EVIL’S EDEN: Only Murders in Los Angeles
by STAFF
EVIL’S EDEN is a nimble blend of chilling L.A. true-crime stories and a fictional telling of the birth of a sinister empire. This scintillating novella dives into infamous crimes and the sordid history of murder in Los Angeles.
EVIL’S EDEN: Only Murders in Los Angeles by Guillermo X. Márquez
This novella goes far beyond typical voyeuristic tellings of crimes, offering intriguing analysis and context at a breakneck pace. It’s a curated collection that turns noir mythology on its head, connecting the dots and exploring fresh angles on suspects, motives, methods, and what really happened. The author asks: What is the root of these horrific acts, and is the City of Angels evil’s Eden?
Tinseltown is haunted by infamous cases: The Chinese Massacre of 1871, the sadistic murder and dismemberment of the Black Dahlia and Little Marion Parker, the beating death of matinee idol Ramon Novarro, the Manson Family and other creepy cults, the Night Stalker’s terrifying crime spree, murder-suicide at the opulent Greystone Mansion (with ties to the historic Teapot Dome Scandal), and the high-profile murder trial of music producer Phil Spector. There’s a lot here for true-crime fans to sink their teeth into. Though I thought I knew these cases before reading this book, I was surprised at every page turn by revelations and new connections.
As a treat for readers, between these real-world horrors, Márquez sprinkles his fable of the fictitious Fitzhampton clan and an evil that spanned continents and generations. In a series of vignettes, the author paints a caricature of every California-bound robber baron in the history books, unmasking their dirty deeds through this tale of a family legacy built upon the bones of those they crushed. Through lies, bribes, and cover-ups, the Fitzhamptons crafted their reputation as an illustrious early Los Angeles founding family. Behind their veneer of respectability lay greed, deceit, and murder. And that malevolence lingers to this day in a dilapidated, abandoned Victorian mansion, Balmoral, waiting for its next victim to cross the threshold.
More by Guillermo X. Márquez
DISPOSSESSED: A Very L.A. Ghost Story
Author site: GXMarquez.com
Genres: True Crime / Mystery / Los Angeles / Murder & Mayhem
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