The Big Nowhere

novel by Ellroy

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July 17, 2026

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The Big Nowhere is a 1988 crime novel by James Ellroy. It is the second novel in his L.A. Quartet series, following The Black Dahlia and preceding L.A. Confidential and White Jazz. The series is known for its examination of corruption and sinister eras of American history, particularly in Los Angeles. Ellroy's novels often feature fictionalized treatments of real historical events and explore themes of police corruption and political intrigue.12

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James Ellroy
…Black Dahlia (1987; film 2006), The Big Nowhere (1988), L.A. Confidential (1990; film 1997), and White Jazz (1992). Perfidia (2014) was the first volume in his second L.A. Quartet. The novel, which chronologically precedes the events of the earlier series, features many of the same characters and evokes a similarly…
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…Black Dahlia (1987; film 2006), The Big Nowhere (1988), L.A. Confidential (1990; film 1997), and White Jazz (1992). Perfidia (2014) was the first volume in his second L.A. Quartet. The novel, which chronologically precedes the events of the earlier series, features many of the same characters and evokes a similarly…
Read More