Zoot-Suit Murders

by Thomas Sanchez

It's the tumultuous days of World War II and from the mean streets of the Los Angeles barrio to the mansions of the Hollywood Hills the atmosphere is choked with tension. Nathan Younger, an undercover agent, is investigating the brutal murder of two FBI men and the infiltration of zoot-suit gangs by fascists when he crosses paths with Kathleen La Rue, a beautiful apostle of a bizarre religious cult. The search for the killers leads these two improbable lovers along a dangerous trail of heroin pushers, movie stars, and fanatical politicians. 

Like his lavishly praised novels Rabbit Boss and Mile Zero, Thomas Sanchez's Zoot-Suit Murders combines a tautly arched narrative with fiercely visual prose and a starkly revisionist view of the American melting pot.

241 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Bargle]

One of the rare few books I disliked so strongly I was tempted to post spoilers about it so others wouldn't waste their time reading it. It was pre-internet, so I didn't have an outlet. Probably just as well.

[Amber]

Currently reading. A woman in my book club is adapting this book to a screen play and we might get to meet the author. It's set in WWII...will update when I've read it.

[Vanessa]

For some reason I thought this was a non-fiction. It is based on actual historical events, but its not entirely real.