Perfidia Apr 2026

In his historical crime novel, James Ellroy uses the term to describe the social and political atmosphere of Los Angeles in December 1941, immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

James Ellroy's 'Perfidia' Is A Brutal, Beautiful Police Procedural Perfidia

: The novel portrays a city consumed by war fever, racism, and opportunism. Every character—from the corrupt Sgt. Dudley Smith to the ambitious Capt. William Parker—operates with a "shaky moral compass," using the national tragedy to carve out power. In his historical crime novel, James Ellroy uses

: The story follows a multi-perspective investigation into the brutal murder of a Japanese-American family. Dudley Smith to the ambitious Capt

: Ellroy suggests that "perfidia" is not just an individual act but a systemic one; the "crime" of the murder reflects the larger "crime" of war and the internment of Japanese-Americans. One Battle After Another (2025): Perfidia Beverly Hills