I’ve been listening to James Ellroy on Audible for the past year or so, and I’m a big fan of his style and story structure. I’m looking for a writer that does similar stuff. Here’s a list of some or all of the qualities I’m looking for:
– Blunt and forceful prose and dialogue
– Balance of humour and dry wit with violence (particularly brutal violence, when done with purpose. Ellroy is good at that)
– Long, epic in scope, bonus points if it has multiple protagonists
– Takes place from the 40’s to the 90’s and immerses you in that time period and location (wherever in the world is fine)
– Major characters who are mostly shitty people
– A broader historical/political context to the story, such as Pearl Harbor being the backdrop to the Second L.A Quartet.
– A murder mystery that’s just one thread of the overall story
The Border Trilogy by Don Winslow and the Parker series by Donald E. Westlake aka. Richard Stark are my two best other examples of the style I’m looking for. For different reasons.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
by skivvv