects, and the victims. So while you're stuck in one arbitrary year, there is a lot of context skillfully weaved throughout.

The book reads almost like a novel spinning through multiple iterations of the first half of a Law & Order episode, but of course it's all the real deal. As such, it is a fascinating look at big city homicide work that "fortunately" for Corwin included the opening stages of the Robert Blake murder investigation as well as the bizarre saga of Robert Durst.

If you like that sort of thing--I do--then this will be a must read.

[Andie San Luis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5:
Shoutout to my professor for writing this :D After reading “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” I really appreciated the integrity in “Homicide Special” in regards to reporting as well as the chronology. Although this did take me some time to really get into, I really enjoyed the narrative and found the more factual portions to also read well. The main issue I faced was confusion due to the character names being similar (Blake, Bakley, Berman), but since the chapters are primarily written one case at a time, that definitely aided in readability. Some of the parts (specifically in the autopsy) were on the graphic side, which made me as a reader a little bit disturbed at times, but as a journalist I admire the attention to detail and ability to immerse readers in the moment. Not just glazing him because he’s my prof I swear I doubt he’ll see this anyways, but overall enjoyed this read and am glad to be introduced to a different form of true crime.

[Susan Liston · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Pretty interesting. It's a bit dated, 18 years ago, but what's that different, really. You have to look up the cases they followed to find out the outcomes. One of then is Robert Blake, and from the very first they never doubted he did it, I would love to have heard these detectives' reaction to the not guilty verdict. Although they were, when we leave them, having trouble connecting him to the gun...

[Kaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like books that are a good mystery, and have a twist of suspense to them then this book is for you. You follow along with six cases, that are real and they have been left as a cold case or have been solved. You meet different detectives learn about there backstories and how they solve cases. It is a really good book that is also non-fiction, so if you are looking for something to switch up your reading then this is the book for you.

[Dadatina Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Increíble, fantástico, genial, atrapante y todos los sinónimos más que quieran.

[Hugo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sort of like a lower division version of David Simon's Homicide that takes place in Los Angeles.
if you don´t expect the same level of writing it will keep you entertained.

[Griffin Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty good, not much of a true true crime guy but it got it done. Shout out prof but there were also mad names

[Tom Maseth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miles spent 2001 following LAPD's RHD Homicide Special unit. A fascinating look at six cases they followed during the year. A tough read at times but highly recommended.

[Kathryn Kerr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of typographical errors

This book is oddly filled with typographical errors. Starts out well, becomes less engaging during second half. Many of these homicides have been covered on TV.

[Ashleigh Higgs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homicide Special: A Year with the LAPD’s Elite Detective Unit by Miles Corwin is a non fiction book that gives every detail of six different homicide cases that the LAPD’s homicide special unit follows in a year. Each murder is intricately different. Ranging from Russian prostitution rings and smuggling gone horribly wrong, to the suspicious death of a once famous, now impoverished, author in her own home. My favorite story (which sounds terrible considering they are all murders) was of Yuriko Taga and her daughter Michelle. The two were found bound together underneath a boat dock, dead, without any reasonable cause of death. Detectives John Garcia and Rick Jackson debate the theories of a ritualistic “mother-daughter murder-suicide” or double murder by the far off, cheating, and deceiving father. The answer will shock you.
I recommend this book to one who doesn’t mind a long read. This book takes a while to finish, and has a few purely informational and historical parts on the LAPD’s past, which passes quickly and you jump right back into the good stuff. One of the most helpful parts of the book is in the very middle of the book where are actual pictures of buildings, criminals, detectives, and victims. This really makes the story come alive. This book is worth the time and will give you a new outlook on the world around you.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

“[E]very man in Los Angeles believes he can do two things better than the experts: manage the dodgers and solve murders.”

My first read for Nonfiction November was this true crime book from the early 2000s! Swipe for goodreads synopsis. The author spent a year shadowing the “homicide special” division of the LAPD.

Cases covered include the murder of a Ukrainian sex worker/madame, Japanese mother/daughter murder, a west LA cold case from the 60s, Susan Berman (you’ll know this one if you are familiar with Robert Durst/THE JINX), the murder of a doctor from the Philippines, and Robert Blake.

I thought the brief history of the LAPD was interesting (including some of their scandals) and I liked how the author personalized the detectives. The cases focused on were fascinating (make sure to read the edition with the epilogue to see the latest updates and of course I googled.)

My only complaints are that some parts felt a bit long with unnecessary detail and I wasn’t crazy about the formatting of mixing cases, I would have preferred each to have their own section. There’s also some dark and offensive cop humor which is not politically correct by any means. Read this if you like true crime, THE WIRE, or LAW & ORDER.

⚠️: Murder, child murder, suicide, sexism, racism, rape, child abuse

[Patrick Lum (Jintor) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched, highly detailed, and nicely written, had Homicide Special no competition it would be an extremely good book. As it is, it suffers perhaps too much from comparison to the other, more famous book in its field, Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets. Simply put, despite his various other talents Corwin simply lacks the flare that Simon can bring to bear on similar subject matter. Corwin accurately and effectively recounts testimony, conversations, the twists and turns of a case, but he does not bring it to life in the same way that Simon can. This is, perhaps, unfair on Corwin - it is doubtful he intended to write in the same vein, or perhaps in the same manner as Simon - but nonetheless it renders Homicide Special less effective as a book. Structurally speaking, the book suffers somewhat from its overt focus on a number of individual cases rather than being, as in Homicide, a day-by-day, month-by-month story of the Unit; there is also, despite Corwin's best efforts, less of an effective portrayal of the detectives at the core of the unit. It also ends somewhat abruptly. Nonetheless, still a good read for research if nothing else.

[E.E. Giorgi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I read it all in one sitting when I was researching the LAPD for my book CHIMERAS. Corwin's writing is beautiful even though he's technically being just a detached observer behind the detectives' daily routines. For each case he follows in the book, Corwin probes into the lives of both the detectives and the suspects, making the reader sympathetic with both sides. It gave me nice details on the LAPD that I would've never known. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys true crime and crime fiction.

[Sarah Frobisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very engaging book that keeps the reader interested while not being overly detailed or dry. The author spent a year with the LAPD's homicide detective team, and goes through various cases they encountered, one of which is the Robert Blake case. The author does a fanatastic job of giving a glimpse into the dealings of the LAPD detectives, as well as teh challenges and triumphs they are faced with. The author also gives background and history of LA, the LAPD, and cases that have shaped the department. Very interesting and I enjoyed it.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This here is the real deal and not an episode of Law and Order on television. It seems like with the magic of T.V. the detectives can solve a crime, arrest a suspect, place him on trial and possibly even get a conviction within a few days. More often then not the real detectives may have to let some cases sit as they are assisting other detectives on another case. And then you will also have to deal with the frustrations of getting all of the evidence processed in an even somewhat timely fashion. Great reading that also covers some fascinating cases.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is my True Crime professor this quarter. I got this required text from my local library. This was a pretty straight-forward and authentic account of LAPD Homicide cases. I love that the details of the investigations are told in chronological order. That makes it feel more realistic. (I cannot stand case of the week shows anymore.) And only two names are pseudonyms. I recommend this to anyone who wants a bit of insight in regards to the personalities of people who work in this department. There are definitely some colorful quirks and personalities every now and then.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storyline sorta jumps around but I found this recounting of a journalist's year with the LAPD Homicide Division pretty interesting.

I actually went online after I finished the book to see the status of some of the cases mentioned. I couldn't believe what I saw. Juries can be so dumb!

I wouldn't say this is a must-read, but it is an insightful review of what it's really like to put your nose to the grind in the name of law enforcement.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author spent a year with the Homicide Special Unit of LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division. These are the detectives that specialize in LA's most difficult homicide investigations. It is also the unit that investigated the OJ case. This book is the result of that year. It offers a critical look at both unit's successes and failures. It reads like a novel.