Court TV’s new series “Murder by the Book” begins tonight with an episode featuring James Ellroy. I have high hopes for this series. Each week a different crime writer will discuss a real-life crime that has had an impact on the writer’s work.
In upcoming weeks Faye Kellerman, Jonathan Kellerman, Michael Connelly and Lisa Scottoline will each have an episode.
I’m really surprised they aren’t featuring Ann Rule.
VCNJ~
The show is featuring authors who are best known for writing crime fiction. Although Ann Rule has written some fiction, I think she’s usually regarded as more of a “true crime” writer.
I watched most of the opening episode about James Ellroy’s mother’s murder. I’ve got to say, it was dark and quite disturbing. I’ve read more than a few of Ellroy’s novels and after seeing this (and reading about the book he wrote about searching for her killer), understand where the darkness in his works comes from.
That said, I think I’ll probably turn in for upcoming episodes, especially Connelly and the Kellermans; I’m familiar with their books as well, and I don’t think they’ve had anything as dark as Ellroy in their pasts (although I could be surprised!).
As soon as I read they were going to use “dramatic recreations,” I lost interest. Hate those things.
I saw a documentary on this and it was very interesting. I think I’ll pass on the recreation version. Still a great story, though.