If you loved
This Storm
James Ellroy · Book · 2019
What hooked you in This Storm is the way sprawling, systemic corruption inevitably corrupts the souls of those tasked with enforcing the law.
Films on the same thread
Chinatown
Roman Polanski · Film · 1974
Like This Storm, this film exposes the rot beneath the sunbaked surface of Los Angeles, where systemic abuse of power forces you to navigate a landscape of total moral ambiguity.
The Last Boy Scout
Tony Scott · Film · 1991
This story mirrors the cynical, broken-down Los Angeles found in This Storm, following desperate men who operate in the shadows of a city fueled by greed and deep-seated corruption.
L.A. Confidential
Curtis Hanson · Film · 1997
If you appreciated the gritty, police-centric look at institutional decay in This Storm, you will recognize that same brutal, compromised atmosphere within the ranks of this classic noir narrative.
Rising Sun
Philip Kaufman · Film · 1993
Much like the cultural tensions and investigative complexity of This Storm, this film examines how institutional agendas and hidden conspiracies complicate the pursuit of justice in a changing Los Angeles.
Series on the same thread
Snowfall
Eric Amadio · Series · 2017
This series captures the same sense of an impending, violent societal shift depicted in This Storm, focusing on how power and greed dictate the survival of those trapped in urban decay.
Twin Peaks
Mark Frost · Series · 1990
While the setting differs, this mystery echoes the existential dread and the uncovering of deeply buried, dark secrets that define the atmosphere found throughout the pages of This Storm.
The Shield
Shawn Ryan · Series · 2002
This gritty drama mirrors the moral compromise of the police force in This Storm, where the line between maintaining order and succumbing to systemic corruption is perpetually and dangerously blurred.
Tokyo Vice
J.T. Rogers · Series · 2022
This narrative shares the investigative focus on institutional corruption seen in This Storm, following an outsider who must navigate a complex, foreign underworld to expose the truth behind the facade.
Podcasts on the same thread
To Live and Die in LA
Tenderfoot TV & Audacy · Podcast · 2023
This investigation mirrors the relentless search for truth amidst systemic failure found in This Storm, revealing how personal risk is the only cost for exposing deep-seated corruption in Los Angeles.
American Scandal
Audible · Podcast · 2026
These historical accounts parallel the institutional rot explored in This Storm, demonstrating how lies and political intrigue serve as the foundation for the corruption that defines the American experience.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is This Storm set during a specific time period in Los Angeles?
Yes, This Storm takes place in January 1942. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of torrential rainstorms hitting Los Angeles shortly after the United States entered World War II.
What triggers the main investigation in This Storm?
The plot of This Storm begins when a body is unearthed in Griffith Park. While local police initially classify the discovery as a routine dead-man job, the investigation quickly escalates into a complex situation involving corruption and wartime spoils.
Does This Storm feature characters involved in police corruption?
Yes, This Storm features Elmer Jackson, who is described as a corrupt Vice cop. He operates as a flesh peddler and a bagman for the Los Angeles Chief of Police.
How does the weather impact the setting of This Storm?
The setting of This Storm is defined by the torrential rainstorms that hit Los Angeles in January 1942. These severe weather conditions serve as the immediate environment for the discovery of the body in Griffith Park and the subsequent investigation.