The Glitter Dome

by Joseph Wambaugh

A New York Times–bestselling police thriller by the author of Harbor Two LAPD detectives look into the murder of a Hollywood studio boss. It’s the wildest bar in Chinatown, run by a proprietor named Wing who will steal your bar change every chance he gets. On payday the groupies mingle there with off-duty LAPD cops, including homicide detectives Martin Welborn and Al Mackey, who get assigned the case of a murdered Hollywood studio boss who may have been involved in some very strange and dangerous filmmaking. Hilarious at times, heartbreaking at others, this book was likened by theNew York Daily News to a “one-two combination that leaves the reader reeling.” 

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Detective, Police, Mystery Thriller

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 1981

About the author

Joseph Aloysius Wambaugh Jr. was an American writer known for his fictional and nonfictional accounts of police work in the United States. Many of his novels are set in Los Angeles and its surroundings and feature Los Angeles police officers as protagonists. He won three Edgar Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. Before his writing career Wambaugh received an associate of arts degree from Chaffey College and joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in 1960. He served for 14 years, rising from patrolman to detective sergeant.

Reviews

[Toby · Rating 2 out of 5]

HRF Keating claims this as Wambaugh's finest work of fiction in his rundown of the best 100 works of crime and mystery; the former policeman turned author famed for his realistic portrait of the boys in blue as something less than heroic being something of a literary sensation in the 70s when coppers were still considered to be choirboys (which is infact one of Wambaugh's other titles) as opposed to flawed human beings sometimes incapable of resisting a bribe, of falsifying evidence to make their job easier and other reprehensible acts from such trusted public servants.

It's a little old hat now but that's not why I only found this to be an OK read. My major problem is that Wambaugh seems to be playing it for laughs, always ready to highlight the absurd behaviour or the humour of a situation. OK, I get it, cops are people too and we all like a joke every now and then at work, but every single second of the day?! Really? It's an episodic novel, following several different types of police in LA after the murder of a high powered movie executive and Wambaugh writes with the kind of bitterness and unsubtle insights that can only come from a man who's witnessed the behaviour first hand and been screwed over by The Business.

The incessant jolly boys game playing is especially disappointing after a wonderfully, brutally bleak opening chapter of a cop drinking himself to oblivion plagued by his own insecurities and failings and seriously contemplating the taste of his gun barrel. If he could have kept that attitude throughout I might have been thoroughly depressed but boy would I have enjoyed myself immensely.

[Ben Loory · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of mysteries these days off this 100 best mysteries of all time list by H something something Keating. Some of them have been ok and some less than ok but this was the first one I hit where I was like, oh, maybe Keating and I just have really different taste in books? Because this was terrible. Just stupid and obvious and trying to be funny but not funny and no attention to language and really boring characters and just went on and on and on and on. like, there was nothing whatsoever good about this book. It sorta felt like a Thomas Pynchon novel, that kinda "wacky shenanigans" kinda thing, only written by a not very bright 7th grader who was neither inventive nor funny. Then I read about the guy and it turns out he was a cop. Well, case solved I guess. Not sure what's up w Keating

[Peter Walt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read a scene. Laugh. Turn the page. Feel guilty that you laughed. Page after, hit you in the gut like a heavyweight boxer and makes you put the book down and catch your breath. Page after that, you laugh again.

This book did that to me. It hit me hard and turned me into a Wambaugh fan. Search as I might, I could never find another book that could slap me around like this one did.

Very dark. Hardcore crime fiction.

[Rebekkila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Joseph Wambaugh novel and I loved it. At times I cringed and other times I laughed out loud.The crime at the heart of the novel takes a backseat to the characters that are trying to solve it. I will without a doubt read more of this author's books.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of off beat cops cope with crime and their own personal problems in a Los Angles police station. You have cops who "solve" cases in unusual manners and a captain who officers are trying to drive crazy.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good stuff. I think I've been kicked out of that bar

[Chris Pondish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wambaugh is the master of LA Noir.

[S.L. Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really oddly written, and at first, I didn't like it. But by the end, I was sold. I'd call this black humor realisim.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was far too young when I read this book. Sixteen year old girls should not necessarily dive into the hard, gritty, dysfunctional world Wambaugh's characters inhabit. My memories of the book, which I haven't picked up since I closed the cover on the last page almost 20 years ago, are of sharp, cold details, like the color of an old stain in a bare mattress and the acrid stench filling a small, derelict room. They are snapshots from a nightmare, rendered so crisply and vividly I still remember them today.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wambaugh brings noir to the LAPD. The 6 detectives in this novel try to solve the murder of an important Hollywood studio boss, but they cannot determine who committed the crime among a number of possibilities. The tone is bleak as the detectives drink, cheat and lie their way through life.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joe Wambaugh's version of the Hollywood revenge novel. The tone shifts from The Choirboys’ bleakness to outright nihilism. Hardly a sympathetic character to be found.

[Drew Jaehnig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books - The Glitter Dome by Joseph Wambaugh, first published in 1981, is a gritty, compelling crime novel that delves into the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles, exploring the lives of two embittered LAPD detectives. Wambaugh, known for his raw portrayals of law enforcement and his incisive commentary on the human condition, crafts a narrative that intertwines a complex murder mystery with the personal demons of his protagonists. This novel offers readers an unflinching glimpse into the darker aspects of the police force and the city they serve, all while highlighting the emotional toll the job takes on those who wear the badge.

Wambaugh, a former LAPD officer himself, wrote The Glitter Dome during a time when he was transitioning from his role as a best-selling crime novelist to a more established figure in Hollywood. His earlier works, such as The New Centurions and The Choirboys, had already cemented his reputation as a master of police fiction, offering readers a sense of authenticity through his firsthand experience. The Glitter Dome was part of his evolution as a writer, moving deeper into the psychological aspects of policing. In fact, the book was later adapted into a made-for-television movie in 1984, further solidifying its place in Wambaugh's growing legacy.

The novel was developed during the late 1970s and early 1980s, a time when Los Angeles was grappling with an identity crisis. The city's reputation was tarnished by rising crime rates and a growing distrust of law enforcement. Wambaugh captured this atmosphere in The Glitter Dome, using his characters to mirror the moral ambiguity and weariness of the time. The setting of the 'glitter dome' itself—a metaphor for Hollywood's corrupt, glossy exterior—reinforced this idea of superficial glamour concealing darker truths. This cultural relevance transcends the typical crime genre, appealing to readers who were wrestling with their own perceptions of authority and justice, and offering a stimulating intellectual journey.

At its core, The Glitter Dome focuses on two LAPD homicide detectives, Al Mackey and Marty Wellborn, who are assigned to investigate the murder of a Hollywood film producer. The plot is less about the procedural details of solving the crime and more about these two men's emotional and psychological journeys. Wambaugh uses the murder as a backdrop to explore themes of disillusionment, loss, and the emotional cost of being a cop. Both Mackey and Wellborn are portrayed as deeply flawed individuals—Mackey is an alcoholic, and Wellborn is haunted by a failed marriage—who, through the course of the investigation, must confront not only the case but their own internal struggles. Wambaugh's depiction of these characters is nuanced, making them more than just hardened detectives. They are broken men trying to find meaning in a world that offers little solace.

The novel is also notable for its exploration of the dark side of Hollywood. Wambaugh's portrayal of the entertainment industry is cynical, painting a picture of greed, corruption, and moral decay that runs parallel to the detectives' personal unraveling. The glittering lights of Los Angeles serve as a stark contrast to the grim realities beneath, with Wambaugh using the setting to deepen the novel's themes of disillusionment and despair. This balance between crime thriller and psychological drama is one of the novel's greatest strengths, piquing the reader's intrigue and elevating it beyond the standard detective fare.

Upon its release, The Glitter Dome received mostly positive reviews from critics, many praising Wambaugh's ability to blend hardboiled crime fiction with more profound, more introspective themes. Readers appreciated the authenticity he brought to the portrayal of police work while also recognizing the novel's commentary on the emotional toll of law enforcement. Some, however, felt the book's focus on character over plot detracted from its pacing, with the murder mystery taking a backseat to the personal drama of Mackey and Wellborn. Despite this, The Glitter Dome quickly became a favorite among fans of Wambaugh's earlier work and has maintained a strong following in the years since its publication.

In terms of legacy, The Glitter Dome is often viewed as a turning point in Wambaugh's career, marking his transition from novelist to Hollywood screenwriter. The novel's adaptation into a 1984 TV movie starring James Garner and John Lithgow helped bring Wambaugh's brand of police fiction to a broader audience. While the film was well-received, it never quite reached the same level of acclaim as the novel itself, which remains a significant work in Wambaugh's bibliography. Today, The Glitter Dome is remembered as one of Wambaugh's more complex and reflective novels, offering readers both a gripping crime story and a thoughtful meditation on the human cost of policing.

The Glitter Dome is a novel that masterfully balances crime fiction with psychological depth, offering readers not only a murder mystery but a poignant exploration of the personal toll of law enforcement. Wambaugh's ability to craft realistic, flawed characters is on full display here, making the novel a standout in his body of work. While the pacing may falter for some due to its heavy focus on character development, the novel's themes and emotional resonance more than makeup for any narrative slowdowns. The Glitter Dome engages the reader with its balance of crime fiction and psychological depth, and it remains a powerful, thought-provoking read decades after its release. #josephwambaugh #theglitterdome #crimefiction #policeprocedural #losangeless #HollywoodMystery #PsychologicalDrama #classiccrime #LAPD

[Dimitrije Vojnov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zapamtio sam THE GLITTER DOME Stuarta Margolina kao izuzetno zanimljiv HBO film snimljen 1984. u kome Garner započinje svoj svojevrsni holivudski detektivski triptih koji čine još i SUNSET i TWILIGHT.

THE GLITTER DOME je snimljen tri-četiri godine po završetku THE ROCKFORD FILESa i Garner i dalje ima šarm koji je učinio Jima Rockforda jednim od najčuvenijih televizijskih detektiva. Međutim, priča ovog filma uprkos Garnerovom šarmu je znatno neobičnija i mračnija, i ton je zapravo dosta anticipitrao SUNSET u kome se iza jedne nazovi idilične rekonstrukcije Holivuda krije priča o angerovskim temama seksualnih perverzija i sl.

U GLITER DOMEu imamo bezmalo identično priču. Čelni čovek studija je ubijen i par detektiva koji čine Garner i John Lithgow, u jednoj ranoj ulozi, a njihova dinamika bazirana je na tome da Lithgow ima traumu upravo zbog jednog grotesknog slučaja zlostavljanja dece. istraga ih dovodi do lanca koji se bavio pornografijom sa decom i planirao da se plasira i na tržište snuffa.

Wambaugh je u ovom trenutku već bio na zalasku svoje spisateljske slave, njegove priče o crnohumornim događajima iz policijske svakodnevice su već imale i svoj vrhunac i svoje padove, ali i dalje je ostao taj spoj crnog humora, cinizma i potpune kontingencije u rešavanju slučajeva po čemo se Wambaugh i izdvojio kao pisac pandurskih romana i filmova.

Ipak, THE GLITTER DOME se izdvaja po jedom pesimističnom pogledu na stvari i nekim izenađujuće mračnim ishodištima za pojedine likove, neizlečivosti trauma koje ne rešava razvoj karaktera u toku filmu i sl.

Garner i Lithgow su odlični kao tim, Rockford osvežen mračnim partnerom čini GLITTER DOME jednim svežim radom.

Struart Margolin, glumac i reditelj sa kojim je Garner dosta sarađivao nije neki kalibar, ali ovaj film sasvim kompetentno realizuje, naročito ako imamo u vidu da je reč o naslovu pravljenom za HBO. Uspeva da učini THE GLITTER DOME filmom svoga vremena i da zabeleži sleazy atmosferu u duhu takvih naslova koji se i danas rado gledaju.

Stanley Kallis je iskusni kadar koji je napisao adaptaciju i tek sada, kada sam 13 godina kasnije pročitao roman shvatam koliko je veliki posao uradio.

Wambaughov roman je zanimljiv za čitanje, pre svega jer je pun zanimljivih i duhovitih digresija, međutim akademski gledano, ovo je rukopis koji se tek po policijskom miljeu i biografiji pisca, može lako smestiti u krimić. Odnosno, da, ovo jeste krimić jer je istraživanje zločina nešto što drži ovaj tekst na okupu i daje kakav-takav pripovedački zamajac, ali strukture karakteristične za žanr gotovo da nema.

Ako to imamo u vidu, onda je Kallis u najmanju ruku pišući adaptaciju uspeo da usmeri sadržaj romana iz jedne rasute forme u nešto fokusirano, pa ne čudi i da su mnogi elementi znatno izmenjeni.

Wambaugh u ovom romanu ozbiljno isprobava strpljenje čitalaca. Ja sam ga, sticajem okolnosti imao, ali lako mogu da zamislim nekoga ko prosto ne može da se nosi sa ovom količinom digresija i situacija postavljenih pre svega radi komičnog efekta. Uprkos tome, Wambaugh je u stanju i da izgradi karaktere i emociju ispod slojeva cinizma i prljavog humora, no neće svako imati volju da dopre do toga.

Otud je u slučaju THE GLITTER DOME možda ipak gledanje filma prava mera.

[Kelvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 1981 comic mystery written by American author Joseph Wambaugh. H.R.F Heating included this book in his list of 100 Best Crime & Mystery Books. The setting is in Los Angeles in 1980s. The book is totally laughing out funny sprinkled with some very dark, sad, and sordid Hollywood life vignettes.

The title of the book, The Glitter Dome, refers to a bar in Chinatown in L.A. where a lot of cops hangout. The key crime to be solved here is the murder of a Hollywood studio mogul Nigel St. Claire, who was found shot one night in an empty parking lot behind a bowling alley. The readers follow four teams of Hollywood Division detectives at work. They, each in their own way, helped solve this crime.

The book is filled with episodes after episodes of the daily lives of those four teams of detectives: Sergeant Aloysius (Al) Mackey and his partner Martin Welborn of the homicide team who are the lead detectives of the Nigel St. Claire case; street patrol cops Buckmore Phipps and Gibson Hand (who are called the “Street Monsters” and provide plenty of comic relief); two narcotics detectives nicknamed Weasel and Farret; as well as another team of homicide detectives Schultz and Simon. The book is filled with all kinds of police cases from homicide to missing persons, vice, narcotics, robbery, and fraud.

We are told early on Al Mackey and Martin Welborn are apparently famous for their ability to finding nimble inventive ways to “clear” cases, not necessarily “solve” cases. Along that vein, when the case was finally officially solved, arguably it was justice that prevailed, not necessarily the law. It turns out a 17-year old teenager, Peggy Farrell, who is into drugs and prostitution, was offered a large sum of money by a gangster Bill Boswell (who also calls himself Lloyd) to shoot a porn movie in Mexico. Peggy’s friend Lorna Dillon, who has been in the film business for years, believe Boswell was trying to trick Peggy into shooting a “snuff film” where Peggy will be murdered on set. That is why Boswell wants to get Peggy to Mexico to shoot the movie and pays her way above market price. However, neither Peggy nor Peggy’s father Flameout Farrell were able to talk Peggy out of doing the project. In a desperate move to save her daughter, Flameout Farrell decided to kill Boswell. Unfortunately for Nigel St. Claire, St. Claire was in Boswell’s car that night, when Boswell was trying to blackmail him. Farrell accidentally killed Nigel St. Claire instead of Boswell. In the end, Boswell was killed (and his sidekick Loc Nguyen serious wounded) when they were committing a robbery which ended in a shootout with police. Al Mackey and Martin Welborn then set it up so that they have Nguyen sign a dying declaration right before Nguyen died, admitting to Boswell and Nguyen being the killers of Nigel St. Claire.

[Jiří Pavlovský · Rating 3 out of 5]

Další pokrok na mé cestě přečíst kompletního Wambaugha. Tahle knížka pochází z osmdesátých let, takže je to ještě jeho rannější práce, která víc připomíná Choirboys. Jasně, je tady nějaký případ (tentokrát se točí kolem pornofilmů), ale hlavně je to černohumorná záležitost, která policejní práci bere ve stylu Hlavy XXII. Parketa dvou hlavních policejních hrdinů je snižování počtu vražd tím, že je vyřeší coby sebevraždy (i když je to někdy fuška, zvláště pokud byl člověk zabitý sekerou). Další policista touží po práci, kde by mohl co nejvíc střílet zločince… což i dostane a zase o ní přijde. Ne proto, že zabije dva lupiče, ale proto, že pak s jejich mrtvolami dělá veselé kousky a je přitom vyfocený. A někdo tyranizuje šéfa oddělení tím, že dává jeho jménem erotické inzeráty, nebo mu nacpává dýmku drogami.

Je to ale spíš tragikomedie. Wambaughovi hrdinové často balancují na hranici sebevraždy. Na krku spoustu alimentů, alkoholem ztvrdlá játra, občasné problémy se sexuální výkonností… a do toho zážitky z praxe, kterých se nemůžou zbavit. Nejen zoufalé ženy dělají zoufalé věci.

„Technologie pronikla i do dopisů sebevrahů. Tenhle rok byly už čtyři zprávy na rozloučenou zaznamenány na kazetách... definitivní důkaz poklesu gramotnosti.“

Dost nihilistická záležitost, která sice přináší případ, a i jeho řešení, ale víc je to o postavách, které se kolem toho případu točí. A i to řešení je v podstatě dost cynické. Je tady důležitější vyřízení účtů a případně vlastní potřeba spravedlnosti, než nějaká pravda.

Fakt škoda, že od Wambaugha česky vyšly jen jeho hodně ranné a spíš faktografické záležitosti, kde byl ještě slušný chlapec. To nejlepší od něj je českým čtenářům neznámé. Jasně, když srovnám jeho starší věci, tak jeho MO se během let tolik nezměnilo. Knihy pořád stojí na autorově znalosti policejní práce, a hlavně samotných policistů, na bizarních historkách a ironickém pohledu do nóbl světa (ať už je to udělování Nobelových cen, jachtařské závody nebo filmový průmysl).

The Glitter Dome (což je název hospody, kam se poldové chodí ožrat a balit holky) není podle mě jeho nejlepší věc, ale pořád je to zábavně depresivní, brutálně poetická, a vůbec dost srandovně tragická kniha.

[Nemo Erehwon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Glitter Dome by Joseph Wambaugh

The place: Hollywood in the 80's, where the magic of the movie industry sits alongside the tragedy of the Sunset Strip, both fueled by sex and drugs and money.

The major heroes: two lackluster cops, the alcoholic and sexually dysfunctional Al Mackey and the overeducated and now differently sane Martin Welborn. They're the best of the detective division, though their talent lies in 'clearing cases' rather than actually solving them. Their cockamamie explanations of how two separate who-done-it deaths could be classified as suicides and allowed both cases to be closed. Thanks to this, they earned their captain's gratitude.

The crime: the pair must solve the month-old murder of a Hollywood mogul whose body was dumped behind a bowling alley. It's gonna be tough proving this one was a suicide.

But they have help from a cast of characters who are nearly as criminal as the criminals they purport to catch; two swashbuckling undercover narcs, two patrol officers/thugs, and the previous pair of even more-lackluster detectives who previously handled the case.

In Wambaugh's later Hollywood Station series, he is able to incorporate oddball stories of crimes gone awry with his mystery story. The Glitter Dome also has these excursions, but they seems disjointed from the story. These mini-stories just don't flow together as they do in the later books. It's as if Wambaugh was still learning the craft of writing a mystery when he penned this book. He's also very heavy on the foreshadowing.

The first chapter of Glitter Dome is a rough read, involving a cop nearly committing suicide. After that, the book becomes settles down into a very cynical satire of both cops and the Hollywood entertainment business.

Another warning; this book is about cops in LA in the 80's. Do not expect racial sensitivity. Or examples of textbook police work. It's only illegal if a policeman decides it's illegal.

It is not a bad book, but Wambaugh has written some which I thought were better.

If you read Glitter Dome and liked the police procedural aspect, check out the 87th Precinct by Ed McBain.
Those who like all-out cynical satires might enjoy "Porterhouse Blue" by Tom Sharp. Porterhouse is not a crime novel, but the cynicism is unrelenting.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Glitter Dome is Joseph Wambaugh’s sixth book, written in 1981, seven years after he left the LAPD. It was made into an HBO movie starring James Garner in 1984. Wambaugh was with the LAPD for fourteen years from 1960 to 1974. The Glitter Dome is honestly one of the funnier and darker books I’ve read. The narco cops called Weasel and Ferret, Simon and Schultz, and “the street monsters” provide some of the funniest black comedy in the book. But the horrifying Hollywood scene, the exploitation of children, and the terrible toll the job takes on the main characters, Al Mackey and Martin Welborn, makes this book hard to read. Wambaugh has a very cynical view of the police, of police administration, of the public, and of criminals. The is a rollercoaster ride of a book, with hilarious highs and horrifying lows. This would certainly be given an R rating due to language and the subject matter. But it’s good, and I’m glad I read it.

[Judy Steiner Marino · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the beginning doesn't grab you, keep going

I've become a fan of Wambaugh. At first the story was a bit strange ... But I kept going. Then here we are in Hollywood homicide ... With a cast of characters as strange inside the station as out on the streets. Many different turn of events with gung-ho street cops, out-of-this-world narco division cops and 2 pairs of homicide cops, different as night is day, as they go thru some convoluted cases and finally come together to solve a most puzzling murder of a movie mogul. Wambaugh has a way to find humor even in the most series of moments! Everyone in this book is human with all their faults ... And none more than the men in plainclothes and blues that deal with the craziness they work in on a daily basis. I truly enjoyed this book as I have all his others.

[Marine Martinot · Rating 5 out of 5]

On suit plusieurs policiers de Los Angeles pour le crime de Nigel Sinclair.
Alors j'ai beaucoup aimé ce roman policier malgré qu'il n'y a pas du tout de romance c'est plutôt glauque,noir ça ne montre pas une image positive de l'humanité ça montre le côté très noir de l'humain.

Alors j'ai adoré suivre c'est flics de Los Angeles c'était passionnant c'était cru le livre et de 1981 donc il y a des mots qu'on dit plus aujourd'hui ça ne m'a pas choqué parce que j'ai l'habitude de lire quelque chose du même genre et qui date donc le langage était comme ça malgré que tu n'approuve pas.

J'ai adoré suivre Martin Al la fouine et le furet et les deux terreurs c'était juste tellement vrai et poignant dur surtout un chapitre ce que voit il est policiers n'est pas toujours rose mais moi j'ai beaucoup aimé et je vous le recommande.

[Robert Reeve · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author, being an ex L.A. cop from the 60's and 70's, has a keen insight into the professional and personal lives of front line law enforcement. This novel's title is a bar frequented by cops, but doesn't have much to do with the story. A Hollywood exec is gunned down in the parking lot of a roller skating rink. What the heck was he doing in that neighborhood? LAPD is feeling the heat to wrap this up pronto. Detective's Al Mackey and Martin Welborn are on the case, given their propensity for tying matters up with a bow, whether it's the truth or not. Throw in narcs, Weasel and Ferret, and a couple of goon patrol officers, and you've got a rollicking ride through 1981 Beverly Hills. Quite entertaining and disturbing simultaneously. Worth reading.

[Debra Pawlak · Rating 4 out of 5]

You just can't go wrong with Joseph Wambaugh. The book got off to a slow start, but with characters like Poor, Old Cal Greenberg, the Weasel, the Ferret, and Flameout Farrell, you can't help but laugh and soon get involved. The story centers around a murdered Hollywood producer and a mysterious production company, but fans out from there. From the Glitter Dome (a bar where the cops hang out) to the Hollywood precinct (where the cops work), it is a wild ride. Wambaugh can bring you to tears and on the next page make you laugh out loud. Never a dull moment with his well-developed characters that's for sure.

[Jamin D · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my second attempt at reading this book and I was able to force my self to finish. About around page 170 I finally started to have a moment where I enjoyed the dialogue between the characters. Unfortunately those moments were few an far in between. There is an investigation that is going on but is pretty much irrelevant and a handful of characters that I really didn't care about or sympathize with them. I wanted to read something from this author because of a statement by Stephen King, after I read Mr. Mercedes. Maybe I picked the wrong book to read by Joseph Wambaugh but this book is not for me.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

What lots of readers don't realize is that Wambaugh's books are very much non-fictional, and the dark events are disturbing to them. But, he uses the often times laugh out loud humer, which surgeons, medical examiners, and murder detectives use to stay sane. Unfortunately alcohol and drugs are also used for the same purpose, but citizens pretty much keep their heads in the sand about it.

I admire Wambaugh for it.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent book about detectives in and LA police station. Alcoholic Al Mackey and depressed Martin Wellborn are detectives looking to close a murder case of a Hollywood filmmaker. Assisting are two oversized street monster detectives with crewcuts, and two spindly stinky, bearded narcs. Plus a police captain with hemorrhoids who somebody keeps slipping drugs.
Parts are funny. Parts are dark.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

After making a statement, the author would then go off on tangent after tangent before finally getting around to finishing the thought. He did this way to often at the beginning of the story which made it hard to remember the plethora of characters. I would have enjoyed the story more if he had been a bit more succinct. I ended up plowing through the story instead of savoring the events.

[James H. Jaqua · Rating 4 out of 5]

A typical Wambaugh effort. I enjoyed it, laughed in a few places, and felt the pain of law enforcement officers in some passages as well. Some of the usual types of officers, which are hard to avoid. The site for the title is reminiscent of several places I have been. And the beat goes on.

[Shawn Bayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad. The horrible reality of being an LAPD cop

Being with death and drugs, misery and hopelessness. It takes its terrible toll on those attempting to maintain some semblance of decency and order.

Sad book while also being at times very very funny.

[David Watt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ex-cop Joseph Wambaugh’s 6th book? I have read most of them and if you’ve never read him before, give this one a whirl! His portrayal of cops and criminals in Hollywood is not your usual cop story, hopefully you’ll laugh as much as I did!

[Laura Poppenwimer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed in this book, didn't seem to have the punch that other Joseph Wambaugh books had. The basic story was good, but it seems disjointed and even went off the rails into something totally unrelated. It has a very sad ending.