My Dark Places

James Ellroy's memoir receives significant praise for its raw intensity, unflinching honesty, and unique narrative style. Reviewers frequently highlight the author's ability to delve deeply into complex themes such as misogyny, brutality, sexuality, and the nature of crime, offering perspectives that many find profoundly insightful and challenging. The writing is often described as powerful, staccato, and mesmerizing, effectively immersing readers in the seedy mid-twentieth-century Los Angeles setting and the author's personal journey. Many readers commend Ellroy's courage in exposing his own flaws and dark experiences, finding his self-examination both terrifying and brilliant. The book is lauded as a compelling, gripping, and admirable work that combines elements of true crime and autobiography, often leading readers to neglect other duties in order to finish it.

However, the book is not without its criticisms, primarily stemming from its demanding style and challenging content. Some readers found Ellroy's short, repetitive sentences and dense prose to be "practically unreadable," leading to boredom or frustration. The subject matter, which includes graphic details of violence and the author's disturbing personal history, is frequently described as unpleasant, unsettling, and not for the faint of heart, pushing many out of their comfort zones. Reviewers also noted issues with the book's pacing, finding parts of the police procedural sections to be overly long, repetitive, and bogged down with insignificant details or dead-end leads. Additionally, some expressed discomfort with Ellroy's character, perceiving him as harsh, difficult, or not a "hero," and questioned the book's lack of a clear resolution regarding his personal transformation or the central murder investigation.

Overall, My Dark Places is regarded as a profoundly impactful and often brilliant work, though one that elicits strong and sometimes conflicted reactions. It is highly recommended for fans of James Ellroy's fiction, readers with a keen interest in true crime or intense memoirs, and those who appreciate brutal honesty and dark, challenging narratives. However, potential readers should be forewarned that the book's graphic content, explicit themes, and demanding writing style make it unsuitable for the sensitive or squeamish, and many find it a difficult, albeit ultimately rewarding, experience.