Explore the real-world places that appear in The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives by Elizabeth Arnott. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Beverly Hills Hotel, Los Angeles Times Building, Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier, Sunset Strip and 7 more.
9641 Sunset Boulevard — Margot's preferred escape
Margot frequents the legendary Pink Palace's Polo Lounge, maintaining her glamorous facade even after her husband's conviction. She meets contacts here who help her investigate the new killings, using her social connections and party lifestyle as cover. The hotel's opulent setting contrasts sharply with the dark reality of her situation as a murderer's wife.
The Beverly Hills Hotel opened in 1912 as the centerpiece of the new Beverly Hills development. Known as the 'Pink Palace' for its distinctive salmon-colored exterior, it became Hollywood's premier gathering spot for stars, moguls, and socialites.
The Beverly Hills Hotel remains one of the world's most exclusive hotels, still featuring its famous pink exterior and the legendary Polo Lounge. It continues to attract celebrities and remains a symbol of Hollywood glamour.
Visit: Beverly Hills Hotel (restaurant)
202 W 1st Street — Elsie's workplace battleground
Elsie fights daily battles in this male-dominated newsroom, where reporters sneer at her career ambitions and question her credibility as a murderer's wife. She uses her position to investigate the string of local killings, accessing police reports and crime scene information while dodging suspicious colleagues who wonder if she can be trusted.
The Los Angeles Times building was constructed in 1935 in the Art Deco style, serving as the newspaper's headquarters during its golden age. The building was the center of West Coast journalism and played a crucial role in documenting California's rapid growth.
Though the Los Angeles Times moved its operations in 2018, the historic Times Building still stands downtown. It has been converted into mixed-use space while preserving its architectural significance as a landmark of American journalism.
2800 E Observatory Road — Secret meeting place
The three women meet secretly at the observatory to share their findings about the serial killer, using the popular tourist attraction as cover for their amateur detective work. Beverley brings her children here on weekends to maintain normalcy, while the women plan their investigation strategy against the backdrop of the city sprawling below.
Griffith Observatory opened in 1935 as a public observatory and planetarium, built with funds donated by Griffith J. Griffith. It was designed to make astronomy accessible to the public and became an iconic symbol of Los Angeles, featured in countless films.
Griffith Observatory remains one of Los Angeles' most popular attractions, offering free admission to its exhibits and telescope viewing. The building has been renovated and expanded while maintaining its Art Deco architecture and spectacular city views.
Visit: Griffith Observatory (museum)
200 Santa Monica Pier — Margot's party scene
Margot throws herself into the pier's nightlife scene, attending beach parties and carnival events to maintain her carefree image. She uses these gatherings to pump partygoers for information about the recent murders, all while desperately trying to prove she's nothing like her convicted husband.
Santa Monica Pier opened in 1909 and became Southern California's premier seaside amusement destination. The iconic Ferris wheel and roller coaster were added in the 1920s, making it a symbol of California's beach culture and entertainment industry.
Santa Monica Pier continues to operate as a major tourist attraction with its amusement park, aquarium, restaurants, and shops. The historic carousel and Ferris wheel remain popular attractions, drawing millions of visitors annually to this iconic oceanfront destination.
Visit: Santa Monica Pier (landmark)
Sunset Boulevard — 1960s nightclub scene
Margot frequents the trendy nightclubs along the Strip, using her connections in the party scene to gather intelligence about the killer. She dances at clubs like Whisky a Go Go while secretly interviewing potential witnesses, her glamorous lifestyle serving as the perfect cover for her detective work with Beverley and Elsie.
The Sunset Strip emerged as Los Angeles' premier nightlife destination in the 1960s, with legendary clubs like the Whisky a Go Go and The Roxy becoming centers of the music and entertainment industry. It was the heart of Hollywood's counterculture movement.
The Sunset Strip remains a major entertainment corridor, lined with historic music venues, restaurants, and billboards. Many of the iconic clubs from the 1960s still operate, maintaining the area's reputation as a center of Los Angeles nightlife.
Visit: Sunset Strip (landmark)
441 Bauchet Street — Where the husbands are held
Beverley, Elsie, and Margot all visit their imprisoned husbands here, enduring the humiliation of security searches and judgmental stares from guards and other visitors. These painful visits reinforce their determination to prove they're nothing like their criminal spouses and motivate their quest to catch the new serial killer.
Los Angeles County Jail opened in 1963 and became one of the largest jail systems in the world. During the 1960s, it housed many of California's most notorious criminals and was a symbol of the state's growing crime problems.
The Los Angeles County Jail system remains one of the largest in the United States, housing thousands of inmates. The original downtown facility continues to operate as part of the county's correctional system, though it has undergone numerous renovations and expansions.
751 Echo Park Avenue — Crime scene location
One of the serial killer's victims is discovered near the lake in Echo Park, sending shockwaves through the community. The three women secretly visit the crime scene, using their grim expertise as murderers' wives to spot clues that police might have missed, drawing on their painful knowledge of how killers think and operate.
Echo Park was created in the 1890s as one of Los Angeles' first public parks, built around an artificial lake. The area became a popular residential neighborhood for working-class families and was known for its diverse immigrant communities.
Echo Park remains a vibrant community park centered around its historic lake. The area has gentrified significantly while retaining its cultural diversity, and the park is popular for paddle boating, walking, and community events.
Visit: Echo Park (park)
Residential San Fernando Valley — Family life continues
Beverley maintains rigid control over her suburban home, trying to create normalcy for her two children while their father serves time for murder. She compulsively cleans and organizes while planning investigation strategies with Elsie and Margot, her need for control extending to their amateur detective work as she coordinates their efforts to catch the serial killer.
The San Fernando Valley experienced massive suburban development in the 1950s and 1960s as families sought affordable homes outside central Los Angeles. These tract housing developments represented the American Dream of homeownership for middle-class families.
The San Fernando Valley remains a major suburban region of Los Angeles, with many of the mid-century tract homes still standing. The area has become increasingly diverse while maintaining its suburban character and family-oriented communities.
2301 Highland Avenue — Summer concert series
During the sun-drenched summer of 1966, Margot attends concerts here as part of maintaining her glamorous social life. The venue becomes a meeting place where the three women can blend into crowds while discussing their investigation, using the cultural events as cover for their amateur detective work.
The Hollywood Bowl opened in 1922 as an outdoor amphitheater and became Los Angeles' premier venue for classical music, jazz, and popular entertainment. Its distinctive white arched shell made it an architectural icon and symbol of Hollywood culture.
The Hollywood Bowl continues to operate as one of the world's most famous outdoor concert venues. The amphitheater hosts major musical acts, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and special events, maintaining its status as a cultural landmark.
Visit: Hollywood Bowl (theater)
532 S Olive Street — Downtown meeting spot
Elsie meets sources and contacts in this busy downtown square, using the constant foot traffic to conduct discreet interviews about the serial killer case. The public space allows her to gather information for both her newspaper work and the trio's private investigation without drawing attention to her activities.
Pershing Square was Los Angeles' first public park when it opened in 1866. Named after General John J. Pershing in 1918, it served as the heart of downtown Los Angeles and a gathering place for political rallies, celebrations, and public events.
Pershing Square remains a central downtown Los Angeles park, though it has undergone numerous renovations over the decades. The square continues to serve as a public gathering space and transit hub in the heart of the city's business district.
Visit: Pershing Square (park)
Scenic mountain road — Overlooking the city
The women drive along this winding road while discussing their investigation, the city sprawling below them like a map of potential crime scenes. Beverley uses these drives to think through the killer's patterns while maintaining her need for control, treating the investigation like another household task to be managed efficiently.
Mulholland Drive was constructed in the 1920s as a scenic mountain road connecting Hollywood to the San Fernando Valley. Named after water engineer William Mulholland, it became famous for its spectacular views of Los Angeles and its role in the city's development.
Mulholland Drive remains one of Los Angeles' most famous scenic routes, offering panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains. The winding road continues to attract tourists, locals, and filmmakers drawn to its iconic Los Angeles vistas.
Visit: Mulholland Drive (landmark)
630 W 5th Street — Elsie's research headquarters
Elsie conducts extensive research here, poring over newspaper archives and criminal records to understand patterns in the serial killer case. The grand library provides her with resources unavailable at the Times, and she meets secretly with Beverley and Margot in quiet reading rooms to share findings and plan their next investigative steps.
The Central Library building opened in 1926 in a distinctive Egyptian Revival and Mediterranean Revival architectural style. It served as the main branch of the Los Angeles Public Library system and was a symbol of the city's cultural aspirations during its rapid growth.
The Los Angeles Central Library, now named after former mayor Tom Bradley, remains the system's flagship branch. After suffering fire damage in the 1980s, it was restored and expanded, continuing to serve as a major research and cultural center.
Visit: Los Angeles Central Library (library)
More by Elizabeth Arnott: All Elizabeth Arnott books
More novels set in Los Angeles: Browse all Los Angeles books on Map A Story
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