The Enchanters

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Los Angeles, August 4, 1962. Amid a sweltering heat wave, Marilyn Monroe overdoses, and a B-movie starlet is kidnapped, prompting an overzealous response from the LAPD. Chief Bill Parker seeks revenge, eyeing the Monroe case as a lucrative opportunity, and enlists the help of Freddy Otash. A tainted ex-cop and defrocked private eye, Freddy is a dope fiend and freelance extortionist who lives by the motto "Opportunity is Love." As he delves into the intertwined mysteries of Monroe's death and the kidnapping, he confronts the dark underbelly of Hollywood and the façade of Camelot surrounding the Kennedys. Freddy's journey is one of desperation and madness, as he navigates a nightmarish L.A. that he helped shape, grappling with his own complicity and yearning for genuine connection. Set against the backdrop of the explosive Sixties, the narrative unfolds with a blend of humor and psychological depth, delivering a thrilling exploration of crime and morality. This work stands as a testament to Ellroy's unique voice, blending vivid imagery and gripping storytelling in a way that redefines the American crime novel.