“Corwin means not only to explore the daily details of police work but also to use them as a window on Los Angeles—to have Homicide Special tell us something of the way we live. At first glance, it might seem a stretch for a book about a homicide squad to operate as a social metaphor. Yet, the further we read, the more apropos the idea.”
—Los Angeles Times
“The drowning deaths of a mother and child, the murder of a Russian prostitute, the death of a Las Vegas gangster’s daughter, and the murder of actor Robert Blake’s wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, are among the riveting cases Corwin details.”
—Portland Oregonian
“If real mysteries appeal to you more than literary ones, Homicide Special … is for you.… The author’s unprecedented access allowed him to record conversations and questionings. This gives the book the feel of a novel. But the fact that not everything is knitted up nicely in the end reminds readers that this is reality, not fiction.”
—The Indianapolis Star
“A fine book … Corwin’s writing skills go beyond mere reporting; he has a novelist’s sense of story and pace. Homicide Special is a near classic—a sympathetic and absorbing look at today’s policing.”
—The Flint Journal (Michigan)
“Corwin’s book will enthrall true-crime fans.”
—Booklist
“A well-written, detailed look at L. A. police detectives and the grisly work they do.”
—Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Homicide Special pushes past the headlines to retrieve a depth of insight that reveals the complex nature of the crimes and the efforts to solve them. The celebrity culture of the detectives’ beat and the unique universe that is contemporary Southern California living provide an unusually eclectic perspective to the true-crime genre, throwing the stories captivatingly off kilter.… But such trappings are mere accents to the ultimate success of Corwin’s book: the ability to realistically demonstrate the challenges and triumphs of top detectives seeking both answers and justice.”
—Amazon.com official site review
“While not recounting every homicide case he observed, the author vividly renders a handful that exemplify the range of entrenched social fissures and seedy criminality that have long defined Los Angeles.… With a touch of Chandleresque panache, Corwin’s true crime reads like vintage noir, delivering taut dialogue sprinkled with off-color wisecracks and lyrical passages.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Combining a deft, elegant prose style with the acute eye of a veteran crime reporter, Miles Corwin has created a compelling portrait of seasoned homicide cops at work. This is L. A.’s darkest side.”
—Jonathan Kellerman
“Gripping drama and pathos … Rarely has the genre been worked to better effect.”
—The New York Times Book Review
“A grab-you-by-the-throat page-turner.”
—Los Angeles Times
“A fascinating, gripping, and at times heart-wrenching story.”
—Michael Connelly
“Haunting and thrilling, this is a beautifully told story of violence and courage, and an unforgettable look behind the yellow crime-scene tape.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“An impressive, important work of narrative journalism … A more gifted reporter can barely be imagined.”
—San Francisco Chronicle
“A book that both lifts the heart and afflicts the soul.”
—Samuel Freedman, author of Small Victories
“Splendid.”
—Los Angeles Times Book Review