It's hard not to get engrossed in the world of L.A. Noire. Taking place in 1947 Los Angeles, players assume the role of Cole Phelps, a returning veteran of World War II with a talent for detective work. The story and atmosphere drip with authentic 40s culture, along with plenty of intrigue, mystery, and betrayal.
Some fans may be surprised to learn that many of the cases Cole solves throughout his time in the LAPD take their inspiration from real-life crimes from the era. Although the game and its characters may be fictional, these crimes did actually occur in post-war Los Angeles.
8 The Driver's Seat
Cole's first case on the Traffic desk is a strange one. An abandoned car parked in a railyard bears strong evidence of foul play. Massive amounts of blood are found inside the car, as well as a pair of glasses and a wallet belonging to Adrian Black. In the end, it's revealed Black faked his death to run off with another woman in Seattle, leaving his wife in the lurch.
Interestingly, a similar incident occurred in Los Angeles in 1947. A businessman, Eugene White, faked his death to get away from his wife and his job. Neither situation ended well for the participants.
7 A Marriage Made In Heaven
In the case, "A Marriage Made in Heaven," Cole and his partner are called to a bar where a man has been killed in a hit-and-run. Not everything, however, is at it seems. Through some diligent investigation, Cole learns the man was actually murdered by his wife and her lover for the life insurance money. The deed was staged as an accident to cover the perpetrators' trail.
This case is based on a similar incident that occurred in 1944 in Los Angeles. A man, Jay Dee Chitwood, was struck and killed by a speeding car outside of a bar. The victim's wife later claimed she stabbed her husband after an argument in the street. Strangely, the wife's testimony was contradicted by the absence of a stab wound on her husband's body. It was later revealed the wife lied about stabbing her husband. The murder depicted in L.A. Noire, however, is very much real.
6 The Red Lipstick Murder
Cole's first case on the Homicide desk is entitled "The Red Lipstick Murder." A woman, Celine Henry, is found murdered, along with cryptic messages written in red lipstick on her corpse. Cole learns that Celine was beaten with a blunt object and savagely stomped to death by her attacker.
This case takes its inspiration from the real-life murder of Jeanne French, an Army nurse found dead in similar circumstances. At the time, French's death was thought to be connected with the infamous Black Dahlia case, a mystery that plays a prominent role during Cole's tenure in Homicide.
5 The Golden Butterfly
Cole's second case on the Homicide desk is "The Golden Butterfly." Once again, another woman is found brutally murdered under a pepper tree with strange messages written on her body. A golden butterfly brooch represents one of the clues, hence the name of the case.
"The Golden Butterfly" bears many similarities to the murder of Dorothy Montgomery. Like the previous case, Dorothy's body, also found beneath a pepper tree, was also brutally mauled, which raised similar questions about a possible connection with the Black Dahlia. Montgomery was missing a gold wristwatch when she was found, similar to the victim in this case.
4 The Silk Stocking Murder
In "The Silk Stocking Murder," Cole investigates the murder of Antonia Maldonado, a young woman who was attempting to divorce her husband. One of the prominent clues found at the crime scene is a bloody silk stocking.
In 1947, Rosenda Mondragon was found killed in similar circumstances. A silk stocking was found wrapped around Mondragon's neck. Some witnesses reported seeing her enter a strange vehicle, events that play out broadly similarly in Antonia's case in L.A. Noire.
3 The White Shoe Slaying
In "The White Shoe Slaying," Cole investigates the killing of Theresa Taraldsen, a homemaker and mother of two children. After an argument with her husband at a party, Theresa is found dead the next morning in a manner similar to Cole's other cases.
"The White Shoe Slaying" is based on the 1947 murder of Laura Trelstad. Like the fictional Theresa, Laura reportedly argued with her husband at a party with friends. She was found strangled the following morning, much like Theresa. One of Laura's shoes was also missing from the crime scene......
2 The Studio Secretary Murder
In the penultimate case of the Homicide desk, "The Studio Secretary Murder," Cole is summoned to a crime scene where yet another woman has been found murdered. The victim, Evelyn Summers, was an out-of-work legal copywriter experiencing some rough times.
This case bears striking similarities to the real-life murder of Evelyn Winters. Winters was a former musician and copywriter, much like the fictional Evelyn Summers. Winters' body was reportedly defiled by a passerby, an incident that also plays out in L.A. Noire in the form of the suspect, Jamison.
1 The Black Dahlia
Although not a case in itself in the game, the 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short, dubbed the "Black Dahlia," plays a central role throughout Cole's tenure in Homicide. Cole suspects, correctly, that the man who murdered Elizabeth Short is also responsible for the killings of Celine Henry, Deidre Moller, Antonia Maldonado, Theresa Taraldsen, and Evelyn Summers.
Cole indirectly solves the Black Dahlia murder through his investigation of the other killings. In "The Quarter Moon Murders," Cole finds Elizabeth Short's social security card sitting atop a public fountain. Unlike L.A. Noire, the Black Dahlia murder remains unsolved to this day.
L.A. Noire is currently available on PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and legacy consoles.