The king of SoCal crime fiction has cooked up a stunning new collection of L.A. noir – literally. In LAPD ’53 James Ellroy joins forces with the Los Angeles Police Museum and the LAPD to present the stories behind a series of crime scene photographs.
The author of the Lloyd Hopkins trilogy and The Black Dahlia unearthed hundreds of shots while combing the museum’s extensive collection of forensic photographs. Yet one year stood above the rest for its exceedingly strange and seedy images – 1953.
Writing in his distinctive style, Ellroy illuminates the dark side of vintage Los Angeles in LAPD ’53, exploring the city’s criminal element and the oft-forgotten cops who strove to combat crime. More than 80 duotone photos are included the book, assembled in a striking layout.
Get a sneak peak of the collection in the slideshow below!
A close-up of a man’s bloodied hands
- Photo Credit: Abrams Image/Los Angeles Police Museum
The body of a possible murder victim
- Photo Credit: Abrams Image/Los Angeles Police Museum
A body is discovered on the concrete riverbed of the L.A. River
- Photo Credit: Abrams Image/Los Angeles Police Museum
A body is discovered on the concrete riverbed of the L.A. River
- Photo Credit: Abrams Image/Los Angeles Police Museum
An investigator stands over the chalk outline of a victim
- Photo Credit: Abrams Image/Los Angeles Police Museum
A woman’s body is found amongst crates of bottles
- Photo Credit: Abrams Image/Los Angeles Police Museum
The bullet-ridden remains of a vehicle
- Photo Credit: Abrams Image/Los Angeles Police Museum
A police officer stands on a motor bike
- Photo Credit: Abrams Image/Los Angeles Police Museum
A drug overdose victim who died while talking on the phone
- Photo Credit: Abrams Image/Los Angeles Police Museum
Shot of a possible Suicide Victim
- Photo Credit: Abrams Image/Los Angeles Police Museum
All photos courtesy of Abrams Image/Los Angeles Police Museum