James Ellroy, the undisputed master and artist of crime writing, has teamed up with the Los Angeles Police Museum to expose the lurid underside of LA in the mid 1950s. After combing through the photo archives of the LA Police Museum, he discovered that 1953 featured the most unusual and striking imagery, by far, and was inspired to write 25,000 words of text that illuminate the crimes, the perpetrators and victims, and the controversial law enforcement of the time. Ellroy also offer colourful context and recreates the atmosphere and culture that gave birth to the depravity and darkness whether it be murder, robbery, or suicide in the back alleys, liquor stores, or bedrooms of Los Angeles. 85 duotone photos are spread throughout the book as evidence.