The historic Los Angeles Cecil Hotel is notorious for a range of reasons. Its grand architecture reflects the 1920s era of its construction when even this 700-room budget hotel displayed the lavish attributes of more upscale buildings. However, in later years, The Cecil garnered a darker reputation. Located on the fringes of Skid Row, the property has accommodated individuals grappling with various personal demons. Most notably, the infamous serial killer Richard Ramirez resided in one of its rooms during the height of his reign of terror.
Recently, the hotel has regained the spotlight as the focal point of Netflix's "Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel." This docuseries delves into the enigmatic disappearance and death of hotel guest Elisa Lam. I was utterly captivated as I watched each of the four episodes, drawn into the mystery surrounding this woman's tragic end and the ominous history of the hotel itself. Amy Price, who served as the general manager of the property during the Elisa Lam incident, played a prominent role in the series. When her publisher offered me a copy of her book, Behind the Door, I eagerly accepted the opportunity to explore her firsthand experiences with this infamous establishment.
Behind the Door is a compelling blend of memoir and exposé, offering an opportunity to set the record straight regarding Price's experiences at The Cecil Hotel and the events that have contributed to its notorious reputation. Price vividly recounts how she initially found herself in the role at The Cecil. Originally brought in for a brief three-day interior design assignment aimed at modernizing a portion of the hotel, her success in this endeavor led to her prolonged involvement. Her unwavering determination and dedication soon secured her position as manager.
Within the book, Price delves into the formidable challenges of managing an aging hotel, essentially divided into two distinct businesses. The first comprised the original section, primarily occupied by long-term residents, many of whom grappled with mental illness and addiction, drawn to the location due to its affordable rent. The second part represented the refurbished hotel segment, striving to attract tourists to the struggling area. In hindsight, Price acknowledges that this business model was bound to fail, but in the moment, she was resolute in her efforts to make it a success.
The book dedicates much of its narrative to presenting Price's perspective on the Elisa Lam case. It becomes evident in her storytelling that the Netflix series edited her interviews to fit the narrative they intended to convey. Through the book, Price is afforded the opportunity to provide the missing context that was omitted from the series. While watching the series, viewers might have been surprised by Price's seemingly nonchalant demeanor regarding Elisa Lam's disappearance. However, the book reveals that such incidents were all too common during her tenure at The Cecil. In fact, cases of death and disappearance were, sadly, an inherent part of her job. As readers delve deeper into the text, it becomes increasingly apparent that The Cecil Hotel is a place burdened with a dark and tragic history extending far beyond the Lam case.
While I valued the opportunity to gain more insights into this fascinating history, Behind the Door does suffer from certain narrative inconsistencies. Price presents her experiences in an almost stream-of-consciousness manner, leaping from one event to the next without much consideration for crafting a cohesive narrative arc. Consequently, some parts of the story are more engaging than others. It left me yearning for a more chronological structure. While the story itself is captivating and adds depth to our understanding of the building's storied past, the book's presentation can feel a bit disorganized. All this aside, it's evident that Price has a deep appreciation for the property and the dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to maintain its operations. The book even opens with a heartfelt tribute to one of these individuals. It undoubtedly serves as a means to raise awareness about the place and the dedicated team behind its daily functioning.
For more information, visit Amazon and Goodreads.
(2023, 67)
I remember when the Richard Ramirez thing was going on. I lived in California at the time. That place sounds a bit scary to stay at.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't think I could ever stay there, but the history of the place is very interesting!
DeleteI've never even heard of this hotel. (Obviously I haven't been watching the Netflix series though it sounds really good.) This book sounds equally interesting. Though it's too bad her narrative style isn't a little more cohesive and well thought out.
ReplyDeleteIt is a case where I feel like a good editor could have vastly improved the structure of the story. She has a great perspective to share, but it isn't really done in the best way.
DeleteI don't think I've heard of that case or hotel but it does sound fascinating and from an interesting perspective.
ReplyDeleteIt's also a reminder to watch all these crime shows knowing that, while they may be true, have a narrative to construct for ratings.
Karen @For What It's Worth
Agreed. I love that she was able to take the story into her own hands and share her perspective in a way that it wasn't presented on the show. What really struck me is that the case featured in the show isn't even the most disturbing one!
DeleteDespite the issues, I am going to read this one for sure. I love any scrap of info I can find about the Cecil.
ReplyDeleteIt is so fascinating!
DeleteI don't mind reading or watching about historical places with darker history, but I will definitely not be checking in personally. ;)
ReplyDeleteGlad you could get a copy of the book and see the full story rather than what was clipped for the show.
Sophia Rose
You'd never catch me staying there either!
DeleteMy thoughts can be scattered enough, I don't need my books to be that way, LOL!
ReplyDeleteIt was such a shame because the story is really good!
DeleteOh no! This sounds like it had a lot of promise. Too bad it jumps around so much.
ReplyDeleteI think jumping around can work, but this didn't seem to have a rhyme or reason for doing so.
DeleteI guess Netflix is like any other media organization, bending the facts to sensationalize a story. I can't imagine any hotel thriving in the skid row area of downtown Los Angeles, especially when one half of the hotel is dedicated to long term residents with major issues. It's a sketchy area and I would never want to stay down there. I like my stories to be in chronological order as well. It gets confusing otherwise.
ReplyDeleteThat's what is really sad about the whole situation. It is destined to languish in the same state until something changes. Truly, the destiny of the building is out of the staff and owner's control.
DeleteThis was like true crime/non fiction? Sounds like it wasn't perfect, but at least it had some interesting bits.
ReplyDeleteYes! It is non fiction, part true crime, part memoir. It is kind of hard to box it in.
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