IT was 25 years ago when American novelist Bret Easton Ellis made his debut with Less Than Zero, a story of apathetic twentysomethings in Los Angeles and their shocking lifestyles of coke-fuelled and sex-infused parties and hedonistic ways.

Fast-forward to today and Ellis returns in full form with Imperial Bedrooms, the sequel to his critically acclaimed and best-selling first novel.

Ellis reprises the cast from Less Than Zero. The teenage Clay, the protagonist and narrator, is much older, but hardly wiser. The voice is disaffected as usual, but with the assured tone of an older and more influential persona. Now a screenwriter, he wields his power to bed ambitious wannabe actresses.

The plot is seemingly centred on a casting call for a film Clay has written.

An actress named Rain Turner ingratiates herself with him and seems to believe that by doing so she’ll eventually get the part, despite being devoid of any acting talent.

But the plot is really just a narrative hook. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that this is a much more ominous tale of power, debauchery and the ultimately depraved nature of people.

Imperial Bedrooms is a brilliant, albeit disturbing, novel that mercilessly captures the inner evil that lurks behind the outwardly glamorous lives of its characters.

Trisha Andres