Le strade dell'innocenza

Ellroy's portrayal of 1950s Los Angeles feels so authentic and raw. I'm curious what influenced the mood and setting he chose for this story.

The characters all seem to operate in shades of gray, which made me question who the real hero was. Was that intentional to reflect the era's complexity?

The background feels so immersive — I wonder how much research goes into balancing fact and fiction in his writing.