Member Review

No More Graphic Than Reality

This newest book from Jordan Harper, “A Violent Masterpiece,” solidifies his position as a preeminent voice in contemporary noir. Having been a fan of his prior work set in Los Angeles, “Everybody Knows,” I found this latest release to be a powerful extension of his relevant and compelling storytelling approach.

Take heed: this book is not for the squeamish, as its name implies and its occasionally graphic nature confirms. Yet, this deliberate violence is vital, acting as a blistering critique of a society and metropolis where the wealthy and influential operate above the law.

Providing the book's unrelenting and driving momentum, the converging stories of three complex, desperate characters—cynical live-streaming nightcrawler Jake Deal, world-weary street lawyer Doug Gibson, and Kara Delgado, a concierge for the "terminally rich"—navigate L.A.'s moral black hole. This narrative is a visceral descent into the dark netherworld of Los Angeles, where a massive, city-wide conspiracy is exposed through the arrest of a Hollywood pedophile, a young woman's disappearance, and the terrifying reign of the serial killer known as the LA Ripper.

The narrative by Jordan Harper vibrates with a palpable anger that echoes today's darkest news cycles. By drawing parallels to real-world scandals—like the convenient "suicide" of a well-connected pedophile-predator behind bars—Harper skewers the entitlement of an elite class that considers itself untouchable. While the story's three imperfect leads may falter, their journey offers a flicker of hope that accountability is still possible.

This novel further develops the biting commentary found in "Everybody Knows," transitioning from Hollywood insider politics and moral ambiguity to a broader examination of the destructive nature of immense wealth. While the narrative is characterized by a stark, graphic intensity, such brutality feels justified when viewed against the backdrop of contemporary reality. For those who appreciated the themes of his previous work, this follow-up is a highly recommended continuation of that critique.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company, Mulholland Books, and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.