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    Killer on the Road

    Author James Ellroy
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    Paperback
    $18.00 US
    Knopf | Vintage
    On sale Dec 02, 2025 | 272 Pages | 9798217007882
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    James Ellroy's deep dive into the psyche of a serial killer who recounts his life in the shadows, a tale of American madness and obsession.

    "The scariest book I've ever read." —Jason Kellerman

    Even as a child, Martin Michael Plunkett was no ordinary boy. Extreme parental indifference marked him as an outcast. In his head, Plunkett crafted a second life, remaking himself in the guise of his favorite comic book villain. His mind fixated on dark thoughts and twisted imaginings. A heart of evil was burnished—and Plunkett grew up to become a psychotic murderer.

    This chilling tale is written as the reflections of an unrepentant criminal. As Plunkett serves four consecutive life sentences in solitary at Sing Sing, he reminisces on his discovery of his disturbing passions and the dark heart of America. Killer on the Road is an exploration of the mind of a perfectly crafted psychopath: a mix of clinical vision, genius intellect, and an empty conscience. Plunkett is the killer on the road.
    © Marion Ettlinger
    JAMES ELLROY was born in Los Angeles. He is the author of the Underworld U.S.A. Trilogy: American Tabloid, The Cold Six Thousand, and Blood’s A Rover; and the L.A. Quartet novels: The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, L.A. Confidential, and White Jazz. He is also the author of two other Freddy Otash novels, Widespread Panic and The Enchanters. He was awarded the 2022 Los Angeles Times Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement. He lives in Colorado. View titles by James Ellroy

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    James Ellroy's deep dive into the psyche of a serial killer who recounts his life in the shadows, a tale of American madness and obsession.

    "The scariest book I've ever read." —Jason Kellerman

    Even as a child, Martin Michael Plunkett was no ordinary boy. Extreme parental indifference marked him as an outcast. In his head, Plunkett crafted a second life, remaking himself in the guise of his favorite comic book villain. His mind fixated on dark thoughts and twisted imaginings. A heart of evil was burnished—and Plunkett grew up to become a psychotic murderer.

    This chilling tale is written as the reflections of an unrepentant criminal. As Plunkett serves four consecutive life sentences in solitary at Sing Sing, he reminisces on his discovery of his disturbing passions and the dark heart of America. Killer on the Road is an exploration of the mind of a perfectly crafted psychopath: a mix of clinical vision, genius intellect, and an empty conscience. Plunkett is the killer on the road.

    Author

    © Marion Ettlinger
    JAMES ELLROY was born in Los Angeles. He is the author of the Underworld U.S.A. Trilogy: American Tabloid, The Cold Six Thousand, and Blood’s A Rover; and the L.A. Quartet novels: The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, L.A. Confidential, and White Jazz. He is also the author of two other Freddy Otash novels, Widespread Panic and The Enchanters. He was awarded the 2022 Los Angeles Times Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement. He lives in Colorado. View titles by James Ellroy

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