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Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels
For fans of Spotlight and Catch and Kill comes a nonfiction thriller about corruption and betrayal radiating across Los Angeles from one of the region's most powerful institutions, a riveting tale from a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist who investigated the shocking events and helped bring justice in the face of formidable odds.
On a cool, overcast afternoon in April 2016, a salacious tip arrived at the L.A. Times that reporter Paul Pringle thought should have taken, at most, a few weeks to check a drug overdose at a fancy hotel involving one of the University of Southern California’s shiniest stars―Dr. Carmen Puliafito, the head of the prestigious medical school. Pringle, who’d long done battle with USC and its almost impenetrable culture of silence, knew reporting the story wouldn’t be a walk in the park. USC is one of the biggest employers in L.A., and it casts a long shadow.
But what he couldn’t have foreseen was that this tip would lead to the unveiling of not one major scandal at USC but two, wrapped in a web of crimes and cover-ups. The rot rooted out by Pringle and his colleagues at The Times would creep closer to home than they could have imagined―spilling into their own newsroom.
Packed with details never before disclosed, Pringle goes behind the scenes to reveal how he and his fellow reporters triumphed over the city’s debased institutions, in a narrative that reads like L.A. noir. This is L.A. at its darkest and investigative journalism at its brightest.
On a cool, overcast afternoon in April 2016, a salacious tip arrived at the L.A. Times that reporter Paul Pringle thought should have taken, at most, a few weeks to check a drug overdose at a fancy hotel involving one of the University of Southern California’s shiniest stars―Dr. Carmen Puliafito, the head of the prestigious medical school. Pringle, who’d long done battle with USC and its almost impenetrable culture of silence, knew reporting the story wouldn’t be a walk in the park. USC is one of the biggest employers in L.A., and it casts a long shadow.
But what he couldn’t have foreseen was that this tip would lead to the unveiling of not one major scandal at USC but two, wrapped in a web of crimes and cover-ups. The rot rooted out by Pringle and his colleagues at The Times would creep closer to home than they could have imagined―spilling into their own newsroom.
Packed with details never before disclosed, Pringle goes behind the scenes to reveal how he and his fellow reporters triumphed over the city’s debased institutions, in a narrative that reads like L.A. noir. This is L.A. at its darkest and investigative journalism at its brightest.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 19, 2022
325 people are currently reading
6206 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 546 reviews
January 28, 2023
Ah yes, Los Angeles, city of Angels and a book that takes us back to the days of LA Noir. Police forces in Pasadena and LA that look the other way. Cozy tie-ins with USC, investigations that go nowhere and are always inconclusive. Yes, this book written in 2022 shows us all of this, and it is led by no regime at the LA Times that value making money over journalism, and staying in bed with USC rather than working to expose some truly horrid individuals. Here the author goes into the case of the dean of the medical school at USC who at age 69 or so was supplying narcotics to young girls and kept them hooked on drugs for his own enjoyment, as well as getting a minor hooked on Meth. Editors sat on that story for over a year for no good reason. Same thing with the case of "creepy" gynecologist, George Tyndall, who also was a disgrace for years and administration did nothing. When stories were printed and all said and done there were huge civil suit verdicts, such was the horror of the entire situation. Finally those two are gone, and the former President of USC was forced to resign.
Just a cozy little LA Noir, still going on in the City of Angels.
Just a cozy little LA Noir, still going on in the City of Angels.
June 30, 2022
I liked that this story was from the perspective of a journalist in so much more detail than we usually get of the work journalists do in their investigations. While the things described in this investigation were criminal it was definitely focused on corruption and how the rich and powerful not only believe they can get away with anything but often do. The author, Paul, was given a tip about a Doctor working at USC being found in a hotel room with a woman who was passed out and a lot of drugs. The source who reached out had called 911 and was shocked when the doctor was not arrested and the police seemed to be doing nothing. As Paul dug into the story he was hit with barriers from the police and from USC who both appeared to protecting the rich doctor who had been plying young people, especially women, with drugs and engaging in illicit activities with them. The story was sickening, but it was also refreshing to see that not all are scared away when rich people try to dissuade investigating their activities.
August 8, 2022
I wasn’t sure if this was my type of read or not, but it turned out to be a page turner. A reporter starts checking into a tip and it tuns into a wild investigation. He uncovers some pretty shocking information that keeps growing. The problem is all of the places involved seem to be intertwined and shutting him out or covering up for them. Even his own newspaper was interfering, shutting the story down totally at one point. Bizarre but true story.
August 18, 2022
Upon reading Bad City by Paul Pringle, my first thought was that it might have better been named, Bad University, as most of the reporting is on the University of Southern California and the corrupt men who worked there. Although another thread woven throughout is the trouble Pringle, an investigative journalist for the LA Times, encountered from his own supervisors while trying to tell the story of Carmen Puliafito, the dean of USC’s Keck School of Medicine. The adage, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely holds true for the people we are introduced to in this account.
The book opens in 2016 with the scene of a young woman who has overdosed in a room littered with drugs at the Hotel Constance in Pasadena, CA, an affluent town that also houses the USC Keck School of Medicine. The room is registered to Carmen Puliafito and the hotel manager on duty left for the day with the paramedics and police on the scene, sure that an arrest of the man would follow. What unfolds is not an arrest or conviction, but the realization of who this man is, a prominent USC dean who has secured big money for the school and its programs, an inventor of cutting edge medical technology and practicing eye surgeon. What follows is a cover-up involving the dean, the university president, city officials and the police force, and the LA Times itself. And a reporter determined to shine a light on dirty deeds.
This shocking and disturbing account also exposes other scandals involving leadership at USC, including a gynecologist at the university’s student clinic who was allowed to practice and perform examinations on female students that were later classified as sexual assault. Protected by the director of the clinic, and even higher up the chain of command, this man was allowed to practice for 25 years with no formal disciplinary action or involvement from law enforcement, and was only asked to resign with a payout when he finally left. One may ask WHY, but the inevitable conclusion, disappointing in its banality, is that money talks and institutionalized money talks and protects their own. Appalling? Yes. Surprising? No.
The men exposed in these stories are not just breaking laws they are behaving very, very badly. Pringle is a gifted reporter and admirably dogged in his attempts to expose the truth and do what is right for the victims caught in these webs as well as the public, who deserves to know.
Thank you to BookishFirst/NetGalley, and Celadon Books for the free copy of this important book in exchange for my honest review.
The book opens in 2016 with the scene of a young woman who has overdosed in a room littered with drugs at the Hotel Constance in Pasadena, CA, an affluent town that also houses the USC Keck School of Medicine. The room is registered to Carmen Puliafito and the hotel manager on duty left for the day with the paramedics and police on the scene, sure that an arrest of the man would follow. What unfolds is not an arrest or conviction, but the realization of who this man is, a prominent USC dean who has secured big money for the school and its programs, an inventor of cutting edge medical technology and practicing eye surgeon. What follows is a cover-up involving the dean, the university president, city officials and the police force, and the LA Times itself. And a reporter determined to shine a light on dirty deeds.
This shocking and disturbing account also exposes other scandals involving leadership at USC, including a gynecologist at the university’s student clinic who was allowed to practice and perform examinations on female students that were later classified as sexual assault. Protected by the director of the clinic, and even higher up the chain of command, this man was allowed to practice for 25 years with no formal disciplinary action or involvement from law enforcement, and was only asked to resign with a payout when he finally left. One may ask WHY, but the inevitable conclusion, disappointing in its banality, is that money talks and institutionalized money talks and protects their own. Appalling? Yes. Surprising? No.
The men exposed in these stories are not just breaking laws they are behaving very, very badly. Pringle is a gifted reporter and admirably dogged in his attempts to expose the truth and do what is right for the victims caught in these webs as well as the public, who deserves to know.
Thank you to BookishFirst/NetGalley, and Celadon Books for the free copy of this important book in exchange for my honest review.
July 12, 2022
Here in Michigan, we are all too familiar with universities involved with scandal, especially the Michigan State University physician Larry Nassar who abused athletes. When charges were first made against him in 2014, MSU cleared Nassar of wrongdoing; it took four more years before he was charged, convicted, and sentenced to sixty years in prison. It’s a horrific story, but it pales in comparison to the tale Los Angeles Times investigative reporter Paul Pringle spins in Bad City. The dean of the University of Southern California Kirk Medical School, Dr. Carmen Puliafito, was found at a hotel with an unconscious young woman who had been taking drugs. 911 and the cops were called by a hotel worker. He waited to hear what had happened to the woman, and if the doctor faced repercussions. When nothing happened, he contacted the LA Times with a tip, and Pringle began his investigation and multi-year struggle with his boss to get the story published.
The city employees eluded full disclosure. Police and 911 send redacted reports. The university didn’t cooperate. In fact, the LA Times editor and publisher diluted and squashed the story. USC was an important economic and social force in the city, with lots of friends and influence.
Pringle didn’t give up on his mission to expose the story. He learned that Puliafito not only supplied drugs to young women as a way of controlling them, he was an addict himself. And not only the university used its power to cover it up, his own newspaper was complicit. He thought about his own daughters and fought on. He got the story in print.
Not only was Puliafito convicted of malfeasance, but USC gynecologist George Tyndall was accused of sexual molestation of his patients, and then the university was exposed in a college admissions scandal involving Hollywood parents. The corruption is mind boggling.
The scandals resulted in massive turnovers in leadership at the university and the newspaper. The LA Times won the Pulitzer Prize for its reporting on Tyndall.
For me, the moment transcended the joy that comes form winning journalism’s highest honor; it shouted vindication. The prize was further proof that fighting for journalism principles and ethics, even at the risk of tanking your career, pays off in the end.
from Bad City by Paul Pringle
With its twists and turns and complications, Bad City reads like a thriller. Every time you thinks things are bad, they get worse as Pringle and his collogues dig up more information about the degradation of these bad actors. Puliafito is an evil villian surpassing anything in the comic books. Using his money, power, and prestige, he destroys lives and is responsible for a death. It’s a true crime story, and an example of the importance of journalists using their pens to uncover corruption.
I received a free book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
The city employees eluded full disclosure. Police and 911 send redacted reports. The university didn’t cooperate. In fact, the LA Times editor and publisher diluted and squashed the story. USC was an important economic and social force in the city, with lots of friends and influence.
Pringle didn’t give up on his mission to expose the story. He learned that Puliafito not only supplied drugs to young women as a way of controlling them, he was an addict himself. And not only the university used its power to cover it up, his own newspaper was complicit. He thought about his own daughters and fought on. He got the story in print.
Not only was Puliafito convicted of malfeasance, but USC gynecologist George Tyndall was accused of sexual molestation of his patients, and then the university was exposed in a college admissions scandal involving Hollywood parents. The corruption is mind boggling.
The scandals resulted in massive turnovers in leadership at the university and the newspaper. The LA Times won the Pulitzer Prize for its reporting on Tyndall.
For me, the moment transcended the joy that comes form winning journalism’s highest honor; it shouted vindication. The prize was further proof that fighting for journalism principles and ethics, even at the risk of tanking your career, pays off in the end.
from Bad City by Paul Pringle
With its twists and turns and complications, Bad City reads like a thriller. Every time you thinks things are bad, they get worse as Pringle and his collogues dig up more information about the degradation of these bad actors. Puliafito is an evil villian surpassing anything in the comic books. Using his money, power, and prestige, he destroys lives and is responsible for a death. It’s a true crime story, and an example of the importance of journalists using their pens to uncover corruption.
I received a free book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
September 12, 2022
This was a wild ride. A nonfiction investigative journalism caper led by our author and lead reporter Paul Pringle. It almost has a memoir component because Pringle is our guide to the story. I was hooked on this book but, the last 4-5 chapters felt like a summation on other stories that were connected but not central to the main story. Very very good book.
July 25, 2022
Unfreakinbelievable! If you thought that there’s no corruption in those elite universities and public service organizations, think again. Best get rid of those rose colored glasses and face the harsh reality of “I scratch your back, you’ll scratch my back” mentality.
Bad City tells the truthful tale of unthinkable corruption in one of the most prestigious universities. It starts with the dean of the school of medicine and then escalates to the onsite ObGyn of the school. You just cannot imagine the coverups that took place. It’s inconceiveable how the university administration managed to squash any and all inquiries with the help of the local law enforcement.
As a result of the investigations by the Times journalistic team, two other scandals were revealed — the USC admissions bribery scheme involving Hollywood actresses and actors, and the corruption of the USC President at that time.
Author, Pringle is a master in his journalistic writing skills. And Bad City is a prime example of his excellent work.
If you enjoyed the film, Spotlight, you will certainly enjoy the book, Bad City. In my opinion, Bad City is one of the best true crime/nonfiction books out there. Five exceptional stars.
I received a finished copy of the book from Celadon Books through BookishFirst. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Bad City tells the truthful tale of unthinkable corruption in one of the most prestigious universities. It starts with the dean of the school of medicine and then escalates to the onsite ObGyn of the school. You just cannot imagine the coverups that took place. It’s inconceiveable how the university administration managed to squash any and all inquiries with the help of the local law enforcement.
As a result of the investigations by the Times journalistic team, two other scandals were revealed — the USC admissions bribery scheme involving Hollywood actresses and actors, and the corruption of the USC President at that time.
Author, Pringle is a master in his journalistic writing skills. And Bad City is a prime example of his excellent work.
If you enjoyed the film, Spotlight, you will certainly enjoy the book, Bad City. In my opinion, Bad City is one of the best true crime/nonfiction books out there. Five exceptional stars.
I received a finished copy of the book from Celadon Books through BookishFirst. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
December 15, 2025
Los Angeles Times reporter Paul Pringle chases a tip he received about Carmen Puliafito, a USC medical school dean, engaged in a drug fueled hotel incident in 2016. USC and the dean dodged Pringle’s attempts to speak at every turn, but he remained relentless and diligent in reporting the story, uncovering much more than he initially anticipated.
While this wasn’t the first USC story Pringle and the Times reported on, they discovered others after breaking the Puliafito news — From shady doctors to the varsity blues admission corruption, there’s been no shortage of scandals at USC, far from being the only university in such position of course.
Throughout this process, Pringle also faced numerous battles in the Times’ newsroom, especially surrounding publication of the Puliafito story. This made him question the motives and ethics of the newsroom’s leadership, and its underlying allegiance to USC.
Bad City is loaded with peril, power, and scandal. It’s largely told in a narrative nonfiction style, and the investigative journalism kept me engaged. I admire Pringle’s determination, and with so much questionable media and countless click bait headlines today, appreciate this story also serving as a reminder there are still reputable journalists, interested in sharing real stories.
While this wasn’t the first USC story Pringle and the Times reported on, they discovered others after breaking the Puliafito news — From shady doctors to the varsity blues admission corruption, there’s been no shortage of scandals at USC, far from being the only university in such position of course.
Throughout this process, Pringle also faced numerous battles in the Times’ newsroom, especially surrounding publication of the Puliafito story. This made him question the motives and ethics of the newsroom’s leadership, and its underlying allegiance to USC.
Bad City is loaded with peril, power, and scandal. It’s largely told in a narrative nonfiction style, and the investigative journalism kept me engaged. I admire Pringle’s determination, and with so much questionable media and countless click bait headlines today, appreciate this story also serving as a reminder there are still reputable journalists, interested in sharing real stories.
October 8, 2022
Many thanks to both Celadon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Bad City.
It all started with a tip to the LA Times newsroom in 2016, which led to the first of three eye-opening investigations to rock the University of Southern California.
A supervisor at a Pasadena hotel (a true hero) called the police and paramedics to say a young woman was unconscious in a room registered to Carmen Puliafito. The woman had apparently overdosed and the room was filled with drugs and drug paraphernalia. When Mr. Kahn tried to follow up on the story with the local news and news websites, he was confused when there was nothing to be found about the arrest of "the fool of an old man" or the drug overdose of the young woman. He was then stunned to discover that Carmen Puliafito was DOCTOR Carmen Puliafito and the dean of USC. Secondly, the entire incident had been swept under the rug!
Mr. Kahn tried to let it go but nothing about the handling of the incident felt right. After hitting a brick wall in every direction he turned, he contacted LA Times reporter Paul Pringle. From there the story spins into a "truth is stranger than fiction" investigation that is as fascinating as it is disturbing.
It all started with a tip to the LA Times newsroom in 2016, which led to the first of three eye-opening investigations to rock the University of Southern California.
A supervisor at a Pasadena hotel (a true hero) called the police and paramedics to say a young woman was unconscious in a room registered to Carmen Puliafito. The woman had apparently overdosed and the room was filled with drugs and drug paraphernalia. When Mr. Kahn tried to follow up on the story with the local news and news websites, he was confused when there was nothing to be found about the arrest of "the fool of an old man" or the drug overdose of the young woman. He was then stunned to discover that Carmen Puliafito was DOCTOR Carmen Puliafito and the dean of USC. Secondly, the entire incident had been swept under the rug!
Mr. Kahn tried to let it go but nothing about the handling of the incident felt right. After hitting a brick wall in every direction he turned, he contacted LA Times reporter Paul Pringle. From there the story spins into a "truth is stranger than fiction" investigation that is as fascinating as it is disturbing.
July 18, 2022
✨ '"USC is very unique," Rosen said.'
When I saw this book being described as "for fans of Spotlight and Catch and Kill", I immediately knew that I needed it. Part nonfiction thriller and part true crime memoir, this was gripping, brilliant and illuminating all at once.
Bad City follows Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Paul Pringle's reporting, unravelling and expose of 3 USC scandals — Carmen Puliafito, George Tyndall and the college admissions saga. Not only does the book provide a comprehensive deep dive into each case, it also explores the long-reaching web of corruption, layers of coverup as well as the brokenness and failings of the system.
Although I initially found the book a little dry with so many players to keep track of, I soon got into the swing of things and breezed through it. I'm not sure which I felt more deeply — shock by how sexual assault at USC was perpetrated and went unpunished for decades, or anger at how editors at the Los Angeles Times tried to kill each story time and time again.
What stuck out most to me was the grit, resilience and determination displayed by Pringle and his colleagues in their unrelenting pursuit for truth and accountability. It's truly admirable and investigative journalism at its pinnacle.
✨ "Journalism was their calling — a calling that required something more than merely a passive adherence to the principles Adam cited. Sometimes it demanded the courage to defend those principles, regardless of the personal cost."
Thank you Celadon Books for my gifted hardcover.
When I saw this book being described as "for fans of Spotlight and Catch and Kill", I immediately knew that I needed it. Part nonfiction thriller and part true crime memoir, this was gripping, brilliant and illuminating all at once.
Bad City follows Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Paul Pringle's reporting, unravelling and expose of 3 USC scandals — Carmen Puliafito, George Tyndall and the college admissions saga. Not only does the book provide a comprehensive deep dive into each case, it also explores the long-reaching web of corruption, layers of coverup as well as the brokenness and failings of the system.
Although I initially found the book a little dry with so many players to keep track of, I soon got into the swing of things and breezed through it. I'm not sure which I felt more deeply — shock by how sexual assault at USC was perpetrated and went unpunished for decades, or anger at how editors at the Los Angeles Times tried to kill each story time and time again.
What stuck out most to me was the grit, resilience and determination displayed by Pringle and his colleagues in their unrelenting pursuit for truth and accountability. It's truly admirable and investigative journalism at its pinnacle.
✨ "Journalism was their calling — a calling that required something more than merely a passive adherence to the principles Adam cited. Sometimes it demanded the courage to defend those principles, regardless of the personal cost."
Thank you Celadon Books for my gifted hardcover.
July 8, 2022
A scathing account of the widespread corruption uncovered at the University of Southern California. Also a testament to the importance of investigative journalism. Pringle devotes considerable space to explaining the fascinating world of newsroom politics and ethics.
I had some trouble focusing on this book, but I don’t know why. Maybe because of the heavy material. Some of the people Pringle and his team have exposed are absolutely awful human beings.
Thank you to Celadon for providing a copy of the book!
I had some trouble focusing on this book, but I don’t know why. Maybe because of the heavy material. Some of the people Pringle and his team have exposed are absolutely awful human beings.
Thank you to Celadon for providing a copy of the book!
February 16, 2024
I’ve been neglecting all the other books I’m reading at this time to finish this. An amazing story which underscores the fact that people with money and power can subvert the system and get away with almost anything. If it hadn’t been for some whistleblowers and the dogged tenacity of journalists who still believed in their craft, none of these people would’ve been exposed and many more victims would have suffered.
November 2, 2022
Mostly meh. Very uneven -- some great stuff, but overall tawdry, disjointed between the different scandals, and the author comes across as a bit of a whiner (even if the whining was justified)
July 15, 2022
Fast-paced, insightful, and comprehensive!
Bad City is the explosive, eye-opening investigation of one of the biggest scandals to rock the University of Southern California that started as a tip involving an unconscious woman, a hotel room littered with drug paraphernalia, and the Dean of its distinguished Keck School of Medicine, Carmen A. Puliafito and ended with the unearthing of an unimaginable amount of corruption, abuse of power, and exploitation that eventually led to the removal of several key figures in both the top echelons of the university’s administration as well as The L.A. Times.
The writing is detailed and precise. And the novel is an absorbing, compelling tale of one man’s dogged determination to uncover and expose the dark, dangerous, depraved secret life of one of the esteemed members of the USC faculty.
Overall, Bad City is a fascinating, disturbing, exceptionally descriptive novel by Pringle that is a scary reminder that often a rotten core can easily be masked by a shiny facade, and is without a doubt a prime example of investigative journalism at its best.
Thank you to Celadon Books for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Bad City is the explosive, eye-opening investigation of one of the biggest scandals to rock the University of Southern California that started as a tip involving an unconscious woman, a hotel room littered with drug paraphernalia, and the Dean of its distinguished Keck School of Medicine, Carmen A. Puliafito and ended with the unearthing of an unimaginable amount of corruption, abuse of power, and exploitation that eventually led to the removal of several key figures in both the top echelons of the university’s administration as well as The L.A. Times.
The writing is detailed and precise. And the novel is an absorbing, compelling tale of one man’s dogged determination to uncover and expose the dark, dangerous, depraved secret life of one of the esteemed members of the USC faculty.
Overall, Bad City is a fascinating, disturbing, exceptionally descriptive novel by Pringle that is a scary reminder that often a rotten core can easily be masked by a shiny facade, and is without a doubt a prime example of investigative journalism at its best.
Thank you to Celadon Books for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2022
Thank you so much to Celadon Books for the advanced copy of this book. These opinions are my own.
This is Paul Pringle's account of his investigation into the Dean of the USC Medical School for his involvement with a drug overdose and the subsequent reporting on George Tyndall, a gynecologist at USC. Pringle and his colleagues won a Pulitzer Prize for their reporting, but this book includes more detail and information than is already publicly available. For me, some of the biggest new information focused on the number of institutions involved in the cover-up, including the Los Angeles Times and multiple police departments.
I greatly appreciated the behind the scenes look at how the stories evolved. Getting to see the process of investigative reporting, the politics, and the motivations of various institutions and their representatives was powerful.
I was surprised (though I shouldn't have been) by how many of Pringle's choices were motivated by his desire to be the first news outlet to get the scoop. This book highlights the declining resources in newsrooms and how important journalism is. But it is also a story of power and corruption across so many levels.
There was more about the architecture and background of buildings than I needed or found interesting, but overall this book was extremely well written and organized. I read it in a single day.
This hit me personally as someone who used to live in the area and had ties to many of the institutions involved. I am so grateful for the work of ethical journalists who hold power to account for the public. I highly recommend this to everyone.
4.5 stars rounded up
This is Paul Pringle's account of his investigation into the Dean of the USC Medical School for his involvement with a drug overdose and the subsequent reporting on George Tyndall, a gynecologist at USC. Pringle and his colleagues won a Pulitzer Prize for their reporting, but this book includes more detail and information than is already publicly available. For me, some of the biggest new information focused on the number of institutions involved in the cover-up, including the Los Angeles Times and multiple police departments.
I greatly appreciated the behind the scenes look at how the stories evolved. Getting to see the process of investigative reporting, the politics, and the motivations of various institutions and their representatives was powerful.
I was surprised (though I shouldn't have been) by how many of Pringle's choices were motivated by his desire to be the first news outlet to get the scoop. This book highlights the declining resources in newsrooms and how important journalism is. But it is also a story of power and corruption across so many levels.
There was more about the architecture and background of buildings than I needed or found interesting, but overall this book was extremely well written and organized. I read it in a single day.
This hit me personally as someone who used to live in the area and had ties to many of the institutions involved. I am so grateful for the work of ethical journalists who hold power to account for the public. I highly recommend this to everyone.
4.5 stars rounded up
January 17, 2023
Nonfiction reportage books are always a bit of a mixed bag. Sometimes a topic or subject that I wouldn't think I'd be interested in suddenly becomes the most compelling narrative. Sometimes, something that is super interesting at the outset, proves to be less so the more I delve into it. Other times, like in Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels, an interesting subject is made less so due to the author's insistence on centering themselves and their own speculations in the narrative.
There's an important and interesting story here. However, I couldn't help feel that the story would have been better served had I gone straight to the published works of the LA Times rather than reading this book. I felt that the subject of institutional corruption within USC was poorly served in this book. The book's title itself is misleading as it implies a broader conspiracy of corruption than the reporting actually demonstrates. Don't get me wrong, the USC bits of the reporting are certainly compelling, but there's little here beyond the author's insinuations that prove governmental and media interference.
The biggest issue I had with this book was the author, Paul Pringle, making him the hero of the story. Generally speaking, I don't mind when reporters write books about how a story came to be - She Said, a great book about the reportage that led to the arrest of Harvey Weinstein is a prime example. Where I take issue with this format is when the reporter's experience and grievances overshadow the broader narrative.
I felt that a lot of this book was Pringle airing grievances against his previous bosses at the LA Times for failing to act expeditiously in publishing his story. This was disappointing on a number of levels because I think there was an opportunity to explore the dilemma that publications, particularly those that are financially and commercially embattled, have in publishing stories that may be detrimental to the institutions that support them. That conversation clearly requires a great deal of nuance that sadly Pringle doesn't have.
Instead, Pringle seems to take it personally that his work is being questioned. Midway through the book, Pringle insinuates that his editors are refusing or slowing publication because they are somehow in cohoots with USC. It's later revealed that their decision to not publish was not due to any external influence. I think it would have been fascinating to delve into that topic further. However Pringle simply concludes that his bosses were cowards and the topic is then dropped.
I think in a lot of ways this book epitomized what I dislike the most about journalism - sensationalism superceeding nuanced conversation. Complex moral situations reduced to a matter of good vs. evil. The self-congratulating journalist completely convinced that the act of writing or reporting a story is de-facto objective and a good unto itself.
There's an important and interesting story here. However, I couldn't help feel that the story would have been better served had I gone straight to the published works of the LA Times rather than reading this book. I felt that the subject of institutional corruption within USC was poorly served in this book. The book's title itself is misleading as it implies a broader conspiracy of corruption than the reporting actually demonstrates. Don't get me wrong, the USC bits of the reporting are certainly compelling, but there's little here beyond the author's insinuations that prove governmental and media interference.
The biggest issue I had with this book was the author, Paul Pringle, making him the hero of the story. Generally speaking, I don't mind when reporters write books about how a story came to be - She Said, a great book about the reportage that led to the arrest of Harvey Weinstein is a prime example. Where I take issue with this format is when the reporter's experience and grievances overshadow the broader narrative.
I felt that a lot of this book was Pringle airing grievances against his previous bosses at the LA Times for failing to act expeditiously in publishing his story. This was disappointing on a number of levels because I think there was an opportunity to explore the dilemma that publications, particularly those that are financially and commercially embattled, have in publishing stories that may be detrimental to the institutions that support them. That conversation clearly requires a great deal of nuance that sadly Pringle doesn't have.
Instead, Pringle seems to take it personally that his work is being questioned. Midway through the book, Pringle insinuates that his editors are refusing or slowing publication because they are somehow in cohoots with USC. It's later revealed that their decision to not publish was not due to any external influence. I think it would have been fascinating to delve into that topic further. However Pringle simply concludes that his bosses were cowards and the topic is then dropped.
I think in a lot of ways this book epitomized what I dislike the most about journalism - sensationalism superceeding nuanced conversation. Complex moral situations reduced to a matter of good vs. evil. The self-congratulating journalist completely convinced that the act of writing or reporting a story is de-facto objective and a good unto itself.
February 27, 2024
I listened to the audiobook and could not stop listening. I was hooked immediately and absolutely riveted the whole time.
It was fun/bizarre to hear about things in Pasadena, streets I used to live/walk/run on or people in this story being neighbors of my childhood friends.
It was fun/bizarre to hear about things in Pasadena, streets I used to live/walk/run on or people in this story being neighbors of my childhood friends.
July 7, 2022
I read this almost in one sitting. I was drawn in by the exposure of corruption, and stayed as the revelations kept coming. It was a pretty unsettling read! I really like the way we got to see the inner workings of the modern news paper and how investigative journalism works, as well. The writing style is very journalistic, which I loved. It's tense, relevant, to the point but also displays the humanity of the people involved. The ones who have any humanity, that is.
When I finished this I looked up pictures of Puliafito and Sarah, and got chills. He's is so creepy and she is so young.
Excellent read. Recommended.
A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher for review.
When I finished this I looked up pictures of Puliafito and Sarah, and got chills. He's is so creepy and she is so young.
Excellent read. Recommended.
A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher for review.
August 4, 2022
I was a little reluctant to read Bad City, simply because I sort of know the subject of the expose. I work in the world of ophthalmology and have had some dealings with the illustrious Dr Puliafito. He definitely has had a reputation in the industry, both as a very smart, savvy business man and a bit of a loose cannon. When this story broke, it circulated very quickly within the industry and was obviously insanely dramatic. But since then, Puliafito has begun to pop back up at meetings and is contributing pretty regularly now in 2022. So when Celadon offered a review copy of the book, I wasn't sure what else there was to know but was intrigued to find out.
The book was only partly an expose of Dr Puliafito's roller coaster ride right off the rails from genius innovator and doctor to drug addled sugar daddy. We get all the salacious and head shaking details of how this senior citizen decided to rocket his way into retirement by indulging in prostitutes and meth. But what we also get is the story of a dogged journalist who wanted to expose this respected, upstanding leader in the USC community for the aberration that he was but also to show how an institution like USC makes its own rules and throws ethics right out the window in the pursuit of money, power and prestige. The details of the main case and the other scandals (like Varsity Blues) plaguing the university were very compelling, although not surprising. The politics and drama of the process of getting the article published reminded me of watching Newsroom.
Thanks to Celadon Books for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
The book was only partly an expose of Dr Puliafito's roller coaster ride right off the rails from genius innovator and doctor to drug addled sugar daddy. We get all the salacious and head shaking details of how this senior citizen decided to rocket his way into retirement by indulging in prostitutes and meth. But what we also get is the story of a dogged journalist who wanted to expose this respected, upstanding leader in the USC community for the aberration that he was but also to show how an institution like USC makes its own rules and throws ethics right out the window in the pursuit of money, power and prestige. The details of the main case and the other scandals (like Varsity Blues) plaguing the university were very compelling, although not surprising. The politics and drama of the process of getting the article published reminded me of watching Newsroom.
Thanks to Celadon Books for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
January 23, 2023
BAD CITY is a fascinating look at the widespread corruption happening on the USC campus over decades. Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Paul Pringle shares how he and his colleagues worked doggedly to break timely, newsworthy stories and were thwarted at almost every turn, even in the very newsroom in which they worked.
This is the definition of unputdownable. I was astounded countless times by how fetid the underpinnings of a prestigious institution can become, and the absurd lengths to which respected leaders may go to uphold their power and protect their image. Highly recommended* for readers who enjoyed Bad Blood and anyone interested in journalism and corruption in general.
*N.B. this has some sordid and disturbing content so possibly avoid this if you are sensitive or avoiding certain topics.
This is the definition of unputdownable. I was astounded countless times by how fetid the underpinnings of a prestigious institution can become, and the absurd lengths to which respected leaders may go to uphold their power and protect their image. Highly recommended* for readers who enjoyed Bad Blood and anyone interested in journalism and corruption in general.
*N.B. this has some sordid and disturbing content so possibly avoid this if you are sensitive or avoiding certain topics.
June 7, 2024
Salacious and also really interesting to hear how investigative journalism works
July 11, 2022
Bad City is a true story about scandal, corruption, and cover-ups. Paul Pringle (a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist) is first drawn in by a tip about a drug overdose at an upscale hotel involving Carmen Pufialito, who at that time was the dean of the USC medical school.
The Pufialito drug story becomes a bigger deal when the Pasadena police and USC officials play dumb and won't answer Pringle's questions, and it grows exponentially when the editorial leadership at his paper, The LA Times, stalls the story at every stage of the editorial process. This just makes Pringle more determined to continue his investigation, uncover the truth, and get the story published.
The kicker for me is that the meth-smoking dean wasn't even the worst coverup happening at USC; Pringle and his team also investigated and wrote a series of articles (for which they won the Pulitzer) about sexual predator George Tyndall, who was finally prosecuted after DECADES of sexually assaulting students while he was a gynecologist at the USC student health center.
Bad City was a fascinating, fast-paced, wild ride through layer after layer of corruption and deception used (mainly) to keep terrible men in powerful positions.
* Thank you to Celadon Books for the gifted review copy. Bad City publishes July 19th.
The Pufialito drug story becomes a bigger deal when the Pasadena police and USC officials play dumb and won't answer Pringle's questions, and it grows exponentially when the editorial leadership at his paper, The LA Times, stalls the story at every stage of the editorial process. This just makes Pringle more determined to continue his investigation, uncover the truth, and get the story published.
The kicker for me is that the meth-smoking dean wasn't even the worst coverup happening at USC; Pringle and his team also investigated and wrote a series of articles (for which they won the Pulitzer) about sexual predator George Tyndall, who was finally prosecuted after DECADES of sexually assaulting students while he was a gynecologist at the USC student health center.
Bad City was a fascinating, fast-paced, wild ride through layer after layer of corruption and deception used (mainly) to keep terrible men in powerful positions.
* Thank you to Celadon Books for the gifted review copy. Bad City publishes July 19th.
August 28, 2024
This book was an engrossing read for me for a number of predictable reasons. It takes place in Los Angeles and more specifically in Pasadena, Huntington Beach, Santa Monica, and at USC and the Los Angeles Times. The author, Paul Pringle, is a Los Angeles Times reporter who specializes in investigating corruption. This was a gripping novel about appalling, institutional corruption. it earns five stars in my opinion due to the subject matter and the results of incredible investigative journalism.
The novel begins with his investigation from a tip that arrived at the LA times about a fancy hotel in Pasadena and the head of the prestigious USC medical school. In the face of very formidable odds from his editors and the ownership of the Los Angeles Times, he was able to unveil two major scandals at USC that involved a web of crimes and coverups. The reporters actually had to do battle with their own newsroom. This was investigative journalism at its finest. I have long admired the journalist that uncovers evil, such as Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, Bernie Madoff, etc.
The novel begins with his investigation from a tip that arrived at the LA times about a fancy hotel in Pasadena and the head of the prestigious USC medical school. In the face of very formidable odds from his editors and the ownership of the Los Angeles Times, he was able to unveil two major scandals at USC that involved a web of crimes and coverups. The reporters actually had to do battle with their own newsroom. This was investigative journalism at its finest. I have long admired the journalist that uncovers evil, such as Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, Bernie Madoff, etc.
September 20, 2022
BAD CITY is wild, the sort of nonfiction that reads like fiction.
The tip L.A Times reporter Paul Pringle got (by chance!): The head of USC's medical school (Carmen Puliafito) was involved in a young woman's drug overdose at a fancy hotel. Sounds fairly straightforward... until he started looking into it.
In BAD CITY, Pringle tells both the story of the crimes and coverups, as well as the story of the investigation itself. The reader follows along as he and his team make calls and house visits, pore over documents, and chase down leads. Pringle stuck with the story, despite major roadblocks along the way. Some of what they uncover is stunning, a fair amount heartbreaking -- and so many people were trying to push it under the rug.
I'd certainly recommend this one to those interested in longform journalism. It falters a bit toward the end but overall is well worth the read.
Thank you to Celadon and Bookish First for a free copy of this title.
The tip L.A Times reporter Paul Pringle got (by chance!): The head of USC's medical school (Carmen Puliafito) was involved in a young woman's drug overdose at a fancy hotel. Sounds fairly straightforward... until he started looking into it.
In BAD CITY, Pringle tells both the story of the crimes and coverups, as well as the story of the investigation itself. The reader follows along as he and his team make calls and house visits, pore over documents, and chase down leads. Pringle stuck with the story, despite major roadblocks along the way. Some of what they uncover is stunning, a fair amount heartbreaking -- and so many people were trying to push it under the rug.
I'd certainly recommend this one to those interested in longform journalism. It falters a bit toward the end but overall is well worth the read.
Thank you to Celadon and Bookish First for a free copy of this title.
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July 18, 2022
First let me take a second to thank the author, Paul Pringle and Celadon Books for an advanced copy of Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels to review before it's upcoming release.
Wow.
When I first picked up Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels I knew that it details some of the more recent scandals out of the University of Southern California (USC). I'm from the other coast of the country so I don't have an attachment to USC and I also don't have a background in journalism so I went into reading about this information with my eyes wide open. And, wow.
As I turned page after page I'd get to a point where I'd think it could not possibly get any worse and then it did. Over and over and over again. The inaction of former USC President Max Nikias is utterly mind-boggling. The silencing of information by Managing Editor, Marc Duvosin and Editor-in-Chief, Davan Maharaj made my blood boil. The blatant favoritism shown to USC by law enforcement is, perhaps, the least shocking aspect in all of this. When it came to law and order, being white, rich and powerful had it perks and former USC President Nikias cashed in on those perks again and again.
However, it wasn't just the stories about the dark side of Dr. Carmen Puliafito and Dr. George Tyndall that kept me turning page after page, but also the hidden underbelly of what happens when a news organization bends to the pressure of shielding a large and wealthy university from bad press. Though I should note, these claims have been denied by both Duvosin and Maharaj however, after reading this book, I just don't believe them. Anyone who has any semblance of common sense could see the blatant favoritism being shown and I don't need a background in journalism to know that their inaction harmed people who could have otherwise been spared harm. Also as someone who doesn't have a background in journalism, I appreciated that this book did a little hand holding in explaining the finer details of what was happening versus what should have been happening.
Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels does a great job at ripping away the curtains and exposing the truth. I applaud the author, Paul Pringle and his entire team that worked nonstop in pursuit of the truth. And not accepting no for an answer.
Wow.
When I first picked up Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels I knew that it details some of the more recent scandals out of the University of Southern California (USC). I'm from the other coast of the country so I don't have an attachment to USC and I also don't have a background in journalism so I went into reading about this information with my eyes wide open. And, wow.
As I turned page after page I'd get to a point where I'd think it could not possibly get any worse and then it did. Over and over and over again. The inaction of former USC President Max Nikias is utterly mind-boggling. The silencing of information by Managing Editor, Marc Duvosin and Editor-in-Chief, Davan Maharaj made my blood boil. The blatant favoritism shown to USC by law enforcement is, perhaps, the least shocking aspect in all of this. When it came to law and order, being white, rich and powerful had it perks and former USC President Nikias cashed in on those perks again and again.
However, it wasn't just the stories about the dark side of Dr. Carmen Puliafito and Dr. George Tyndall that kept me turning page after page, but also the hidden underbelly of what happens when a news organization bends to the pressure of shielding a large and wealthy university from bad press. Though I should note, these claims have been denied by both Duvosin and Maharaj however, after reading this book, I just don't believe them. Anyone who has any semblance of common sense could see the blatant favoritism being shown and I don't need a background in journalism to know that their inaction harmed people who could have otherwise been spared harm. Also as someone who doesn't have a background in journalism, I appreciated that this book did a little hand holding in explaining the finer details of what was happening versus what should have been happening.
Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels does a great job at ripping away the curtains and exposing the truth. I applaud the author, Paul Pringle and his entire team that worked nonstop in pursuit of the truth. And not accepting no for an answer.
July 18, 2022
This is a book that reminds me of the importance of journalists and why we need writers willing to take on big names and institutions. They say truth is stranger than fiction and here I will say truth is darker than fiction too... I appreciate the review copy from Celadon and I know that true crime, non fiction fans will see value in this book. It is excellent for book discussion too as there are so many layers to the story and investigation and meaningful themes on ethics and publishing.
Paul Pringle's Bad City is an excellent example of detailed investigative journalism that also gives insight into the struggles of reporters for big papers. I thought the investigation of USC deans and admin, and a compassionate examination of substance use for one family, was strong and then placing that investigation within the struggle to publish the story add a layer of complexity and intensity as well, the publishing of the story became a story itself. I felt for the Warrens, a family truly harmed by unethical people and systems, a cheered on Paul Pringle and the USC reporting team, and got wrapped up in the anger and frustration that was woven into this story. Pringle's writing is clear and richly detailed, I thought each chapter was strong and focused and showed the depth of USC's impact on individuals, families, and communities, and he honored the whistleblowers, the people who wanted to see justice happen, and respected his colleagues working hard to keep the story alive and see it through publication.
Paul Pringle's Bad City is an excellent example of detailed investigative journalism that also gives insight into the struggles of reporters for big papers. I thought the investigation of USC deans and admin, and a compassionate examination of substance use for one family, was strong and then placing that investigation within the struggle to publish the story add a layer of complexity and intensity as well, the publishing of the story became a story itself. I felt for the Warrens, a family truly harmed by unethical people and systems, a cheered on Paul Pringle and the USC reporting team, and got wrapped up in the anger and frustration that was woven into this story. Pringle's writing is clear and richly detailed, I thought each chapter was strong and focused and showed the depth of USC's impact on individuals, families, and communities, and he honored the whistleblowers, the people who wanted to see justice happen, and respected his colleagues working hard to keep the story alive and see it through publication.
July 12, 2022
Book Review
Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels
Written by Paul Pringle
Pub date: July 19, 2022
Just a quick note to reinforce that when I rate a true crime book 5 stars, it’s for the absolute commitment and depth of research that the author has put into telling their stories – often speaking for the victim when they can’t speak for themselves. With Bad City, it is for the pure determination and fortitude that Mr. Pringle and his fellow reporters showed while dissecting a system that let down those that depended on them.
Paul Pringle’s research into the scandal surrounding Dr. Carmen Puliafito is top notch and absolutely riveting. It is unbelievable to me how many looked the other way while the dean of University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine engaged in illicit parties/drug use with minors, prostitutes, and students. Some of this behavior happening on school grounds.
Puliafito calls 911 one night from a hotel room after a young girl overdoses, no consequence to him until an anonymous tip is called to Mr. Pringle. What is uncovered is a corrupt and rotten system that has covered the debauchery and disgusting behavior of Puliafito and more, for years.
It’s astounding to me the amount of research done but also the obstacles that Mr. Pringle hit. All to protect the wealthy with connections. It’s absolutely repulsive to me which really made me appreciate the detail and effort that went into gathering all the information and facts needed to get some form of justice for Puliafito’s victims and to bring some sort of awareness to those that would knowingly shelter and protect a monster.
My thanks to @CeladonBooks for this gifted copy!
Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels
Written by Paul Pringle
Pub date: July 19, 2022
Just a quick note to reinforce that when I rate a true crime book 5 stars, it’s for the absolute commitment and depth of research that the author has put into telling their stories – often speaking for the victim when they can’t speak for themselves. With Bad City, it is for the pure determination and fortitude that Mr. Pringle and his fellow reporters showed while dissecting a system that let down those that depended on them.
Paul Pringle’s research into the scandal surrounding Dr. Carmen Puliafito is top notch and absolutely riveting. It is unbelievable to me how many looked the other way while the dean of University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine engaged in illicit parties/drug use with minors, prostitutes, and students. Some of this behavior happening on school grounds.
Puliafito calls 911 one night from a hotel room after a young girl overdoses, no consequence to him until an anonymous tip is called to Mr. Pringle. What is uncovered is a corrupt and rotten system that has covered the debauchery and disgusting behavior of Puliafito and more, for years.
It’s astounding to me the amount of research done but also the obstacles that Mr. Pringle hit. All to protect the wealthy with connections. It’s absolutely repulsive to me which really made me appreciate the detail and effort that went into gathering all the information and facts needed to get some form of justice for Puliafito’s victims and to bring some sort of awareness to those that would knowingly shelter and protect a monster.
My thanks to @CeladonBooks for this gifted copy!
July 26, 2022
We are not strangers to scandal, it happens everywhere. It was an experience to actually read the book in the journalist point of view. Pringle struggled to get his story published and his investigation. I admire how relentless he is, he did not give up and kept going even when things seem to be hidden or we're not going as expected.
People cover other people and this journalist was trying to pull the wool off of our eyes. The things happening under our nose, you wouldn't believe it. The story is a bit heartache to me but it is also enlightening to learn that everything was not as peaches as it seemed. His determination is what got him to reveal everything, even after the cops and things were trying to be covered, hidden.
This book sheds a light a great light into journalism. I am glad to have had the opportunity to read and get to know the work that is being a journalist.
People cover other people and this journalist was trying to pull the wool off of our eyes. The things happening under our nose, you wouldn't believe it. The story is a bit heartache to me but it is also enlightening to learn that everything was not as peaches as it seemed. His determination is what got him to reveal everything, even after the cops and things were trying to be covered, hidden.
This book sheds a light a great light into journalism. I am glad to have had the opportunity to read and get to know the work that is being a journalist.
July 17, 2023
this is really good!!! and also disheartening but gives you hope?? there is so much corruption within institutions that are supposed to be doing the right thing but instead participate is mass coverups that harm so many people in order for those with deep pockets to continue to keep their wealth and prestige. allowing medical “professionals” to practice all while enabling and controlling those with addiction and granting them access to sexually assault vulnerable individuals even after years of complaints and sham investigations is just the beginning of what these journalists uncover. the absolute corruption within the newsroom itself is jarring but the people who fight against it, no matter the consequences, in the name of righteous, honest reporting spared me from a total ethical spiral. fuck usc fr though. no one good comes out of usc just rotten, money hungry, status obsessed people
July 18, 2022
Bad City is a book centered around rich people, addiction, corruption and influence. It reads like a dark thriller with unexpected twists; you often have to remind yourself that this isn’t a fiction. The things people have done is really sickening.
Some people fall for the threats posed by the influence, some people stand against. Unfortunately the later are the ones that often disappear. This is by no means a soft and simple read. Its heavy, dark and angering. But I still think all of us should read a book like this once in a while - might be disheartening and depressing, but thats the reality and we have no way but to accept it.
I can go on and on about how this book made me feel, Paul has done an amazing job, he has dug out truths and has exposed a story that proves the worth of investigative journalism!! Highly recommend 👏
Thank you Celadon Books for the 🎁 book
Some people fall for the threats posed by the influence, some people stand against. Unfortunately the later are the ones that often disappear. This is by no means a soft and simple read. Its heavy, dark and angering. But I still think all of us should read a book like this once in a while - might be disheartening and depressing, but thats the reality and we have no way but to accept it.
I can go on and on about how this book made me feel, Paul has done an amazing job, he has dug out truths and has exposed a story that proves the worth of investigative journalism!! Highly recommend 👏
Thank you Celadon Books for the 🎁 book
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