The Enchanters

Real-life LAPD officer turned private detective Fred Otash narrates Ellroy’s sprawling follow-up to 2022’s Widespread Panic. It’s another opportunity for the author to showcase his encyclopedic knowledge of mid-century Hollywood: the plot kicks off in the summer of 1962 when Otash is hired to dig up dirt on the recently deceased Marilyn Monroe by the unholy trinity of Jimmy Hoffa, JFK, and the LAPD. Meanwhile, a laundry list of other crimes stack up on Otash’s to-do list, including the kidnapping of a budding starlet, money laundering schemes, an exploding street drug market, and a ruthless peeping tom. As Otash burrows deeper into Monroe’s death, his grip on sanity loosens, and he becomes increasingly worried the crimes are all connected in one vast conspiracy. Ellroy masterfully orchestrates his vast array of subplots to create a tour de force of vibe and atmosphere. That ambience, plus his signature jazzy turns of phrase, will thrill longtime fans, but newcomers may get lost in the sprawl. This fascinating, overstuffed outing won’t win Ellroy many new converts, but it’s still a hell of a ride. Agent: Andrew Wylie, Wylie Agency. (Sept.)