The story takes place in Los Angeles, California, a city that has long held a reputation as the epicenter of the entertainment industry, the land of opportunities and dreams. However, the novel presents a side of the city. While the glitz and glamour of Hollywood are accurately represented, the book dives deeper into LA’s darker side, riddled with crime, corruption, and depravity.
Kellerman’s LA is a place where the blight of poverty meets the extravagance of the upper class. Alex Delaware spends most of his time in Beverly Glen, an area in the LA basin known for its wealthy inhabitants. The contrast the wealth and the poverty outside the area is striking and emblematic of the story’s core themes.
The novel’s portrayal of the city’s hedonism is also significant in the story. The author delves into the world of sexual depravity and exploitation, drawing upon the underbelly of LA’s nightlife. Los Angeles is famous for its entertainment industry, where the lines between fact and fiction are often blurred. Flesh and Blood takes this blurred line and heightens it, blurring the line between the educated upper class and the seedy underbelly of sex work.
Furthermore, Kellerman’s novel also draws upon the history of Los Angeles. The city’s past is known for its shady dealings and corrupt endeavors, as depicted in novels like Raymond Chandler’s iconic detective series. Flesh and Blood falls in line with this rich tradition and adds its own take on the history of the city. The novel explores the cultural history of Los Angeles, especially its legacy of violence, and the characters are shaped by the city’s past dark times.
The setting of the novel serves as an important character that shares a story of its own. Kellerman’s LA is alive with its people, its soul, and its core. It acts as a witness to the lives of the novel’s characters, as they navigate the complexities of the story. The city is a mirror, reflecting the lives and decisions of the novel’s characters, charging them with human emotion and depth.
In conclusion, Jonathan Kellerman’s Flesh and Blood is a thrilling novel that uses Los Angeles as its setting, drawing inspiration from the city’s cultural history, fame, and infamies. Kellerman presents a vivid portrayal of the city that is both gritty and alluring, where beauty and ugliness coexist. The novel’s setting serves as a character of its own, impacting the narrative in significant ways. Kellerman’s LA adds depth to the story, making it more relatable, tangible, and immersive. The novel’s success is a testament to Kellerman’s mastery as a writer, as well as his ability to create a world that forces readers to reflect upon their surroundings and the impact they have on their own lives and decisions.