Preliminary identification
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Overview
This is a first edition hardcover copy of 'Blood's a Rover' by the legendary American crime fiction writer James Ellroy. Published in 2009 by Alfred A. Knopf, this novel serves as the explosive final installment of Ellroy's acclaimed Underworld USA Trilogy. The book features its original, striking dust jacket with raised, glossy yellow lettering set against a gritty, nocturnal Los Angeles streetscape.
Story
Published in September 2009, this novel concluded a monumental 14-year writing journey that began with 'American Tabloid' in 1995. Ellroy weaves a brutal, staccato-prose tapestry of American political history from 1968 to 1972. It remains one of the most ambitious historical crime epics ever written.
Maker / Origin
James Ellroy, often called the 'Demon Dog of American Literature,' is renowned for his unique, telegraphic writing style and his dark, uncompromising vision of mid-20th-century America.
Condition & Value
The book is in generally good condition with some minor shelf wear. There is a prominent retail price sticker adhered directly to the front of the dust jacket, which may leave residue or cause tearing if removed carelessly. The pages appear clean and the binding remains tight.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.