Detour: A Hollywood Story by Cheryl Crane, reviewed for Ellroy Reads

In the latest episode of Ellroy Reads I review a classic Hollywood memoir. In Detour: A Hollywood Story Cheryl Crane chronicles her life growing up as the daughter of Lama Turner. It is a life that is both privileged and secluded as Turner works hard to keep Cheryl away from the glare of the spotlight. However, Turner’s addiction to dangerous men lead to the fateful night when Cheryl, still only fourteen years old, stabs Turner’s gangster boyfriend Johnny Stompanato to death to defend her mother from a vicious beating.

The events of the night have been pored over in fact and fiction. But only Detour offers the definitive account. It is both a gripping true crime tale and moving memoir of life growing up with the stars. At the end of the episode I tell the story of how James Ellroy tried to get the book adapted into film. Enjoy, and don’t forget to share the video and subscribe to the channel.