1929 Los Angeles is a fantastic setting for a noir-style crime novel, especially when Raymond Chandler, in his historically accurate role as an oil company executive is one of the main characters. Along with cop Tom James, likely the real-life model for Philip Marlowe, the pair investigate a quasi-religious cult suspected of bilking thousands of dollars off of unwary fools. The writing is high quality and leans toward the “literary” style more than the “hard-boiled PI” style and the pages definitely ooze noir.

An intriguing concept of a novel but it felt incomplete. Kim Cooper obviously knows her historical Los Angeles as proven by all of the location name dropping that is scattered throughout this novel. A little too much I would say, as sometimes street names, restaurant names, etc. were just dropped in for no added benefit. It distracted from the story. The characters were not quite as fleshed out as I would prefer, concentrating on known qualities like Chandler’s boozing. The case itself, the historical “Great Eleven Club” was handled well but I would like to have learned more about the infamous mother-daughter pair that began it all. Interactions with them were minimal and not very revealing.

My favorite character was Muriel, Chandler’s secretary and lover, who took it upon herself to infiltrate the “Harmony Hamlet” and witness the bizarre activities and beliefs of the cult.