Reeling Bullets: W.R. Burnett on Film by Andy Rohmer
When William Riley Burnett moved from his hometown of Springfield, Ohio to Chicago he got a job as a night clerk at the seedy Northmere Hotel. He spent his evenings in the company of hookers, hustlers and grafters which inspired his first published novel Little Caesar in 1929. The novel was a critical and commercial hit and the film adaptation which followed two years, with Edward G. Robinson in the title role, launched WR Burnett’s screenwriting career.
Andy Rohmer has been writing the excellent Writers-On-Film series for several years now. He employs a critical technique he dubs ‘reverse auteurism’, examining every film adaptation of Burnett’s work from the perspective of the writer, challenging the autonomy of the director, but at the same time acknowledging that film is a director’s medium. He has already written excellent volumes on Elmore Leonard, Donald Westlake and James M. Cain. This new volume on Burnett is the fourth addition in the series, and might just be the best yet.
For me, the best parts of Rohmer’s books are often the gossip and tidbits he reveals about authors lives or the production of the films. We learn that Burnett’s ideal form of government was democracy that ‘verges on anarchy’, and that Raoul Walsh, who directed four adaptations of Burnett’s work, had an ongoing feud with John Ford as to which one of them made a star of John Wayne.
All in all, Reeling Bullets lives up to its title as a punchy, hard-hitting tribute to WR Burnett’s contribution to literature and cinema, and is essential reading to students of both art forms.
Ellroy Reads – American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
For the latest episode of Ellroy Reads I discuss Bret Easton Ellis’s novel American Psycho. The life of Ellis and James Ellroy share many parallels. They are both Angelenos. They both lost a parent in mysterious circumstances, and both have struggled with addiction. Finally, they have both written about serial killers. American Psycho is a classic of modern American literature. But you might be surprised to learn that Ellis wrote to James Ellroy and described Ellroy’s novel Killer on the Road as ‘the best novel about a serial killer that I have ever read’.
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Ellroy Reads – Aurora 7 by Thomas Mallon
For the latest episode of Ellroy Reads, I look at Thomas Mallon’s Aurora 7, a novel which at its best, provides a profound insight into the now all but forgotten 1962 space flight. I also discuss some of James Ellroy’s surprising connections with science/speculative fiction writers through the decades.
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Ellroy Reads – Philip Roth: The Biography
For the latest episode of Ellroy Reads I look into the controversy surrounding Philip Roth: The Biography. I was writing Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy when serious allegations emerged regarding Blake Bailey, Roth’s eventual biographer. Ellroy was monitoring these events closely and I give some insight as to his take on them.
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Red Sheet – James Ellroy’s New Novel: Title Reveal, Synopsis and Publication Date
According to Amazon, the tile of James Ellroy’s new novel is Red Sheet. The publication date is set for June 9, 2026. Amazon also has a full synopsis:
Turn to the first page and disavow what you think you know. This is 1960s Los Angeles like you’ve never seen it before, in a daring work of historical fiction from bestselling author of The Enchanters and Widespread Panic.
It’s late October 1962. The Cuban Missile Crisis has just concluded. The U.S. prevailed. Attorney General Robert Kennedy fears reprisals from domestic Communist Party members embedded in L.A. He orders a red probe and puts the LAPD on the job.
Freddy Otash is named lead investigator. He encounters commie malfeasance at every turn. He homes in on a red-front trade union. There’s a murder on Halloween night. It links to ex-VP and gubernatorial candidate Richard Nixon and possibly two homicides eight years back. Now Freddy is working double duty: he’s commanding the probe and is hired to keep Nixon out of trouble. Meanwhile, integrationist fever is sweeping L.A. and the police department comes under its fire. Ex-cop/lawyer Tom Bradley is running for city council and pushing the Rumford Fair Housing Act. Playboy kingpin Hugh Hefner is along for the ride. And the long-forgotten but still-stunning folk singer Judy Henske is on a collision course with the love of her life, the freewheeling Freddy O.
The stage is set for chaos and Freddy thrives on chaos. Red Sheet is a work of subversive art. It embodies “indigenous American berserk” with a uniquely crazed and brilliant passion.
This is an exciting development for Ellroy fans. However, I would take the publication date with a pinch of salt. These dates tend to be provisional and are often too optimistic. I would even say the title might change with time. As I document in Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy, Ellroy has been left furious when incorrect titles to his novels have leaked online before. He even sacked his long-term agent Nat Sobel when the title This Storm appeared on Sobel’s website prematurely. Nevertheless, the synopsis is fairly detailed and gives the reader a tantalising glimpse of Freddy Otash’s next misadventure.
The Demon Dog is back!
Buried Above Ground by Mike Ripley – Review
I must admit to feeling crestfallen when Mike Ripley ended his Albert Campion continuation series. Ripley developed Margery Allingham’s classic detective character with a new sense of style, wit and ingenuity. So I was delighted to see that Ripley is back with a new novel Buried Above Ground, and having finally said a fond farewell to Albert Campion, Ripley has now turned his incisive wit to the murky world of authors, publishing and copyright issues.
Duncan Torrens was the author of mid-list mystery fiction. Since his death, Torrens’ work has long gone out of print. But then a blogger turns up determined to start a Torrens revival, but will his research into this forgotten author dig up dark secrets best left forgotten? Buried Above Ground is told from the perspective of five unreliable narrators – the Librarian, the Reader, the Publisher, the Editor and the Writer, Torrens himself. Everyone is out for themselves and trying to deny the others the potential windfall that might come from getting Torrens’ books republished. It all adds to an darkly intriguing novel laced with acerbic wit. I found the character of the obsessive blogger Jacon a bit close to home! But there’s no denying this is an absorbing and accurate portrayal of the contemporary literati. Highly recommended.
Buried Above Ground is published by Severn House.
I’ve just returned from a lovely holiday to Krakow. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and I had a fine book, Shadow Man: The Life of Dashiell Hammett by Richard Layman, to occupy me in my spare moments. This superb biography is the subject of the latest episode of Ellroy Reads. I discuss how the biography shaped Ellroy’s opinion of Hammett, and some of the difficulties Layman experienced in getting the book published. Hammett’s life partner Lilian Hellman refused to cooperate with Layman in any way, shape or form.
It’s nice to bring back the show after a short break. If you enjoy this episode, why not subscribe as this helps the show to grow with YouTube’s algorithm.
Ellroy Reads – The Other Girl by Theodora Keogh
I have a very special episode of Ellroy Reads for you today. The Other Girl by Theodora Keogh was the first novel about the Black Dahlia case. A copy of the book was also the first gift I ever gave to James Ellroy. Ellroy had never heard of the novel when I mentioned it to him, so it felt good to plug this gap in his Black Dahlia knowledge.
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Ellroy Reads – John le Carré: The Biography by Adam Sisman
For the latest episode of Ellroy Reads, I look at Adam Sisman’s excellent biography of John le Carré. I also discuss two books which were published in the fallout to the bio – Suleika Dawson’s The Secret Heart: John Le Carré: An Intimate Memoir and Sisman’s follow-up The Secret Life of John le Carré.
Finally, I reveal how all of these books connect to my Ellroy biography Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy.
The Venetian Vase 