If you loved
City of Lies
Film · 2018
What hooked you in City of Lies was the way systemic institutional rot forces individuals to navigate dangerous, long-buried truths.
Books on the same thread
City of Bones
Michael Connelly · Book · 2002
Shares 2 threads with City of Lies: Institutional corruption, Police procedural.
Like the detective in City of Lies, Harry Bosch must confront a cold case that forces him to dig into the painful, institutional shadows of his own past.
A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership
James Comey · Book · 2018
Shares a thread with City of Lies: Justice.
If the bureaucratic obstacles in City of Lies frustrated you, this memoir offers an unfiltered look at the challenges of maintaining integrity within a deeply flawed federal institution.
The Black Book
James Patterson, David Ellis · Book · 2017
Shares a thread with City of Lies: Police Procedural.
You will recognize the tense partner dynamics and the struggle against a corrupt police force that define the investigative atmosphere of City of Lies in this thriller.
Down the River unto the Sea
Walter Mosley · Book · 2018
Explores: Framed, Wrongful Conviction, Private Investigator.
This novel mirrors the protagonist's journey in City of Lies, focusing on the high personal cost of seeking justice when the entire system is rigged against the truth.
Series on the same thread
Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G.
Kyle Long · Series · 2018
Shares 2 threads with City of Lies: True Crime, Police Procedural.
Since City of Lies dramatizes the investigation of these iconic murders, this series provides the direct factual chronicle of the police corruption that hampered the original case.
Podcasts on the same thread
To Live and Die in LA
Tenderfoot TV & Audacy · Podcast · 2023
This podcast captures the same journalistic determination found in City of Lies, following a reporter who risks everything to uncover answers where official investigations have failed the public.
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
While tonally distinct, this show shares the investigative dedication of City of Lies, pulling back the curtain on the dark, hidden secrets that define a community's tragic history.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is City of Lies based on a true crime investigation?
Yes, City of Lies follows the true story of LAPD detective Russell Poole and his long-term investigation into the murders of The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. The film depicts the struggles Poole faced while attempting to solve these high-profile cases over the course of two decades.
Who are the main characters featured in City of Lies?
The central figures in City of Lies are Russell Poole, an LAPD detective dedicated to solving the murders of The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, and Jack Jackson, a reporter who teams up with Poole to uncover the truth and restore his own professional reputation.
Does City of Lies focus on the murders of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.?
Yes, the primary focus of City of Lies is the decades-long investigation into the murders of The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. The plot centers on detective Russell Poole and reporter Jack Jackson as they work together to unravel the institutional web surrounding these unsolved cases.
What is the central conflict in City of Lies?
The central conflict in City of Lies involves the persistent efforts of detective Russell Poole to solve the murders of The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. He is joined by reporter Jack Jackson, and together they attempt to navigate a complex web of institutional obstruction that keeps the investigation open.