Clandestine

SUMMARY: Fred Underhill is a young cop on the rise in Los Angeles in the early 1950's -- a town blinded to its own grime by Hollywood glitter; a society nourished by newspaper lies that wants its heroes all-American and squeaky clean. A chance to lead on a possible serial killing is all it takes to fuel Underhill's reckless ambition - and it propels him into a dangerous alliance with certain mad and unstable elements of the law enforcement hierarchy. When the case implodes with disastrous consequences, it is Fred Underhill who takes the fall. His life is in ruins, his promising future suddenly a dream of the past. And his good and pure love for a crusading woman lawyer has been corrupted and may not survive. But even without the authority of a badge, Fred Underhill knows that his only hope for redemption lies in following the investigation to its grim conclusion. And the Hell to which he has been consigned for his sins is the perfect place to hunt for a killer who hungers but has no soul.

Fred Underhill is a young cop on the rise in Los Angeles in the early 1950's — a town blinded to its own grime by Hollywood glitter; a society nourished by newspaper lies that wants its heroes all-American and squeaky clean. A chance to lead on a possible serial killing is all it takes to fuel Underhill's reckless ambition - and it propels him into a dangerous alliance with certain mad and unstable elements of the law enforcement hierarchy. When the case implodes with disastrous consequences, it is Fred Underhill who takes the fall. His life is in ruins, his promising future suddenly a dream of the past. And his good and pure love for a crusading woman lawyer has been corrupted and may not survive. But even without the authority of a badge, Fred Underhill knows that his only hope for redemption lies in following the investigation to its grim conclusion. And the Hell to which he has been consigned for his sins is the perfect place to hunt for a killer who hungers but has no soul.

Library Journal

Ellroy has distinguished himself as a superb hard-boiled detective storyteller, and with Clandestine, his reputation will only gain more luster. Set in post-World War II Los Angeles, this crime story features Fred Underhill, an ambitious policeman who loses his badge while investigating a serial murderer. Underhill pursues the investigation on his own and eventually prevails. While these core elements are common to most crime stories, Ellroy uses them without making them clich d. He succeeds by combining skillful characterization, fast-paced action, and lightly restrained sarcasm to present a delightful mystery. Narrator Jeremy Gage is a master of nuance and timing. This should be popular among library patrons; a great addition to mystery collections. Very highly recommended.--Ray Vignovich, West Des Moines P.L., IA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

"Set in 1950s Los Angeles, Clandestine follows Frederick Underhill of the Los Angeles Police Department as he pursues his dream to become the most celebrated detective of all time. The death of a lonely woman gives him his chance. As an ex-lover of the victim, Underhill soon gets on the case with LA's most feared interrogator Lieutenant Dudley Smith. But instead of finding his career on the way up, he finds his life about to take a fall..." -- Provided by publisher In the early 1950s, rookie cop Freddy Underhill patrols Los Angeles from Wilshire to Watts, dreaming of making the big bust that will grab headlines and bring him glory. And when an old one night stand is found murdered, Freddy seizes his chance and enters a world of kinky sex and sleazy secrets