Perfidia -

: The story follows a multi-perspective investigation into the brutal murder of a Japanese-American family.

Written by Mexican composer Alberto Domínguez, the song is a classic of the Latin American songbook. It describes a man’s lament over a lover who has left him, establishing the word's association with emotional and romantic deception. Its inclusion in various media often serves as a thematic shorthand for a world where loyalty is temporary and betrayal is inevitable. James Ellroy’s Perfidia (2014)

: Ellroy suggests that "perfidia" is not just an individual act but a systemic one; the "crime" of the murder reflects the larger "crime" of war and the internment of Japanese-Americans. One Battle After Another (2025): Perfidia Beverly Hills

: The novel portrays a city consumed by war fever, racism, and opportunism. Every character—from the corrupt Sgt. Dudley Smith to the ambitious Capt. William Parker—operates with a "shaky moral compass," using the national tragedy to carve out power.

James Ellroy's 'Perfidia' Is A Brutal, Beautiful Police Procedural