Love Me Fierce In Danger

Here is 'the skinny' (as the subject himself might put it) on one of the most charismatic and complex crime writers on the planet, affording insights into both the man and his craft. It's every bit as gripping and twisted as a James Ellroy novel. Dig it, cats. * Ian Rankin * Powell brings out the conflicting sides of Ellroy's personality tactfully and sympathetically - without ever taking his eye off the truth ... [It] has all the pace, twists and shocks of a good crime novel. -- Mark Sanderson * The Times * A highly enjoyable read ... shrewd in its critiques of the work and jargon-free - an academic biography in the best sense. I suspect it will spoil the genre of literary biography for me for a while: can the life of any other living writer be anywhere near as horribly gripping? -- Jake Kerridge * The Daily Telegraph * Steven Powell's brilliant, unflinching biography reveals how the novelist's obsessions have their roots in the extraordinary experiences of his childhood and early years ... Powell scrupulously chronicles Ellroy's hectic career: his compulsive womanising; lapses in sobriety; near nervous breakdowns; and attention grabbing performances as the self-styled 'Demon Dog of American Crime Fiction'... According to his ex-wife, Helen Knode: 'James lives life like he was shot out of a cannon.' This gripping, illuminating biography not only throws light on just what she meant by that. It also reveals why he does so. -- Nick Rennison * The Daily Mail * Sober ... Powell's unruffled approach is a shrewd way of tackling Ellroy's sensational life and imagination. -- Anthony Cummins * Literary Review * [A] stark, revealing account of [Ellroy's] life. -- Martin Chilton * The Independent * When it comes to James Ellroy, [Powell] is the go-to expert who plays sleuth to the inventor of many an L.A. sleuth. . . . The same obsessive thread that runs through all of Ellroy's work also weaves kinetically through Powell's prose. In this latest book, he reveals nuances of the epic writer's life and process that only an Ellroy expert can. * Brooklyn Rail * Powell's biography is wonderful, a must-read. . . . It is a testament to him and to his subject. * Hedgehog Review * An essential purchase for anyone interested in modern American crime fiction, couched in prose that is as lively as its uncompromising subject. -- Barry Forshaw * Crime Time * Contributes a wealth of material and insight into Ellroy's private life and personal struggles. . . . Love Me Fierce In Danger is a substantial work of literary scholarship. . . . A must read for fans and scholars of contemporary American crime fiction. * Pulp Curry * Whatever we thought we knew about the Demon Dog of American Literature, we were wrong; Love Me Fierce in Danger is as revelatory as it is compelling, and a masterpiece of literary biography: James Ellroy deserves no less. * David Peace * Unflinching in detailing the life of one of the living greats of crime fiction ... As biographies go, this one is quite a ride. -- Ayo Onatade * Shots magazine *