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Quick answer: If you loved L.A. Confidential, read James Ellroy's The Black Dahlia, then Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep, The Long Goodbye and Farewell, My Lovely, then Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon, and Michael Connelly's The Black Echo and James Crumley's The Last Good Kiss. All are dark, dense crime noir.
James Ellroy's L.A. Confidential (1990) follows three cops in 1950s Los Angeles. These picks share its darkness.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Black Dahlia | James Ellroy | Adult | true-crime noir |
| The Big Sleep | Raymond Chandler | Adult | readers who want the roots |
| The Long Goodbye | Raymond Chandler | Adult | detective classics |
| Farewell, My Lovely | Raymond Chandler | Adult | Marlowe again |
| The Maltese Falcon | Dashiell Hammett | Adult | readers who want a classic |
| The Black Echo | Michael Connelly | Adult | readers who like procedurals |
| The Last Good Kiss | James Crumley | Adult | readers who like noir |
| Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon | Adult | comic noir |
| The Postman Always Rings Twice | James M. Cain | Adult | noir tragedy |
| Double Indemnity | James M. Cain | Adult | insurance murder |
| The Neon Rain | James Lee Burke | Adult | Louisiana detective |
| Blacktop Wasteland | S.A. Cosby | Adult | more Cosby |
| Razorblade Tears | S.A. Cosby | Adult | more Cosby |
| The Monkey's Raincoat | Robert Crais | Adult | readers who like humor |
| The Dying Trade | Peter Corris | Adult | Cliff Hardy start |
1. The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy
Two cops investigate a notorious murder. Dark and obsessive.
Best for: true-crime noir.
2. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
Philip Marlowe is hired by a rich family in Los Angeles. The classic hard-boiled novel.
Best for: readers who want the roots.
3. The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
Philip Marlowe befriends a drunk who becomes a suspect. Sad, witty and classic.
Best for: detective classics.
4. Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler
Marlowe follows a huge man searching for his lost girlfriend. Rich and atmospheric.
Best for: Marlowe again.
5. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
Sam Spade is drawn into a search for a priceless statue. A founding detective novel.
Best for: readers who want a classic.
6. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
Harry Bosch investigates a body in a drainpipe. The first Bosch novel and a strong police procedural.
Best for: readers who like procedurals.
7. The Last Good Kiss by James Crumley
A private eye searches for a missing woman in the West. Gritty and funny.
Best for: readers who like noir.
8. Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon
A stoned private eye in 1970 Los Angeles searches for an ex-girlfriend in this comic noir. Hazy and funny.
Best for: comic noir.
9. The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
A drifter and a married woman plot a murder. Short and savage.
Best for: noir tragedy.
10. Double Indemnity by James M. Cain
An insurance salesman helps a woman kill her husband. Tight and cold.
Best for: insurance murder.
11. The Neon Rain by James Lee Burke
Dave Robicheaux investigates in New Orleans. Lyrical and violent.
Best for: Louisiana detective.
12. Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby
Beauregard “Bug” Montage, a mechanic and former getaway driver, takes one last job. Fast and gripping.
Best for: more Cosby.
13. Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
Two fathers, one Black and one white, seek revenge for their sons. Tough and moving.
Best for: more Cosby.
14. The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais
Elvis Cole looks for a missing husband in Los Angeles. Funny and tough.
Best for: readers who like humor.
15. The Dying Trade by Peter Corris
Sydney private eye Cliff Hardy takes a case that turns violent. The classic Australian hard-boiled detective.
Best for: Cliff Hardy start.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with L.A. Confidential: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to L.A. Confidential. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most.
How to Choose
For noir, read The Black Dahlia. For classics, try The Big Sleep. For modern, pick The Black Echo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote L.A. Confidential?
James Ellroy, in 1990.
Is there a film?
Yes, a 1997 film.
Is it violent?
Yes, it is dark noir.
Which book here is best for Cliff Hardy start?
Try The Dying Trade by Peter Corris, which suits readers looking for Cliff Hardy start.
Which book here is best for readers who like humor?
Try The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais, which suits readers looking for readers who like humor.
Which book here is best for more Cosby?
Try Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby, which suits readers looking for more Cosby.
Which book here is best for more Cosby?
Try Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby, which suits readers looking for more Cosby.
Which book here is best for Louisiana detective?
Try The Neon Rain by James Lee Burke, which suits readers looking for Louisiana detective.
Which book here is best for insurance murder?
Try Double Indemnity by James M. Cain, which suits readers looking for insurance murder.
Which book here is best for noir tragedy?
Try The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain, which suits readers looking for noir tragedy.