This is a reread, after reading it a long time ago probably after watching the movie, which I remember more vividly, but I also recall I liked the book a lot and that was the beginning of many Ellroy reads. I've had trouble getting through his more recent works because they seem like racist drug-addled streams of consciousness, but I found going back to LA Confidential that it felt more structured and the characters more accessible, although there's no shortage of racist patter (I wouldn't like to hear the audiobook). I was relieved to still enjoy this reread but now that I'm older I find the casual racist (and homophobic) dialogue and narrative more uncomfortable and can't help but wonder if it's a bit self-indulgent.