WoW I have to say I found this Book Hard Reading at times.
It’s told from Freddy’s point of view and is definitely different it also has some serious issues with use of some of the characters in the book.
That said I did enjoy it but I do not think I’ll be reading it again. ( )

Freddy Otash existed, and he's turned up in fictional form in a several of Ellroy's previous works. Here, we see 1950s Hollywood through his eyes, working mainly as an investigator for Confidential magazine - which also, really existed. Ellroy likes taking characters from 1950s Los Angeles and elsewhere and inserting them into his stories; Senator Jack Kennedy has appeared frequently for example. This time, Ellroy really lets rip, as Otash libels everyone in the entertainment business you've ever heard of, and quite a few that you haven't. These include, but are certainly not limited to, Liz Taylor, Rock Hudson, Joi Lansing, Kennedy again, Steve Cochrane, James Dean and the entire cast and crew of "Rebel Without A Cause", the entire West Coast jazz scene (Art Pepper - really, did you have to?) and many more. And much like Confidential, there's a scintilla of truth to much of it; yes, its possible Barbara Payton did some call girl work. Yes, Nicholas Ray and Natalie Wood did have an affair on the set of "Rebel Without A Cause", yes James Dean may have been bisexual

For the Ellroy fan, like me, its a pure thrill. Running at 100 mph, written as an amphetamine fuelled, booze soaked alliterative toboggan ride, with a storyline around possible communist cells - a perennial Ellroy trope - and the Red Light Bandid, Carryl Chessman.

Its unputdownable. But if you haven't read any Ellroy before, don't start here. This is great fun, but its for the initiated ( )

Un superconcentrato di Ellroy ovvero un Ellroy che si fa il verso: chi apprezza la 'maniera' dello scrittore si fa travolgere dal ritmo e dalle allitterazioni, chi non la sopporta rischia di fuggire a gambe levate.
Io faccio parte del primo gruppo, ma va detto che qui alla forma spesso non va dietro la sostanza: il cattiiivo Otash protagonista è divertente (anche se a volte si ripete), ma la vicenda soffre di troppi binari morti e svolte tanto improvvise quanto ingiustificate. ( )

“Widespread Panic” by James Ellroy describes Hollywood of the very late 1940s and 50s through the eyes of Freddy Otash, a sleazy cop and source for the schlock tabloid “Confidential”. This is an exceptionally entertaining, laugh a minute look at the ugly side of Hollywood. It's not his best work, but Ellroy’s marvellous use of language and alliteration makes for an amusing, Hollywood Babylon style read. Short sharp chapters make it a good read for public transport rides and holiday snippets. ( )